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Why travel nursing will likely outlast the pandemic

Amid staffing shortages and rising hospitalization rates during the pandemic, many hospitals have relied on travel nurses to keep up with patient volumes—and while this practice is straining many hospitals' budgets, it's a trend experts believe will last beyond Covid-19.

The nursing shortage, discussed: A conversation with Advisory Board's top nursing experts

Hospitals are increasingly relying on travel nurses

Currently, there are more than 5 million nurses in the United States, including about 4.2 million RNs, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing . However, exhaustion, burnout, and other issues have led many to leave their full-time staff jobs to pursue less stressful careers during the pandemic. In addition, many have transitioned from full-time staff positions to travel nursing because of the increased pay and scheduling flexibility. 

Notably, the United States has enough nurses to fill the necessary full-time positions, according to Linda Aiken, a nursing and psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania who researches workforce issues, but the issue stems from the harsh working conditions and inadequate pay that existed in full-time nursing since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

"This is not a failure of our supply of nursing," said Aiken. "It's really a failure of hospitals to invest enough of their resources, to have enough nurses working for them."

However, data from Indeed shows that interest in travel nursing continues to climb, with job searches now at more than five times the levels of pre-pandemic searches.

Zachary Shepherd, a 36-year-old ICU nurse, has worked as a travel nurse for the past four years. He has worked in ICUs in Covid-19 hot spots, including Newark, N.J. and Long Beach, Calif. Shepherd said he doesn't mind the uncertainty surrounding his work since he enjoys the flexibility associated with working as a travel nurse.

"I like the empowerment that I feel from being a traveler and having a lot more control over the direction of my career," said Shepherd.  

Meanwhile, hiring for staff nurses declined 3.2% in February 2022 compared with a year earlier, according to the U.S. Department of Labor .

"Everybody is searching for more staff, asking your staff to take on longer shifts," said Troy Clark, CEO of the  New Mexico Hospital Association . "That encourages them to go, 'If I'm going to do all this work, I might as well go become a traveler and get paid a heck of a lot more.'"  

The rise of travel nursing brings budget concerns and wage gaps

In 2021, travel nursing revenue tripled to an estimated $11.8 billion, up from $3.9 billion in 2015, according to  Staffing Industry Analysts . As a result, hospitals and health systems around the country have taken a financial hit from having to rely on highly paid travel nurses—with no clear fix in sight.  

According to ZipRecruiter , during the Covid-19 pandemic, wages for travel nurses surged as high as 3.4 times the wages of regular full-time nurses in January 2021.

In addition, ZipRecruiter in January reported a 15% increase in average monthly postings for open travel nursing jobs. According to Sinem Buber, ZipRecruiter's lead economist, the increase will likely continue as the backlog of patients who need elective procedures return to hospitals and the population continues to age.

"I don't see the trend going down or getting flat anytime soon, even if the pandemic wanes," Buber said. 

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the  University of New Mexico Sandoval Regional Medical Center  (SRMC) never had to rely on travel nurses. Now, their monthly payroll ranges up to roughly $1.5 million for around 60 travel nurses—almost half as much as the payroll for its full-time staff of 580, who receive around $3.3 million.

During the pandemic, SRMC lost almost a third of its 200 nurses to traveling positions, forcing them to increase staffing levels further to meet the increased demand of Covid-19 patients, said CEO Jamie Silva-Steele. With potential travel nursing costs of $18 million in 2023, Silva-Steele plans to replace 40% of the center's travel nurses with full-time staff by the end of June.

"We are not budgeted for another $18 million in compensation, so we have to have those strategies to gradually reduce those types of staff in the organization," Silva-Steele said. 

To reduce the financial strain brought on by travel nursing, many hospital administrators are making efforts to reduce the number of travelers—and some are considering not renewing travel contracts, Bloomberg reports.

Ultimately, "[w]e want our nurses and all of our clinical staff to be paid fairly, but we have to be able to keep the doors open," Clark said. (Gooch, Becker's Hospital Review , 3/16; Adegbesan, Bloomberg , 3/15)

Workers are feeling overwhelmed by the demands of Covid-19 and are increasingly concerned about pay and staffing shortages. With resignations and even labor strikes on the rise, what can you do to recruit, support, and retain your workforce? We've uncovered the most important insights and turned them into actionable items for you. Whether you are trying to recruit a nursing workforce amid a shortage or simply trying to keep your existing staff, we have curated multiple pieces of expert guidance.

