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Travel Nursing and Allied Therapy Jobs

If you're interested in working and venturing away from home, travel assignments are perfect for you travel and explore what the world has to offer, all while doing what you do best — providing quality care., travel contract jobs for  nursing and allied therapy healthcare professionals.

Your opportunities with GrapeTree are endless! Along with per-diem shifts and local assignments, our healthcare professionals have the opportunity to travel and explore new areas without giving up a regular income. Travel contracts are 8-13 weeks in length, offer opportunities to work outside a 50 mile radius of your home, and include travel + housing stipends. Mesh your career with new personal life experiences by becoming a traveling healthcare professional with GrapeTree!

You get the best of both worlds. Earn a competitive wage while exploring your surroundings in your down time.

Live in, make memories in, and explore a new area with every new travel assignment

Receive a weekly, non-taxed per diem, to assist with travel, meals, housing, incidentals, and other necessary expenses.

Guaranteed hours

Your schedule is set from the moment you are booked into a travel assignment with GrapeTree.

We currently offer travel opportunities throughout the states below – but we are still expanding! Check out all of the fun things to do in each of our states and pick your next home-away-from-home.

Make More With Travel Contracts

The weekly package range for travel assignments is a combination of hourly taxed rate and a weekly non-taxed per diem reimbursement to cover housing, meals, incidentals, and other necessary costs. Package amount is based on facility type, specialty, location, and certification of healthcare professional.

CN A s &  STN A s

$1,200-$1,700 per week.

Must have 6 months of experience working as a CNA or STNA.

PTAs, OTAs, COTAs

$1,500-$1,800 per week.

Must have 6 months of experience working as a PTA, OTA, or COTA.

$1,600-$2,000 PER WEEK

Must have 1 year of experience working as an LPN.

PTs & OTs

$2,000-$2,600 per week.

Must have 6 months of experience working as a PT or OT.

Must have 1 year of experience working as an RN.

Must have 6 months of experience working as an SLP.

Your h ome address must be least 50 miles away from the facility to qualify for travel pay rates. Contracts are available as local assignments  for those whose home address is less than 50 miles away from the facility address.

Get Certified in Other States

Only certified to work in your home state? No problem! While each state has their own process for becoming licensed, it is easy to get your license transferred. This process is called getting "reciprocity" or "endorsement." Our team has compiled a list of all our states' registries so that you can easily transfer your license. Give our team a call to learn more about getting reimbursed for gaining reciprocity in other states! Click the button below to get started.

The Perks of Travel A ssignments

Flexibility.

You have the flexibility to choose where you go and what assignments you take on.

Avoid Burnout

Experience higher job satisfaction working in a travel assignment by avoiding overtime.

Gain Knowledge

Explore what you love about nursing by working with more people in diverse settings.

Career Advancement

Strengthen your experience an build up your resume to show that you thrive in all environments.

What People Are Saying

I've been working and traveling with GrapeTree Medical Staffing for about five months now and have loved every minute of it! The communication is great, the pay is excellent and I love how flexible they are! If you are looking for a great company to work for I highly recommend GrapeTree!

Alissa | Travel CNA

Got questions we've got answers..

Book Your Dream A ssignment

Our team is waiting to hear from you! Learn more about our travel opportunities or book your dream assignment by giving us a call at (712) 336-0800.

Interested in More Information?

Travel Nurse + Allied Health Professional Contracts Guide

As a Trusted Health travel nurse or allied health professional, we want you to be knowledgeable about your travel nurse contract and empowered to make informed decisions about your nursing career. Your contract exists to protect you, define your role, ensure fair pay and compensation, and much more! 

But don’t let the term “contract” give you pause. While there’s information that you need to know, none of it is incredibly complex or nerve-wracking. Here, we’ll explain everything you need to know about this important document and why fully understanding it is crucial to a successful travel nurse career! 

What is a Travel Nurse Contract?

A travel nursing contract is a legal agreement between you, a healthcare facility, and your agency. This legally binding agreement delineates your working relationship with a facility and the general terms and conditions of this agreement.  

As a travel nurse, you must both understand and agree with your contract before signing it. Signing without understanding can lead to otherwise preventable confusion, disappointment, and headaches down the road. And so can signing without agreeing! If you are unhappy with the contract’s terms- the time to negotiate is before signing. Otherwise, your options for changing your contract as a healthcare professional are drastically limited. 

When signing a travel nurse contract, the Trusted Health Care Team will be with you every step of the way. Your travel nurse agency plays a vital role throughout the contract process. Not simply a go-between for you and the facility, agencies are there to be both an advocate for and a resource to you. Here’s how this process works:

• Find a travel job you love ! Apply and interview. 
• If the facility wishes to hire you, your Trusted Nurse Advocate will send you their offer! 
• If you like the offer, we will send you an official contract outlining the details of the assignment. If everything looks good to you, you can go ahead and sign your contract to make things official! 
• If there’s anything you’d like to change, you should ask your Nurse Advocate where there may be wiggle room to negotiate certain details before signing. Your Nurse Advocate is your ally in the process and will work with you to try to reach terms where you and the facility will both be happy with the agreement.
• The facility can then either approve or deny any requested changes. 
• Once you and a facility agree on and sign a contract, you can start working with your Operations Coordinator to ensure you’re ready to hit the ground running on the specified start date. Time to get ready for your next destination! 

Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s continue with a few more basics. 

What's Included In a Travel Nurse Contract?

Several key components must be included in a travel registered nurse contract, whether you travel through Trusted Health or another agency. Here’s what every travel nurse contact should include: 

• Assignment Details: Facility name, location, contact information, and the hospital unit you will be working on. 
• Schedule & Duration: Contract start date and end date, shifts (days, nights, or rotating), hours worked per week (36, 40, or 48), and any call requirements.
• Compensation: Hourly wage, stipends, any additional rate types (like overtime, on-call, holiday rate, etc.), and other pay package benefits. 
• Shift Cancellation Policy: Sometimes, a facility will need to cancel one or more shifts because of low census. In this case, the facility may still be required to pay you (guaranteed hours), or they may not be. If your hours are not guaranteed, there may be a limit to how many times you can be canceled without pay.
• Special Requests: If any requested dates or extended time off is approved, ensure it is also noted and approved in your contract. 

We know there are a few other things that you are probably wondering about, such as cancellation and termination clauses, as well as floating requirements. This information is covered in Trusted Health’s Employee Handbook . Our handbook is a great resource to find out any additional information that applies to all of your contracts with Trusted Health. 

Always remember that once your contract has begun and you are working, your nurse advocate at Trusted is still available to you as a resource. They will help answer any questions you have and support you in your new role!

How Long are Travel Nurse Contracts? 

Travel nurse contracts most commonly start at 13 weeks but can range anywhere from 2 to 26 weeks in length, depending on the facility’s need! Two-week contracts are typically for strike or other short-term contracts, and contracts 26 weeks and up are offered if the facility has a long-standing need that they anticipate going unfilled. 

Due to the unpredictable nature of healthcare staffing, contracts longer than 26 weeks will typically not be offered upfront. It can be hard to tell what a facility and unit’s staffing requirements will be 6+ months in advance! 

