Travelers in your NICU?

Specialties NICU

Published

I am considering starting a travel career in the NICU and am looking for experiences staff may hav had with travelers.

Does your NICU use travel nurses? If so what are their assignments typically like, how are they perceived/treated?

I have 2 years exp in a level 3 NICU (36 beds).

Thank you!!

I have been a NICU traveller for the last 12 yrs mainly on the east coast but I did a 8 wk assignment in MO 2 yrs ago. Your experience depends largely on the hospital. I have had assignments in small community hospitals as well as large children hospitals. Your assignment can be feeder growers as well as critically ill babies. I have been lucky in that I have been going to these hospitals for years so they know my skill level. But in most cases I get the feeder growers which I don't mind at all. There is a website called Delphi forums(travel nurses and therapists)-you can get a lot of insight into the travelling world. But I should warn you take the info with a grain of salt because everyone experience can be different. Get your license first before talking to recruiters, and the two that are always suggested to get first are NY and CA. Good luck.

I saw your PM but unfortunately I cannot respond right now since I haven't reached the minimum required posts. The way staff treats travelers differ with each facility but I haven't ever had an issue in the 2 years that I have traveled. There are some nurses that are just rude but they are usually rude to everyone and not just the travelers.

Our unit uses travel nurses from time to time! (Well known hospital in Los Angeles) They aren't treated any differently - our staff is inviting and friendly to all.

On my unit we have travelers. We embrace them and treat them like part of the team, with exception of the training (Only one shift of hands on orientation). They may be placed in the level 2 or 3 unit. We value our travelers because we know how it is to work understaffed without them.

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