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Posted on March 18, 2022

Updated on March 18, 2023

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Trusted Health Blog

Transition Back from Crisis: The Future For Travel Nurses After COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and continues to impact everyone worldwide. It’s no surprise that healthcare systems and travel nurses still are being impacted and experiencing significant changes. But how has the pandemic changed the world of travel nursing? Let’s discuss the state of travel nursing during the pandemic, the future of travel nursing , and ways to transition for travel nurses.

The State of Travel Nursing During COVID-19

Travel nursing has always been a high-in-demand field. During the pandemic, the state of travel nursing changed worldwide. Let’s explore how the pandemic affected the state of travel nursing.

Demand For Travel Nurses

The demand for travel nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic exploded. The average hours that travel nurses worked increased to over 23% in January 2022 . This number reflects the total number of travel nursing hours worked as a percentage worked by nurses in hospitals. This is a tremendous increase compared to less than 4% hours pre-pandemic numbers.

Hospitals were experiencing and continue to experience nursing shortages due to a variety of reasons. Reasons include staff nurses contracting COVID-19, patients needing a higher acuity of care, or a lack of safe nurse-to-patient ratios. Also, a large number of staff nurses left their full-time jobs. Staff nurses were seeking higher wages, scheduling flexibility, and the opportunity to travel, all of which travel nursing offers .

Changes to Safety Protocols

Safety protocols have also changed during the pandemic. Nurses have always needed to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Pre-pandemic, PPE most of the time included only surgical masks and gloves. However, since COVID-19 is an airborne illness , this changed PPE and safety protocols worldwide. Travel nurses now additionally wear surgical gowns and N-95 masks or respirators , which protect against airborne droplets.

Sick leave protocols changed because of the pandemic as well. If nurses were experiencing any flu-like symptoms or had a mild headache, they called out sick. This is because COVID-19 symptoms present differently in everyone. Nurses were required to receive a negative COVID-19 PCR test before returning to work. These return-to-work protocols are still changing and vary per healthcare system.

In addition to COVID-19 testing, hospitals have been more lenient on sick time for nurses. Before the pandemic, it was more often than not that travel nurses worked when they were sick. Now, it has become more accepted that it’s ok to not go to work when you are sick-even if it’s not with COVID-19.

👉 Read more: Trusted Benefits

Changes in Pay and Incentives

Travel nurses made approximately $1,673 per week before the COVID-19 pandemic . During the pandemic, travel nurses saw an increase in hourly wages. Sometimes wages were up to three times their pre-pandemic salary. They were also offered sign-on and assignment completion bonuses. Travel nurses were willing to work longer hours due to better benefits and hourly pay. This helped fill the gap with hospital staff nursing shortages.

👉 Read more: Trusted Guide to Nurse Pay

Adaptations To Work and Living Conditions

Travel nurses also had to learn to quickly adapt to the ever-changing work conditions. Early pandemic safety protocols were changing daily, which travel nurses had to keep up with.

Most travel nurses were afraid to visit or go home to family members and friends. This is because, in the early stages of the pandemic, much was still unknown about safety and transmission. Many travel nurses opted to not return home or waited 14 days in quarantine after completing their assignments for fear of transmission to loved ones. 

Many travel nurses have worsening stress levels and burnout rates . Nursing can be a stressful career, but COVID-19 added another layer of stress. Many nurses are seeking counseling from mental health professionals.

👉 Read more: The State of Mental Health in Nursing in 2022

How Will Travel Nursing Change as We Move To a Post-pandemic World?

Now that it appears the pandemic is winding down, it continues to impact the future of travel nursing . There are several ways travel nursing will change as we move post-pandemic.

For instance, healthcare systems are now transitioning back to hiring permanent, full-time nurses, instead of travel nurses. Some travel nursing contracts are being canceled . During the pandemic, many travel nurses were asked to extend their contracts. Now, it’s becoming rarer that healthcare facilities are asking for contract extensions.

Pay rates for travel nurses are starting to decline as well and are returning closer to pre-pandemic numbers. While the demand for travel nursing will decrease, travel nursing contracts will still exist. Many travel nurses will likely return to permanent, full-time positions for more stability. However, they may ask for higher wages, sign-on bonuses, and benefits.

Most likely, healthcare facility and mask safety protocols will not change. While masks are optional outside of healthcare facilities , it’s unlikely this will change inside hospitals for quite some time, if ever.

Call-out and sick protocols have also been impacted by the pandemic. If travel nurses are sick, it requires a negative COVID-19 test to return to work. If they are positive for COVID-19, an isolation period is required before returning to work. Due to the high transmission rate, this protocol will unlikely change in the years to come.

How Can Travel Nurses Adapt to This Transition

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted travel nurses pre- and post-pandemic. During the pandemic, travel nurses have overcome unforeseen challenges. Now that we are slowly transitioning into a post-pandemic workplace, let’s review how travel nurses can adapt to this transition and the future of travel nursing .

Prepare For Financial Impacts

The need for travel nurses will never completely go away. However, travel nursing contacts are beginning to decline when compared to mid-pandemic numbers. This can have a large impact on travel nurses financially . While salaries are still higher than pre-pandemic numbers, travel nurses should expect to receive less pay.

To prepare, make sure you are saving at least six months of living expenses. 

Another way to prepare is to accept a lower-paying contract that is guaranteed for a longer time frame. This way, it may help you financially prepare and give you a long time to find another contract after your current one ends. Always have a backup contract in mind and voice this to your travel nursing recruiter. Voice your concerns for financial stability to your Nurse Advocate , and most likely, they will help you create a backup plan in case something goes sour.

Lastly, see if your travel nursing agency offers local assignments. As most local assignments have a 50-mile minimum radius, this will allow you to work closer to home. The pay and stipends may be slightly lower than a true travel nursing assignment. But your wages will still be higher than accepting a permanent staff nurse position. Also, if you work closer to home, then you may be able to work another part-time job or find another local assignment.

Update Your Resume

Since some travel nursing contracts are being canceled, it’s also a good idea to start updating your resume . There are several resume writing companies that specialize in travel nursing that can help you update it.

Consider adding new skills to your resume. For example, maybe you are a medical-surgical nurse but floated to the cardiac step-down unit several times. Make sure to add that you cared for COVID-19 patients. Including these shows versatility, commitment to nursing, and learning new skills. 

Also, consider obtaining certifications for your nursing specialty . Certifications will make you stand out amongst other travel nursing candidates. It shows commitment to and advancement in your field of nursing.

Take Care of Your Mental Health

During the pandemic, mental health declined and burnout rates increased amongst travel nurses. Since we are transitioning to life after a pandemic, remember that it’s important to take care of your mental and physical health. Set aside time for self-care activities that you enjoy, such as reading, getting a massage, or meditation. Promoting self-care can improve your mental health and stress levels. 

Since the pandemic, many have reflected on the importance of interactions with family and friends. Talk and plan events with your friends and family to help boost your mental health. If you have a busy schedule, plan phone dates with family and friends. Maintaining healthy relationships can help provide a strong support system. Strong support systems are often needed amongst travel nurses since you’re often far away from home.

If you feel like you are struggling with your mental health, seek support from a licensed therapist or counselor. They can listen to your concerns and improve your mental health. If you feel like you don’t have time to see a mental health professional, there is also Telemedicine. Telemedicine connects you with mental health professionals via smartphone apps.

Take Care of Your Physical Health

It’s also important to take care of your physical health. It can be difficult to take breaks while on shift, making it that much more imperative to take care of your physical well-being. Make sure you are eating healthy. Consume the required amount of vitamins and nutrients in your diet to boost your immunity. Exercise at least 30 minutes five times a week to boost your cardiovascular health. Try activities like walking, riding a bike, or doing yoga.

Remain Flexible

Travel nurses are prime examples of flexibility. It’s crucial to remain and communicate your flexibility when considering nursing assignments. Remaining flexible may help you land your next travel nursing assignment over other candidates. While floating to other areas of the hospital is not always ideal, still, be open to the idea. 