Contract Extensions

A travel nurse contract extension , or renewal, may be on the table toward the middle or end of your contract- especially if a facility has a continued need and a traveler who desires to stay. If you are interested in an extension, it’s a good idea to let both your Nurse Advocate and your manager at the facility know! 

Facilities often won’t decide on an extension until closer to the end of a contract, as this is based on their ability to predict their needs as they look ahead.  That being said, it’s never too early to bring it up if it interests you! If a traveler and facility are both happy with their working relationship, it is not unheard of for a nurse to be extended several times, even staying up to a year or returning for a future assignment after a break!  Terms like pay and shift can be requested at the time of an extension, but changes are not guaranteed with each contract renewal. 

Contract extensions are just one example of the wide range of flexibility that you enjoy as a travel nurse. There are also different types of travel contracts! Depending on your circumstances, you may find that one type of travel contract works better for you than another. Let's learn a little bit more about them in this net section.  

Are there Different Types of Travel Nurse Contracts?

In addition to a standard 13-week contract, there are three main types of travel nurse contracts. These are local travel nurse contracts, short-term travel nurse contracts, and strike contracts. Here’s a little more about each. 

• Local Travel Nurse Contracts - Local travel contracts are a good option for someone who does not have a tax home or is otherwise not eligible for the tax-free housing and living stipends available to travelers. This is often because they are local to a location or have lived there for over a year. This can also be because they anticipate a loan or social security based on taxable income. Tax situations are often tricky- often, an accountant or the IRS’ website can be a great resource. If these situations apply to you, let your nurse advocate know!
• Short-Term Travel Nurse Contracts- Contracts that range from four to eight weeks are often referred to as short-term travel contracts. These contracts include taxable and non-taxable pay and are often higher-paying than standard 13-week contracts. Short-term contracts are used to fill short-lived, high-demand vacancies in healthcare facilities.  
• Strike Contracts- These contracts are a type of short-term contract used by facilities to hire temporary staff in anticipation of, or during, a healthcare worker strike . Strike contracts are often short, high-paying, and unpredictable in nature. Strike contracts ensure patient care continues when regular staff is on strike. 

The longest a travel nurse can generally stay in one location and continue to receive non-taxable benefits is one year. You are never under any obligation to extend a contract if you do not want to. After one year, a traveler can stay, but at this time, they will no longer be eligible for tax-free housing and living stipends . These travelers can continue to work a contract but may need to switch from a travel contract to a local contract to best fit their tax situation. 

What Happens When My Travel Nurse Contract is Complete? 

How you spend your time off between contracts is totally up to you! Take advantage of the flexibility that travel nursing provides and take some extended time off, or begin working again soon after your contract ends if you’re ready for it. 

After you complete a travel nurse contract, you are never under any obligation to begin another contract. If you desire to begin working quickly after finishing your current contract, many travel nurses begin looking for a new contract towards the mid-point of their current one. It can take some time to find a career you love and negotiate logistics- so we do not recommend waiting until the last minute to begin looking! 

Be sure to download Trusted’s mobile app so that you can begin your next search, right from the palm of your hand!

Can I Cancel a Travel Nurse Contract?

Yes, you can cancel a travel nurse contract, and a healthcare facility can also cancel your contract. Contract cancellation can happen at any time and for any reason. There are many reasons for this, such as a facility canceling due to staffing changes or dissatisfaction with a nurse. A nurse may cancel for personal reasons or because of dissatisfaction or safety concerns with the facility. Here are some essential things to consider in these situations:

• While Trusted Health does not penalize nurses who cancel with a fee, some agencies may. If a travel agency does charge a cancellation fee, a financial penalty for cancellation will be outlined in the terms of your contract. For this reason and many others, it is imperative that you fully understand the terms of your contract. 
• Trusted Health values professionalism throughout all aspects of our contracts, including cancellation. We internally track both nurse-initiated cancellations and facility-initiated cancellations and terminations. Our first priority is to assist and support our nurses- but if there is a significant reason for termination or a pattern of cancellations, we may decide to no longer work with a nurse. 
• There can be other penalties for canceling a contract, including how it may look to future employers- including your travel agency, healthcare facility, and healthcare system they are a part of. Depending on the circumstances, these organizations may place you on a “Do Not Rehire” or DNR list. 
• Contract amendments may occur at any time and are usually requested on behalf of the healthcare facility. These can impact your pay, housing, or living stipends. If a facility and a nurse cannot agree on a contract amendment, cancelation may occur. 

Regardless of the reason, all parties should avoid cancellation unless absolutely necessary. With that being said, we are all humans at Trusted, and we know our nurses are too! We know that “life happens,” and we are empathetic and understanding in regard to illness, family emergencies, death, and other life-altering events. 

Communication is vital in these situations- if you have questions or need support- speak with your Nurse Advocate as soon as possible!

Tips to Avoid Cancellation as a Travel Nurse 

Often, cancellation may occur because of factors that are out of a nurse's control, such as unit census and staffing changes. This is undoubtedly frustrating! Here are a few tips that can help you avoid getting canceled when the budget gets tight and contracts are being cut: 

• Punctuality- Being on time is always important! Showing up for shifts promptly and being ready to work reflects on you in a positive manner.
• Attendance- Reliability also improves your track record. If a manager knows that you can be counted on, they will be more apt to keep you over another traveler. 
• Professionalism- Being hardworking, helpful, and a team player also can set you apart. Managers will always prioritize keeping strong nurses who seamlessly fit in with the team!  

We know that was a lot of information! Congrats on taking the initiative to become an aware and informed travel nurse. Contracts protect you, define your role and responsibilities, and ensure your pay and compensation. It is essential to read your contract, thoroughly understand what it means for you, and ask any questions before signing.

Being knowledgeable about your travel nurse contract empowers you to make informed decisions about your nursing career! If you have any further questions or need additional support, your nurse advocate at Trusted is always here to help. 

Additional Resources

Trusted Health | Help Center  

On-Assignment & Contract Support | Trusted Health | Help

Travel Nurse Contract FAQ’s

• Can I negotiate my travel nurse contract? What parts can I negotiate? 

At Trusted, your start date, time off, shift, and contract length can be negotiated. Your pay and call, weekend, floating, and holiday requirements cannot be. Want to know why? Click here to learn more. 

• What should I do with my contract after I sign it?

Keep a copy of your contract in a safe, accessible location! You may want to refer back to it at a later date. You will be emailed a copy of your contract from Trusted Health. Some nurses and traveling professionals prefer to print out and keep hard copies of their contacts in addition to electronic documents. 

• What happens if I need to change my travel nurse contract? 

Reach out to your nurse advocate or care team here at Trusted! Often, if you have noticed an error and your contract hasn’t started yet, this can easily be fixed. Otherwise, making changes to your contract can be a bit more complicated. We are happy to go over your options with you! 

• Can I cancel my contract if I feel that the working conditions are unsafe?

You can cancel your travel nurse contract. However, we prefer to avoid cancellations if at all possible due to the stress it places on healthcare facilities, patients, and staff. That said, your mental health as a nurse is important too! If you have concerns, contact your nurse advocate and care team ASAP. We are here to help you navigate challenging situations and always have your back!

Ready to take your nursing career on the road? Discover a world of opportunities with Trusted Health. With a variety of travel nurse jobs available, you're just a click away from finding the perfect fit for your skills and lifestyle. Browse our current travel nurse jobs and embark on your next adventure today!

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Travel as a Certified Nursing Assistant

Browse travel CNA jobs with LRS Healthcare.

Traveling as a CNA with LRS Healthcare

At LRS Healthcare, our recruiters are trained experts at finding only the best CNA jobs at long-term care nursing facilities across the nation. This means you get to choose your next working view!

When you travel as a healthcare professional, you get to make an incredible impact on the patients in your care while offering the long-term care facilities you serve with much needed staffing relief. You’ll get to choose from thousands of long-term care jobs nationwide, giving you control of your healthcare career.

Browse travel CNA jobs with LRS Healthcare and apply today to get started today. A recruiter will be in touch to help you with the final application and job details while working to get you the job of your dreams!

What to expect

Applying for cna travel jobs.

Before starting a healthcare travel assignment as a certified nursing assistant, you must take the first leap and apply . A recruiter will then reach out to finalize your application and talk about your preferences in hopes to get you placed at a desirable long-term care facility. Once all of your documents and background checks are completed, if an offer is made, you can then sign your contract and prepare for your next adventure!

Download the Complete Checklist for Every New Healthcare Travel Assignment

of Traveling as a CNA

As a healthcare traveler, you get to be your own boss and our team of professionals is here to help you find the perfect balance of work and life adventures. It’s about finding that balance between having the control and freedom to travel, while learning and growing a CNA caregiver.

Additional perks include:

Excellent Weekly Pay

Explore New Cities

Fun and Flexible Lifestyle

On-the-Job Experiences

Professional Growth

Extended Time Off Between Assignments

Meet New People

24-Hour Support

With all of this change and excitement, it may take some time to get comfortable in your new job and location. Don’t worry this is expected and your recruiter will be there at every step of your journey! Learn more about about travel opportunities for Nursing Professionals.

Asked Questions

01. To be considered as a healthcare traveler, be sure your licenses and certifications up to date. The required licenses may vary depending on the state in which you work a travel assignment. While not always required, you’ll have a leg up if you have 2-years of on-the-job experience.

02. Once you’ve gained a minimum of 2-years on-the-job experience, determine which healthcare staffing agency you want to work with, then apply for a job! At LRS Healthcare, our recruiters take pride in listening to your requests and finding you the best CNA travel job that not only pays well but is in a city that matches your interests.

03. To put it simply, pay packages vary by job, facility, and agency. A healthcare traveler pay package advertised online could be before or after taxes, include travel or housing stipends, etc., These variables affect what your take-home pay could be and could potentially be different than what agencies display online. To ensure accuracy, your LRS Healthcare recruiter will outline your personalized pay package, so you know what to expect on your weekly paystub

04. A standard travel nurse assignment is 13 weeks; however, long-term care facilities tend to have a bit more flexibility when it comes to CNA contracts. If you commit to an 8-week or 13-week travel assignment and decide you love it, you have the option to extend your contract . If you determine it’s not the location or job for you, then you have peace of mind that it is only temporary.

24/7/365 Benefits

Beyond-your-basic benefits.

Licensure Reimbursement

Certification Reimbursement

Traveler Experience Team

Referral Bonus

LifeWorks EAP

Clinical Team

Healthcare Traveler App

Learn more about our benefits .

From the LRS Healthcare Blog

Be kind to your mind: mental health month, meet the clinical nurse liaison team, nurses week & year-round discounts for healthcare professionals.

Why Choose LRS Healthcare?

Your success is our priority. That’s why we make the traveler experience easy, so you can spend more time living your life and caring for your patients. Here are just a few more reasons to travel with us.

Traveler First:

You’re never just a number to us. We take the time to learn about you, including your career goals and desired destinations. Your recruiter will guide you from one assignment to the next and be your advocate throughout your journey with us.

Responsive:

Submit your online application, and we’ll be in touch right away. Once we’ve gotten to know you and matched you to an ideal position, we’ll work together to collect the rest of the details.

Full Service:

Along with your recruiter, you’ll have access to our dedicated operations and traveler experience teams. They help take care of all the details to make your assignment the very best it can be. You won’t go it alone—you can contact us any time, 24/7/365.

Traveler App:

LRS Connect is our job search and employment app designed specifically for healthcare travelers. Start your profile to set up custom job preferences and we’ll notify you (in real time) as soon as your dream job becomes available! When you’re ready, you can apply with ease directly through the app with one simple click!

Travel with LRS Healthcare

Ready to hit the road for your next assignment.

How Does Travel Nursing Work? | Salary and FAQ

Travel nursing is a great way to advance your career and earn great pay while traveling the country. Plus, travel nursing can provide advantages to nurses who value flexibility in their careers and don’t want to be locked into one facility or specialty. Travel nursing can also help nurses who are looking for variety in the nursing profession to learn new skills and gain valuable experience.

And while providing excellent patient care is one part of the job that won’t change, there are some differences between being a travel nurse versus a staff nurse that you should be aware of before you make the switch.

Below you’ll learn the travel nurse basics as we answer 15 of the most frequently asked questions about travel nursing.

Discover available travel nursing assignments in the area of your choice!

Table of Contents

• How Does Travel Nursing Work?
• Who Can Become a Travel Nurse?
• What is The Salary Like as a Travel Nurse?
• How Long are Travel Nursing Assignments?
• Where Can Travel Nurses Go?
• Can I Take a Travel Assignment Close to My Home?
• Am I Eligible for Benefits Like Health Insurance and Vacation?
• Does the Staffing Agency Pay For My Living Expenses?
• Can I Travel With My Family and/or Pets?
• Can I Travel With Another Travel Nurse?
• Will I Get the Worst Assignments?
• If An Assignment is Cut Short Due to Low Census, Do I Get Full Pay?
• Is Travel Nursing Good for Career Advancement?
• How Long Will There Be Demand for Travel Nurses?
• How Do I Become a Travel Nurse?

1. How Does Travel Nursing Work?

Travel nurses are hired to bridge staffing shortages, which may be caused by a variety of factors:

• A lack of qualified nurses in the area
• Seasonal patient population increases
• Natural disasters or pandemics
• Staff nurses taking expected leaves of absence like maternity leave or vacations

To find skilled nurses to fill these often short-term assignments, these facilities work with recruitment agencies.

Most travel nursing assignments are around 13-14 weeks long, so as the travel nurse, you sign a contract with a travel nursing agency to work that length of time at a designated facility. While 13-14 weeks is an average length of time, there may be other assignments that are shorter or longer.

Every facility will have different policies, but most will also have clearly explained policies about what will happen if you feel unsafe, are unable to complete your assignment, or if the hospital decides to cancel your contract before the length of time is up.

Your travel nurse recruitment agency will work with you to place you at a facility and help you arrange things like housing, meals, and other practical things you might need during your stay, like internet or utilities.

