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How do I start training to be a travel nurse?
How do you start in college? what do you recommend and why?
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3 answers
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Linda’s Answer
Hi Gicela, My best advice is to start at a college for your BSN. I feel like I wasted valuable time in years going for my ADN first then my BSN four years later which took me two more years, so six years for what could have taken me only four years. First, fill out a FAFSA and get your financing together. Find an accredited nursing school BSN program and speak with an admissions advisor; maybe meet with two or three schools to compare current academic plans to find the best fit for you. Then get started! The sooner you start, the sooner you will be done. Take it seriously and get very organized and prepared to make it your life while in nursing school. It is very challenging and demands most if not all of your brain power and energy. Study study study! I worked as a nursing aide/assistant through nursing school which is helpful to get comfortable with the work setting. And if you get into a unit you really enjoy, talk with them about becoming a nurse when you get your license. Pass your exams, get through all of your classes, pass the national nursing exam, get your state nursing license. Then get a job as a nurse. You will need a couple of years "in the trenches" of clinical experience before you can branch out to start travel nursing. All in all, it will take you about 5-8 years in total. Unless you already have some college credits you can use to cancel some of the BSN prerequisites. That you will investigate with an admissions advisor. Good luck!
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Melissa’s Answer
To be a travel nurse, first get yourself into a nursing program. You can do this by either getting your associates or your bachelors (some hospitals, NOT all, eventually will prefer a bachelors). After you finish your nursing program and get licensed, you’re going to want to get a staff job. Most travel agencies require a MINIMUM of 1 year experience before they will be accepted as a travel nurse. For some people 1 year is enough, but for others they may need more time to really feel confident in not only their nursing skills but their critical thinking. The important thing to remember is you need to have established a strong nursing foundation (in whatever specialty you prefer) before you even think of being a travel nurse. Once you decide to take that step, be aware that most hospitals will only giving you a day or even only a few hours of orientation before you’re expected to take a patient assignment and be on your own. You need to have the skills, critical thinking, and confidence that you’ll be fine and safe and so will your patients before you take that travel assignment.
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Sue’s Answer
Good question but everything starts with an accredited nursing school. Get your degree. Then get started in working as a nurse. Get some experience, as being a travel nurse means you have to come into new areas with confidence that you can do the job without much direction.
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