Stay Positive

It’s also imperative to keep a positive attitude. Staying positive can help boost your mood and the moods of those around you. If your travel nursing contract isn’t going as planned, remember that it’s only a few weeks. You will get through it!

Practicing gratitude is another great way to stay positive. Remember that a lot of coworkers and travel nurses are under the same pressures as you. Express your gratitude to them whenever possible by writing them a thank you note or offering to pay for their lunch. A little gratitude goes a long way!

Trusted Health is here to help you navigate the future of travel nursing

If you’re looking for your first or next travel nursing assignment, try Trusted Health . They offer many travel nursing resources, guides, and articles. Trusted Health’s many job listings and travel nursing recruiters will help you navigate the post-pandemic future of travel nursing .

‍ Sign up or log in to get started today!

Amanda Marten NP-C, MSN has been a certified nurse practitioner for over three years. With eight years of nursing experience, she has worked in a variety of specialties including urgent care, travel nursing, post-surgical, and intensive care.

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Travel nurses raced to help during Covid. Now they're facing abrupt cuts.

Tiffanie Jones was a few tanks of gas into her drive from Tampa, Florida, to Cheyenne, Wyoming, when she found out her travel nurse contract had been canceled.

Jones, who has been a nurse for 17 years, caught up with a Facebook group for travel nurses and saw she wasn’t alone. Nurses had reported abruptly losing jobs and seeing their rates slashed as much as 50 percent midcontract.

“One lady packed up her whole family and was canceled during orientation,” she said.

Many career nurses like Jones turned to travel gigs during the pandemic, when hospitals crowded with Covid-19 patients urgently needed the help. Some travelers — who made double, sometimes triple, what staff registered nurses earned — gathered on TikTok and other social media platforms to celebrate payday , share tips on how to calculate net income from contracts , and boast about how much they were taking home weekly . So great was their good fortune that federal and state lawmakers considered capping their pay , mobilizing nurses in protest.

The tide has swiftly turned. As Covid hospitalization rates stabilize, at least for now , and federal and state Covid relief funding dries up, travel nurse contracts that were plentiful and lucrative are vanishing. And after the pressure cooker of the past two-plus years led to staff turnover and a rash of early retirements, hospitals nationwide are focused on recruiting full-time nurses.

Nationally, demand for registered nurse travelers dropped by a third in the month leading up to April 10, according to data from staffing agency Aya Healthcare, although openings have rebounded slightly in recent weeks.

When Oregon’s governor declared the pandemic emergency over April 1, state-level Covid relief money evaporated. Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland lost funding for close to 100 travel nurses. That, along with lower Covid rates and more full-time hires, has led to “a bursting of the bubble,” said Dr. John Hunter, CEO of OHSU Health.

The health system had about 50 contractors of all kinds before the pandemic, compared with 450 at its height, when patients, many in need of close monitoring, flooded in and turned the hospital’s recovery room into an intensive care unit.

“It has been very expensive,” Hunter said. But things are turning around, he said, and in recent weeks the hospital has negotiated contract rates with its travel nurse agency down as much as 50 percent.

Staff nurses make far less than their traveling counterparts. Rates for a new staff nurse at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury, for example, start at $30 an hour — plus benefits and extra for night shifts. At the pandemic peak, the hospital paid staffing agencies about $175 an hour for each travel nurse. The rate remains well over $100 an hour, but the hospital is trying to negotiate it down. Because the hospital pays the agency directly, how much nurses pocket is unclear, said CEO Shawn Tester.

For some travel nurses, the abrupt drop in pay has been a shock. Since December, registered nurse Jessica Campbell had extended her 13-week contract at an Illinois hospital without any hiccups. In early April, a week into Campbell’s latest contract, her recruiter said that her rate would drop by $10 an hour and that she could take it or leave it.

“I ended up accepting it because I felt like I had no other option,” Campbell said.

The situation for some travel nurses has gotten so bad that a law firm in Kansas City, Missouri, said it is considering legal action against more than 35 staffing agencies. Austin Moore, an attorney at Stueve Siegel Hanson, said some agencies are “breaching their contracts” and in other cases “committing outright fraud” through bait-and-switch maneuvers on travel nursing contracts.

The firm opened an investigation in March, drawing comments from hundreds of nurses, Moore said. “Our phones are ringing off the hook,” he said. “Nobody has experienced it like this — historically, contracts have been honored.”

How much is a nurse worth?

Stephen Dwyer, senior vice president and chief legal and operating officer of the American Staffing Association, the trade group that represents the travel nurse staffing industry, said in an emailed statement that “as market conditions change, hospitals and other healthcare facilities may change the terms of travel nurse contracts.”

“For rate reductions or contract cancellations that take place mid-assignment, staffing companies often recommend advance notice,” he said.

Moore said that the fine print can vary but that when a staffing agency cancels a contract at the last minute or gives a nurse one or two days to consider a lower rate, the agency is often breaching a contract. According to the contracts, the loss should fall to the agency, not the nurses, when a hospital requests a lower rate, Moore added.

Pay rates have always fluctuated seasonally as the demand for nurses to plug staffing holes at hospitals changes, said XueXia Bruton, an ICU nurse based in Houston. She has traveled since 2018, drawn to the flexibility and financial freedom, and has no plans to return to staff nursing. Along the way, Bruton has cataloged her experiences on TikTok and Instagram, telling her more than 91,000 followers that, for instance, “it may make more sense to wait to take a contract until rates go back up.”

“It was very hard across the board during Covid when cases were really high,” Bruton said. “We were all burned out and exhausted, so it was important to be able to take as much time off as needed.”

Bruton saw crisis rates as high as $10,000 a week. Travel nurse rates now average about $3,100, according to online hiring marketplace Vivian Health . Still that’s higher than before the pandemic, and well above what a typical staff nurse makes.

Last year was particularly profitable for staffing agencies. Cross Country Healthcare, one of the few publicly traded companies that staff travel nurses and other health care workers, posted a profit of $132 million in 2021 , compared with a loss of $13 million the previous year and even bigger losses in 2019. Then-CEO Kevin Clark called the company’s 2021 financial results a “historic milestone for both revenue and profitability.”

Big profits across the nurse staffing industry have drawn the attention of lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who said he feared that private equity firms that were buying up staffing agencies were charging exorbitant fees during the pandemic, a pattern reported on by Stat . In January, Welch and U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) wrote the White House a letter requesting an investigation of possible “anticompetitive activity” by staffing agencies after receiving reports that they were “vastly inflating price, by two, three or more times pre-pandemic rates.”

Some travel nurses are returning to full-time gigs, drawn by hefty incentives and stability. Jones, whose contract in Wyoming was canceled in early March, considered a staff nurse position in Montana — swayed in part by a $10,000 starting bonus. But she ended up in a travel nurse contract in rural Kansas, where the pay is better than a staff job’s would be but not quite what she’d gotten used to during the pandemic.

Jones said her traveling stint raised a big question: How much is a nurse worth?

On the road, Jones said, she “could breathe financially for the first time in years,” at times making almost double what she made as a staff nurse.

“It’s a tough profession,” she said. “We love doing it, but we have bills to pay, too.”

Hannah Norman is a digital producer for Kaiser Health News. 

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Travel Nurse Salaries in 2024: What To Expect

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How the era of travel nursing has changed health care

Travel nursing is a short-term and unsustainable solution for medical understaffing.

by Miranda Dixon-Luinenburg

In 2016, I was working as an ICU nurse in Reno, Nevada. But I didn’t live in Reno. In fact, I hadn’t trained as a nurse in the US at all; I’m from Canada and went to nursing school there. My initial contract was for just 13 weeks. I was what was called a travel nurse — someone who was brought in from a different city, and sometimes even from a different country — to meet a hospital’s temporary staffing needs.

At the start of my contract, we had a couple of days of onboarding and were then expected to hit the ground running. Every morning, I would report to the trauma ICU, one of four ICU units in the hospital, and only then find out where I was assigned, which was sometimes outside the ICU entirely.

