Which specialty?

Published

Hello, I am new to allnurses.com. I am very interested in NICU once I get my RN. My ultimate goal is to be a travel nurse. and I am wondering if NICU is a good specialty to be in for travel nursing. I want to be sure I will be able to find plenty of positions once I'm ready to hit the road. If NICU isn't an area you think has a high demand then what specialty do you recommend?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been a NICU traveler for three years. I have had no problems finding assignments. My advice to you is to pick a specialty that you will enjoy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The most important thing is to find a specialty that you will enjoy. And remember, most NICU's are located in larger cities, though not always. You are most likely not going to be in a romote area as a NICU nurse. It depends on what you like.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, Rehab, ACU-Telemetry.

I am new to traveling, but I have seen travel companies seekiing NICU nurses. I agree with the other post, in regard to doing and finding something that you love. Some of the specialties that I have seen posted on some travel company sites are med/surg, ICU/CCU, med/surg w/tele, med/surg w/oncology, pediatrics. There are others, of course, to include NICU.

Just go to any travel company website and click on job postings, and you can find out how many out there are seeking travelers with NICU experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.
The most important thing is to find a specialty that you will enjoy. And remember, most NICU's are located in larger cities, though not always. You are most likely not going to be in a romote area as a NICU nurse. It depends on what you like.

Wow. That sounds perfect for me. I was fearing the opposite problem - being stuck in a rural hospital away from a major city. When I travel I definitely want to be in a major city. I, too, am interested in NICU but hadn't thought about it as a travel nurse. I just figured I'd have to stick with med-surg if I wanted to travel.

Interesting.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, ER/Trauma.

The most in-demand specialties for travel nurses are ICU, ER, OR, L&D. There is also demand for peds, NICU, med/surg, etc, but the demand isn't quite as high.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, Rehab, ACU-Telemetry.
The most in-demand specialties for travel nurses are ICU, ER, OR, L&D. There is also demand for peds, NICU, med/surg, etc, but the demand isn't quite as high.

I don't necessarily agree with ERRNTraveler. If you are a med/surg nurse, you can get an assignment anywhere. It also goes for ER, ICU, and OR. Not sure about L&D. I do know (and have recently heard) that there is a huge demand for pediatric nurses (staff, as well as travelers). They're even offering huge sign on bonues.

The more you have to offer (i.e. ACLS), the more assignments you can find.

Kathy

:redpinkhe:innerconf

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, ER/Trauma.
I don't necessarily agree with ERRNTraveler. If you are a med/surg nurse, you can get an assignment anywhere. It also goes for ER, ICU, and OR. Not sure about L&D. I do know (and have recently heard) that there is a huge demand for pediatric nurses (staff, as well as travelers). They're even offering huge sign on bonues.

The more you have to offer (i.e. ACLS), the more assignments you can find.

Kathy

:redpinkhe:innerconf

I never said there wasn't a demand for other specialties, just that there is MORE of a demand for ER, ICU, OR, etc. Look at the job listings on any travel company, and you will almost always see more postings for the specialties I listed. That doesn't mean that there aren't a ton of assignments for other specialties, just not as many......

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion