Are you a registered nurse who has a soft spot for new moms?
Perhaps you’re an experienced postpartum nurse looking for a change of pace.
Or maybe you’re new to the nursing field and looking for a brand-new adventure.
A postpartum travel nurse job might be the perfect fit for you.
In this guide, we’ll review job duties, average pay, and the requirements needed to become a traveling postpartum nurse, as well as some tips for finding the perfect assignment for you.
Table of Contents
- What Does a Postpartum Travel Nurse Do?
- How Long Are Contracts for Postpartum Travel Nurse Jobs?
- How to Become a Postpartum Travel Nurse
- Postpartum RN Travel Jobs: Qualifications
- The Top 4 Cities in Demand of Postpartum Travel Nurse Jobs
- How Much Money Can a Postpartum Travel Nurse Make?
- Where Are the Highest Paying Postpartum Travel Nurse Jobs?
- Things to Keep in Mind When Considering a Postpartum RN Travel Job
- Benefits of Postpartum Travel Nurse Jobs
- Drawbacks of Postpartum Travel Nurse Jobs
- How to Know if Postpartum Travel Nursing Would Be a Good Fit for You
- Trusted Nurse Staffing: Committed to Helping You Find the Perfect Postpartum Travel Nurse Job in Your Desired Location
What Does a Postpartum Travel Nurse Do?
Postpartum nurses are tasked with the responsibility of caring for mother and baby following delivery until discharge.
Some of the most common job duties include:
- Monitoring vital signs of both mother and child
- Watching for potential complications
- Educating new moms on newborn care; and
- Executing the attending doctor’s plan of care
How Long Are Contracts for Postpartum Travel Nurse Jobs?
Postpartum travel nurses are fully licensed and registered nurses who are brought in to fill vacancies at medical facilities — such as hospitals and birthing centers — when there is a shortage of nurses.
These postpartum RN travel jobs are temporary assignments, typically lasting an average of 13 weeks, although they can vary depending on the needs of both the facility and the nurse.
Some contracts can be as short as 4 weeks, and occasionally contracts may be extended past the normal 13-week term.
How to Become a Postpartum Travel Nurse
Postpartum travel nurses are registered nurses who have gained specialized training and experience in providing for the very specific care of new moms and their newborns.
These nurses are well-versed in both the physical and mental tolls childbirth takes on a mother and child, and are highly skilled in providing the support and care needed following childbirth.
Postpartum RN Travel Jobs: Qualifications
To be qualified for a postpartum travel nurse job, you’ll need to:
- Complete a nursing degree from an accredited nursing school – Both a 2-year ADN degree and a 4-year BSN degree are acceptable as long as they come from an accredited school.
- Pass the NCLEX examination – All nurses must take and pass this national exam, which assesses basic nursing skills.
- Obtain an RN license – Licensing is required to become a practicing nurse.
- Achieve additional certifications – Postpartum nursing is a highly specialized field that requires additional certifications in areas such as:
- Electronic Fetal Monitoring
- Maternal Newborn Nursing (RNC-MNN)
- Certified Lactation Consultant (IBLCE)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
- Gain clinical experience – Most postpartum travel nurse assignments are going to require 1-2 years of related experience, so the more relevant experience you have, the better. elated experience, so the more relevant experience you have, the better.
The Top 4 Cities in Demand of Postpartum Travel Nurse Jobs
Across the nation, the US is facing an unprecedented shortage of experienced and qualified registered nurses. The shortage of highly trained specialty nurses such as postpartum nurses is even greater.
Some factors contributing to this national shortage include:
- An increased need for healthcare
- Aging of the baby boomers, which is America’s largest generation
- The decline of graduating registered nurses; and
- A high number of nurses retiring or choosing to leave the profession
While the shortage spans the entire country, there are a few cities with a higher than average demand for trained postpartum travel nurses.
City #1: Las Vegas, Nevada
Due to the nursing shortage, Las Vegas employers have a lot of difficulties finding qualified nurses to fill their open positions.
As a tourism town, Vegas mainly attracts professionals in the food and beverage, hospitality, and entertainment industries, leaving a very small pool of candidates for nursing jobs.
Being known for its endless entertainment opportunities, visiting the Vegas strip might be a bucket list item you’ve been dying to check off.
If the excitement of the bright lights and big city isn’t quite your thing, the natural beauty of the mountains and desert that surrounds Vegas might be more your speed.
With a population of over 600,000 and an average salary of $108,000 annually, Las Vegas, Nevada might be an ideal short-term postpartum nursing assignment for you.
City #2: Medford, Oregon
Nestled in southern Oregon within the beautiful Rogue Valley with a population of more than 70k is the charming city of Medford.
If you’re a traveling postpartum nurse who loves outdoor adventure and scenic beauty, Medford might just be the perfect city for your next nursing assignment.
While earning an average monthly salary of $8,874 working as a postpartum nurse, you can partake in activities such as fishing, hiking, skiing, and white-water rafting on your days off.