Six years ago, travel nursing jobs like my Reno gig were a fringe part of the nursing landscape. But that’s changed. During the pandemic, the need for travel nurses has soared, and so have the wages paid them. Because I was a former ICU and travel nurse, I received frequent emails from travel nursing agencies when the pandemic first erupted, offering upward of $6,000 per week and occasionally as high as $10,000, if I were willing to relocate on as little as 48 hours notice to one of the cities experiencing a Covid-19 surge.

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This was a steep increase from the average US ICU travel nurse’s salary of $1,800 per week, per this 2019 report . (I didn’t accept any of them, but I have to admit it was tempting.)

The rise of the travel nurse in the time of Covid-19 isn’t that surprising. From the earliest days of the pandemic, registered nurses bore the brunt of the increased strain on the health care system. With ICUs across the country overflowing, hospitals were forced to open specialized Covid-19 wards and staffing was strained. Nurses were often required to work grueling hours with heavy patient loads, a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), and limited access to Covid-19 testing. 

As we enter the third year of Covid-19, the staffing shortage is only getting worse . Many nurses are facing burnout, choosing less arduous roles in non-hospital settings, or retiring from the profession altogether. Others are staying in the profession, but leaving the hospitals that employ them for travel nursing agencies, which offer them better-paying, short-term contracts. 

In travel nursing, rather than working directly for a hospital as permanent employees, nurses are hired by a staffing agency, which then arranges time-limited contracts with hospitals to meet temporary or seasonal staffing needs. Over the course of the pandemic, crisis demand for additional staff sent travel nursing wages skyrocketing, and thousands of nurses across the country accepted these offers. While travel nurses previously represented 3-4 percent of all nursing staff across the nation, the figure has risen to 8-10 percent.

Travel nurses are extremely valuable to hospitals, rapidly and flexibly providing critical staff during case surges. But relying so heavily on temporary staff brings disruption. With many of their permanent nurses leaving for lucrative travel gigs, hospitals are increasingly being forced to bring in travel nurses from elsewhere to make up the deficit, leaving teams fragmented. This is especially hard on small rural hospitals, which lack the resources to compete with larger hospital networks.   

The massive pay discrepancy is likely a temporary side effect of the crisis and various economic and funding constraints, but the underlying situation is not about to disappear. Covid-19 has taken a nurse shortage that predated the pandemic and dramatically worsened it. 

Relying on temporary staff weakens hospital teams, drawing away the best and most experienced nurses and making it that much harder to onboard new staff, train students, and provide high-quality care. With more and more nurses burning out and quitting by the day, hospitals and the federal and state governments have yet to address the factors that would help frontline health care workers stay in the profession. Travel nurses are at best a temporary fix, and the long-term cost is unsustainable.

How travel nursing works

Travel nursing didn’t begin with the Covid-19 pandemic. The idea originated in New Orleans in 1978, as a response to the annual influx of patients during Mardi Gras. The practice became more prevalent over the next decade; by the late 1980s, travel positions had become widely available. 

Travel nurses are hired by a staffing agency, rather than a hospital; the agency then arranges contracts with hospitals to provide nurses during periods of temporarily high demand and usually arranges housing for the nurses in their destination city. The standard contract is 13 weeks long, though nurses can sometimes choose to extend it to six months or longer. 

In the past, travel nursing wages varied widely by state and region and were often higher than permanent staff salaries (though some of that difference came from the free housing or housing stipend and other incidentals that were often included). Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, though, the pay for travel nurses has increased dramatically, and much faster than permanent salaries. 

“When I worked as a travel nurse, there wasn’t that much of a discrepancy between my wage and permanent staff,” said Mary Jorgensen, an operating room nurse at UW Health in Madison, Wisconsin, and a former travel nurse. “We were more attracted to travel nursing for the lifestyle of going to different locations. But now that hospitals have this over-reliance on travel nurses to try to make up for the nursing shortage crisis, the amount they’re spending on travelers is astronomical.”

Over the past 18 months, it has become common for many nurses to double their paycheck by choosing the travel route. It’s not for everyone. It requires high levels of adaptability, independence, and tolerance for uncertainty, not to mention the personal freedom to pick up stakes and move temporarily, but for nurses who can take advantage of the opportunity, travel nursing can provide a financial windfall. 

