Travel nursing
Travel nursing is a specialized field where registered nurses accept temporary job assignments in healthcare facilities that are experiencing staffing shortages, typically facilitated through staffing agencies. This practice emerged in the 1970s due to a nursing shortage and has evolved into a recognized career path, particularly during times of heightened demand, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel nurses often work in various settings across the United States, providing essential care while enjoying the flexibility to explore new locations.
To become a travel nurse, individuals typically need a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) and at least one year of professional nursing experience. Once placed in a facility, travel nurses sign contracts that generally last from two to six months, during which they must quickly adapt to their new environment and take on responsibilities similar to those of full-time staff nurses. While the role offers competitive salaries, with potential earnings significantly above traditional nursing positions, it also requires nurses to navigate challenges like frequent relocations and the need for multiple state licenses.
Overall, travel nursing offers a unique blend of professional opportunity and personal adventure, appealing to those seeking to gain diverse experiences in their nursing careers while providing critical care where it is most needed.
Travel nursing
Travel nurses accept temporary job assignments in high-need areas at healthcare facilities across the country. Rather than serving as full-time nurses, they are placed into these contract-based positions by staffing agencies. Nurses working in this role can provide patient care in a variety of healthcare settings in cities throughout the United States.
Background
Travel nursing began because of a nursing shortage in the 1970s and is still used today. These short-term nursing opportunities allowed hospitals to increase nurse staffing temporarily. Initially, travel nursing was often used in states with seasonal population turnover, such as Arizona and Florida. During the winter months, these states see an influx of seasonal residents, often senior citizens who may require care during their temporary stay. Travel nursing allowed hospitals to recruit new nurses during these times of increased need, and these warm-weather states were an attractive option for nurses from the northern United States looking to escape the cold.
Travel nursing during the 1970s and 1980s was seen as a short-term solution to staffing issues. However, it gained popularity and has since remained a viable career option for nurses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for travel nurses spiked, as healthcare facilities became short-staffed. Today, travel nursing agencies place interested nurses in positions at healthcare facilities throughout the country. Being placed through an agency benefits nurses, as the agencies advocate for proper housing, competitive salaries, and moving costs.
Overview
Qualifications
The path to becoming a travel nurse begins with earning a degree in nursing. Most travel nursing jobs require a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN), which is a four-year degree. Aspiring nurses can find BSN programs in colleges and universities as well as online. Online programs can be an attractive option to individuals with an associate degree in nursing (ADN) who intend to work while earning their bachelor’s degree. The BSN curriculum includes courses such as anatomy and physiology, public health, nursing research, and nursing ethics.
Upon completion of a BSN degree program, those wanting to become a nurse must take and pass the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Additionally, nurses may have to apply for licensing based on their state and area of practice. Many travel nursing programs require at least one year of professional experience in patient care. Some programs also expect nurses to complete continuing education credits annually. Therefore, aspiring travel nurses need to understand the qualifications for this role because it can take several years to meet them.
How It Works
A travel nurse accepts placement at a specific healthcare facility for a set amount of time. Travel nurses sign a contract, committing to the position for days, weeks, or months, depending on the assignment. Typically, contracts run from two to six months. When contracts end, travel nurses may continue their work at the same location under a new contract or move to another location in need of a nurse. Some travel nurses find the right fit in a location and join the healthcare facility as a full-time nurse. However, other travel nurses enjoy the experience of traveling to facilities in need and continue working as a travel nurse for years.
Job Responsibilities
Because travel nurses join understaffed healthcare facilities, they must quickly move into their role in patient care. However, many facilities offer a brief orientation during the first few days on the job or will pair the travel nurse with an experienced nurse to transition them into their new role. Travel nurses, like many other nurses in the profession, work twelve-hour shifts. Upon arrival, a travel nurse consults with the outgoing nurse to learn about the patients in their care. During the shift, travel nurses provide patient care as needed, which may vary depending on the unit. At the end of the shift, the travel nurse updates the incoming nurse about their patients. Some travel nurses are assigned to a home unit, such as an emergency room or intensive care unit, that they work in throughout their contract. Other travel nurses serve as float nurses, meaning they move from unit to unit within the hospital as staffing needs dictate.
Salary and Benefits
Travel nursing offers a competitive salary as well as many benefits. Often, travel nursing pays more than a full-time nursing position. According to the website PayScale, in 2023, a travel nurse earned nearly $80,000. However, that figure can vary based on many factors, including the nursing specialty, the shift worked, and the location. A healthcare facility in a city with a high cost of living is going to offer more money than a comparable facility in an area with a low cost of living. Likewise, certain specialties, such as certified nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), attract a higher income than other nursing roles. In some cases, travel nurses earn $107,000 per year.
Travel nurses enjoy perks as well. Some agencies give bonuses to attract new nurses. Travel nurses typically secure free temporary housing in their location, which reduces their out-of-pocket expenses. Travel nurse agencies may also offer medical, dental, and vision insurance benefits.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Travel nursing is a unique role that offers both advantages and disadvantages. Working as a travel nurse provides many opportunities, allowing nurses to travel freely and explore new locations for temporary stints. Travel nurses gain a variety of on-the-job skills in this role, as they must learn to adapt to different healthcare facilities quickly and develop new skills as needed. These opportunities can provide them with nursing experience that they can use throughout their career. Additionally, travel nurses can accept short-term contracts and then take time off. For example, a nurse may accept a rigorous eight-week contract and then take a few weeks off before signing a new contract. This flexibility appeals to many nurses.
However, travel nursing presents challenges as well. Nurses work away from home for long stretches. They must adapt quickly to new work environments each time they begin a new assignment and become accustomed to always being the new nurse in a facility. In some cases, nurses need multiple licenses to practice in different states. While these challenges are not insurmountable, they should be considered when individuals consider becoming a travel nurse.
Bibliography
Cooper, Adam. “Travel Nurses’ Experience of Organizational Change: An Exploratory Study,” Florida State University, 2008, diginole.lib.fsu.edu/islandora/object/fsu:181712/datastream/PDF/view. Accessed 29 Aug. 2023.
Morris, Gayle. “A Day in the Life of a Travel Nurse.” Nurse Journal, 10 Feb. 2023, nursejournal.org/articles/day-in-the-life-of-a-travel-nurse/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2023.
“Travel Nurse Salary Guide.” Vivian, www.vivian.com/nursing/travel/salary/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2023.
“What Is a Travel Nurse? Career Outlook and Salary.” Advent Health University, www.ahu.edu/blog/what-is-a-travel-nurse. Accessed 29 Aug. 2023.
“What Is a Travel Nurse? Job Description and Salary.” St. Catherine University, 16 Dec. 2021, www.stkate.edu/academics/women-in-leadership-degrees/what-is-a-travel-nurse. Accessed 29 Aug. 2023.