is icu experience necessary before traveling?
hi everyone! im still a relatively new nurse (2.5 yrs) currently @ hopkins in one of their imc/icu stepdown units. a lot of my colleagues have been travelers and are encouraging me to consider. i plan to be charge trained by the end of the year and am thinking of next steps once im comfortable charging. i really want to go to cali at some point and a recurring suggestion has always been “do a travel contract and vibe check the hospitals until you find one you like.” i know that the experience from travel and stepping out of my comfort zone will force me to grow and become a stronger nurse.
is it worth it for me to delay another year (even 2) to get icu experience before making the jump? i know training isn’t really expected in traveling since youre expected to be seasoned anyways. i just feel like im restless and unsatisfied with where i am right now and need a change in something.
any advice and personal experience is helpful! thank you!