Traveling LVN's?

feisty_lpn, LPN · May 9, 2007

I was interested in travel nursing as well... but with local contracts. Never found an agency that hired LPNs for contract assignments.

Most agencies require at least 6 months experience.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 9, 2007

Hi Guys,
So, do WE have Traveling Nurses Agencies as well, or is that reserved for the realm of the RN? :trout:
How do NEW GRADS fit into this picture? Is it strictly for nurses with "experience"?

Travelers of ANY kind (RN or LPN) need to have at least one year of RN/LPN experience, preferably 2 or 3, before traveling. In some specialties, most facilities will not accept without 2-5 years.

There are agencies that will accept less; However, that does not mean that they can find you a placement. Not to mention that a facility that accepts you with less, probably is not one that you want to work for.

Travelers have to hit the floor running with very little orientation. No matter how good your school was, nurses need to "intern" for a while before they really can work full on.

Also, many facilities are choosing to do PBDS testing, or other types of tests, that nurses without any experience are not prepared to pass. Say that you go cross country, get settled in and then fail the testing. You will have your assignment cancelled and 48 hours to leave.

LPNs can travel but their opportunities are more limited than RNs, basically because there is not the same demand. Do not chalk it up to discrimination or attitude - it has purely to do with market forces. There is not the shortage of LPNs to necessitate paying the amount of money that they pay for travelers.

Brownms46 · May 20, 2007

There are many agencies that use LPNs, but you have to be flexible, and have extensive experience in order to stay busy. I worked as a traveler for 12 yrs, and I recruited both LPNs and RN as a recruiter. NO nurse should ever take an assignment without at least one year of experience. Many hospitals will not take a traveler with less than 2 years experience, and many want as many as five years experience.

You are expected to hit the ground running, with as little as one to two hr orientation in many cases. Travel contracts want nurses who do not need hand holding, and can hit the ground running from day one.

I believe any nurses who is not extremely confident in their skills, should not be a traveler!