You also have the option to receive retirement benefits and insurance for the duration of your assignment, although those benefits usually end when your assignment does, so some travel nurses opt to pay out-of-pocket for the benefits they need so they last between assignments.

There are travel nurse assignments available in nearly every specialty, from ICU to labor and delivery to advanced nurse practitioner positions like CRNAs and NPs. In general, the more specialty experience you have, the higher pay you may earn as a travel nurse. If you have specialty training or would like to gain it, be sure to talk to your nurse recruiter.

2. Who Can Become a Travel Nurse?

Travel nurses are Registered Nurses with typically 12-18 months of hospital-based RN experience in their field. Depending on the specialty or the specific requirements of the facility, the required work experience may be longer. Travel nursing assignments are available for multiple specialties, but some specialties like ICU and oncology are more in demand. Nurses with advanced certification, such as NPs, CNMs, and CRNAs can also take travel positions.

See other high-demand travel nurse specialties.

3. What is The Salary Like as a Travel Nurse?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a Registered Nurse in 2021 was $77,600 per year, while travel nurses can make on average approximately $131,807 per year.

However, you may want to keep in mind that the 2021 average for travel nurses may be a bit higher than you should expect to make in 2022-2023, because that rate takes into account some higher-than-normal travel nurse wages that occurred during the pandemic. While high-rate travel nursing positions are still available, they are not as high as they were reaching at the peak of the pandemic.

Total travel nurse compensation depends on multiple factors such as your specialty, the contract details, and the location of the hospital. In general, travel nurses are often paid well, because they’re filling a high demand for nurses.

In addition to your hourly rate, you’ll often be eligible for these perks:

• Medical and dental benefits
• Stipends for housing
• Travel expenses

Keep in mind, that when working as a travel nurse, you’re employed by the travel nursing agency and not the facility. It’s also important to remember that travel nurses are paid (and taxed) differently than staff nurses . Travel nurses are paid through agencies, not the hospital, you have to look at your total pay, which includes your hourly base pay + your non-taxable stipends, which is what things like housing and meals are considered.

Your hourly base pay may look lower than you expect, but when you factor the stipends in, you can get a more accurate picture of what your total pay looks like. You’ll also need to be sure you have a “tax home” to avoid paying taxes on the stipends as well.

4. How Long are Travel Nursing Assignments?

The standard travel nursing assignment lasts 13 weeks, but anything between 8 and 26 weeks is common. Hospitals will often offer to renew your contract, too, if you agree — called extension assignments.

Extension offers usually occur during the last 3 to 5 weeks of your assignment, but if you’re interested in staying on longer, you should talk to your recruiter. You don’t have to wait to be approached by the facility.

Standard travel nurse hours are five 8s, four 10s, or three 12s, though this will vary by facility. Your shift and hours should be written in your contract.

The beauty of being a travel nurse is that you can work as long or as little as you would like — you can choose to extend an assignment, take on a new one as soon as one contract ends, or take an extended break between assignments.

5. Where Can Travel Nurses Go?

Travel nursing jobs are available across the country, but available assignment locations will depend on current staffing needs. While vacation destinations like Hawaii or California might be the dream for many travel nurses starting out, they’re also high in demand and as such, may not come with as high of pay.

On the flip side, choosing less in-demand areas may garner you higher pay and help you build your resume and experience. You can also sign up to be on a list for crisis travel nursing positions so that when something pops up last minute, like a hurricane in Puerto Rico, you can take a crisis pay travel nurse position.

Ultimately, you decide where you want to go — chances are if your dream location isn’t available now, it will be in the future.

Read more: Best Cities for Travel Nurses

It’s also very important to remember that in order to legally work as a travel nurse, you’ll need an RN license for that state. Some states are part of the Compact State licensure, which means that if you have a compact state license and want to work in any of the states under that license, you’re covered. Otherwise, you’ll have to apply for each individual state you want to work in. Ask your recruiter about Compact State licenses , which allow you to work in many states with one license.

6. Can I Take a Travel Assignment Close to My Home?

A common myth is your assignment must be at least 50 miles away from your permanent residence — often called the “50-mile rule.”

The truth is, you can work a contract assignment at a hospital close to your home if you choose. In fact, some nurses even choose to quit their staff positions and take on travel nursing roles at the hospitals they work at. (Keep in mind that your hospital may frown upon that or even ban nurses from doing that, so be sure to tread carefully if that’s your plan). Additionally, if you do choose a location close to home, you can’t collect the non-taxed housing stipend, which can reduce your overall pay.

To collect the housing stipend, you must be duplicating expenses — rent or own a home in your home area AND rent a place in the area you’re working. Basically, you can’t work a contract and go home to your main residence at the end of your shift and receive a non-taxed stipend.

7. Am I Eligible for Benefits Like Health Insurance and Vacation?

Most travel agencies offer medical and dental benefits as well as other benefits like a 401K that you can collect directly through the agency— some even offer matching 401K plans!

To maintain health insurance, though, you cannot take off more than 30 days. If your plan is to take extended time off between assignments, it would be better to get your own health insurance. You can purchase your own benefits through Marketplace.gov or go through an insurance agency that offers health insurance. You can also open your retirement accounts and contribute directly to them as you please.

Also, most travel nurse companies do not offer paid time off (PTO) or short-term disability. You’ll need to get your own insurance policy if you’re concerned with the possibility of getting hurt and not being able to work.

Bottom line: In the world of travel nursing, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. But some nurses still find that thanks to the high wages travel nursing offers, that they can actually earn more money by working fewer hours and still reap all the benefits of a staff position.

8. Does the Staffing Agency Pay For My Living Expenses?

There are two housing options available to travel nurses:

• Agency-placed housing
• Taking a housing stipend

If you choose agency-placed housing, the agency arranges your living situation, but it isn’t free. The housing fees come out of the bill rate and ultimately reduces your take-home pay. Housing is deducted from the travel nurse’s “cut” of the bill rate. Agencies will coordinate and set up housing, which is helpful if you’re new to travel nursing.

However, if you want to bring home the most money, we recommend taking the stipend and finding your own housing. In that scenario, you can still collect the housing stipend, but you have the freedom to choose your own living quarters, so if you find a place that’s lower than the stipend allows, you get to keep the difference. Many travel nurses choose to do this to keep their housing costs low and take home more pay.

When you get housing through an agency, it’s also important to know that things like a television, washer and dryer, or a vacuum are often not included, but you have the option of renting these items from the company that furnished the apartment. Let your recruiter know what you’ll need, so they can help arrange the rentals.

If you opt for the housing stipend, you’ll be responsible for finding your own housing as well as all of the living expenses.

See available housing listings by state.

9. Can I Travel With My Family and/or Pets?

Yes! You can travel on assignment with your family and/or pets — though finding housing may become a bit trickier. Most travel nurse companies provide a one-bedroom apartment (some just a studio or an extended-stay hotel), which probably isn’t doable if you’re bringing your children. To get housing with additional bedrooms and space, you may be required to pay for part of your housing (if using agency-placed housing). Or, you’ll have to find your own housing (using the housing stipend).

Let your recruiter know if you’d like to travel with your pet, so they can find pet-friendly housing. Keep in mind, that some housing has breed or weight restrictions, which can limit your options. You’ll also likely have to pay an additional security deposit.

Learn more about how to find travel nurse housing with your pets.

10. Can I Travel With Another Travel Nurse?

Yes! It’s not uncommon for RNs to select travel nursing assignments together. You can even request to work in the same hospital or city and to share an apartment or apartment complex. Traveling with another nurse gives you someone to explore with and often saves on housing costs. It’s also possible to do travel nursing as a couple — learn how one couple does it and their advice for other nurse couples .

11. Will I Get the Worst Assignments?

Some travel nurses have reported that many facilities tend to give travel nurses the “easier” patients and leave the sickest to the staff nurses, especially for acute patients. Why? It takes time for a charge nurse to get to know you and learn what you can handle.

However, this may not be the case for you, especially if you are taking on a specialty assignment, like working in a COVID or ICU unit. Additionally, in critical staffing positions, there may not be an option to delegate “easier” patients, as every patient may be critically ill.

As a travel nurse, however, you’ll usually be the first to float. If you dislike that, then you may not enjoy being a travel nurse.

Read more: Are Travel Nurses Treated Unfairly?

12. If An Assignment is Cut Short Due to Low Census, Do I Get Full Pay?

No — typically you will not be paid if your assignment is cut short due to low patient counts. However, your recruiter will attempt to find you a replacement assignment quickly. Also, the number of shifts allowed to be canceled is written in your contract. Some contracts may also have policies about what will happen if the entire assignment is canceled. As a side note, you may also want to confirm that you can get out of your housing contract should your contract be canceled.

13. Is Travel Nursing Good for Career Advancement?

Traveling as a nurse increases your skill level and makes you a more eligible candidate for future nursing jobs. Why?

• It exposes you to different regional nursing procedures and patient populations
• You may have the opportunity to work in a wider variety of specialties
• You have experience learning a new clinical environment quickly
• Some agencies may also help you get more specialty training or certifications—if you’re interested in this, be sure to talk to your recruiter about what your agency might offer for continuing education!

14. How Long Will There Be Demand for Travel Nurses?

While the pressing need for travel nurses through the pandemic may have slowed, there will always be a demand for travel nurses. Not only do nursing shortages nationwide continue to be a problem, but the rate of new nurses replacing nurses leaving and retiring from the workforce is not an adequate number. Additionally, there will always be things like natural disasters and emergencies that crop up, which will require an influx of travel nurses who can work on short notice.

Nurses comprise the largest section of the healthcare profession, and continuing shortages are still a real problem. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects that over 1.2 million nurses are required to meet the current need and that employment opportunities for nurses are growing at a 15% rate through 2026 when compared to all other occupations (an average of 6% growth).

15. How Do I Become a Travel Nurse?

We’ve compiled a complete step-by-step guide on how to become a travel nurse . You can also fill out this short form to get connected with up to four travel nursing agencies. We work with the top staffing companies whose recruiters work hard to connect you with the best opportunities available.

Start your travel nursing adventure today!

Make all the right career moves!

Don't miss out on your adventure., learn more about travel nursing.

Highest-Paying Travel Nurse Assignments | Salary & Location

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8 Best Places For Travel Nursing In The Summer

13-Week Travel Nursing Contracts: Pros and Cons?

• Publish Date: Posted over 4 years ago
• Author: by Kate Andrews

Last week, we explored some of the historical reasons why travel nursing contracts in the US tend to be 13 weeks in length. Whether it’s down to traditional accommodation contracts, FMLA leave, or orientation periods, the 13-week contract remains a popular option in travel nursing. 

Despite this, there’s no one-size-fits-all option when it comes to solving staffing needs for both acute and long-term care facilities. Here, we take a look at some of the pros and cons of hiring nurses on 13-week contracts to help you make a more informed decision. 

Access To Quality Nurses. No facility should compromise on quality when they need nursing staff at short notice. Luckily, travel nurses are often provided through a staffing agency that calls upon a database of top-quality nurses, whose skills and experience have been vetted. This means that they can supply the right people to suit your facility and specific needs right away. 

Super Fast Orientation. Because travel nurses are highly experienced and used to navigating different workplaces, they do not require an extensive orientation period to get up-to-speed. For example, it typically takes between 12 and 14 weeks to train a new permanent member of staff, while travel nurses expect no more than a 24-40 hour orientation. 

Staffing Flexibility. All healthcare facilities experience fluctuations in staffing needs. Travel nurses can work precisely when you need them, whether that’s to cover absence and orientation periods or accommodate seasonal demands. Additionally, if you hire travel nurses and decide that permanent members of staff would be more suitable, you’re not locked into lengthy contracts. 

Continual Turnover. A constant stream of new faces can be a strain on your permanent staff who may feel as though they’re continually training travel nurses and are unable to form lasting bonds. This lack of relationship-building can also have a negative impact on patient care, and could, therefore, lead to poor HCAHPS scores.

Cost. For the convenience of having highly-qualified nurses available on-demand, facilities pay a higher hourly rate. Additionally, travel nurses are increasingly looking for tax incentives that can push their rate up even further in comparison to hiring permanent staff or international nurses. 

Drop-Off Rate. Unfortunately, if we compare travel nurses with international nurses, there’s a higher drop-off rate of 9 percent compared to 2 percent. 

Commitment. While travel nurses are undoubtedly hard workers, they know they’re moving on after 13 weeks and so tend to be less invested in a facility’s long-term vision and the local community in comparison to permanent staff. 

What Are The Alternatives? 

More healthcare facilities are going global and using established staffing agencies to secure the very best international nurses who will help them to reduce costs and improve patient care. Find more about international nurses and other staffing alternatives by downloading our FREE guide: “Alternatives to the Traditional 13-week Assignment: Why more US healthcare facilities are turning their back on traditional short nursing contracts.” ​

Find out more about international nurses and other staffing alternatives in our free guide - 'Alternatives to the traditional 13-week assignment'.

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Watch CBS News

Memorial Day weekend 2024 could be busiest for travel in nearly 20 years

By Kris Van Cleave

Updated on: May 14, 2024 / 4:04 PM EDT / CBS News

This year is expected to be one of the busiest travel years in nearly two decades, with about 43.8 million people expected to travel at least 50 miles, according to AAA.

Joy Noelle Balanag booked her vacation months ago, hoping to beat the potentially record-breaking summer rush.

"I definitely am excited for this travel season. 2024 feels just like almost a breath of fresh air," she told CBS News. "I do plan on traveling on airplanes. I do plan on taking my car. Just, like, seeing where this summer season takes me."

Balanag won't be alone. This Memorial Day weekend, AAA is expecting a nearly 5% bump in airline travel over last year and United Airlines alone is planning to fly more than half a million people a day from May 23 through May 28, which would be the airline's busiest Memorial Day weekend ever. Delta is expecting 3 million passengers total over that same stretch, a 5% increase for the airline from 2023. American Airlines said it's preparing for 3.9 million customers over the long Memorial Day weekend.

