NICU Travel Assignment: Livingston, New Jersey
The Garden State
This travel nurse assignment was located in Livingston, New Jersey, and the contract was different from any that I had previously accepted. Not only was it a shorter assignment (8 weeks vs 13 weeks), but this contract required me to have a Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification and experience taking care of pediatric patients. As a Neonatal (NICU) Nurse, I’ve been floated several times to Pediatrics (PICU) during my previous travel assignments. Therefore, I undoubtedly accepted the assignment.
Everyone who I worked with was extremely nice and helpful on all of the units. It was one of the most rewarding, yet challenging assignments that I’ve completed so far. If you ever choose to take on a NICU-float contract, you should always let the NICU/PEDS/PICU units know what your skill set is and what patients you are comfortable caring for, prior to taking on any patient assignments.
If you are considering a travel assignment in Livingston, NJ, make sure to check out the resources provided below:
- Hospital: Level III NICU/PEDS/PICU
- Scrubs Color(s): Navy
- Charting System: EPIC
- Lodging: Furnished Finder. (Short-term rental ~25 minute drive from the hospital). Most short-term rentals on Furnished Finder were in-law suites attached to a home. I wanted to stay in an apartment/condo; therefore, I stayed near the downtown Newark area.
- Transportation: Drive or Lyft/Uber.
- Hospital Parking: Once you receive your hospital badge, you will be able to tap into the garage attached to hospital for FREE!
- Assignments: (NICU) 1: 2-3 ratio, mostly feeder, grower infants. (PEDS) 1:4-8 ratio, mostly stable patients who needed around-the-clock medication. (PICU) 1:2-3 ratio, mostly asthmatic, bronchitis, RSV, Rhinovirus patients (oxygen support: High-Flow, BiPAP) or post-operative patients, such as Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy (T&A).
- Floating: NICU/PEDS/PICU. Appropriate assignments were given.
In conclusion, the travel assignment in Livingston, NJ was a pretty decent, short assignment. As stated above, this assignment was challenging, but I learned so much working and floating between the different specialties. After this assignment, I will take a much needed, extended break and take some time off for the holidays! Now it’s time to rest and reset 💆🏾♀️.
If you have more questions, feel free to contact me or drop a comment below!
