Travel Agencies

[NewEnglandRN07]

Does anyone know of any travel agencies for RNs that accept new grads? I know most agencies require one or two years of experience for obvious reasons but I was wondering if there were any exceptions like maybe an agency that accepts new grads if they commit to longer assignments since the hospitals would initially have to train them??

[TazziRN, RN]

There are agencies that will accept new grads but there are few, if any, hospitals that will accept travelers with no experience. New grads need a long orientation/preceptorship to be brought up to speed, and travelers have to be able to jump in and function with a minimal orientation. Facilities want travelers in units with experience in those units.

[ER/ONCRN]

When I travelled, I had only been out of school for 6 months. BUT I was a CNA for 3 1/2 yrs prior. Tazzi is right... my very first night I was scheduled 7p-7a. My hospital and floor orientation was from 7p-11p. I was on my own after that!

[ramonmalino]

NERN, Just curious, why do you want to jump right into travelling? I mean, I'm looking forward to one ro two years at a regular hospital. I don't think I'd feel comfortable with an orientation like ER/ONCRN described. My unsolicited advice: Take your time, find a good hospital and a good preceptor/mentor. Take it easy, get those skills down and get your feet wet. Meanwhile, check out the travel section. You'll have a year to a year and a half to find the right agency and plan so you'll have a great experience... atleast I hope thats what I'm doing.

[Jo Dirt]

Well, I've been a registered nurse over a year and an LPN 6 yrs. prior to that and most of my experience was in a nursing home and private duty, I lasted 8 months in home health...I wonder if I could get some work on a med surg floor as a travel nurse?

[EmmaG, RN]

Does anyone know of any travel agencies for RNs that accept new grads? I know most agencies require one or two years of experience for obvious reasons but I was wondering if there were any exceptions like maybe an agency that accepts new grads if they commit to longer assignments since the hospitals would initially have to train them??

The hospitals don't want to train you. The whole idea behind hiring travel nurses is to have staff that can hit the floor running with little (read: 'no') orientation. They will give you a day or two for testing, learning their computer system, etc. The most orientation I've received so far is a single shift on the floor shadowing another nurse. That's it. Sorry to be so blunt here, but you'd be doing everyone, including yourself, a serious disservice if you try to travel as a new grad.

Yeah, there are probably agencies out there that would hire you. That doesn't guarantee a job; you still have to interview with the hospitals.

Give yourself at least a year before you try this...

[fergus51]

Any hospital that would take you without experience for a travel contract is probably a hell hole IMO. If they are that desperate for staff, it can't be a nice place to work.

I know some people are eager for the whole travel thing, but it really isn't a good idea to do it without experience in the specialty area you plan on working in. I can't stress this enough. It's a hard enough job when you do have experience. New grads or nurses who have chosen to just take a travel assignment in a specialty without experience are horrible to work with. They aren't well received. The attitude of staff nurses will often be something akin to "Why is she getting paid good money and getting free housing when I have to help her with everything because she's so inexperienced?". I've seen a couple have their contracts cancelled over it (fancy way for saying they were fired). PLEASE get the experience as a staff nurse before jumping into travelling.