I am a NICU RN with 11 years experience in the NICU, 4 years in pediatric transplant, and 6 years in Peds/Adult ICU. I am interested in traveling to help pay my daughter's college and to gain more financial freedom. Any advice that can be offered as I begin this journey would be very much appreciated and helpful.

You have great background for travel nursing. PICU is one of the higher paid specialties. It pays higher than NICU. I would call a couple of the rapid response companies as they generally pay better. They should be thrilled to get you. You need to line up all your titers & immunizations. Get a current PPD & Tetorifice . Get the flu shot. You will also need a current respiratory FIT test. You probably can get all this done free by your current hospital's employee health. You will need current NRP,PALS & ACLS. If you have clinician credentialing even better. The more credentialing the better.

After you have decided on say 2 or 3 companies get their physical forms & get a physical on your current health insurance & send COPIES of all the jillion things they require. You want to keep all your paperwork current with more than one company so if one doesn't have something, you will be all set with another. Plus if they know you have more than one company they will be a little more competitive. Every dollar counts in your situation.

I am in the same situation. Two daughters in college & worked in the lowest paying region of Florida. The only way I could figure out to increase my income was to travel. My advice is travel on a tight budget. Take the housing allowance & live cheaply. Busy big city hospitals have the best chance of overtime & if there is no OT you can work agency for extra money.

Vonnie,

Whoops, am assuming you are going to maintain a home in your state. Forgot the tax implications when giving you my opinion. You shouldn't take the nontaxed housing allowances/per diems unless you are going to maintain a home/apt. in your state.

You are going to do great as you can work PICU, NICU, or adult ICU. I am jealous.