Travel Nursing

[DJ Thompson]

hey guys!

I am an RN BSN working on a trauma surgical ICU Stepdown at a level 1 trauma center in Greenville, NC. In July, I will have been a nurse for a full year and I am hoping to make the transition to travel nursing.

My question is this - is it possible to work up to the ICU as a travel nurse if I have ICU stepdown experience and the acuity is incredibly high? ICU is my goal but my hospital forces new grads to stay on the unit they were hired for a full year AFTER finishing orientation. I feel stuck and my salary is absolutely abysmal as a staff RN. So basically, I want to start travel nursing either in the ED or the ICU.

 

Does anyone have any advice for me? Specifically about getting travel nurse assignment in the ICU?

Thank you!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Moved to Travel Nursing for best responses. We have several nurses with experience who I’m sure will chip in. 

[NedRN]

You have to pay your dues. Bad idea to go into ICU traveling with zero experience even if possible. And even if possible, believe me, you don't want to take that assignment from hell that they would take someone unqualified.

Attitude reboot would be best. My first job was in Baltimore in 1992. Spent just under 3 years there at $15 an hour. Every year, I got a small merit raise, and then one more small raise to catch me up to new grad pay. I had just enough money saved after that time to buy a ten year old car to go traveling with (I'd highly recommend a better cash reserve). It was like a fifth career for me and the lowest paying by far. But I knew it would pay well eventually. Working in much of the South, including NC, kind of sucks pay wise. I knew that going in, but I was a new grad in a mild recession and had to take my search nationwide after I struck out in my school state of California (where new grads even in 1992 made $30+).

But clinically it was great. Teaching hospital, I rotated through all the specialties in the operating room, floated for a while, and joined the open heart team. Stayed extra to make sure I was confident in my skills, and tested them by doing agency at a couple other hospitals.

So I would recommend staying, and even a third year if it gets you into your goal of ICU. Having solid skills and confidence will really help you when you are thrown into a new hospital with new everything with little orientation and a maddening EMR. You will have plenty of stress without worrying about your clinical skills - and there will likely be updates to your clinical skills on every single travel assignment. 

So you really want to want to travel, for the lifestyle, and the continuing learning curve clinically and culturally. Not for the money. Hopefully the pandemic is over by the time you are ready to travel and those ridiculously high paying assignments will be gone allowing future travelers to make more rational decisions.

[AlyssaD0522, BSN]

I went to a ICU step down unit as a new grad, it’ll be two years in June. I’m starting my first travel assignment in 4 weeks in Georgia with Aya Healthcare. I say do it, definitely much more money than a staff job. I’d travel as a step down nurse first since it’s what you know. Some step down units have vents, some don’t kind of thing. You fill out a skills survey prior letting the hospital know what you’re experienced in/what you’d need assistance with.  If you ever don’t know something; just ask. I know zero people in Georgia but it’ll be an adventure for sure.