any pediatric travelers out there?!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Neurology, Neurosurgery.

Hello everyone!

I've always been interested in travel nursing since I first started nursing school and now that I have that "magic number" of 2 years experience in an acute care hospital setting I was hoping to make the leap as a traveler. Just curious to hear back from anyone that works acute care pediatrics (not PICU or NICU), and what your success has been as a traveler.

I've researched multiple travel agencies and it seems there are a decent amount of pedi travel positions out there. Is it relatively easy to work consistently from one contract to the next? I worry about large gaps between contracts as I'm paying down my student loans. I currently work on the neuroscience unit at a large teaching Children's Hospital and I'm PALS and BLS certified.

I appreciate any feedback/advice from anyone in this position! :)

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If you just look at agency sites and job boards, you are not getting a realistic picture of the true number of pediatric assignments out there. Peds is one of the smaller travel specialties and based on how many nurses want to work peds, there are probably fewer travel assignments than many specialties (NICU and PICU have more demand). As an entry level job, you will face entry level type of competition for good assignments similar to adult med surg - the more experience you have, the more competitive you will be. I'm not trying to discourage you, but you will likely find working for one of the really large agencies like Cross Country a good way to find steady work. The alternative is to sign up with at least 5 smaller agencies so you always have some options. Backup plans and agencies are always a good idea if you really require no gaps in income.

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Specializes in Pediatric Emergency.

You have to be willing to be flexible and comfortable with a wide variety of settings. My specialty is Peds ER but I have also worked Adult ER, PiCU, NiCU, Nursery, Peds Oncology, Peds Med Surg over the years. I wasn't too keen on some of those areas but in order to keep steady work you do what you have to plus I think it made me a much better nurse. I had 6 yrs experience prior to starting my travel career. Now after 22 yrs I'm starting to find it a little more difficult to travel- not too savvy with all the different computer documentation out there and I think I'm just getting too set in my ways. Lol. Plus it actually seems more competitive. Have gone back to my FT job for now but still have itchy feet. Actually just got a call the other day from the travel company I've been with since 1999. Teaser!

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Nice first post! Do you have a sense for how easy it is to stay working just in pediatric medsurg? I'm curious too.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Neurology, Neurosurgery.

Thanks for your input! As a peds ER specialist, did you have other experience working adult med/surg, oncology, NICU etc as a permanent floor nurse before taking travel assignments in these areas? Or were you just automatically hired into these positions without much experience? While I am open to the idea of trying new areas and specialties, especially knowing I would need to be flexible in order to maintain job security, I'm wondering how likely a hospital would be willing to hire me in an area I have little-no experience in aside from the exposure I had in nursing school. I've only worked peds med/surg, specifically with the neurology/neurosurgery population with some medical respiratory overall during peak viral season. And while I've floated to the NICU a few times, I am not experience whatsoever in vents/trachs, etc. Would this severely limit by job availability?

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