Published Mar 5, 2009
ORhopeful
18 Posts
I will be graduating with my BSN in 2011. I was wondering if it is possible to work as a travle nurse right out of school? I don't know if you need experience before you can become a travel nurse.
Valerie Salva, BSN, RN
1,793 Posts
All agencies and hospitals require one to two solid years in a speciality before you can travel.
I am a traveler and get very little orientation. When I float between facilities of the same health care company, I get no orientation at all. Travelers need to be very comfortable in their skills and to hit the ground running. I am often the only nurse in a unit, so I need to really know what I am doing.
Travel jobs are pretty scarce with the economy the way it is now. I've never seen it so dead out there.
RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN
399 Posts
yes...I did the travel thing for a short time......did one 8 week assignment in a correctional facility and didn't continue as I requested only psych after that. I had to have min one yer of psych --this being my specialty and one year min of medical as a basic requirement.
You honestly would not feel comfortable not having experience. The last poster was right...you get very little orientation or training.....pretty much just where things are--if that!! lol and a quick run through of their particular paperwork......and listen well as you won't get told more then once!! lol I found the nurses in the placement I was in not to be very friendly......I pretty much talked to the other travelers other then one or two regulars. They really did not want us there and trew us under the bus every chance they had for stupid little things. I found it not worth the poor treatment.
That is good to know. thank you so much.