Traveling Too Soon?

Specialties Travel

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg.

I am wanting to travel, but my experience includes 8 mos. Med/Surg and a year Psych. I love Psych and really don't want to do anything else. I would appreciate any input as to whether or not I have enough experience to travel. Also, recommendations as to companies who have a lot of Psych assignments would be greatly appreciated!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

When you travel, you are given little to no orientation: you are expected to jump into the fray and make it. Doubt 8 months is enough. I've worked with many travel nurses and usually 2 years is what you need in order to feel comfortable. I would be very leery of any agency and/or hospital that would accept 8 months experience...you're the one on the line.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg.
When you travel, you are given little to no orientation: you are expected to jump into the fray and make it. Doubt 8 months is enough. I've worked with many travel nurses and usually 2 years is what you need in order to feel comfortable. I would be very leery of any agency and/or hospital that would accept 8 months experience...you're the one on the line.

What about a Psych assignment? Do you feel that a year in Psych is enough experience?

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I would stick it out 4 more months in ms. You could probably find some psych jobs with your experience, but they might be somewhat limited. Once you have a year in each specialty you could probably find plenty of work. You would be very versatile. Good luck.

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I don't think there are many hospitals that would take you with less than a year's experience either...

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Hang in there, I started traveling with only 10 months M/S experience as an RN. There should no problem if you are able to adjust quickly to new experiences. I am on my second contract now and still enjoying traveling.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg.
Hang in there, I started traveling with only 10 months M/S experience as an RN. There should no problem if you are able to adjust quickly to new experiences. I am on my second contract now and still enjoying traveling.

So you weren't overwhelmed on your first assignment? What type of facility were you sent to? I would be so afraid to take an assignment with only 8 mos. med/surg. I left that hospital feeling like I had so much to learn!

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No, I wasn't overwhelmed....nervous, yes! My first assignment was on a very busy post op/m/s floor in Charleston, SC. All the charting was on computer, all the meds were done by scanning....it was alot, but I see everything as a challenge. Before traveling, I worked in a small rural hospital on the M/s floor and it was very busy there because we got anything that didn't fit into L/D, ICU, psych, and peds, even though we got the overflow from peds sometime. So, I dug in and by my third week, the floor manager was asking me to renew my contract. Flexibility is key!

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Specializes in Adult & Peds psych, PICU, nsg mgmt.

Hey, MSUnurse:

I have 7 mos med/tele experience and will have a year in psych in Jan '09. I plan to start traveling at that point... in psych, because I feel totally confortable and competent. So, good luck finding an assignment and I hope to hear that you love it!

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Specializes in psychiatry.

She doesn't have less than a year experience. She has 8 months in med surg and one year in psych. Psych, being where she would like to work.

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I had 6 months med-surg and 9 months tele experience when I started travel nursing. That was 10 years ago. I didn't know what to expect. Man was I nervous. But I love what I do and I am a workaholic so adapting wasn't a problem. I think it is my love of learning and pride in being a nurse that has made traveling easy for me. Just remember what kerrielynRN has already stated. Be Flexible because even in our permanent jobs nothing is ideal.

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Hey,

I just started traveling after about two years of med/surg/ortho experience. I haven't had the offers that some of my fellow nurses with more diverse experience. I have accepted one more assignment and afterwards am going back to the floor for more experience. More experience does work in your favor and gives your more opportunities. Also, as a traveler, you are hired to know, not to be taught.

I would get more med/surg experience.

Good luck

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