I have a question about traveling companies and experience. I've been a nurse for close to 3 years now, and while I've never officially been a travel nurse, I have traveled a lot during my short nursing career. I've done 11 months of ortho/neuro/surgical in NV, 6 months of urgent care/ski clinics in CA, 1 year in oral surgery in VA and am currently in my 10th month on a stroke/renal/telemetry floor also in VA.. (no my husband is not in the military, circumstances just changed a lot). I have always wanted to do travel nursing officially, but it has never worked out. My husband is going to have a 3 month break between jobs from Sept-Nov and our housing lease is up at the same time. This would be a perfect time to travel, but the 2 agencies I have spoken with so far say I can not get an assignment until I have a full 12 months where I am now, which won't be until the end of October. My question is, what are the chances of finding someone who will work with me and the experience that I have or do I have any other options? Also, my husband is going back to working winters seasonally, so what are the options of traveling during the summer months and taking the winter off? The whole recent experience thing just confuses me a little! Thanks for the help!
I'm not sure why those companies told you that. I am a recuiter at Flexcare Medical Staffing and I have worked at other travel companies too, that has never been a requirement. If you have less then a year or two overall then that can be problamatic becuase most hospitals want to see at least 2 years experience, but you have over 3 that is great! Now if you have moved around to several different units it can be a little harder because the hospitals like to see some consistancy in one specialty, but I don't think it would be a problem finding you something. If you have more questions feel free to call me 916-273-7490. Good luck
I agree with Rebecca's post.... Generally speaking, as long as you have a minimum of 2 years of overall nursing experience, then we should hopefully be able to help you find a position. The other company could have simply been referring to hospitals wanting to see some more consistency with you working the same place for at least 1 year (vs. job hopping). Because you do not have any prior "travel nursing" experience, per se, you may have to consider going to a location or hospital that you may not have considered before, just to get that first assignment under your belt.
Feel free to contact me with any questions. I'd love to let you know what we have available as well!
