Do I know enough?

Billy5949 · Mar 4, 2007

How long have you been an RN in your specialty? I was only a nurse for one year prior to traveling -talk about skimpy resume! Why don't you contact a travel company and see what they say? They don't really use resumes anyhow. They have you fill out an application and skills checklist. Then, they present your info to hospitals, and those interested contact them back. Then you talk/interview with the facility to see if it's a match. Just be honest. And the hospitals reviewing your info try to make sure you're a fit as well. No wants a mis-match and a horrible 3 months. I was extremely careful on my first assignment -and I had a wonderful experience. Now I am looking for the next assignment, and again with the self-doubt: Will I be good enough? Do I know enough? and blah blah. Truth is that we probably never know enough, and never will. So go for it.

didilynn · Mar 4, 2007

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. It was very encouraging. I will definitely keep it in mind. :wink2: Ironically, I just interviewed at my local hospital for a job in oncology...I worked in Hospice for 3 years...and they told me I don't have enough experience. I think it was just a case of poor interviewing on my part and theirs. I plan to get back in touch to iron it out. If I were them I would hire me in a heart beat and then work to get me up to speed. Nurses should help their young meet the challenges in the field, rather than eating them!

nsFAMU · Mar 12, 2007

I'm on my first assignment right now. I started Feb 8th and I had exactly 1yr and 2 days of experience. Im from Florida but I'm in the ER in St. Louis, Mo for 13 weeks. You can never know everything and even the people who have worked there for years still ask questions. Besides u wont be their first traveler and you wont be their last.

moonrose2u · Mar 22, 2007

nsFAMU:

did you have 1 yr as ER nurse? or was this a complete change for you? if so, how was it accepted at your assignment? did the agency agree to present you as RN wanting to learn ED?

nsFAMU · Mar 22, 2007

nsFAMU:
did you have 1 yr as ER nurse? or was this a complete change for you? if so, how was it accepted at your assignment? did the agency agree to present you as RN wanting to learn ED?

I started in the ER as a new grad so I have just 1yr nursing experience all together. No one here has said anything about my experience. I'm expected function like everyone else and I do. No they didnt present me like that. It took a while to get an assignment because it was hard getting in touch with managers and because some places wanted more experience. I was actually about to give up or maybe try applying for med-surg but my recruiter said I'm going to get you an assignment. I actually was offered a job in a 6 bed North Carolina ER where I would be the only nurse! There was no secetary, tech or registration but they only saw around 10pts a day. I turned it down because I wanted to be in a big city. The manager at this hospital and the one in NC were very confident in me.

moonrose2u · Mar 23, 2007

i started in the er as a new grad so i have just 1yr nursing experience all together. no one here has said anything about my experience. i'm expected function like everyone else and i do. no they didnt present me like that. it took a while to get an assignment because it was hard getting in touch with managers and because some places wanted more experience. i was actually about to give up or maybe try applying for med-surg but my recruiter said i'm going to get you an assignment. i actually was offered a job in a 6 bed north carolina er where i would be the only nurse! there was no secetary, tech or registration but they only saw around 10pts a day. i turned it down because i wanted to be in a big city. the manager at this hospital and the one in nc were very confident in me.

well, it speaks volumes of your abilities for nm to place that much confidence in you! however, to be placed in an ed without a secy or tech would frighten even them most experienced of nurses! certainly the administration doesn't view avoidance of potential lawsuits for the staff and facility as priority. unbelievable! :eek: