Traveling and Learning

cadillac05 · Mar 6, 2006

Sounds like you're a bit frustrated with where you are. Is that the reason you want to 'travel'? If so, you'll probably find the same type of situation (to some degree) wherever you are. I am not trying to discourage you but think you should realize that people are people wherever they live.

What I liked most about traveling was seeing this beautiful country, learning about different cultures and meeting new people. Some were great; some were not. It helped to not get into the hospital politics and various complaints knowing that I would be somewhere else soon. That thought might help where you are.

Please know that you are comfortable with your skills before you decide to travel. You will be expected to go straight to work in most places--little or no orientation to the unit or facility.

Good luck with your search.

jansailsea · Mar 6, 2006

I'm a brand new LPN working in a hospital. Experienced & newer nurses have been helpful, friendly, & encouraging. NEVER has anyone discussed writing up another nurse unless serious, life threatening or injurious negligence was involved.

I've heard my fellow nurses say more than once, "We all make mistakes & we all have an 'off' night" or, "As long as the patient was not injured, file it in your 'I won't let that happen again file' & go on."

After all, nurses are frequently interrupted & it's rare to finish what you started in a consecutive manner.

I have not experienced a Nazi police state atmosphere & if I did, I would look elsewhere for employment. Anyplace where employees are encouraged to constantly find fault with one another, is NOT a place I want to work.

bagladyrn, RN · Mar 6, 2006

I've been an RN for 6 months and I desperately want to travel when I can meet the minimum requirements.
To experienced travelers -if you're unfamiliar with your facility-how likely are mistakes? More likely or the same as working somewhere for a while? What about write-up's? Like right now I work at what we refer to as the 'write-up unit'. Nurses thrive on writing one another up. (Well, there are a select few. ~8 of them). Days despise nights and vice versa. A huge civil war. Is this common practice in the profession? You know, I can understand some things: 100U of regular when it should've been 10U. Completely wrong med, completely wrong pt. But what about hanging a PB and forgeting to infuse? And I've never done this, but I've seen it written up by one nurse to another. What do you guys think?
And sometimes it seems as if facilities have unwritten protocol. Sometimes I feel like I forgot to an ESP course in school. Any similar feelings? Or have I been jaded? I want to travel, but at the same time the thought really makes me nervous. I'm sure travelers have very strong backbones.

This probably isn't what you are going to want to hear, but it's reality. I'm a long term traveler (9+ yrs) and you are more likely to be taken to task for mistakes as a traveler than as staff.

As a traveler, the expectation is that you have solid skills and experience and need a minimum of assistance and orientation on an assignment. Usual orientation is 1-2 shifts if you are lucky - may be none at all. This is why experience is required before becoming a traveler. You are there to assist them, not the other way around. If you make an error, depending upon the severity and the policy of the hospital, rather than being "written up" you may find your contract cancelled, leaving you a long way from home.

I say this not to scare you off traveling - it's a great lifestyle, but to emphasize how important it is to get solid experience and hone your skills before trying it! I've seen people try traveling without this and it's a bad experience for them as well as for the hospital they are at.