Most travelers will drive that weekend, however, with AAA predicting a record 38.4 million people will hit the road. That's a 4% increase from last year. Gas prices are similar to where they were last year, up about 8 cents a gallon nationally compared to last Memorial Day weekend.

"It goes back to that bucket list, YOLO, you only live once mentality, Aixa Diaz of AAA told CBS News. "A lot of people are now going, 'You know what? Let's not take those trips we always take with our families. Let's get a little bit more adventurous.'"

One of the fastest-growing travel options since the COVID-19 pandemic is cruising.

The industry is expecting a new record high of nearly 35 million passengers this year, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. For the thousands on board the Carnival Firezne cruise ship's inaugural sold-out sailing, which began in late April, vacation season started early.

Passenger Jeanine Stage of Arizona told CBS News what she likes best about cruising is, "That you get to go to multiple destinations and you unpack your suitcase once."

"You got food, entertainment, even the casino, if you're into that, there's shows," she said.

All told, AAA is predicting 2024 will finish just narrowly behind 2005 as the busiest Memorial Day travel weekend since it began keeping track in 2000.

AAA expects the busiest time on the roads will be from noon to 7 p.m. on the Thursday and Friday before Memorial Day. United Airlines said that Thursday will be its busiest of the holiday weekend.

Among the top destinations this year: Florida, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Denver.

• Memorial Day

Emmy Award-winning journalist Kris Van Cleave is the senior transportation correspondent for CBS News based in Phoenix, Arizona, where he also serves as a national correspondent reporting for all CBS News broadcasts and platforms.

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Memorial Day weekend 2024 travel will be busiest at these times: How to avoid traffic jams

If you’re traveling for Memorial Day weekend , be prepared to run into some crowds. The next holiday weekend – taking place May 25 to 27 – is slated to see a record-breaking number of travelers, according to AAA. 

A projected 43.8 million Americans are expected to pack their bags for trips over 50 miles or more over the holiday weekend – a 4% increase from last year and close to 2005’s previous record of 44 million. 

“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel, in a press release. “We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”

Both roads and airports will be extremely busy, with a historic number of roadtrippers since AAA began tracking data in 2000. That’s 38.4 million drivers, up 4% from last year. 

A predicted 3.51 million airline passengers are expected to hit the skies over the holiday weekend, a 4.8% increase from 2023. This will make for the most crowded Memorial Day weekend at airports since 2005, AAA said. 

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Here’s everything you need to know about traffic if you’re hoping for a Memorial Day weekend getaway.

Summer is just around the corner. Here's everything you need to know for your summertime trip.

What are the most popular destinations for Memorial Day weekend travel?

Most popular domestic destinations:

• Las Vegas, 
• Anaheim/Los Angeles

Most popular international destinations:

• Vancouver, Canada

What are the best times to drive for Memorial Day weekend? 

To avoid the worst traffic, drivers leaving for their long weekend trip on Thursday, May 23, and Friday, May 24, should hit the road before 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Thursday and 8 p.m. Friday. 

Travelers driving on Saturday, May 25, who leave before 1 p.m. and after 6 p.m., will be able to avoid the worst traffic jams. On Sunday, drivers should head out before 1 p.m. to avoid the worst congestion. 

Travelers returning home on Monday, May 27, should embark after 7 p.m. if they want to dodge peak traffic. 

What are the worst times to drive by car for Memorial Day weekend?

Travelers should expect the worst traffic on Thursday between noon and 6 p.m. 

Friday between noon and 7 p.m. since they’ll encounter commuter congestion as well. 

Over the weekend, peak traffic is anticipated to be between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday. 

On Memorial Day, drivers heading back home can expect peak traffic between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., aka peak rush hour time.

Peak congestion times in major US cities

Travelers who are going through major metropolitan areas should unfortunately expect travel times to be up to 90% longer than usual, according to Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Travelers should stay up to date on traffic apps, 511 services, and local news stations to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary,” Pishue said in a statement. 

• Worst route: Atlanta to Savannah via I-16 E
• Worst day: Saturday, May 25
• Worst time: 4:45 p.m. 
• Estimated travel time: 5 hours, 31 minutes
• 54% increased travel time
• Worst route: Manchester to Boston via I-93 S
• Worst day: Sunday, May 26
• Worst time: 8:45 a.m.
• Estimated travel time: 1 hour, 48 minutes
• 50% increased travel time 
• Worst route: Milwaukee to Chicago via I-94 E 
• Worst time: 4:30 p.m.
• Estimated travel time: 2 hours, 25 minutes
• 27% increased travel time
• Worst route: Fort Collins to Denver via I-25 
• Worst time: 4:15 p.m.
• Estimated travel time: 1 hour, 24 minutes
• 56% increased travel time

Los Angeles

• Worst route: LA to Bakersfield via I-5 N 
• Worst day: Thursday, May 23
• Worst time: 6:15 p.m.
• Estimated travel time: 2 hours, 45 minutes
• 84% increased travel time
• Worst route: New York to Albany via I-87N 
• Worst time: 11:45 a.m. 
• Estimated travel time: 2 hours, 37 minutes

Philadelphia

• Worst route: Philadelphia to Baltimore/DC 
• Worst day: Friday, May 24
• Worst time: 7:30 a.m.
• 64% increased travel time

San Francisco

• Worst route:  San Francisco to Napa via I-80 E
• Worst time: 11 a.m.
• Estimated travel time: 1 hour, 34 minutes

Washington, D.C.

• Worst route: Washington, DC to Baltimore via Balt/Wash Pkwy N 
• Worst time: 2:15 p.m.
• Estimated travel time: 1 hour, 21 minutes
• 72% increased travel time

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .

State Department issues travel alert for LGBTQ people, events abroad

The U.S. State Department issued a "Worldwide Caution" alert on Friday, warning U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution due to "the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events."

According to an administration official familiar with the matter, the alert is connected to the recent announcement from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security that foreign terrorist organizations might seek to exploit "LGBTQIA+-related events and venues," including events during 2024 Pride month, which begins in June.

The alert comes on the same day the State Department is commemorating the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia.

Last year's Pride month was also marked by safety concerns after the Department of Homeland Security issued a report warning that domestic violence extremists and people who commit hate crimes have increased threats of violence against the LGBTQIA+ community in recent years.

LGBTQ advocacy groups have issued a "state of emergency" in the U.S. following record-breaking waves of anti-LGBTQ legislation as well as a spike in reports of hate incidents.

The State Department alert also advises traveling Americans to exercise increased caution because of the potential for more generalized terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions "against U.S. citizens and interests."

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Arizona Cardinals NFL schedule leaks 2024: Live updates, analysis ahead of release

T he NFL is set to release its complete 2024 NFL schedule on Wednesday, May 15, but some details about it are expected to leak before the official release.

Here's a look at what we know about the Arizona Cardinals' NFL schedule for 2024, including leaks, reports, rumors, speculation, educated guesses and more about the games ahead of the schedule's release.

Keep coming back for updates to the Cardinals' schedule for the 2024 NFL season.

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The Cardinals will host the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks in their 2024 NFL schedule.

They will play at the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, 49ers, Rams and Seahawks.

