travelling w/ 2-3 yrs under your belt??

MissAnthrope · Jul 23, 2008

Just started traveling (on my first assignment) and so far I like traveling...great pay and not being tied down anywhere. That being said, I find travel is the ultimate test of how professional you can be. It sometimes takes a lot to bite your tongue and do as they do instead of how you may be used to doing it. And you have to be respectful of the permanent staff, for various reasons, because of their knowledge and expertise, and because there are those who inevitably may resent you or pre-judge you. You can't change their mind, only your behavior. For thirteen weeks, its a short time to just smile and nod!

DemarsGirl · Jul 29, 2008

I had about two years experience prior to traveling. I'm on my first assignment, and I like it a lot. For me, the nursing part isn't the hard part it is the paperwork. However, that is easier after a few days on the job. I help out others when I can and I don't get involved in the politics of the hospital. Plus it is a resume builder like none other if you want it to be. I'm single with no kids and no obligations so to me this is the best thing I have ever done besides go to school. And if there ever is an assignment that really stinks, I can leave in 13wks. HTH

HD-RN · Jul 29, 2008

thankssomuch.... thats exactly what i wanted to hear :)

if you dont mind me asking (you can PM me or whatever) what agency do you travel with?

DemarsGirl · Jul 29, 2008

I talk to a few agencies. I'm with Preferred on assignment right now. I don't have enough posts to PM

txmish · Nov 10, 2008

I agree. I started with a little less than 2 years and I love it! I feel like I have become such a stronger nurse and have gained some much more valuable lessons. Every hospital I go to does something a little different and it is soo interesting to learn why they think their way is "better".

I also love getting to go to different cities and experiences different cultures. I would highly suggest everyone to go and do it!

julzhere · Nov 13, 2008

I had 1 year experience when I started traveling. My first agency/recruiter experience was good (I thought at the time), but looking back it's probably good I didn't know much about it or I won't have taken the assignment. My recruiter was new and convinced me that 1 year is plenty of experience - and she was right. I learned so much once I started traveling - including what to look for in a recruiter. My experiences in the 6 hospitals I've contracted with in the last 2 1/2 years have been, for the most part, very good. I have learned so much more than I would have if I'd stayed at the small hospital I started at. I've seen things I never would have seen there and learned so many different ways to do the same thing or refer to the same equipment. I would say 99% of the staff I've worked with has been good and very accepting of travelers, and the help and experience they bring, and the other 1% I don't pay any attention to. Yes, you get floated more (which can be difficult) but I've also learned from different floors I've been floated to within my assignment. I've never had a problem with being expected to care for patients I'm not qualified to care for, and I've never hesitated to speak up if that was the case. My attitude has always been to just go in and do my job with as little complaining as possible and to make sure first and foremost that my patients are taken care of in a professional manner. I've had very few problems and, actually, have been able to discuss these situations with management with good results. The one thing I worry about the most, which has gotten better for me also, is starting IVs. My first year of nursing, I started very few because we were always so !?!? busy, that the charge or supervisor would do IV's when needed. Most of my travel assignments have IV teams, so, needless to say, my IV experience is lacking. However, I've found honesty to be the best policy here and it really hasn't been a problem for me. Good luck with all your new experiences - there will be many.

dopaminequeenRN · Nov 22, 2008

OMG! I'm not the only one with an IV phobia!? Starting IV's is one of the major concerns I have regarding traveling because in the ICU, my patients usually have central lines and if I need an IV, I grab one of the old veterans! I have not taken a travel assignment yet, and I'm glad to know there will be IV teams out there!

tatarn2b2007 · Nov 22, 2008

Hi. I too am awful at ivs and I dread having to put one in!! My home state had iv teams and my current state does not, which was a huge shocker to me! Anyway, I have 6 months of med/surg and one year icu. Do you think I will be ok? I think I will be because I have an open mind and really want to learn. I just want to hear what other's have to say. Thanks!

JBizzleRN, ADN, RN · Nov 22, 2008

IV teams! Oh my that would be a dream.. With our 8-9 pts we start or own IVs and we have to draw our morning labs..so needless to say we get plenty of that experience.

julzhere · Nov 22, 2008

JBizzleRN - What state do you work in? (oops, I see it's Mississippi?) Wow - 8 to 9 patients are to many to care for. You must be awfully tired at the end of your day - physically and mentally. I hope you have good CNAs - maybe LPNs to help????? OMG!! That's one of the things I've learned to be careful of when I think I want to travel "anywhere."

As far as the IV phobia, I've gotten better. I ask during my interview if they have an IV team, but I don't dwell on it when talking with the nurse manager, or whoever is doing the interviewing. I'm honest about my ability when I fill out the skills test to sign with an agency, and I read up on it before an assignment to jog my memory. When others are putting in IVs, I try to watch, if time allows and get any pointers I can. If it comes to the point that one of my patients needs one and there is no IV team I have, so far, been able to get someone to do it for me - sometimes helping with someone else's patient while they do this for me. At the last hospital I worked in, they actually had a few charge RNs who preferred to start IVs because they were good and it caused less stress for the patient. All in all, it hasn't (so far) been a problem for me and I find the best thing to do is be honest about your ability. I also find there are a lot of people out there with little or no experience themselves. I know the day will come when I'll have to attempt a start on my own and I'll approach the patient as if I know what I'm doing and, hopefully, will be successful. One thing I won't do is keep sticking the patient until I'm successful - one try will probably be it - I'm not gonna make a pin cushion out of my patient. I think starting IVs is a lot like many other things in nursing - very intimidating until you learn and start doing it, and then it's not such a big deal.

JBizzleRN, ADN, RN · Nov 23, 2008

Yes, Mississippi...LPNs? I WISH....CNA'S we are lucky to have one for all 33 patients on the floor.