Welcome to the world of pediatric travel nursing, where you combine your passion for taking care of kids and your love for traveling to new cities. The demand for travel nursing is high, and if you are bored with working in the same facility, then becoming a pediatric travel nurse is the best career option for you, where every assignment is a new adventure. In this blog, we will guide you on how to become a pediatric travel nurse, its requirements and its benefits, so let’s dive in!
What is pediatric travel nursing? And what do pediatric travel nurses do?
Pediatric travel nurses are specialized nurses who provide care to pediatric patients, including infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatric travel nurses work on temporary contracts typically for 13 weeks to fill the gaps where there is shortage of staff and provide care to the pediatric patients. Some of the duties and responsibilities of pediatric travel nurses are as follows:
- Assessing and monitoring pediatric patients, such as checking their vital signs, growth, development, etc.
- Giving medications and treatments such as IVs, antibiotics, etc.
- Performing procedures such as drawing blood.
- Educating and supporting parents and families of pediatric patients.
What are the benefits of becoming a pediatric travel nurse?
Some of the benefits of becoming a pediatric travel nurse are as follows:
- Pediatric travel nurses earn more pay than a staff nurse because of the nature of their job. They also get other benefits such as travel reimbursement, free meals, housing stipends, and other benefits.
- Travel pediatric nurses have the freedom to choose their own assignments and schedules. They can take a break between their assignments and choose when and where they want to work. With SkillGigs, pediatric travel nurses have the freedom to choose their own pay.
- Working in different cities and in different healthcare facilities helps them boost their skills and resume. Pediatric travel nurses get exposed to variety of pediatric cases that broaden their knowledge and skills.
- Pediatric travel nurses travel to different cities, which helps them build resilience, independence, and problem-solving skills.
- Pediatric travel nurses can also work in other specialized units such as the ICU, pediatric oncology, PICU, etc.
What are the requirements to become pediatric travel nurse?
Here are some of the requirements to become pediatric travel nurse:
- Getting a nursing degree, such as a BSN or an ADN.
- Passing the NCLEX RN exam to get a nursing license.
- An active RN license to work legally in your state, and you can also apply for NLC to work in different compact states without applying for an additional license for each state.
- To become a pediatric travel nurse, you need to have at least 1 to 2 years of experience in pediatric setting before applying for pediatric travel nursing jobs.
- Getting certifications can also boost your resume and increase your chances of getting the pediatric travel nursing jobs that you want. You can get certifications such as BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, etc.
- Build your 3D resume on SkillGigs and look for the jobs that best match your needs.
- Read your contract carefully before saying yes and accepting it.
- Pass background checks and health screenings and provide proof of immunization before you are ready for your contract.
- Pack wisely, as overpacking and underpacking both can be stressful for travel nurses.
What certifications do you need to become pediatric travel nurse?
Some of the highly recommended certifications for pediatric travel nurses are as follows:
- PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
- ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
- NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
- CPN (Certified Pediatric Nurse)
How long are typical pediatric travel nursing contracts/ assignments?
Travel nursing assignments can vary from a few days to several weeks depending on the situation, but typical pediatric travel nursing contracts are of 13 weeks. You can also extend your assignment if the facility wants you to stay and you both agree to it.
What skills are needed to become a successful pediatric travel nurse?
Some of the skills needed to become a successful pediatric travel nurse are as follows:
- Pediatric-specific clinical skills
- Strong and effective communication skills
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Respecting and understanding diverse cultures and beliefs
- Emotional resilience
- Time management skills
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Independence and licensing knowledge
How can pediatric travel nurses support the NICU and PICU units?
Pediatric travel nurses can support in NICU and PICU units for example:
NICU:
- Monitoring vial signs of the baby
- Feeding support
- Administer medication
- Educating and supporting family of the patient
- Acting quickly during emergencies
PICU:
- Advanced monitoring and managing cardiac monitors, ventilators, etc.
- Administering medications and monitoring sedation levels safely.
- Helping children recover from surgeries.
What US states are best for pediatric travel nursing?
States that are in high demand for pediatric travel nursing are:
- California
- New York
- Texas
- Washington
- Florida
Conclusion
Pediatric travel nursing blends the adventure of exploring new cities and passion for providing care to children. Pediatric travel nursing provides high pay, benefits and opportunities to grow personally and professionally. If you are a pediatric nurse who can adjust to the new environment quickly, have effective communication skills, and are flexible, then becoming a pediatric travel nurse is the best career option for you. Due to high demand for pediatric travel nursing jobs the salary of pediatric travel nurses is also very high. Explore new pediatric travel nursing jobs on SkillGigs by downloading our app today!
