Travel Nursing: My First Impressions

Lets just start from the beginning… About a week ago, I completed the last of the requirements to get my Nursing License changed to Texas. Although it clearly says to allow 15 business days to review my application, I have been anxiously checking my status daily waiting for all boxes to show completed. For days I have been gathering all my certifications, transcripts, and other documents I would need when applying for jobs and found that my Basic Life Support (BLS) card was MIA (there is always one thing that gets lost in the move). BLS is a nurses 101 and instead of waiting for someone to ask for it, I went ahead and registered for the class and skills check off. Then, I decided to go ahead and apply for my first travel contract knowing that in a few days my license should be cleared and I would have completed my BLS certification. I had no idea I was about to open the flood gates to the Travel Nursing world. Here is my experience and first impressions once I hit submit on my application:

Agency response time is on par!! It took a total of maybe 60 seconds for a recruiter to call me after I submitted my application. She introduced herself and politely thanked me for my interest in working with her agency. She asked if I had travel nurse experience or if this would be my first time. After this very short introduction and greeting, she asks for my references and then got to work reviewing my application while asking questions along the way. The major question was, “why are you living in Texas and have a Georgia Compact Nursing License ” followed by “You do know that is a big NO NO and you need to get that changed before you take any jobs”. I assured her that I had just relocated to Texas and that the process to change residency license was in the works and I am simply waiting for approval as all documents have been submitted to the Texas Board of Nursing. I also stated that I had no plans on accepting a job until my license was official. I probably should have been more patient and shouldn’t have applied until the license went through! Lesson 1 learned!!

I am then asked about my certifications. I inform her that I have a current ACLS but my BLS card had been lost in the move but I have already registered for the online BLS renewal class and check off for tomorrow. I am informed by my recruiter that BLS is mandatory and that she needs me to send her proof of both certifications via text right now. I explain the situation again regarding my BLS and am asked to text proof that I have registered for the class. I gladly send over a screen shot of my registration receipt immediately. Lesson 2 learned!!! Have all certifications up to date and proof prior to applying!

After the license conversation and the BLS debacle, the recruiter went right into the job I had selected during the application process and what the “money” would look like. This is an unusual concept for me! I have never been one to take a job based on the money but clearly this is how this type of nursing works per the eyes of the recruiter. This is going to be a huge adjustment for me. I still find it very important to decide on jobs based on the job. I want to make sure that the job is a good fit for me and that it will be something I enjoy. Location is also a huge factor for me! I went into travel nursing to travel and see new places. I would take a location over pay any day if it was that DREAM location! So, although I applied for this particular job, the recruiter does what she is trained to do and also gives me the “money” breakdown of higher paying jobs in the 100 mile radius of where I applied. I am going to have to learn what’s more important to me, location or being more flexible and earn a little more money.

So back to the recruiter talking “money” to me for multiple jobs… I am asked “does this sound good to you?” I still have no idea what the job actually entails… I mean, other than it being an inpatient position in a specific department. I am little overwhelmed at this point to say the least but I say yes and off my profile goes to the hiring facility. I am also told that once my profile is sent, the interview is performed and the job is offered, I am required to take the job. Not sure how true this is or how I am feeling about this but I remind myself I can do anything for 13 weeks!

And the final conversation I have with my new recruiter after my profile is sent is, “do you have proof of prior BLS certification” and, “why don’t you have the card”. Not to sure where the wires got crossed by I really wished at this point that I would have waited to finish that renewal class prior to applying! But the BLS drama didn’t end there!! Someone else from the agency called me a few minutes after that and asked the same exact questions!

Needless to say, I now have my BLS certification!!! Besides the time I got the certification just prior to starting nursing school, I have never been more excited to get this card in my life! I was planning on doing the class the morning before checkoff but these ladies sure know how to motivate someone to not procrastinate!! I hope that my lack of preparedness and my lack of experience with travel agencies and travel nursing in general gives someone a little giggle knowing this was only day ONE! Hold on tight because this rollercoaster just got started and I am blindfolded with nothing to hold onto and no idea what is coming next!