Travel NICU Nurse Jobs
Make a Difference as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Travel Nurse
In the NICU, trained nurses handle the critical needs of newborns who require immediate and intensive attention. It's equal parts challenging and rewarding, and you can take your skills as a neonatal intensive care nurse on the road to keep doing the job you love, in the places you want to explore.
Travel nursing is a job for the kind-hearted, adventure seekers out there who live to care for others around the clock because people do not fall ill on a schedule, as much as that would make things easier.
Interested in traveling as a NICU nurse? Browse travel NICU RN jobs at outstanding facilities across the country and find your fit.
What is a NICU travel nurse?
A neonatal intensive care unit nurse, or NICU nurse, is a healthcare professional who specializes in providing critical care to newborns in need of extra medical attention. These amazing nurses take care of premature infants or babies born with birth defects or medical conditions that require intense treatment. Their responsibilities cover a wide range of tasks, like monitoring vital signs, giving medications, and providing basic care like feeding and bathing. With their deep knowledge of neonatal care, NICU nurses offer a priceless service, ensuring the safety and well-being of our tiniest and most vulnerable patients.
You can find NICU travel nursing jobs in a variety of healthcare facilities including hospitals. Working in a neonatal intensive care unit requires critical care nurses to be knowledgeable and proficient in the most advanced medical technologies and treatments, as well as proficient in high-level care and emotional support to critically ill patients.
Typical NICU Nurse Responsibilities:
- Monitors and cares for critically ill newborns in the NICU
- Administers medications and provides necessary treatments as prescribed by the neonatologist
- Assists with procedures such as intubation, IV line insertion, and lumbar puncture
- Observes and records vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation
- Supports parents and families and provides education about their baby’s condition, care procedures, and expected outcomes
- Coordinates with the interdisciplinary team including other NICU nurses, doctors, therapists, and social workers for comprehensive patient care
- Participates in neonatal resuscitation program and emergency interventions as required
Choose where you go
With opportunities for travelers all over the country, we’ve selected areas with the most popular medical traveling jobs to help you find your best fit.
Advantages & Perks for NICU Travel Nurse Jobs
Competitive pay
Travel nurses are the backbone of medical traveling. Pay transparency means you can see what your hourly wages will be before you even apply.
Per diem
NICU travel nurses qualify for weekly, tax-free per diem reimbursements that can help you cover the cost of moving, like your transportation, meals, and other expenses.
Certifications
Level-up, nurse. Get your state licenses and travel nurse requirements reimbursed.
Travel life
See new spaces. See new faces. Grow and learn in your nursing career as you grow and learn in various cities all over the country.Travel Nursing Compliance & Licensure
Being a travel registered nurse is a great way to grow your experience and learn on the job. What if your dream travel assignment is asking for certifications you don’t have? Don’t sweat. You’ll get training in nursing and financial assistance for the cost of licensing and certifications!
Degrees and Certifications
Keeping up with the world of nursing license requirements and certification can be intimidating. Degrees and certifications depend on your modality and specialty but getting compliant for your home state and others you want to travel to is easier as a medical professional. Compliance experts work with your recruiter and the facility to ensure that you have all the relevant credentials required for any and all NICU travel nursing jobs.
Compliance Requirements
Some of your compliance requirements are the same across the board, but there are others that will depend on your specialty in nursing.
The three parts of compliance
- Occupational health records: Required immunizations and health examinations
- Documentation: Tax forms, insurance paperwork, and licenses
- Testing: Certifications, online training, and workplace safety exams
FAQs
Who can become a NICU travel nurse?
Becoming a neonatal intensive care unit nurse is a noble and rewarding career path that's open to all registered nurses who have a genuine passion for providing care to the most vulnerable patients – newborns. But it does require specialized knowledge and skills.
Experienced NICU nurses with two years of hospital-based RN experience in healthcare systems can apply for travel nurse jobs. Depending on the specialty or the specific requirements of facilities and healthcare employers, the required job experience could be longer.
What is the average salary of a NICU nurse?
The salary of neonatal nurses can vary significantly depending on the facility budgets and clinical experience of the nurse as well as the certifications and location they are working. The average salary for a full time NICU nurse was $ 80,010 per year or $36.22 per hour in 2020 with most earning between $61,630 and $93,590 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Entry-level registered nurse NICU jobs or those with the lowest 10% salary earned around $53,410, while the highest 10% earned more than $116,230. Typically, travel NICU nurse jobs will provide higher hourly and weekly pay than permanent positions in the same location, especially for specialized care positions like the neonatal intensive care unit.
Where are neonatal intensive care travel nurse jobs available?
NICU travel nurse jobs are available at hospitals and medical centers across the United States. Major metropolitan areas like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta typically have high demand for experienced NICU nurses to fill travel assignments. Rural hospitals and children's hospitals also often hire travel nurses to staff their NICUs when they are facing staffing shortages.
What's the difference between NICU RNs and critical care nurses?
Critical care nurses are registered nurses who provide care and monitoring for acute or critically ill patients in specialized units, such as intensive care units (ICU). A NICU nurse has a similar role, but their focus is on the provision of comprehensive and continuous care to severely ill babies. Ultimately, the difference between critical care nurses and NICU RNs lies in their patient population, as well as their level of training and experience in providing specialized treatment and care to patients most in need.
Are there any common NICU travel nursing certifications I should consider?
Yes! Many NICU travel nurses choose to pursue certifications to enhance their knowledge and professional development. The most commonly required certifications are Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification, Neonatal Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), and Basic Life Support (BLS). While not usually required for intensive care unit positions, registered nurses can pursue additional certifications such as Certification in Low-Risk Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-LRN(R)) and Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC).
Will taking NICU travel nurse jobs help my nursing career?
Taking travel NICU nurse jobs is beneficial because it exposes you to different regional nursing procedures, healthcare facilities and patient populations, provides employment opportunities to explore new specialties, and helps you gain expertise and experience learning new clinical skills and a clinical environment quickly.