Exploring the PICU Travel Nurse Job Outlook & Salary

Nursing is a meaningful and noble career, but dedicating your life to caring for the youngest of patients is something not all people are up for. Working as a pediatric ICU nurse can be rewarding and combines the love of nursing and caring for children. With nurse shortages nationwide and the desire for travel increasing, pediatric ICU travel nursing is a role worth considering. Becoming a travel PICU nurse will allow you to see more of the country while treating children with complicated and serious illnesses. The job outlook for a PICU travel nurse is positive and Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health can help you find travel nurse jobs that will lead you to a long and fulfilling career.

Understanding the Role of a PICU Travel Nurse

PICU nursing is a form of pediatric nursing. A PICU nurse is a registered nurse who works in the pediatric intensive care unit, caring for critically ill children in a hospital setting. PICU travel nurses will take different travel assignments so they can assist different medical institutions with their PICU and the patients who are currently there. The responsibilities and daily tasks for a travel PICU nurse will vary depending on the hospital you're at and the patients you're treating, but some general responsibilities for this type of pediatric nurse are:

• Provide around-the-clock care for pediatric patients.
• Monitor patient vital signs
• Administer medication as needed
• Collaborate with other travel nurses and team members to provide comprehensive care.
• Operating ventilators, IV fusion pumps, and other complex medical equipment
• Document all pertinent patient information
• Communicate with family members about the patient's care

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Education Requirements and Suggestions for PICU Travel Nurses

PICU travel nurses must first complete a registered nursing program at an accredited institution. This can be a two-year RN program or a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Once that is finished, obtaining a nursing license by passing the NCLEX-RN is required. Many PICU travel jobs prefer nurses with at least one or two years of experience in the PICU or another ICU but this isn't always required.

Participating in continuous learning opportunities from agencies like Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health, like Clinical Ladder, can boost your chances of getting hired. Since pediatric nursing, especially PICU nursing is a medical specialty, pursuing additional education and certifications pertaining to the specialty can help you stand out to employers and increase your earning potential. Some certifications that can help you secure travel nurse jobs in the PICU are:

• Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
• ANCC Pediatric Nursing Board Certification (PED-BC)

PICU Travel Nurse Job Outlook

There is a high demand for PICU travel nurses. Like other nursing specialties, there are shortages, pushing health systems to hire travel nurses to help fill in the gaps. This way, they don't have to compromise patient care due to staffing issues. Hospitals utilize travel PICU nurses to fill gaps in staffing due to vacancies, seasonal census fluctuations, leaves of absence, and more. A travel PICU nurse can provide coverage for short-term needs without the hospital having to hire more staff permanently.

Traveling nurses can be there to help provide the best care possible when this happens. There are ample job openings in medical institutions around the nation Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health can help find prospective travel nurses who want to begin their careers in the PICU.

Salary Insights of PICU Travel Nurses

Pediatric intensive care unit travel nurses have the potential to earn significantly higher salaries than staff PICU nurses. Traveling nursing jobs in general will pay more than a staff nurse typically. A registered nurse who takes a PICU nursing job on a travel assignment can expect higher salaries than staff PICU nurses and sometimes more than other specialties. The average traveling nurse salary for someone working in the PICU will vary based on different factors:

• Geographic Location: Jobs in areas with a higher cost of living tend to pay more than in regions with a lower cost of living.
• Experience Level: The more years of experience a pediatric ICU nurse has working in a PICU generally means a higher pay rate.
• Specialized Skills: Having training in complex procedures like ECMO can increase pay.
• Type of Facility: Major medical centers and children's hospitals pay more than community hospitals with a PICU.
• Shift Differentials: Hours outside of normal business hours garner higher hourly pay.
• Bonus Pay: Some contracts offer generous bonus pay for extra shifts picked up.

Benefits and Challenges in Travel Pediatric ICU Nurse Jobs

There are both advantages and potential drawbacks to the pay structure of travel nursing jobs compared to staff roles. If you're looking for a PICU travel nurse job, understanding these can help ensure you're making the right career move. The benefits of PICU nurse travel jobs are:

• Higher Pay: Hourly and weekly rates are almost always higher than a staff nurse position.
• Freedom to Explore: You have the flexibility and freedom to explore different areas of the country throughout your career.
• Housing and Meal Stipends: Many agencies will offer housing and/or food stipends in addition to hourly pay.
• Fast Compensation: Many traveling nurses are paid weekly, which is often faster than staff nurses.

The benefits of PICU travel nursing are abundant, but there are some challenges worth noting:

• Few or No Benefits: Most traveling nurse jobs don't offer, or offer limited, benefits like health and dental insurance, 401k, etc.
• Higher Taxes: Depending on where you're located, you might have to pay higher taxes.
• Housing Costs: Even with housing stipends, housing costs might be expensive where you're working.

Overall, most believe that the benefits outweigh the challenges of being a travel PICU nurse. If you're on the fence about whether this is the right career path for you, Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health offers in-depth Career Coaching to help give you guidance.

Find Your Calling as a PICU Travel Nurse with the Assistance of Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health

As you search for the perfect PICU nurse travel job for you, working with a trusted travel nurse agency like Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health can make all the difference. We offer a nurse-centric approach that will allow us to help you land the perfect travel PICU nurse job based on your education, experience, and career goals. The benefits of utilizing our expert recruiters in your job search will allow you to start your career as a traveling pediatric ICU nurse quickly. Our nurses have access to:

• Continuous Career Coaching
• Growth opportunities are available from our Work Study programs and Clinical Ladder
• Direct travel nurse jobs that are specific to your experience
• Licensing assistance
• 24/7 Full Circle of Support

With our knowledgeable recruiters assisting you, you'll be able to start your career as a travel PICU nurse anywhere in the country you want. Check out On Demand, our powerful web app, where you can search and apply for PICU travel nurse jobs nationwide.

FAQs

Is being a PICU travel nurse hard?

Being a travel PICU nurse can be challenging due to the nature of the job, working with critically ill children, and being away from friends and family. However, most people find that the benefits of being a PICU nurse outweigh the potential challenges.

Does being a PICU travel nurse pay well?

Yes, being a travel PICU nurse pays well. The average salary for a travel PICU nurse is much higher than a staff PICU nurse.