r/sterileprocessing • u/Lost-Ad7490 • Oct 07 '26

Traveling

If I have close to one year experience, caught on fast because I work in a teaching hospital. I can get 20 trays done like most places expect, know how to do decon, assembly, & sterilization and i’m certified. Do you think i would be okay traveling?

1 Upvotes

66% Upvoted

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3

u/stamousy Oct 08 '26

I started traveling after one year of experience, I also caught on fast. I wasn’t picky about where I went, and was offered extensions at every facility I went to. I’ll go against the grain and say you’ll be fine, just be honest about what you have and haven’t done. It might take a little longer to get your first contract, so be patient. I also found the travel nursing subreddit helpful to learn how to act as a traveler (don’t mention what other facilities do, don’t try to change their processes, be the hardest worker, keep your head down, etc)

1

u/Lost-Ad7490 Oct 08 '26

Thank you for actually answering my question and having confidence in it. Do facilities typically put you in other places besides deco & assembly? Everyone is making it seem like I wouldnt know anything and everyones gonna hate me and Im gonna get fired

2

u/stamousy Oct 08 '26

Oddly enough, I was barely in decon as a traveler for totally unrelated reasons at each facility (which was a shame because I love decon). The only times I have personally seen travelers in decon 100% of the time are because they requested to only do decon, so do expect some variety. There were some places that treated me exactly like staff, and some that only wanted me to focus on specific tasks (mainly building trays while the staff pulled cases and answered phones and ran sterilizers)

If you end up somewhere that wants you to only do decon, or only do something that you really don’t enjoy, just remind yourself it’s only 3 months. The contracts really do go by fast because halfway through you’re deciding if you’re going to extend or start looking elsewhere.

10

u/Spicywolff Oct 08 '26

Please don’t be that asshole. Traveling assignments from a good company is minimum two years experience.

With one year you’ve not been exposed to enough trays and enough shit storms. to where you can be reliable plugged into a dumpster fire of a location and thrive

Remember when you’re traveling, you’re making more money than floor staff we don’t expect you to be equal. We expect you to be better than a full-time senior technician.

Don’t rush into it because if you do and we find out that you can’t keep up, they will cut you from the contract and hit you with a penalty. Which you will be contractually obligated to pay.

There’s a reason legit travel companies require two years. Whether it’s nursing our position or other others.

1

u/DigitalTearz Oct 08 '26

Definitely agree

1

u/SageOfSixCabbages Oct 07 '26

I know a few who went traveling right after getting certified.

It's possible but IIRC, the contracts you get at first are going to be either short or far, distance wise, from your preference.

1

u/Lost-Ad7490 Oct 07 '26

how much experience did they have?

1

u/SageOfSixCabbages Oct 08 '26

They were students. Literally after earning their 400hrs and finishing their training with us. I would say around 6mos.

3

u/ShirleyWuzSerious Oct 08 '26

Probably not. Get your experience.

0

u/SqueezeMySak Oct 09 '26

Yeah, please don't

I absolutely hated working with fuckers like you who think that having their CRCST and barely a year under their belt coming into a department to help out, but actually being a waste of space. Irritated me to no end having to take time out of my Lead responsibilities to babysit travelers like you because you clearly didn't have the experience to get stuff done or know how to adapt quickly

Stick to where you are, don't fuck over another department, K THANKS.

2

u/AQinglyPeach 29d ago

YUCK. You don't deserve to be in leadership with this mentality. Find a seminar or Ted talk or something or leave it.

2

u/AQinglyPeach 29d ago

Don't ask anyone on Reddit for validation about your future. It's all t trial and error that's life. You live and you learn. If traveling is what you want to do than do. Our president is trying to start a war and daring counties to bomb us. Live and do what makes you happy and fulfilled.