Travelling OR RN career?

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Hello. I have been an OR nurse now for almost 2 years and I have been working specifically in neurosurgery. I've gotten somewhat comfortable in my field and our educator's been considering/pushing some of us to go for our CNOR, in which I don't see the point in getting since I hear that it doesn't really increase our pay raise(though I guess it does look good on the resume?). Anyway, I was looking into the whole travelling nurse path for the OR. I was wondering if anyone enjoys it? What are the pros and cons? I have minimal trauma OR experience as well, considering the hospital I work at is a level III. Would they have limited options for them to put me anywhere nationally? I just need some advice please. I was thinking of leaving after a 3rd year...or moving up to a level I center to gain some expertise.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

If you want to travel, absolutely go for it. There are plenty of travel positions

for just about every type of nursing specialty. I have looked into travelling

myself, in the past. Haven't done it yet. But you shouldn't have any problem.

Now, don't necessarily expect to get sent to exotic places such as the Virgin

Islands, but if you just want to do contracts throughout the US... absolutely.

I was offered a position in Hawaii actually, but I was told I would have

difficulty getting a license for HI because of a prior misdemeanor.

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Hello Kaekd,

I'm a recruiter so I can't help you with the perspective of a travel nurse, but hopefully I can shed some light on the recruiter side of things. If you're looking into traveling getting your CNOR is going to help you stand out from all the other competition. The OR specialty is currently one of the highest paying specialties for travelers, but it also has some of the most competition. The recruiting process for first time travelers is going to be overwhelming, when you put your information out there you will be bombarded with calls, texts, and emails from hundreds of companies at once. Make sure you have a good list of questions to ask each recruiter/company to make sure that they are not taking advantage of you and you're getting the best offer possible. I'd check out the group "Traveler Talk" on Facebook and the "Gypsy Nurse" website. Both of these communities have wonderful resources for first time travelers and what to expect. You'll also be able to talk to full time travelers who do it for a living and their perspective of it. Hopefully this helps, if you have any other questions/concerns please let me know! Good luck in your adventures!

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A real and dedicated trauma OR kept staffed and open is a rare beast found only in large inner city hospitals to the best of my knowledge. I only have ever seen one at Jackson Memorial in Miami, and of course Shock Trauma at University of Maryland where I had my first (and only) staff job a couple hundred yards away in the main OR. Never saw it, completely different staff. I've worked in a lot of large hospitals in 20 plus years of traveling. You will usually be required to take call, but community hospitals will usually bypass difficult cases, if they have to take, stabilize and ship. You will have lots of ortho trauma, and occasional abdominal, thoracic, and crani depending on surgeons on call. Don't worry about it, but you should have at least rotated through those services, right?

CNOR does look good on a resume and tends to indicate some striving towards professionalism to a manager. It says nothing about your actual capabilities of course. Get ACLS for the same reason (a few hospitals will require it anyway).

Level 1? Only if you gain experience and depth in additional services. Don't bother for just the trauma status.

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Specializes in Progressive, Intermediate Care, and Stepdown.

Thanks for the Traveler Talk shout out! I am very happy people are finding it useful! There is a TON of great information in there! :)

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I enjoy it!

(+) strengthen your skills, get to travel

(-) every hospital is different (could be mean/poor staff and have different names for instruments)

I don't think you need trauma experience, but if you would like you can do non trauma hospitals (level 2) for a bit to help prepare you. CNOR AND ACLS look amazing too! I'd get it! Best of luck!

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