Post job

Traveling nurse vs registered nurse in the icu

The differences between traveling nurses and registered nurse in the icus can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a traveling nurse and a registered nurse in the icu. Additionally, a registered nurse in the icu has an average salary of $92,881, which is higher than the $83,961 average annual salary of a traveling nurse.

The top three skills for a traveling nurse include patients, acute care and healthcare. The most important skills for a registered nurse in the icu are patients, BLS, and acls.

Traveling nurse vs registered nurse in the icu overview

Traveling NurseRegistered Nurse In The ICU
Yearly salary$83,961$92,881
Hourly rate$40.37$44.65
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs585,515631,825
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a traveling nurse do?

Often employed under a staffing agency, a travel nurse primarily works short-term on different limited-staffed hospitals in cities all over a country, and even abroad on rare occasions. They are mainly responsible for providing treatment and immediate care to patients, administering medicine, assisting in various tasks, preparing meals, and other functions that the supervising colleague delegates. Furthermore, as a travel nurse, one must quickly familiarize the surroundings and colleagues to work efficiently, all while upholding their oath as health care workers.

What does a registered nurse in the icu do?

A registered nurse in the ICU, or intensive care unit, is responsible for monitoring a patient's progress and performing regular reports to physicians and families. Most ICU patients require extensive attention and assessment, which will require a nurse to be more observant and proactive. A nurse may also have duties producing paperwork, arranging schedules, responding to various inquiries, and crafting a particular care plan. Furthermore, should there be any emergencies, it is crucial to inform the assigned physician right away.

Traveling nurse vs registered nurse in the icu salary

Traveling nurses and registered nurse in the icus have different pay scales, as shown below.

Traveling NurseRegistered Nurse In The ICU
Average salary$83,961$92,881
Salary rangeBetween $53,000 And $132,000Between $54,000 And $156,000
Highest paying CityDetroit, MILos Angeles, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiConnecticut
Best paying companyMaxim Healthcare GroupScripps Health
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between traveling nurse and registered nurse in the icu education

There are a few differences between a traveling nurse and a registered nurse in the icu in terms of educational background:

Traveling NurseRegistered Nurse In The ICU
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Traveling nurse vs registered nurse in the icu demographics

Here are the differences between traveling nurses' and registered nurse in the icus' demographics:

Traveling NurseRegistered Nurse In The ICU
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 15.9% Female, 84.1%Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 9.2% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between traveling nurse and registered nurse in the icu duties and responsibilities

Traveling nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage critically ill patient as a result of trauma, including vent management, ICP monitoring, and CRRT.
  • Manage and further help stabilize elective and/or urgent surgical patient in their post-operative, post PACU admission to the floor.
  • Manage bedside care per MD orders, administering medications, ensuring patient safety, assisting in ADL care, etc.
  • Monitor chemotherapy and administration of oral chemo medication, obtain laboratory specimens to manage client status via central lines.
  • Travel nurse who provide care to patients in SICU, MICU, CCU, and CVICU.
  • Work in both MICU and SICU
  • Show more

Registered nurse in the icu example responsibilities.

  • Manage care of patients with HTN, DM, COPD, asthma, stroke, renal failure.
  • Achieve initial CCRN this employment environment.
  • Manage care for patients with multiple chronic/acute conditions including renal, cardiac, respiratory, GI and diabetic.
  • Manage care of patients who require cardiac monitoring, including dialysis, COPD, CHF and pre/post surgical patients
  • Manage central venous catheters, including PICC lines, arterial lines as required for administration of medication and nutrition support.
  • Monitor and manage chest tubes and various drainage devices along with pacer wires, epidural lines, and PCA pumps.
  • Show more

Traveling nurse vs registered nurse in the icu skills

Common traveling nurse skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Acute Care, 10%
  • Healthcare, 9%
  • Acls, 6%
  • Surgery, 6%
  • Telemetry, 4%
Common registered nurse in the icu skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 15%
  • Acls, 10%
  • Acute Care, 6%
  • Life Support, 5%
  • Advanced Life Support, 3%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs