Travel Nusing with this economy!?

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Hello all! I am very interested in travel nursing in the next year or so. I've only been a nurse for 9 months now and I'm waiting to get some more experience before I start travel nursing. (How much experience do you think I should go before starting? 1 year? 18 months? 2 years?) People have been telling me that travel nursing is almost non-existent now because of the state of the economy and I was just wondering if people were having problems getting travel assignments. Also, I work in peds and I've heard that most agencies want you to have ICU experience. Is it possible just to travel with peds and not peds ICU? Please let me know if you guys know any info regarding these topics. Thanks! :)

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Specializes in SICU, Neuro ICU, Trauma ICU, CCU.

Don't know about traveling with peds experience. Picking is pretty slim for travel jobs right now.

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Specializes in Adult M/S.

It's very tight right now. I started travelling this past October and at that time my agency, CC, had something like 20 positions for a med/surg Peds RN. Today there are 4 jobs and two of those are for summer camps starting in July. I had an application in for a Peds/med surg position at UC San Fran but my current contract ends 1 week after the hospital needed some one. Although my agency was told I'd be a good match I wasn't called for an interview. There were 50 other applicants for the job. I am luckcy to be at a hospital that has continuing needs and I've extened x2. I am really wanting to move elsewhere but it's so tight. I've talked with other travellers and they too are having difficulty. Perhaps by the summer or next respiratory season things will open up. BTW When I started travelling I had 2 yrs Peds med/surg experience at an acute care hospital. Definitly, you'll have better opportunities and pay if you have PICU experience of at least 1yr. My rec. learn as much as you can where you are now. Get good references. Get experiecne in PICU if you can.

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Specializes in ICU, CCU, ER, PACU, tele, PSYCH.

I've been traveling for over 8 yrs and it is bad now, agencys state they have jobs but by the time they call you and you ok to submit and they submit your profile the job it is already taken. I talked to my recuriter and se honestly stated that she didnt have anything, scary.. There are lots of per deium wk which wont give me benefits and tax free money but a job is a job. The hosp I'm at now on contract is not rehiring contract and increasing icu patient ratio scary, glad I'm getting out of there.

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Hi there! I have posted a similiar thread and I have 2 years exp. with adult MS. I asked my recruiter what she thinks the chances are with my exp that I will find something by July 1st and she said if I had any less than 2 yrs she would not feel good about it but b/c I have over 2 yrs she thinks the chances are pretty good. I agree witht the other poster above, learn as much as you can, try to get an award or 2, maybe even certifications to make yourself stand out. Good luck. If you do decide to travel I recommend PPR. They are a small company and I'll be honest they dont have the best pay rate but they do offer great housing and other little perks. Good luck!!

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