Med/Surg Peds travel & income

Specialties Travel

Published

I'm beginning to look at travel nursing for two reasons: replacing my husband's income & taking my homeschooled children around the country. Basically, I want to know is it feasible/possible to make an income of $90k/year as a traveler? My current income is about $45k/year & so was my husband's. So basically, I need my one income to equal our previously combined ones. Or close. I currently am a med/surg, peds nurse who works extra in postpartum, well baby & inpatient hospice. I plan to take ACLS when my facility next offers it.

NICU is a good specialty. Not as many jobs as L&D. Your choice may depend on whether you want screaming moms or anxious moms. Or if a job where a very small mistake will kill your very small patient suits your temperament.

From a male chauvinist pig perspective, NICU has the best looking nurses in many hospitals. Are you comfortable in that work environment? Trying to be amusing here, not offensive - so that was rhetorical. In any case, from what I hear, NICU can have tense healthcare workers. Kind of like pediatric anesthesiologists in my experience for much the same reason, it doesn't take much for patients to decline quickly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Going to Peds!.

I used to be very opposed to L&D. But, after 6 years of doing postpartum & well-baby, I'm no longer that opposed to it. Especially considering that the travel opportunities are much better.

When I sign up to work extra on our ob floor & they call me off, it's always because they need a labor nurse, not a pp or baby nurse.

Re attractiveness: I've never considered myself "hot". I'm cute, but I'm middle-aged now! I'm 38 now. I'm really not all that concerned about what the little 24 year old girls look like or what they're doing. I'm more concerned about my kids & my husband. And retirement.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Going to Peds!.

What states are usually high needs for travelers?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Why do you ask? Most travelers defer getting licenses until they have a specific assignment. But the usual states with lots of assignments are California, Arizona, Florida, and Texas. Every state has high needs in my opinion given the poor nurse patient ratios in most places. For highest pay, the best bet are the strong union states found in the NE and West Coast.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Going to Peds!.
Why do you ask? Most travelers defer getting licenses until they have a specific assignment. But the usual states with lots of assignments are California Arizona, Florida, and Texas. Every state has high needs in my opinion given the poor nurse patient ratios in most places. For highest pay, the best bet are the strong union states found in the NE and West Coast.[/quote']

Curiosity mostly!

And I think, with other changes happening in our lives, that we very well may go the RV gypsy life for a couple of years. I really want my kids to experience more than the FIVE Deep South states they've seen. I've got 4-5 years before I start graduating them from high school. I'd like to do this before we start junior/senior years. Because while prom might not be a big deal to my oldest (a boy), it will be a VERY BIG DEAL to his sister. (I have classes of 2017, 2019 & 2020 - depending on how/when we choose to graduate them. They might be 2018, 2019 & 2020 *OR* 2017, 2018 & 2019. A lot depends on each kid's individual motivation & pace.)

(Yes, homeschoolers have prom.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment