Traveling Too Soon?

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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!

Specializes in M/S.

I have been a nurse on Med/surg for 2 1/2 years. (1 1/2 as LPN):nurse: I am single no kids and looking for more. Would love to get more experience and expand my knowledge of nursing. I don't get to see much in the small rural hospital I work at now and I don't get to float to other units much. I feel like I am in a rut and need a change of pace and this little town has nothing socially for me either:yawn:. Was wondering if I could get some advice from some of the veteran travelers about my situation. I have looked into and applied to a couple of agencies. I would like to start out close by my home, a few hundred miles. :uhoh3:

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I think you would be able to take a psych assignment without a problem. I think the added experience in Med/Surg would help you find a position. Honestly I have know idea what the demand for psych nurses is. If you are considering med/surg here is my opinion---->

Yes you can travel most med/surg with 8 months experience (especially since you had other nursing experience before that). You are expected to know how to do the job from the first second you walk in the door and you are expected to know the charting system, and flow of the unit after a day or two of orientation. I know nurses that traveled after 8 months that did a better job than travelers with 8 years of experience. Will you be hired?.....this is where it gets tricky. I had 8 months of RN experience (plus 2 years of LPN experience doing the same job) before I started traveling. When you get an interview you are competing with people with more experience in the specialty listed and you might find getting a position is a little harder than expected. The first assignment I took was a nightmare. Looking back I realize that the interview (or lack of one) had many clues on why I should have passed on this assignment and why many people who knew better probably did pass on this assignment. I was just happy I got an interview because I only had "8 mo experience." Just be careful before you accept an assignment that you know what to expect. If you do end up with an assignment you don't like just remember it is only 13 weeks, and having that on your resume will open your possibilities to more ideal assignments.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg.

Thanks, everyone, for your input. Any recommendations for travel nurse companies with Psych positions?

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Specializes in Tele/ICU/MedSurg/Peds/SubAcute/LTC/Alz.

I didn't do travel assignments until I was a nurse for two years. But, I do know some agencies will take a year acute care experience.

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