Pediatric OR Travel Nurse Jobs

In the United States, the average salary for a pediatric operating room nurse is approximately $88,000 per year, according to data from Payscale. However, a pediatric nurse's salary can fluctuate significantly based on factors such as level of experience, geographic location, the size and type of the healthcare facility, and the nurse's level of education and training. For instance, pediatric nurses working in larger hospitals in metropolitan areas may earn more compared to those in smaller, rural healthcare settings. Additionally, nurses with advanced degrees or specialty certifications may command higher salaries.

An OR pediatric nurse, much like their counterparts in adult care, plays a vital part in the surgical team, with a focus on surgeries involving children ranging from infancy to young adulthood. Responsibilities of pediatric nurses in the OR are wide-ranging, starting from preoperative patient preparation, where they gather accurate information and explain procedures to patients and families and provide reassurance to both the child and their family. During surgery, they assist the surgical team, manage surgical tools, and monitor the child's vital signs.

Postoperatively, pediatric nursing professionals track the patient's recovery, manage pain relief, and educate the family on post-surgical home care instructions and treatment plans. They must also be adept at addressing the unique needs of pediatric patients, displaying a blend of technical competence, compassion, and the ability to communicate effectively with both patients and the patient's family.

Education & License Requirements

To become a pediatric nurse, a registered nurse needs to complete their associate's degree or bachelor's degree in nursing from 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 nursing 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 and skills checks.

Certifications

Pediatric nurses who want to expand their nursing skills, receive specialized training and work in the OR could consider earning the Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) credential, offered by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB), a widely recognized certification in the pediatric nursing field. This certification validates the nurse's expertise in pediatric nursing, including surgical care. To become a pediatric nurse who is eligible for the CPN certification, a registered nurse must have an active RN license, complete a certain number of hours in pediatric nursing care, and pass a comprehensive examination. The CPN certification needs to be renewed every three years through continuing education or re-examination.

OR pediatric nurse positions are primarily available in urban or community hospitals, especially those with dedicated pediatric surgical units. OR pediatric nurses work in free standing children's hospitals, which exclusively cater to pediatric patients. In addition to these, ambulatory surgical centers part of a larger medical center that offer outpatient surgical procedures for children might also employ OR pediatric registered nurses for patient care.

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

Hourly Pay

A full-time staff nurse working at a healthcare facility receives a salary, but most travel nursing employers offer hourly wages at a competitive weekly pay rate. Every pay package for a CVOR 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 the travel nurse. 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 pediatric 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 travel OR pediatric nurse, 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 OR pediatric 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 OR pediatric nurse 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 nursing jobs. Here, you have the freedom to compare benefits, packages, and staffing agencies—all in one place. So find your next health care travel job and build your travel nurse career today.