Lydia Mobley, a travel nurse with the major travel nursing agency Fastaff, believes that health care workers deserve more pay, and that travel nursing offers a route toward that end. “I know two amazing nurses who are some of my best friends, who are travel nurses and they are single mothers, but they still make travel work because they just want to give their kids the best life possible,” Mobley told me. Thirteen-week contracts also mean that nurses can choose to take breaks to recover in between periods of intense workload.

Mobley also sees the novelty with each contract as a perk, offering nurses (and by extension the hospitals they normally work for, and in the past at least, usually returned to) the chance to learn how other hospitals operate. “Even if a hospital happens to have maybe some older, outdated policies, at least you learned, ‘Hey, that’s a way that that probably should be done,’” she said. 

In my case, the experience was very positive. It felt good to be where I was most needed, and to bring my own background and experience to an understaffed unit. By the end of my initial 13-week contract, which I chose to extend for a total of six months, I was familiar with the hospital’s processes, and actually able to provide support and mentoring to the many recently-graduated nurses on the permanent staff.

For hospitals, travel nurses provide a huge advantage in flexibility and response time in a crisis. It’s extremely difficult to hire and fully train a cohort of permanent nursing staff fast enough to respond to a surge in case numbers, which can happen in weeks or even days. Hiring travelers also means that when local case numbers begin to drop, a travel agency can send its nurses on to other states with the highest needs. 

Bart Valdez, CEO of Ingenovis Health (which owns Fastaff as well as several other travel nursing agencies), told me how his company was among the first agencies to send nurses to early Covid-19 hotspots like Washington and New York. These staff became early “veterans of Covid,” he said, bringing their experience of the challenges of Covid-19 patients to other facilities. 

“A less stable ecosystem”

But there are real downsides to taking this model too far, which are apparent to travel nurses as well as the permanent staff. 

For one thing, hospitals end up paying far more in hourly wages for staff who are less familiar with local conditions, which can erode nurses’ teamwork and the quality of care for patients. 

Kelly O’Connor, another registered nurse from UW Health, mentioned a colleague of hers left Madison, Wisconsin, for a travel position in Milwaukee the very same week that O’Connor’s unit resorted to hiring a travel nurse from Milwaukee to fill the vacancy at a much higher cost to her hospital. Travel nurses are not only paid a higher hourly wage, but the agencies generally mark up the bill by 32 to 65 percent to turn a profit. (Texas has recently resorted to banning nurses currently in permanent positions from accepting contracts in-state in an attempt to circumvent this dynamic.) 

Increasingly relying on travel nurses more often can also warp the inner workings of a hospital. “There was a time when travel nurses were used appropriately, as a ‘Band-Aid,’ but this is beyond that,” O’Connor says. “There’s so much that goes into a hospital running smoothly, and historically if a travel nurse was needed, they were able to pop in, understand the ecosystem quickly, and everything would function as normal.” 

But now, she notes, “we’re relying on them too much, and they’re thrown into a less stable ecosystem without the support to figure it out.”

The delicate “ecosystem” of a well-run hospital unit is made up of all the staff needed to keep a medical center running: doctors, pharmacists, lab techs, respiratory therapists, and of course, nurses. To mentor new staff and train travel nurses, the unit needs a certain base of experienced nurses, with years of commitment and investment in the local hospital and community. But with high levels of staff turnover — and many experienced nurses shifting away from bedside care or choosing early retirement due to burnout — this essential resource is in jeopardy. 

When the nursing ranks are chronically understaffed and overstrained, even the best nurses can’t spare the time to properly mentor a new staff member, and instead have to tag-team just to cover all the basic tasks. 

O’Connor described a revealing situation she found herself in: She realized only in the final few days of a new nurse’s multi-week orientation that she had never found time to show her trainee where the wheelchairs were kept. That’s a basic if important piece of information that would usually have been covered in week one.  

“I used to feel that I helped the new nurse grow, and now more often than not we’re having to rely on each other just to get through the workload,” she says. “Nursing is already so hard. This is only making it harder than it needs to be.”