Arizona Cardinals schedule 2024: Everything to know after NFL's official reveal

NFL schedule release 2024 tracker: Leaks, rumors, live updates, what we know for games

Report: Arizona Cardinals to host Chicago Bears in NFL Week 14

Bears Insider Ben Devine posted the entire Bears schedule, which had Chicago traveling to Arizona to take on the Cardinals in NFL Week 14, giving Arizona fans a Caleb Williams vs. Kyler Murray matchup.

Report: Arizona Cardinals to host Los Angeles Rams in NFL Week 2

We reportedly know the Cardinals' first road game of the season and now we also reportedly know the team's first home game.

ESPN's Josh Weinfuss reported that Arizona will host the Los Angeles Rams in NFL Week 2, the first of six games against NFC West opponents this season.

Report: Arizona Cardinals to play at Buffalo Bills in NFL Week 1

The Cardinals will open the season in Buffalo against the Bills, according to the NFL Schedule Update X account.

It won't be any easy game for Arizona, if this is indeed the Cardinals' first game, but it's probably a good thing they play Buffalo early, and not when it will be really cold in New York.

Report: Arizona Cardinals will host Washington Commanders in NFL Week 4

NFL Insider Jordan Schultz is reporting that the Cardinals will host the Commanders in Week 4 in Glendale.

Report: Arizona Cardinals will play at Minnesota Vikings in NFL Week 13

Vikings Insider Rick Sosa is reporting that the Cardinals will take on the Vikings on the road in Week 13 of the season.

Report: Arizona Cardinals will host Detroit Lions in NFL Week 3

Lions Royalty is reporting that the Cardinals will host the Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale in Week 3 of the NFL season.

Arizona Cardinals won't play on Christmas Day

Earlier in this blog, we wrote about how the Cardinals could end up playing on Christmas Day in 2024.

Now we know that they will not with an announcement that the Kansas City Chiefs would face the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens would take on the Houston Texans on Dec. 25.

2024 NFL schedule wish for Arizona Cardinals

CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan  has a story about one schedule wish for every NFL team in 2024 and some of them really caught our attention.

For the Arizona Cardinals, he wrote: "To face the Patriots or Commanders at home in Week 1 for a winnable game out of the gate."

For the Los Angeles Rams, he wrote: "Face the Lions in Detroit on Thanksgiving (Matthew Stafford's revenge game?)."

For the San Francisco 49ers: "Not too many prime-time games (face several high-profile opponents)."

More: Arizona Cardinals players, fans, react to Marvin Harrison Jr. 2024 NFL Draft selection

How many miles will Arizona Cardinals travel in 2024 NFL schedule?

Bookies.com took a look at mow many miles every NFL team will travel in the regular season in 2024 and the Arizona Cardinals are 13th on the list, with 12 teams traveling further than they will.

The site has Arizona traveling 21,064 miles for their away games this season, which is less than their NFC West rivals with the San Francisco 49ers set to travel 24,575 miles, the Seattle Seahawks at 25,797 miles and the Los Angeles Rams at 24,263 miles.

NFL Draft grades 2024: Marvin Harrison Jr. pick lands Arizona Cardinals high marks

Could Arizona Cardinals play on Christmas Day in 2024?

Cards Wire's Howard Balzer looked at the possibility of the Cardinals and the NFC West being involved in the Christmas Day games in 2024, and the previous Saturday on a four-day turnaround.

He wrote: "It is important to know that the four teams will all likely be from the same division. So don’t count out the NFC West from being that division. It makes a lot of sense. The 49ers are the defending NFC champions and the four quarterbacks are attractive: Kyler Murray, Brock Purdy, Matthew Stafford and Geno Smith."

More: Arizona Cardinals fans thank kicker Matt Prater for Marvin Harrison Jr. 2024 NFL Draft pick

Arizona Cardinals' 2024 NFL record prediction

We don't know the Cardinals' exact schedule yet, but that hasn't stopped one site from predicting Arizona's record for the 2024 season.

The Sporting News predicts that the Cardinals will go 5-12 in 2024.

David Suggs wrote: "The Cardinals are likely to be outmatched by their NFC West competition, lacking the sort of top-end talent and consistency needed to become a contender for postseason play. Kyler Murray enjoyed a solid, if unspectacular return to the field last season. One would reckon that he comes into next season closer to his peak performance levels. Will it matter, though? The Cards won four games last year. No matter how well Murray plays, it will be a challenge to justify his massive price tag, especially given the lack of production across the roster that surrounds him."

More: Want a Marvin Harrison Jr. Arizona Cardinals jersey? You can't buy one. Here's why

No International Games for Arizona Cardinals in 2024

The Arizona Cardinals will not be playing out of the country this season.

We already knew that the Philadelphia Eagles would host the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 in Brazil, but we now know the rest of the NFL International Games schedule for 2024.

The NFL Network announced Wednesday morning that the Minnesota Vikings would host the New York Jets on Oct. 6 (Week 5) in London, the Chicago Bears would host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 13 (Week 6) in London and the Jaguars would host the New England Patriots on Oct. 20 (Week 7) in London.

It also announced that the Carolina Panthers would host the New York Giants on Nov. 10 (Week 10) in Munich, Germany.

Some had speculated that Arizona might be a road opponent in an international game this season, but that speculation has now been put to rest with the official announcement.

More: Arizona Cardinals' Darius Robinson 'polarizing prospect' in 2024 NFL Draft grades

Report: Arizona Cardinals to host New Orleans Saints in preseason Week 1

Well, it's not a regular season game, but we do have a leak for the Arizona Cardinals' preseason.

According to NOLA.com 's Jeff Duncan, the Cardinals are expected to host the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 of the NFL preseason at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on the weekend of Aug. 9-12.

NFL Draft grades 2024: Did Arizona Cardinals ace Marvin Harrison Jr. pick, other choices?

Arizona Cardinals' complete schedule coming Wednesday, May 15

The NFL has announced that the 2024 NFL schedule will be released on Wednesday, May 15 at 5 p.m. Pacific (8 p.m. Eastern) making the previously reported day official.

The schedule release show can be watch on NFL Network, NFL.com, the NFL app and NFL+.

ESPN will also have a two-hour special on the schedule release on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Pacific on ESPN2 and simulcast on ESPN+.

More: Kyler Murray height joke backfires as social media comes to Arizona Cardinals QB's defense

Arizona Cardinals have 'grudge game' on 2024 NFL schedule

We don't know when NFL "grudge" games will be played in 2024, but there will be some very interesting ones on the 2024 NFL schedule.

USA TODAY Sports  broke down 15 games that could attract a lot of attention in the upcoming season because of players or coaches facing former teams.

The Los Angeles Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens' Harbaugh Bowl will definitely attract a lot of eyeballs, as will the Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers rematch.

One potentially underrated one that caught our attention on the list? The Washington Commanders at the Arizona Cardinals, which will mark former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury's return to Arizona (and one-time Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels' return to the state).

NFL power rankings: Arizona Cardinals on the rise after 2024 NFL Draft

Arizona Cardinals deserve more primetime games on 2024 NFL schedule

Interestingly,  SB Nation  recently published a story about three NFL teams who deserve more primetime games on the 2024 NFL schedule and the Arizona Cardinals were included among the three.

