traveling nurse

bill4745, RN · Jan 10, 2010

Even if they are it would not be a good way to start working as a hospital nurse. You need an orientation where you can learn about time management, protocols, etc. It might take several weeks before you would be able to work on your own. When working for an agency, the hospital expects you to begin working on your own immediately.

Nursebarebari · Jan 10, 2010

For a new grad, I don't see how you can function even if they hire you. Better get something that will train you well. good luck.

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2010

I do not know of anyone who would hire a new grad.

That's NUTS.

Who is going to train the new grad, pray tell?

A traveling nurse is WAY up to speed the minute he/she hits the floor.

Just needs to learn policies and documentation.

THAT is it.

poopyhead · Jan 10, 2010

i agree with above 2 inputs. it's very true that u need to be very handy with the skills and time management to be travelling nurse as there's no orientation. the hospitals expect you to be fully functional on ur first day of work. all the best..

aflac381 · Jan 10, 2010

OK, sure. No problem. I was just curios because I have seen advertisements for traveling nurse agencies accepting new grads.

roser13, ASN, RN · Jan 11, 2010

Keep in mind that even if an agency would hire a new grad, that new grad would not likely enjoy the position. Registry nurses often get the heaviest (worst) assignments. They're often resented by the floor nurses who realize how much more the travellers are making. Help and cooperation may be nonexistent.

It would be a very, very tough job.

tumoriscancerous · Jan 11, 2010

that is unlikely and difficult.

shoegalRN, RN · Jan 11, 2010

I would not want to work for a travel agency that hires new grads. That's dangerous.

I know it's rough out there, but please keep applying for hospitals or LTC jobs. New grads need a formal orientation, and you will not get that working for an agency.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2010

I have heard that some traveling nurse agencies are now hiring new graduates? Is this true? If so, what are some traveling nurse agencies that are doing this?

No, no and uh, no.

First, traveling nurse agencies do not "hire" nurses at all...they contract nurses. That is, they gather data about you, ascertain you skills/qualifications, screen you, and "market" your profile to client facilities that you express interest in taking a position with and that you qualify for. It is up to those client facilities to decide whether they are interested in you and then they interview you. The agency facilitates this, and you get paid through them.

You can possibly put in resumes/profiles with dozens of agencies and they may accept them and put you on their rolls, but it does not mean that client facilities will be interested in it, nor that you will ever see a job. And if a client is not interested, you will not be able to book an assignment. And as a new grad, 97% will not even consider you for a assignment.....in a normal economy.

Right now, we are not in a "normal" economy, we are in a very serious recession. And we have a surplus of nurses, at a time when hospitals are cutting staff and expenses. This means cutting out travelers, who are very expensive....more so than staff nurses. So most hospitals have filled positions and do not need travelers. And if they absolutely must get a traveler, they want the best qualified possible for that expensive position, and they can pick and choose from thousands of unemployed, highly experienced traveler nurses. And there are TONS of highly skilled, experienced travelers out there, unemployed in this economy. All of which you are competing with. And while hospitals will train and precept staff, they do not train/precept travelers.

Next, as a new grad, you need to receive a good thorough orientation with an understanding preceptor and time to get used to being a nurse. NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU THINK YOUR EDUCATION IS, you need some time (preferably 2 or more years) of experience before you are prepared to practice with as little orientation/support as a traveler receives. While some clients used to accept travelers with as little as 1 year experience, most that can pick and choose want two to five years for many specialties, and they can get them, also.

I will tell that any client that accepts less experience than one year, and any agency that markets you with less, is dangerous, and I would not choose to work in that environment. And that in this economy, if a client facility accepts new grad travelers, that facility does so, because their rep is so bad, that no one with experience will work there. Not a good situation.

Please read the hundreds(probably thousands) of threads on travel nursing. They will tell you much the same.