NICU nurses are unsung heroes of healthcare offering comfort to the fragile lives of newborn babies. They are not only caregivers but are heroes in the lives of critically ill or premature babies who are fighting their toughest battles. If you are a NICU nurse with a passion for saving babies’ lives but also want to travel, then becoming a NICU travel nurse is your best career option. You can combine your passion for neonatal care with the freedom of travel nursing. In this blog, we will guide you on how to become a NICU travel nurse.
What is a NICU travel nurse?
NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) nurses are specialized nurses who take care of critically ill or premature babies in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. NICU travel nurses visit different locations to perform their duties where there is a shortage of staff. If you are a NICU nurse who also wants to have the freedom to travel to different places, then becoming a NICU travel nurse is the best career choice where you can combine your passion for taking care of newborn babies with the adventure of traveling.
How to become a NICU travel nurse?
Here is a comprehensive guide on how to become a travel NICU nurse.
Become a registered nurse: Earn a degree in nursing such as a BSN or ADN. A BSN degree is highly preferable if you want to become a neonatal care nurse.
Pass NCLEX exam: After completing your nursing degree pass the NCLEX exam to become a registered nurse.
Gain experience: Gain experience in neonatal care by working in the NICU unit. At least 1 to 2 years of experience is required to become a NICU travel nurse or neonatal travel nurse.
Consider certification: To enhance your qualification you can also consider the following certifications:
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
- Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
- NICU-specific training or courses
Travel nursing requirements: You need to fulfill travel nursing requirements to become a neonatal travel nurse such as:
- Active nursing license (or compact nursing license).
- 1-2 years of experience.
- Required certifications.
- Research travel nursing agencies.
- Vaccination and health screenings.
- Background check.
- Flexible schedule.
Prepare for travel nursing life:
It is important that you prepare for travel nursing life as it is different from the nurses who work a permanent job at the same location.
- Adjust to new environments.
- Housing and relocation.
- Additional licensing requirements such as a compact state nursing license or NLC.
- Working with different healthcare team members.
- Financial planning.
- Self-care.
Specialized your skills: Develop and refine your skills as a travel neonatal nurse, some of the examples are:
- Continuing education.
- Getting advanced certifications such as Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).
Prepare for NICU environment: Always be prepared for challenging situations. Being a neonatal travel nurse needs preparation and training. It requires a lot of attention, critical thinking, empathy, and more. Some of the skills required to be a travel NICU nurse are as follows:
- Effective communication
- Emotional resilience
- Clinical Excellence
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Apply for jobs: Once you are fully qualified to become a neonatal travel nurse or travel NICU nurse then it is time to apply for jobs. Things you should consider before applying for NICU travel nurse jobs are as follows:
- Sign up with SkillGigs and start searching for travel nursing assignments.
- Assess your assignments before you apply for jobs. Consider factors such as hours, salary location, and more.
- Connect with other travel nurses to gain insights.
Enjoy benefits of travel nursing: Choosing a career as a travel NICU nurse comes with challenges but it has its benefits too. While you are traveling, saving the lives of newborn babies it is also important to enjoy the benefits of traveling with it. Some of the benefits of being a travel neonatal nurse are as follows:
- Working in a variety of work settings
- Professional development
- Meeting new people from different backgrounds and cultures
- Flexibility and freedom
- Higher pay and other benefits
- Housing and stipends
Is a NICU travel nurse in demand?
The demand for NICU travel nurses is increasing day by day. Sign up today with SkillGigs and discover more travel nursing (NICU or neonatal) jobs with Skill Gigs.
Which state has the highest pay for NICU travel nurses?
California is the state that pays the highest for NICU travel nurses.
Which states are best for travel NICU nurses in 2025?
In 2025 some of the best states for travel NICU nurses are as follows:
- California
- Florida
- Texas
- New York
- North Carolina
- Washington
- Illinois
- Nevada
- Colorado
- Arizona
What are the challenges of becoming a neonatal traveling nurse?
Some of the challenges that neonatal traveling nurses may face are as follows:
- Emotional exhaustion
- Potential burnout
- Physical Demands
- Frequent adaptation
- Adjusting difficulties in unfamiliar environments and with new people
What is the salary of NICU travel nurses?
The salary of travel neonatal nurses depends on the following factors such as location, overtime, and experience. However, the average salary of NICU travel nurses in the United States is $2450/week according to (ZIP Recruiter).
Conclusion
Becoming a NICU travel nurse allows you to combine your passion for work in neonatal care and the excitement of exploring new places. However, there are some requirements that need to be fulfilled before applying for NICU travel nursing. These requirements include education, licensing, experience, background checks, vaccinations, and more. In this blog, we have discussed how to become a travel NICU nurse and what are the challenges that a travel neonatal nurse can face. SkillGigs is an innovative platform that connects travel nurses with job opportunities across the country. Sign up now and find the jobs that best meet your requirements and interests.
