PICU/Adult ICU job prevalency

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Hi all!

Current nursing student here. (Graduation is in May YAY!!!)

I am interested in working in the ICU when I graduate - either adult or peds - and later on I'd love to travel nurse.

My question is, are PICU/peds jobs prevalent? I feel like adult ICU jobs would be much more available but I have no experience in the matter.

Is it hard to get a PICU position? Are they as wide-spread across the country or only in select states?

Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Average- there are 100 adult ICU beds for every 1 Peds ICU bed. However, since it's such an uber-specialty, it is really hard to find experienced travel nurses for PICU. Two friends are PICU travelers and have ample offers and they can commands exactly what they want in a contract. I am retired from bedside and get travel offers constantly. Still.

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I can also vouch for the prevalence of PICU jobs and the ease of negotiations. The important thing is to pick a specialty that gives you room to grow and life fulfillment. The jobs will be there if you love your job enough to excel.

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Do the specialty you like the best and be happy. No, you won't have any trouble finding travel assignments or staff jobs in PICU. However ICU will get you many more location choices as staff or traveler and often the same pay as a traveler. But outside of CVICU, PICU may pay better as a traveler on average.

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