PICU Registered Nurse (Pediatric ICU) – Travel Assignment in Durham, NC

Join a specialized pediatric cardiac ICU in Durham, North Carolina, as a PICU travel nurse caring for critically ill infants, children, and adolescents. This 13-week travel nursing assignment offers the opportunity to care for patients with complex congenital heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, post-operative cardiac needs, and transplant-related conditions while working alongside a collaborative multidisciplinary team. Durham is a vibrant Research Triangle community known for its welcoming atmosphere, rich cultural scene, excellent dining, and convenient access to outdoor recreation.

PICU Travel Nurse Job Details

• Location: Durham, North Carolina
• Weekly Estimated Pay: $2,160–$2,270
• Assignment Type: 13-week travel nursing assignment
• Start Date: October 19, 2026
• End Date: January 18, 2027
• Shift: 12-hour day shifts, approximately 7:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Schedule: Three 12-hour shifts per week; four 12-hour shifts may also be accepted
• Hours: 36 hours per week based on a three-shift schedule
• Patient Population: Neonates, infants, children, and adolescents
• Unit: Pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PICU/CVICU), with approximately 24 beds and 1:1 patient ratios
• Weekend Requirement: Every other weekend
• Floating: Required as needed
• Orientation: Structured orientation with bi-weekly start dates

PICU Registered Nurse Job Requirements

• At least 1 year of recent PICU, pediatric CVICU, or comparable critical care nursing experience
• Active North Carolina or Compact Registered Nurse (RN) license in hand
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
• Experience caring for critically ill pediatric patients, including complex congenital heart disease and post-operative cardiac patients
• Strong pediatric critical care skills in ventilator management, hemodynamic monitoring, arterial and central line management, chest tubes, continuous sedation, IV vasopressors, and dysrhythmia interpretation
• Experience with advanced therapies such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), ventricular assist devices (VADs), or other mechanical circulatory support is highly valued
• Previous charge nurse experience and Epic charting experience are preferred
• Flu vaccination is required for this assignment
• Ability to provide a recent supervisory reference and complete required compliance documentation in a timely manner

Pediatric Critical Care Nursing Responsibilities

• Provide safe, compassionate, evidence-based nursing care to critically ill pediatric and neonatal patients
• Monitor and manage patients with complex congenital heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, and post-cardiac surgery needs
• Care for patients receiving mechanical ventilation, high-flow oxygen, noninvasive ventilation, continuous sedation, vasopressors, CRRT, ECMO, or VAD support as appropriate to competency
• Perform comprehensive assessments and recognize subtle changes in patient condition
• Manage arterial lines, central lines, PICC lines, chest tubes, drains, external ventricular drains (EVDs), urinary catheters, and other critical care equipment
• Administer medications, blood products, TPN/lipids, and pediatric weight-based therapies safely and accurately
• Participate in post-operative cardiac, catheterization, neurosurgical, transplant, and other high-acuity recovery care
• Collaborate with physicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacy, rapid response teams, and other interdisciplinary partners
• Support patient and family education while maintaining accurate, timely documentation in the electronic medical record
• Float to support patient care needs and participate in every-other-weekend coverage as scheduled

Apply now for this PICU travel nursing opportunity in Durham, North Carolina, and join a leading pediatric cardiac critical care team.

Benefits

401K with Matching, Healthcare, Dental and Vision

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity across our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.