Travel LVNs?

[2bNurseZato]

I am planning to attend an LVN program - well whichever one I am lucky enough to get into!- and I wondered if LVNs can be travel nurses like RNs? I didn't think so, but my grandma's nurse (who is an LVN) said that she used to go on assignments in different states. I was trying to get some information online, but didn't find too much for LVNs. Also was interested in traveling abroad and wondered if they do travel nursing outside of the US? Please let me know if anyone has any info. I would greatly appreciate it

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

For more responses and enhanced feedback, I've moved this thread to the Travel Nurses forum. Hopefully other travel nurses out there will chime in with their replies. Good luck to you!

[mrdoc2005]

I have just started traveling myself so I may be wrong here but I don't think LVN travel or atleast not to most places. Again I will be the first to say I can be wrong on that. I know most states require RNs to check/take orders and RN do vasoavtive drips where LVN normally cannot. I think it mostly depends on the state.

As far traveling outsie the US. Some nurses do. From what I have read it is normally a 3 year assignment and can extend it to 5 years. After 5 years they have to return to the US for 1 year to keep US citizenship. The article I read on this was traveling with the department of defense working mostly in military hospitals.

If anything I said above is wrong pls do not send flames. I am not lokking at making this an RN vs LVN debate.

thanks

[2bNurseZato]

Thank you for the info. I know RNs can do more than LVNs, at least in CA where I live, but I got excited at the idea of traveling as an LVN. Guess it's too good to be true!:uhoh21:

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

i don't know about traveling. i would think you might run into a scope of practice issue. i know i would if i traveled being from a state with a wide open scope. you might be able to travel within your state with agency ... i did a job for several months where i audited nursing homes and their medicare reimbursement status. i traveled all over texas but did not take patients, just sifted through charts. good luck to you

[HisTreasure, BSN, RN]

If I can chime in...my sister just started traveling. In fact, she left the Saturday before Christmas (the 22nd). She got on with Mobile America and she is going to Buffalo for a two week training and cert and then she is going to California on a 13 week assignment. It can be done. The reason I returned to Allnurses after such a long hiatus is because I never thought LPNs could travel until I saw her signed contract! :) Now I'm intrigued, even though I will only be an LPN for another six months or so. In any event; it can be done. Don't be discouraged!

[VinoLover2030]

Axis healthcare lets LPN's Travel. I was an LPN for 5 years and was offered a travel contract to Alaska & california in 2005. I keep my LPn License active but am an RN now.

[jlynn325]

Aureus medical and nursesrx offer lpn/lvn assignments. Congrats and good luck!

[ERRNTraveler, RN]

RN Network has travel assignments for LPN's. You won't find nearly as many LPN assignments as RN assignments, but if you're flexible about where you're willing to travel to, it can be done.

[suzanne4, RN]

There are assignments in the US for LPNs/LVNs, just not near as many as there are for RNs. And only a much smaller number of agencies have contracts.

As far as travel assignments out of the US, that is not going to happen. Most countries do not license LPNs in the first place and then there is the issue with immigration that you would have to go thru and most only take RNs.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

The only place that I know for sure that an LPN can go is the bahamas and it is a bit of a culture shock to work there. I heve been traveling on and off for 12 plus years as an LPN. You have to be more flexible but there are plenty of assignments. Just got a call for Vermont, Las Vegas and Hawaii