6 Travel Nursing Specialties That Are in Demand

Do you know what travel nursing specialties you want to work in? Travel nursing is a nurse who travels for work, but did you know that there are many areas of nursing where travel nurses can thrive? If you have been considering working as a travel nurse, this is a sign to find a travel nurse recruiter and begin your journey to be one.

Travel Nursing Specialties

Working as a travel nurse is one of the best areas of nursing. You can work in different places where you can mix work and recreation. If this sounds like the kind of work you’d enjoy, here are six areas of travel nursing you will enjoy working in.

1. ICU or Intensive Care Unit Travel Nurse

One of the best unit travel nurses can work in is the ICU. It is one of the most requested assignments for travel nurses. ICU nurses care for high-acuity, high-risk patients with the skills to monitor them closely.

As an ICU nurse, you are responsible for patients with life-threatening diseases or injuries. You must be able to communicate with your patients, their families, and physicians.

If you like challenges, then this particular area is for you. Here you will handle frequent changes and must be able to manage stress and use your critical thinking skills to resolve issues within the ICU.

Travel nurses specializing in ICU must know how to adapt quickly to a new environment and be familiar with the hospital’s electronic medical record system.

2. ER or Emergency Room Travel Nurse

Another travel nurse specialty that is in high demand is ER nursing. These nurses work in a fast-paced environment where they care for critically ill patients and patients who have experienced trauma.

An emergency nurse must provide emergency care to various patients with different injuries, illnesses, and mental health issues.

Travel nurses working in this unit must have good communication skills, diffuse tensions, and quickly assess any volatile situations.

It is also crucial that travel nurses who want to work in this position can start working with minimal orientation.

3. Telemetry Travel Nurses

A telemetry nurse’s job is to monitor their patient’s vital signs, and heart rhythms, closely in an intermediate care unit. One of the best examples is when a patient is placed on an electrocardiogram.

Telemetry nurses monitor patients with cardiovascular abnormalities or complications and those recovering from cardiac surgery. They also help and assist doctors in administering medications and procedures as needed.

One of the specialties of telemetry nurses is they are trained to use and interpret technological devices.

They also monitor a patient’s internal functions and vital signs. You can quickly secure this position if you already have certifications in telemetry.

4. PCU or Progressive Care Unit Travel Nurse

PCU is another nurse specialty unit that is often in demand for travel nurses. Among their responsibilities include monitoring patients who don’t need intensive-level care but are not ready to move into a regular bed or be discharged from the hospital.

A PCU is a unit that is sometimes called intermediate care unit or step-down unit. The patients who come to PCU often have chronic health conditions or are recovering from surgeries.

In many cases, these patients are on multiple medications and are at high risk for complications. Progressive care unit nurses monitor and assess these patients and communicate with members of the care team and patients to provide them with care toward recovery.

5. L&D or Labor and Delivery Travel Nurses

Working in a Labor and Delivery unit will be a fun experience as a travel nurse if you’re a nurse with a specialty in the maternity unit. Nurses in this area help women through the birthing process and assist during Cesarean sections.

They also provide patients with antepartum care, especially women with high-risk pregnancies. Nurses also provide postpartum care, instructions, and how to care for their newborns.

As a travel nurse in the L&D unit, your responsibilities include monitoring maternal and fetal health. They also provide encouragement and support to patients.

Travel nurses interested in this position must have basic or advanced life support and neonatal resuscitation program credentials to qualify for this area.

6. Pediatric Travel Nurses

Pediatrics is one of the best travel nursing specialties you should also consider. Travel nurses working in pediatrics attend to patients from birth to 18 years of age. Working in pediatrics requires impeccable clinical skills paired with infinite amounts of compassion, patience, and the ability to have fun.

Remember that your patients are children, so having a playful quality is ideal.

Pediatric travel nurses must also know how to communicate effectively with children, teens, and adults. One of your qualities is dispelling your patient’s fears, especially when dealing with different procedures.

You are also responsible for educating the patient’s families on managing their child’s special needs or chronic conditions.

In addition, you may also be assigned to work in subspecialties like pediatric oncology nursing, pediatric ER, PICU, and many others.

In Closing

Working as a travel nurse is a lifetime experience; honestly, we enjoy our time as travel nurses. If you love the idea of working as a nurse and traveling, then this is an opportunity you shouldn’t miss. Talk to a travel nurse recruiter today and find out where your assignment will be.

Looking for more nursing and travel nursing information? Check out these helpful links!