Travel Nursing

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2011

Please review the numerous numerous threads on this same topic.

Reputable travel groups do not take travelers with less than one year experience as an RN for an RN position in a speciality.

Now if you were going for a position, very similar to what you have been doing, maybe.

Lower tier companies sometimes take anyone.

Having said that, just because a company takes your app and signs you up, does not mean that you will get an assignment out of it.

The vast majority of good assignment hospitals require a minimum of one years experience as an RN in your specialty, before they will even look at an app. Most want two or more solid years.

There are facilities that accept less, ........generally because no else will work there. Most will not provide adequate and safe orientation.

Currently, there are very few jobs and many, many experienced travelers that surpass those qualifications out there. Thus, competition is stiff for the few positions available.

There are facilities that accept less, but most do not recommend working for them.

LR59 · Sep 7, 2011

I agree with above post lower tier companies may take you on , raise your hopes and not find you a position or else put you in an unsafe place. Please be careful GOOD LUCK

Columnist · Sep 7, 2011

Moved to Travel Nursing.

RNERHOUSESUPOR · Sep 7, 2011

I did in 1989. Went from small town Iowa to the Bay Area in California for my first "actual Nursing Job". I was much younger then.

I have done well in Travel Nursing and have worked all over the country. I have had a several "return engagements". I would do it again. Do I recommend it? Probably not. The nursing climate is quite different now. I have seen more "Travelers" let go in the past year for "failure to live up to the expectation of a Travel Nurse" than in my entire career. I started off in Emergency Nursing and am currently in Peri Operative Nursing. I had 8 years of Emergency Care experience in a very evolving field when I started. I was the 260th Paramedic in the State of Iowa and worked with some of the single digit Paramedics. It was in the days when Private Dr's. actually came in to see their Patients in the ER and some would talk to them on the phone and send them home. You won't see that now. You also didn't see new Grads in the OR back then. I have worked with many since changing from ER to OR.

I was going to say yes it can be done but then I thought about my Paramedic vs your LPN. As a Paramedic in the ER I was able to preform all duties of an RN and was able to use Advanced Airway management in the ER that the RN's were not allowed. I also didn't have to have an RN cosign my records. I was able to function as a Paramedic in the ER as I did in the Pre Hospital setting. Don't know if that is still common practice. Do your best and good luck in what ever field you choose. I will disagree about "Reputable Companies" because I only worked with one company that I don't think is "Reputable" and it is one of the largest in the field.

Rod