travel nursing with no experience

Updated:   Published

Hello..

I am about to graduate an LPN program and am interested in traveling. But, everything I have found says you need at least a years experience to be a travel LPN. I have 3 years of experience working as a CNA/tech.. but I am not sure if that makes a difference. Are there any travel agencies that hire new grads?

I would appreciate any advice that anymore could give me! Thanks in advance!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

All travel opportunities I have EVER seen are for experienced RNs. I've never seen a travel job for an LPN, or which does not require experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would like some information on this as well...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Following

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

I wonder what an inexperienced nurse has to offer an employer besides a license and a warm body?

Not trying to be rude, just wondering...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

The thing about travel nursing is this: Employers who employ travel nurses pay a LOT of money for an experienced nurse who can hit the ground running. Often, the orientation period for a travel job is one day. ONE. DAY. Enough time to be introduced to the computer system and a couple of key policies, set up PYXIS access and learn the layout of the unit.

After this orientation, the travel nurse is expected to be a fully functioning member of the staff for a period of 6-13 weeks.

So as you can see, a new grad could never fill this role.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Its understandable why they would need someone experienced to do travel nursing. To be put in a new environment regularly along with different nursing situations/duties that you would independently have to deal with does not sound fun or doable for someone with no actual nursing experience. Unless you are somehow very competent with nursing straight out of school. There is a lot to learn out in the real world of nursing and im only saying this because I have a few years of experience and I still wouldnt feel comfortable enough to do travel nursing....though the idea of traveling sounds awesome :) I personally would want med/surg hospital experience before taking that on. Congrats on your soon to come graduation!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I've done travel nursing as an RN in the ER. I did it with 10 years level one trauma center experience and it was still stressful. Yes, you have to hit the ground running. Its definitely not for the faint of the heart or the inexperienced.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a health screener LPN, and we travel. We go in to companies and set up little health screening clinics. We do height, weight, BP, BMI & waist measurement, & cholesterol checks. It's fun & easy, & good hourly pay. You can work for multiple companies doing this. Not sure if you're interested in this type of nursing, but if so, go online and type health screener nursing jobs, or biometric screening nurse jobs. You usually only have to have 6 months- 1 year of nursing experience. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I am a health screener LPN, and we travel. We go in to companies and set up little health screening clinics. We do height, weight, BP, BMI & waist measurement, & cholesterol checks. It's fun & easy, & good hourly pay. You can work for multiple companies doing this. Not sure if you're interested in this type of nursing, but if so, go online and type health screener nursing jobs, or biometric screening nurse jobs. You usually only have to have 6 months- 1 year of nursing experience. Good luck!

Traveling as a health screener is not the same as a travel nurse. A travel nurse goes on 13+ week assignments to different areas of the country. The nurse is expected to be highly skilled & experienced in a specialty area whether it be med/surg, ED, L&D, OR, critical care or otherwise. Orientation is to facility policy, create ID & user names for pharmacy & EMR. Most travelers work in a hospital setting. You must be able to get a license quickly in the state where you are working (at the nurse's expense). There are very few travel jobs for LPN/LVN partly due to the wide variety of scope of practice between states. The few LPN travel jobs I have seen were for nurses experienced in dialysis (not within LPN scope of practice in many states) and experienced LTC/sub acute LPNs.

I've never seen a staffing or travel agency willing to consider a new grad nurse (RN or LPN) with less than a year experience. Most require 2+ years and specialty experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Traveling as a health screener is not the same as a travel nurse. A travel nurse goes on 13+ week assignments to different areas of the country. The nurse is expected to be highly skilled & experienced in a specialty area whether it be med/surg, ED, L&D, OR, critical care or otherwise. Orientation is to facility policy, create ID & user names for pharmacy & EMR. Most travelers work in a hospital setting. You must be able to get a license quickly in the state where you are working (at the nurse's expense). There are very few travel jobs for LPN/LVN partly due to the wide variety of scope of practice between states. The few LPN travel jobs I have seen were for nurses experienced in dialysis (not within LPN scope of practice in many states) and experienced LTC/sub acute LPNs.

I've never seen a staffing or travel agency willing to consider a new grad nurse (RN or LPN) with less than a year experience. Most require 2+ years and specialty experience.

Yes, I already know what travel nurses do. My cousin is an RN travel nurse in California. My point was, since she isn't an RN, and has little nursing experience, she may not be able to find a travel nurse job. I was just throwing the health screener idea out there, since she was interested in traveling... My company pays for our gas & hotels, and many nurses I work with travel every week with the health screening and really like it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Yes, I already know what travel nurses do. My cousin is an RN travel nurse in California. My point was, since she isn't an RN, and has little nursing experience, she may not be able to find a travel nurse job. I was just throwing the health screener idea out there, since she was interested in traveling... My company pays for our gas & hotels, and many nurses I work with travel every week with the health screening and really like it.

I think health screener is a great opportunity for someone who doesn't want to work in a "traditional" environment like hospital, LTC or subacute. Not as " on your own" as private duty or home health but you are still utilizing your assessment & clinical skills more than one would think when hearing the job title.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion