ICU Travel Nursing Jobs

ICU RN Travel Nursing Guide

Caring for the most severely ill patients in a hospital is a very important and challenging role. Demand for ICU Nurses and other healthcare professionals is constant throughout the US. Facilities are in great need and we’re working to help fulfill that need. There are many well-paying ICU travel nursing jobs in exciting locations nationwide and we can help you get there. If you’re an ICU RN or work another ICU-related role we’d love to work with you.

ICU Travel Nursing Careers

A career in ICU travel nursing is a rewarding one. ICU RNs earn a higher average salary then several other nursing specialties. With that being said, the job is highly demanding, but the variety of locations and facilities can help keep you fresh and motivated. It’s also a great way to sharpen your skills, gain crucial experience, and improve your resume. Nurse Burnout is a real thing, especially with ICU/CCU nursing.

Intensive care units offer patient care for a hospital’s most severely ill patient population. ICUs are sometimes also referred to as the critical care unit (CCU). To succeed working in the ICU you must be incredibly compassionate. Being a great team player is also important. The attention to detail tomonitor and assess patients at a high level is also required.

ICU nurses typically have fewer patients at a time than nurses in other units because of the need to constantly monitor and assess their critically ill patients. They work with the ICU team to provide critical care.

This includes ensuring that patients receive all medication, fluids, and treatments as directed. They’re also responsible for constantly monitoring their patients’ vitals. These vitals include blood pressure, oxygen levels, and heart rate so any changes in condition can be detected quickly.

ICU Nurses also play an important role in providing physical and emotional comfort to patients and ensuring all routine needs are met. The ICU team’s ultimate goal is to stabilize their patients. Hopefully each patient will be transferred on to another non-critical hospital unit for continuing care.

Who Works in the ICU?

A variety of healthcare professionals work in the intensive care unit in order to serve the diversity of patients and conditions that visit the ICU. Intensive care unit team members can include ICU RNs, respiratory therapists, nursing assistants, and physicians/intensivists. Other ICU specialists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and administrative staff may also be included by definition.

Who’s Treated in the ICU?

Patients can be in the intensive care unit for a variety of reasons. The bottom line is that they’re critically ill, medically unstable, and require continuous medical care. Patients commonly may be recovering from a complicated surgery or life-threatening trauma. For example, brain surgery or open-heart surgery, head trauma/severe brain injury, or an aneurysm. A patient may also need breathing support, be in a coma, or require a very specific type of monitoring.

How Much Do ICU RNs Make?

ICU Travel Nurse salaries are among some of the highest for Registered Nurses. ICU RNs earn a great salary and hourly rate just about everywhere. There are a few states that stand out as being opportunities for higher earning potential. The highest paying stats for ICU RNs include New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wyoming, Maine, Massachusetts, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Most contracts are 13 weeks in length which allows travel nurses to break their work year into about 4 travel nursing assignments.

According to several sources* ICU RNs earn an average of $95,000 per year. The median salary for ICU RNs is closer to $77,000/yr. With that being said, great opportunities exist for ICU RNs in travel nursing. If you live in a city, state, or region that averages salaries that are lower on the spectrum, travel nursing potentially offers higher pay.

*Sources include ZipRecruiter, Indeed, and Glassdoor

Cost of living is often higher in areas with higher average salaries for ICU RNs. With that being said, paid housing and other travel nursing perks are able to offset the increased cost of living, allowing you to increase your earning potential. ICU RNs are in extremely high demand so travel nursing opportunities for ICU RNs often have even higher pay rates with great overtime rates as well.

How To Start Travel Nursing

Take your career to the next level. As an RN you can work anywhere in the country. Turn your career into a working vacation with Medical Solutions. As you take the next steps to becoming a travel RN we’ll guide you through the whole process. We offer rewarding travel ICU RN jobs with great facilities across the country.

You’ll work directly with a Recruiter who will help you apply to available positions based on your personal and professional preferences. To start apply below, then we’ll be in contact. You’ll get the opportunity to tell us where you want to go as a travel nurse and which shift is ideal.

So, are you ready to travel? Get started today to find flexible critical care nurse jobs today.

Quick ICU Facts

• ICU RN education requirements: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and/or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)
• ICU certifications: Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
• ICU certifications: Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
• Required experience to become a travel ICU RN: Facilities typically require a minimum of two years of recent, in-hospital experience in order to hire you as an ICU travel nurse. You’ll want the benefit of experience since travel nurses have to hit the ground running!

Virtual ICU Command Center RN Positions Available Nationwide

Medical Solutions is looking for a talented travel RN (Registered Nurse) with a focus in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) to fill virtual ICU consultant positions across the US. High demand areas include Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arizona, Washington, and Nebraska. These are for exclusive virtual/remote ICU positions. If you’re looking for a traditional ICU travel nursing jobs please apply as normal using the link below.

What Are Virtual ICU RNs?

Virtual ICU RNs work in a command center role where you will have the opportunity to provide consultations to care providers meeting with patients in person. These roles can be located at hospitals but work can also be performed remotely. As organizations develop their virtual ICU command center programs more information will become available. If you’re interested in becoming a virtual ICU RN apply with us and we’ll be in touch. Remote RN jobs are growing in popularity but competition for these positions is increasing. Tele RNs are also in demand for similar roles. Even if you’re just curious feel free to reach out to us for more information.

Are These Positions Remote?

It depends what you mean by “remote”. Many of these positions require that you work from the hospital but in a “command center” role in which you provide consults to other care providers via the virtual ICU office. In that sense yes, these are remote nursing jobs. If you’re interested in a remote nursing job in which you can work from home, see below.

Do Virtual ICU RNs Work From Home?

As of right now, no. However, the future of virtual nursing is wide open. Work from home nursing opportunities are a definite possibility. There are security challenges that face travel nursing agencies and hospitals regarding work from home nursing positions. In addition to security, the amount of technology needed to communicate effectively with several other care providers can be extensive. As of right now, these virtual ICU nursing positions are all considered “command center”. Work from home nursing positions are a real possibility in the future of care. If you’re interested in a work from home nursing position, feel free to contact us to see what we have that might fit with your needs. As the travel nursing industry is changing rapidly there might be a position available in the near future.