Traveling NPs? Is there such a thing?

Asystole RN · Sep 13, 2016

Yes there are traveling NPs. I have not met many but I have met some.

reggaemuffin, MSN, NP, CNS · Sep 13, 2016

Also in regards to the NP program- you may be able to take classes online but you will need to complete clinical rotations (500 hours give or take) in any NP program. It would be exceedingly difficult to do working full time- although people have done it. Usually they work weekends or nights though. Just something to think about when making your decision.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2016

Moved to the Nurse Practitioners forum for more feedback.

guest769224 · Sep 13, 2016

travelingnp dot com

aprnKate · Sep 15, 2016

Yes! there are such a thing as traveling NPs. I am one! and it has been an AWESOME experience! as long as you are open to traveling to other states as well and open to all sorts of hours and different practice environments. Keeping an open mind is best.

I highly suggest getting at least one year of experience in Family Medicine/Urgent care or whatever specialty you want to go into. Otherwise, you may end up having a very bad experience; I have had one nurse practitioner colleague who was a brand new NP grad and i even precepted her during the travel assignement but I had to leave earlier and she stayed because her assignment was not yet over and she did not cope and handle things well after I left. BUT if you are a strong NP student with an awesome background in ER or ICU RN for many years you may be able to handle it well.

The market is always different, I do it for Family Medicine/Internal Medicine/Peds, but there is also a high market for urgent care.

I say its an awesome experience because I wouldn't have thought of working in certain places and I met other traveling NPs and wonderful people along the way. I've always worked in rural settings where people don't want to go and some of these places are beautiful! its a hidden gem.

guest769224 · Sep 15, 2016

BUT if you are a strong NP student with an awesome background in ER or ICU RN for many years you may be able to handle it well.
The market is always different, I do it for Family Medicine/Internal Medicine/Peds, but there is also a high market for urgent care.

I have a few questions for you aprnKate.

Why do you consider years in ICU/ER to be enough to handle it well?

Can you describe the length of your average assignment? What's the shortest one you've ever taken?

Do agencies pay for housing, travel, etc., as they do for travel RN's? Do they provide a housing stipend?

If you are an FNP must you stick strictly with what you're experienced in? Or could you take dermatology, urology, ortho. assignments, etc.?

aprnKate · Sep 15, 2016

Why do you consider years in ICU/ER to be enough to handle it well?

I'm referring to someone who is a new grad NP wanting to travel right away. I consider these areas in the ICU/ER background to be able to handle it well because in the ER and ICU, you've been required to handle life threatening emergencies and you're more familiar and have been exposed to what a medical provider would order as far as diagnostics goes. NOT that I'm saying other RNs from other areas can't handle it and that if you have an ICU/ER background you won't have much of a learning curve because you will. I'm just saying that you may have an advantage because through the culmination of your experience as a ER/ ICU RN you know what a really sick person looks like and you'll have alarm bells in the back of your head that signals something is not right. Don't ask me for any research studies on this, this is just my opinion.

Most travel assignments expect you to hit the ground running. I didn't have a year's experience when I went to become a traveling NP, I had 10 months in a rural area in a walk in family practice where I was the sole provider. Most of my assignments have had a range of 2-10 days of training me with the computer, that's usually with you are contract with the government.

Can you describe the length of your average assignment? What's the shortest one you've ever taken?

My shortest one is 2 months, my longest one is 6 months.

Do agencies pay for housing, travel, etc., as they do for travel RN's? Do they provide a housing stipend?

So far, I've only worked for 2 companies. One is W2 and the other 1099. They both have provided me housing. The W2 offered me insurance, 401kâ€¦etc (I took the insurance, not the 401k) there is no paid time off, but I do have the liberty of taking 30 days off in between assignments without having my health insurance revoked, but if I did take more than 30 days off, I just have to reapply for the health insurance and its no biggie. The W2 also arranges my housing for me. Most of the time they give me options of what's around the area, if I want a hotel or apartmentâ€¦ etc. The 1099 provided me with housing stipend in which I would pay first and then they would reimburse me back and would suggest also what type of housing is in the area. I know some RNs have had to share housing but I've never had to share housing except one time because it was an extremely rural area and there was limited housing but the house was big and had a 4 bedroom with 2 baths; so we each had our own bathroom. Had to share it with a Pediatrician of the same sex and we worked together, but of course, they asked me first and I absolutely did not mind because we would plan hikes together off work and just bum off each other's clinical practice ideas. I had a lot of fun!

If you are an FNP must you stick strictly with what you're experienced in? Or could you take dermatology, urology, ortho. assignments, etc.?

Not necessarily. I'm sure you could take assignments in those specialties if there is someone who is willing to teach you and would open their arms to someone not specialized in that area. One of the companies I work with presented me to a Bariatrics NP temp position to cover for maternity leave in my hometown in TX and also a Family Medicine position in rural AZ at the same time, same pay. Went to the Bariatric clinic to check it out and they said they were willing to train me and they wanted me to shadow a NP for one day before I say yes. Went to shadow the NP -- It was interesting but I really wanted family medicine so I went to AZ instead.

My first traveling job was running a Flu Clinic... knew nothing about running a flu clinic... all I knew was I needed to read anything and everything about Flu vaccines...the different kinds, side effects, and about the Flu itself to educate patients. I went from there, I learned how to manage flu mass vaccinations in rural areas and take a step back to think what could be done to make it run better.

But hey, if you are considering to travel and you're feeling iffy about it. Find a good recruiter. It took me one month of talking to a recruiter before I said yes because I was afraid to step out of my comfort zone but I am glad I did it. I wrote down all the questions I had in my mind and my recruiter answered all my questions with his best efforts and also if he didn't know it, he would research it for me and get back with me in a timely manner. He also asks me what kind of practice I'm looking for. If you get a good one, he/she will keep an eye out for the best fit for you.

guest769224 · Sep 15, 2016

Thanks so much that was super informative and motivating. I currently work as an ICU RN and hope that the market still presents the same opportunities in a few years for locums tenens NP's as it does now, or improved. I just worry about pursuing NP sometimes because of how many nurses are doing the same thing. However, as a locums provider you could probably always find a way to keep your income earnings high due to geographic flexibility.

mzaur · Sep 15, 2016

"The first one is an MSN + RN program that lasts 15 months (it is accelerated)." -- ARe you sure this is an NP program? i've never heard of an accelerated NP program that short. There are MSN programs that leave you with the equivalent of an RN.

As for traveling domestically yes. I'm doing locums right now and working with Staffcare. Great company. I was talking to like 4 recruiters and they were the only ones actually communicating with me. I guess it's tough to find a good recruiter

aprnKate · Sep 16, 2016

Mzaur... I have not worked for Staff care but have heard great things about them. Where in the US have they placed you? Also... are they 1099 or W2? Just curious.

ChristCares · Sep 22, 2016

What is the typical pay (range would be fine) for traveling NPs?

Traveling RNs in my region (Wyoming/Colorado) tend to advertise $50s-$60s/hr. I've met a few RNs who work PT or PRN in a permanent role locally, and then when contract/travel positions open up in their local area, they take those, to improve their salary, and for the enjoyment of getting to gain experience in a wider variety of positions. This really appeals to me, as a mother of littles.

I'm wondering if this kind of approach is feasible with traveling/contract NP jobs. I would also be willing to move / travel possibly, if the pay was really good. Could you work with a recruiter, and only accept a couple positions a year that come up within a 100mi radius of your home town?

Thanks for any feedback. I'm in the same boat as the OP, and just trying to plan out my career path and select a school based on the long term plan.