Joseph Acosta wrote: "Fighting for some shine in a loaded NFC West, the Cardinals spent the first quarter of 2023 looking like one of the worst teams of the NFL. However, after QB Kyler Murray returned, the Cardinals began to look like one of the more intriguing teams for the future. Again, it’s the offense that takes most of the shine here. Murray, TE Trey McBride, and rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. give fans something to look for when the Cardinals play. Murray plays really exciting football, and if Harrison Jr. can be the outside receiver we all think he can be, then the Cardinals should be extremely exciting. Defensively, the team is still slowly coming along, but safety Budda Baker is still a very fun player to watch. With Murray running around throwing passes to Harrison Jr., this will be one of the most fun teams to watch this year."

The Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts were the other two teams that deserved more primetime games, according to the story.

Read more: Arizona Cardinals, fans deserve NFL primetime game in 2024 NFL schedule

How many wins will Arizona Cardinals get in 2024? NFL win total odds are out

We may not know the NFL schedule for teams in the 2024 season, but we do know the opponents each team will face.

And that's evidently enough to determine over/under win total odds for each NFL team in the upcoming season, according to one sportsbook.

FanDuel Sportsbook  has released regular season win total odds for every NFL team ahead of the  2024 NFL schedule release  and they offer an idea about how many wins Las Vegas thinks every team will get this season.

The sportsbook puts Arizona's over/under point total at 6.5 wins. The Cardinals are -150 to get over 6.5 wins and they are +122 to get under 6.5 wins.

Read more: Over/under win total odds for every NFL team in regular season

Arizona Cardinals' strength of schedule for 2024 NFL season

How does the Arizona Cardinals' 2024 schedule compare with other teams in the NFC West and the NFL?

In terms of strength of schedule based on last year's record? Very favorably.

Arizona's opponents this season went 141-148 last season for a win percentage of .488, tied with their NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks and the Miami Dolphins for the 24th hardest strength of schedule on the 2024 NFL schedule.

Only six teams have easier schedules for the upcoming season, according to that metric.

The other two NFC West teams, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, are tied for the 12th most difficult strength of schedule this season with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets. The opponents of those teams went 146-143 last season for a win percentage of .505.

Kyler Murray knows basketball: Arizona Cardinals QB surprises at Mavericks vs Thunder game

Arizona Cardinals should play San Francisco 49ers in NFL Week 1

Brandon Ray of Fansided makes the case for the Cardinals to open the season against the San Francisco 49ers,

He writes: "In order to be taken seriously and prove that they can be a true contender, the Cardinals need the best possible opponent right out of the gate. Their opponent should be none other than the San Francisco 49ers. ... Say what you want, but the Cardinals need to be tested big time right from the start to see what they are and what they could be moving forward. There is no better opponent for them to take on than the 49ers at the start of the regular season."

2024 NFL draft winners, losers: Arizona Cardinals a winner and loser for NFL Draft picks

Update: Arizona Cardinals not playing San Francisco 49ers in NFL Week 1

It would have made for a great game, but the Cardinals will not be facing the 49ers in NFL Week 1, because ABC announced that the 49ers would be hosting the New York Jets on Monday Night Football in the opening week of the 2024 NFL season.

The game will be played on ESPN and ABC on Sept. 9.

2025 NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals' way-too-early projections include QB Quinn Ewers

Best-case scenarios for Arizona Cardinals' 2024 schedule

Fansided broke down four best-case scenarios for the Cardinals' 2024 schedule, looking at how Arizona could avoid cold-weather games, the team playing the Miami Dolphins in November/December, the Chicago Bears coming to Arizona in September and facing the Los Angeles Rams twice early.

Of the Rams' scenario, Brandon Ray writes: "Since 2017, the Cardinals have beaten the Los Angeles Rams just three times. Long story short, the Cardinals have a tough time defeating the Rams. While Arizona should be able to try and beat the Rams at any point, they would benefit heavily by facing the Rams twice early on so that the matchups are done and over sooner than later. The Cardinals only put up 23 total points against the Rams last season, while LA would score no less than 26 points in a game against Arizona. One factor to consider when these two matchup is that the Rams will no longer have Aaron Donald causing chaos."

2024 NFL Draft rankings: Arizona Cardinals in Top 5 or Top 20? Opinions on class differ

Reach Jeremy Cluff at  [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter  @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals NFL schedule leaks 2024: Live updates, analysis ahead of release

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The 49ers are 2-Point Favorites to Beat the Bills in Week 13

Grant cohn | may 16, 2024.

• San Francisco 49ers

One of the toughest opponents on the 49ers' schedule for 2024 is the Buffalo Bills.

The 49ers have faced Bill quarterback Josh Allen just once, and he beat them 34-24. Also threw for 375 yards and 4 touchdowns and posted a quarterback rating of 139.1. Of course, this was 2020 and the 49ers are much better now than they were back then.

That's why the 49ers are two-point favorites to beat the Bills on the road in Week 13. The 49ers are one of the best teams in the NFL, while the Bills are reloading after trading no. 1 wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Beat teams have beaten the 49ers without a true no. 1 wide receiver in the past. The Ravens beat the 49ers last season with rookie Zay Flowers as their no. 1 wide receiver, and the Chiefs beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl with rookie Rashee Rice as their no. 1 wide receiver.

The Chiefs and the Ravens have something else in common -- excellent tight ends and elite quarterbacks who are tough to contain inside the pocket. If the 49ers have a tough time defending Lamar Jackson, how will they do against Allen, who's a bigger, more powerful runner than Jackson?

Another tough aspect of this game for the 49ers is the weather -- it will be extremely cold. It might even snow. These conditions favor the Bills. In addition, the 49ers will play the previous week in Green Bay, which means they'll have two cold road games in a row.

I wouldn't bet on the 49ers to win this one.

Grant Cohn has covered the San Francisco 49ers daily since 2011. He spent the first nine years of his career with the Santa Rosa Press Democrat where he wrote the Inside the 49ers blog and covered famous coaches and athletes such as Jim Harbaugh, Colin Kaepernick and Patrick Willis. In 2012, Inside the 49ers won Sports Blog of the Year from the Peninsula Press Club. In 2020, Cohn joined FanNation and began writing All49ers. In addition, he created a YouTube channel which has become the go-to place on YouTube to consume 49ers content. Cohn's channel typically generates roughly 3.5 million viewers per month, while the 49ers' official YouTube channel generates roughly 1.5 million viewers per month. Cohn live streams almost every day and posts videos hourly during the football season. Cohn is committed to asking the questions that 49ers fans want answered, and providing the most honest and interactive coverage in the country. His loyalty is to the reader and the viewer, not the team or any player or coach. Cohn is a new-age multimedia journalist with an old-school mentality, because his father is Lowell Cohn, the legendary sports columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle from 1979 to 1993. The two have a live podcast every Tuesday. Grant Cohn grew up in Oakland and studied English Literature at UCLA from 2006 to 2010. He currently lives in Oakland with his wife.

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