Pediatric ER Travel Nurse Jobs

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and various job sites, the average annual salary for a Pediatric ER Nurse is typically between $60,000 and $90,000. Nurses who hold advanced certifications or have extensive experience may earn at the higher end of this range or even more. The salary of a pediatric ER nurse in the United States can vary widely depending on several factors such as geographical location, years of experience, level of education, and the type of healthcare facility.

A pediatric emergency room nurse specializes in providing immediate and effective care for critically ill or injured children in the emergency department. Their responsibilities include triaging patients upon arrival, swiftly identifying life-threatening conditions, and initiating the appropriate interventions. They perform various medical procedures such as administering medications, intravenous therapy, wound care, and sometimes, assisting in life-saving procedures. Additionally, these nurses are skilled in performing pediatric assessments, interpreting diagnostic tests, and collaborating with the broader healthcare team to develop and implement care plans for pediatric patients.

One of their key roles is to provide emotional support and education to children and their families, often during stressful and frightening situations. Communication skills and a calming demeanor are crucial for pediatric emergency room nurses as they often have to explain complex medical situations in a manner understandable to both children and parents.

Education & License Requirements

A registered nurse needs to complete their associate degree or bachelor's degree at an accredited nursing program and take the National Council Licensure Exam NCLEX -RN Exam, which is a requirement to practice as a registered nurse in the United States. Once the NCLEX exam is passed, you meet the requirements by your state license board, and you obtain your RN license, then all that is left is to do is gain the necessary relevant experience in your specialty and explore additional certifications.

Certifications

Pediatric emergency room nurses must maintain a high degree of competence and knowledge in pediatric emergency nursing care, often obtaining certifications such as Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) or Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC).

Emergency pediatric nursing jobs are available in a variety of healthcare settings, primarily in urban areas due to the larger number of hospitals and clinics. The most common place of employment is in the emergency room of general hospitals or specialized children's hospitals. These nurses may also find opportunities in urgent care centers which cater specifically to pediatric patients. In some regions, pediatric ER nurses can be part of medical flight teams, providing emergency specialized care to children during medical transportation.

While compensation offers can vary greatly depending on the contract or agency offering, pay packages for pediatric emergency registered nurses typically have four major components: hourly taxable wages, meals and incidentals, housing, and travel.

Hourly Pay

Full-time nurses working at healthcare facilities receive a salary, but most travel nursing employers offer hourly wages at a competitive weekly rate. Every pay package for a travel nurse must include a taxable hourly wage, and the amount can vary depending on the shift, location, and specialty required of the assignment.

Housing

Housing payments can be included in a payment from a staffing agency. This is typically offered to a travel nurse in two ways. Either the company is providing housing, or the travel nurse is taking the housing stipend. It is more beneficial for the traveler to take the housing stipend for two primary reasons. First, they will have a choice in where they stay. Everyone’s definitions of comfortable and acceptable are different. The second reason the housing stipend is more beneficial for them is that it can be given as a nontaxable amount.

Meals and Incidentals

Also known as per diems, meal and incidental stipends provide a daily budget for daily living expenses for travel nursing professionals. These standards vary depending on the cost of living in cities and states across the country.

Travel Expenses

Travel is the last portion of the pay package. Many recruiters may not even offer travel and instead put that money into the per diems or housing for their travel nurse so they are receiving the benefits over the entire contract, not just at the very beginning or end of the contract.

While a travel stipend can be used to cover the cost of a flight for the traveler, it is more often than not used to subsidize the traveler's expenses to and from an travel nursing assignment. Travel expenses can be offered as a reimbursement rate per mile, though many agencies will opt to offer a flat rate to and from an assignment.

Many travel emergency room nurses find work through recruitment agencies and marketplaces, which means you have better access to job boards to choose your schedule, location, and salary. When you begin browsing for travel pediatric nursing jobs, be sure to consider the housing options, the benefits, the guaranteed hours' policy, and the recruiting company’s overall reputation.

The good news is that Fusion Marketplace has everything you need when it comes to finding the perfect travel nurse jobs. Here, you have the freedom to compare benefits, packages, and staffing agencies—all in one place. So find your next perioperative nurse job and build your travel nursing career today.