For outdoor lovers, Medford, Oregon is a blend of professional and personal perfection.
City #3: Anchorage, Alaska
When it comes to breathtaking scenery and outdoor adventure, Anchorage, Alaska comes in at the top of the list.
With no shortage of outdoor experiences such as …
- Visiting glaciers
- Moose, bear, or whale watching
- Biking coastal trails
- Flightseeing
- Visiting national parks
- Gold mining
- Viewing the Northern Lights
- Dog sledding; and
- Taking in the midnight sun
… there’s plenty of adventure to fill your time off.
As the country’s northernmost large city with a population of about 300,000, Anchorage is facing a severe shortage of highly qualified nurses, making it an ideal location for a short-term postpartum travel nurse assignment. The average weekly salary of around $2600 just sweetens the possibility.
City #4: Bremerton, Washington
Located on the Kitsap Peninsula, just across the Puget Sound from Seattle, lies the beautiful city of Bremerton, Washington.
With a high weekly salary averaging around $12,000, Bremerton offers more of a metropolitan feel for its residents.
Some highlights of this charming town include …
- Outstanding restaurants
- Quirky and fun coffee houses
- Naval museums
- Breathtaking architecture
- Beautiful parks; and
- Fine arts offerings
… in addition to everything Seattle, which is only an hour away, has to offer.
How Much Money Can a Postpartum Travel Nurse Make?
Due to the nursing shortage across the country, nursing salaries are higher than ever, especially for specialty nursing fields such as postpartum nursing.
Where Are the Highest Paying Postpartum Travel Nurse Jobs?
The top 10 states paying the highest salaries to postpartum nurses are:
- Washington – offering up to $53.89 per hour or $112,100 annually
- Maryland – offering up to $53.21 per hour or $110,674 annually
- Nebraska – offering up to $52.10 per hour or $108,365 annually
- Virginia – offering up to $51.41 per hour or $106,943 annually
- New York – offering up to $51.35 per hour or $106,817 annually
- Delaware – offering up to $49.81 per hour or $103,606 annually
- New Hampshire – offering up to $49.68 per hour or $103,338 annually
- Oklahoma – offering up to $48.42 per hour or $100,716 annually
- California – offering up to $48.24 per hour or $100,346 annually
- Massachusetts – offering up to $47.59 per hour or $98,989 annually
If you want to find the highest paying postpartum travel nursing assignment available to you, Trusted Nurse Staffing can help.
In addition to locating high-paying assignments, we can also help to check all of your other boxes, ensuring the best assignment to meet all of your personal needs.
Things to Keep in Mind When Considering a Postpartum RN Travel Job
If you’re trying to determine if a postpartum travel nurse job is right for you, there are a lot of things you’ll need to consider.
While there are some very extensive and exciting perks, there are also some significant drawbacks that you’ll need to fully weigh out before making your decision.
Benefits of Postpartum Travel Nurse Jobs
The benefits of securing a postpartum travel nurse job are vast and varied.
Ranging from personal to professional, some of the biggest benefits to becoming a traveling postpartum nurse include:
- Flexibility and freedom
- Extensive travel opportunities
- The ability to discover new places
- Making new personal and professional relationships
- Working in new and varied facilities
- New personal experiences
- Professional growth
- Higher pay
- Job security; and
- Various other monetary benefits
Drawbacks of Postpartum Travel Nurse Jobs
While there are many advantages to working as a postpartum travel nurse, there are a few potentially significant drawbacks that should be considered, including:
- Constantly working out travel logistics
- Packing up and moving to a new home and job every few months
- Handling delays or downtime between assignments
- Adjusting to time zone changes; and
- Difficulty establishing long-term friendships
How to Know if Postpartum Travel Nursing Would Be a Good Fit for You
If you enjoy …
- Working as a nurse
- Assisting new moms and their babies
- Working in ever-changing situations and settings
- Traveling across the country
- Experiencing new things; or
- Meeting new people
… then a job as a traveling postpartum nurse might be the perfect career for you.
Trusted Nurse Staffing: Committed to Helping You Find the Perfect Postpartum Travel Nurse Job in Your Desired Location
If becoming a postpartum travel nurse is your dream job, Trusted Nurse Staffing wants to help you achieve this dream.
At Trusted Nurse Staffing, we are committed to helping you with every step of the process, from deciding which position you’d like to apply for to transitioning to a new assignment.
Our Trusted Nurse Staffing team will:
- Help you create a personalized resume highlighting your education, experience, and work history.
- Listen to your availability, interests, and goals.
- Narrow down potential assignments based on your skill set and desires.
- Arrange phone interviews with your top choices.
- Help you negotiate the offer details.
- Walk you through the hiring process by answering your questions and providing guidance as needed.
- Assists you in setting up your next assignment when you’re ready.
If you’re ready to make your dreams become a reality, click the link below. Trusted Nurse Staffing is here to help.