Travel nursing experience

swater · Apr 5, 2005

To be a traveling nurse, is it true that you MUST have at least one year of experience?

Most Traveling Nurse agencies want at least a year, at least the ones I have talk to.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 5, 2005

I personally think that you should have at least two. You will not get any orientation to speak of atht efacility, other than just extreme basics. you need ot be able to hit the floor running.........

Same thing with working local agency in your area..

live4today, RN · Apr 5, 2005

I started doing travel nursing one year and five months after graduation. I would not attempt to do travel nursing without at least one year's experience. :)

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2005

To be a traveling nurse, is it true that you MUST have at least one year of experience?

Any agency that would take someone with less....should be closed down.

I personally think that they should require 2 years or more for traveling.

swater · Apr 5, 2005

Why do you think they need at least 2yrs. I had learned alot in a year.

: :no: :no: :no: :

Any agency that would take someone with less....should be closed down.
I personally think that they should require 2 years or more for traveling.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 5, 2005

You probably have been practicing in one facility. Things are done differently in different states and parts of the country.......you need to be able to adjust rather quickly.

Could you just walk in to a facility where you have never been, get no orientation, and begin working?

I highly suggest that any of you think that it is something easy to do, try working local agnecy in your area for a few shifts. And not at a sister facility to one where you are currrently employed.

Then come back and post..........You will ge the picture.

You can't learn everything in one year........sorry.....there is so much that you haven't seen yet.

swater · Apr 5, 2005

I have worked for an agency and yes you are right they just throw you in on the floor, but I guess I have been lucky because the other nurses have been willing to help if I come across somethink I am unsure of. I started doing this about 1yr after graduation. No I never said it was easy challenging maybe. :smackingf

You probably have been practicing in one facility. Things are done differently in different states and parts of the country.......you need to be able to adjust rather quickly.
Could you just walk in to a facility where you have never been, get no orientation, and begin working?
I highly suggest that any of you think that it is something easy to do, try working local agnecy in your area for a few shifts. And not at a sister facility to one where you are currrently employed.
Then come back and post..........You will ge the picture.
You can't learn everything in one year........sorry.....there is so much that you haven't seen yet.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2005

Why do you think they need at least 2yrs. I had learned alot in a year.

And you will have learned oh sooo much more in two.

swater · Apr 7, 2005

I agree with you on that I learn something new everytime I walk into a different facility

sway · Apr 8, 2005

I've been a nurse for just about 2 years, all of it in an ICU. I would like to work as a travler sometime in the near future, and am wondering how much experience most hospitals require their travlers to have. Most travel companies give me the standard "one year" answer, but it seems like most of the travlers I work with have much more. Also, just because a travel company will work with you doesn't mean a hospital will want to hire you.

Also, most of the travlers I work with refuse to take fresh hearts, mostly due to the politics involved. Do most places require you to take fresh hearts?

Thanks...

twograce · Apr 8, 2005

actually some agencies will take you at 6 months. it depends on how hard up they are for nurses. you can learn alot on the road and when you quit learning you may as well quit all together. course i had lots more experience before i went on the road but i wouldnt trade a day of it for anything. still like to travel but age is catching me now. i love traveling, making new friends and klearning new ideas. call intelistaf or msn or mra check it out.

To be a traveling nurse, is it true that you MUST have at least one year of experience?