Hi,
I am currently a Nursing Student and will be graduating in 2011. I am very interested in traveling nursing, but wondering if that is possible as a new grad. If you could give me any information. I would really appreciate it. Thank You!
At this time virtually all agencies require a bare minimum of a year of clinical experience, and prefer two. You can see some more questions and answers in the artilce section of www.Nursetown.com.
Good luck.
Conrad
Please do not try to be a travel nurse without first getting at least 2 years of experience. I have worked as a traveler for the past 10 years with a break of just 6 months. I have seen many a nurse that has taken a position thinking they can learn as they go. We deal with peoples lives, and as travelers we are expected to be better than the average nurse. So please always be upfront with your experience . Travel nursing since 2000 has not improved, the pay has not increased,though the billing rates have increased. Mostly the pay has been kept down by the travel companies hiring inexperienced nurses and passing them off to the hospitals as highly qualified. This has been going on for some time and damages the reputation of travel nurses in general. Also the new nurses are led to think that the travel companies are paying them well. My first travel job in 1999 was $45 per hour plus all the benefits. try getting that now. Before you take a travel position, investigate what the regular position would pay. Many times the core staff will be making better pay. So the travel company rep will say “but you get free housing.” Yes true and if You want to travel all the time go for it. In my opinion the provided housing should not be counted as part of your pay unless you are taking the stipend, (money in place of housing) I have been working as an independent traveler for the past 9 years, I look at what the travel companies have to offer from time to time, they brag at saying you can make $60 -$80k per year. look at what the regular time nurses get paid in Ca. icareyrn@gmail.com
Good point Ian. A lot of facilities are now using the two year experience threshold anyway. Thanks for your input.