Snowy in Michigan...I want to get out of here!

[Emmylynn]

Hi, everyone!

My name is Emmylynn and I work in one of Detroit's craziest hospitals... Detroit Receiving Hospital. I currently work on a geriatric floor, and also work Med/Surg floors in our pod. I just received my license in October and am very interested in TRAVEL NURSING. I'm looking for opportunities in southern California (Torrance/Culver City/Santa Monica), preferrably on a pediatric neuro floor. I don't have much experience with pediatrics (I have a contract at my current job until september), but it is something that I hope to get into soon. I absolutely love peds! My clinical experience with kids were my favorite part of nursing school. Working on this geriatric floor has been very hard on me physically with all the lifting. I'm ready for something new!

Anyways, if any of you have any advice for travel nursing, pls fill me in!!

[AmandaWIRN]

Welcome! If you want to work as a traveler in Peds Neuro, you should switch to that specialty ASAP, because you will need at least 2 years of experience in that specialty before you travel..... For some areas, like med/surg, hospitals will take a traveler with only 1 year of experience, but for a specialized area like Peds Neuro, most hospitals are going to want 2 years experience, as well as PALS certification.

[cougarnurse]

Welcome to the site, Emmy!

Amanda has some good advice there; some places train you, but if you want to travel, it's best to get the training beforehand.

PS....Looks like Ohio got alot of your snow.

[ellenRN]

I'm from Michigan and know first hand how long and cold the Winter can be. That is why I moved to Southern California. Come out here to live. There are lots of jobs available and the pay is higher. (you'll never go back!!)

[cougarnurse]

But the fall colours are nice..... I would personally miss that.

[lpRN13108]

Hello,
I have never been a travel nurse but I have lots of peds experience. My suggestion is too talk to the manager on the peds unit in the hospital you currently work. Most agencies of any kind want you to have a minimum of 1 yr acute care experience in the field you want to work in. But don't give up if Peds is your passion. Many nurses feel like they wouldn't be able to work a Peds unit because it is too emotional, so for those of us who feel a passion for it we really need to be there to help the kids. Don't give up striving for it!