Published Jan 20, 2019
BriannaJune
4 Posts
Hello,
I am a pedi nurse and will have 1 year of experience by the end of March. I am planning to stay on my current unit (inpatient acute care) at least 3 years, with the goal of transitioning into travel nursing after that. I'm trying to gather as much info about it now, so that when I'm ready to go, I have all my ducks in a row. Can anyone recommend a good travel nursing agency to look into? Any I should avoid? How far in advance should I start talking to an agency?
Any advice is welcome and appreciated! Thanks!
Brianna
NedRN
1 Article; 5,782 Posts
All agencies bad. Start with that. They are just a conduit for money and fundamentally don't care (you might argue the agencies started by nurses are an exception, but would be their marketing, not mine). Doesn't matter about the agency anyway, what you are looking for is good recruiters you communicate well with and trust.
I'd start about a year out. Pace yourself, but a year gives you time to talk to lots of recruiters. Lots of conversations will help you sort out who is being straight with you, and who you don't want to have your phone number. Pick the best five to actually fill out the paperwork with.
Finally, there is a way to shortcut some of that with an intense couple of days at the annual Travelers Conference in Las Vegas in September. Besides lots of lectures and workshops on all things travel, 15 or 20 agencies with several recruiters each will be there and you can connect face to face. I'd still do a lot of phone calling prior to that for background if you go, and you can ask the recruiters you like if they will be there.
HiddencatBSN, BSN
594 Posts
Try to get peds ED experience and/or PICU experience in that time frame too. I'm a peds nurse and have been thinking about traveling for several years, just got a letter for my first assignment, and found that having inpatient peds and peds ed expanded my options a ton. Peds acute only will be much more limited.
And I agree to shop around to agencies and ask lots of questions and give it time before you commit.
detailoreented
2 Posts
I too am curious about this. My husband and I are looking to relocate and I'd like to try travel nursing before taking the full plunge on moving since some of our expenses would be covered. I have almost 7 years experience in the cardiothoracic ICU where we float a few times a year to MICU / SICU. I have been exposed to and am relatively comfortably with ECMO (VV), IABP, managing chest tubes, ventilators, trached puts, etc. (the cardiac program moved to another hospital and now we are mainly thoracic surgeries and some GI).
I put my resume up on Indeed and a few agencies began calling...Cross Country Trav Corp rings a bell. I'd love to hear any and all advice as well.