Would I survive as an L&D traveler if I’m coming from a teaching hospital?

[Pandra_93]

Hi all, I’m seeking some advice about labor and delivery travel nursing. I’ve been in L&D for about 3 years in nyc (two of which I held both a FT and a per diem position). I have my BLS, NRP, and c-efm certifications and currently looking to take the awohnn advanced class. Both hospitals I currently work for are teaching hospitals so nurses do not do VEs, or insert cervidil, or place Internal monitors. however based on what I’ve heard from others, L&D nurses do all of those things in other states. My main concern is that I’ll be completely lost while traveling as an L&D despite my 3 yrs of experience. Can anyone provide feedback on their experience as a traveler coming from a teaching hospital? How did you maneuver in the traveling world? We’re you marketable as an L&D nurse without those skills? Any advice would suffice 

[NedRN]

You are marketable. Shortage of L&D nurses going back at least 15 years, and is only getting worse as baby boomers age out. Better pay than most specialties.

A tool that all agencies utilize is a skills checklist. It gets included in the profile of you the agency sends facilities. So they know what they are getting, and you can discuss your weaknesses during the manager interview most facilities want before committing (equally good for the traveler before commitment as well). If they need the skill, they may need the assignment filled badly enough to train you.

Alternatively, you can stick to your comfort zone and only do assignments at prestigious teaching hospitals! That is what I mostly did for the first couple years of traveling (sort of random in my case) and makes your work history look really good! Even though community hospitals may pass on your profile, they will still be impressed.

[Pandra_93]

On 9/17/2021 at 3:45 PM, NedRN said:

You are marketable. Shortage of L&D nurses going back at least 15 years, and is only getting worse as baby boomers age out. Better pay than most specialties.

A tool that all agencies utilize is a skills checklist. It gets included in the profile of you the agency sends facilities. So they know what they are getting, and you can discuss your weaknesses during the manager interview most facilities want before committing (equally good for the traveler before commitment as well). If they need the skill, they may need the assignment filled badly enough to train you.

Alternatively, you can stick to your comfort zone and only do assignments at prestigious teaching hospitals! That is what I mostly did for the first couple years of traveling (sort of random in my case) and makes your work history look really good! Even though community hospitals may pass on your profile, they will still be impressed.

Thank so much! I honestly didn't think about it like that. It makes sense to just do teaching hospitals for now unless the facility is willing to hire without those skills and possibly teach me along the way. I'll let my recruiter know to only submit me to only teaching hospitals for now