The cost of good care

If experienced, committed permanent nurses are so essential to a hospital’s functioning, providing value that no temporary travel nurse can replace, why aren’t they compensated accordingly? 

One contributing factor may be that during the pandemic, crisis funding from government institutions such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) couldn’t easily be allocated to hiring more permanent staff, or toward efforts to retain existing experienced staff via retention bonuses, hazard pay, or other support. 

But there are systemic issues at work as well. The National Nurses United is the largest professional association of registered nurses, with more than 175,000 members working at the bedside in nearly every state. Its latest report — titled “Protecting Our Front Line: Ending the Shortage of Good Nursing Jobs and the Industry-Created Unsafe Staffing Crisis” — explores the background of the nursing shortage and the worsening conditions during Covid-19. It lists a number of specific policy recommendations, such as mandated staffing ratios and better workplace safety regulations, that they believe will help create sustainable, rewarding jobs and keep nurses in the field. (On a more local level, Mary Jorgensen and Kelly O’Connor are working with other nurses to form a union with SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, in hopes of addressing the short-staffing and other challenges that have plagued UW Health during the pandemic.)

Such reforms were needed before the pandemic, and are even more necessary now. The spike in travel nursing demand and pay shows that the system as it exists now is not equipped to respond to a major crisis without significant disruptions that will have serious consequences down the line. The worsening personnel shortage, with many nurses retiring and leaving the profession entirely, is a symptom of a system that prioritizes the short term at the expense of sustainability.

Travel nurses have been a part of the nursing workforce for decades, and as a supplement for temporary needs, they are very valuable. But it’s not fair to either travel nurses, or the patients they care for, to ask them to take on so much of the ongoing essential duties of running a hospital unit.

A hospital relying too heavily on travel nurses will lose institutional knowledge, be less able to fit in new hires or provide nursing students with a strong education, and will end up being a frustrating and draining work environment, leading to more burned-out nurses and a worsening staff shortage at a time when the US can least afford it. 

Clarification, March 3, 3:40 pm: This story has been updated to clarify the role of Mary Jorgensen and Kelly O’Connor in the effort to form a nurses union with SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin.

Correction, March 4, 3 pm: Due to a copy-paste error, an update to this article previously transposed the last   names of Mary Jorgensen and Kelly O’Connor.

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For travel nurses, jobs at home can't come close to pay they get on the road

Blake Farmer

Nurse Sara Dean of Mount Juliet, Tenn., attends her daughter Harper's gymnastics practice. Dean spent nearly two years travelling the country as a nurse, gaining a much higher salary than she could at home. Blake Farmer/WPLN News hide caption

Nurse Sara Dean of Mount Juliet, Tenn., attends her daughter Harper's gymnastics practice. Dean spent nearly two years travelling the country as a nurse, gaining a much higher salary than she could at home.

Nursing is a second career and a calling for Sara Dean of Mt. Juliet, Tenn. Dean loved her work at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital. But then the pandemic hit and she saw how much nurses were getting paid to travel — as much as $10,000 a week.

"That's a life-changing number. That's a number that helps you pay off debt, move out of your grandma's basement or whatever," Dean, 38, says. "I'm not saying we were struggling. We were a two-income household. But we made ends meet."

So she took a leave from her hospital job and signed her first three-month contract to go to New Mexico. Her immediate family came with her; her boyfriend could work remotely and her daughter was in virtual school. And when not working, they enjoyed exploring the desert on dirt bikes.

Nurse Sara Dean of Mount Juliet, Tenn., cheers on her daughter, Harper, as she perfects her back handspring. Dean says she stopped taking traveling jobs when 12-year-old Harper was ready for her to return home. Blake Farmer/WPLN News hide caption

Nurse Sara Dean of Mount Juliet, Tenn., cheers on her daughter, Harper, as she perfects her back handspring. Dean says she stopped taking traveling jobs when 12-year-old Harper was ready for her to return home.

Dean eventually quit her job at home as the money got better and better following COVID hotspots from New Mexico to Maryland to rural Alabama. At one point, Dean's overtime rate was more than $200 an hour, and she was working 60 hours a week saving the lives of COVID patients.

But after nearly two years, it was really cheerleading that brought them home.

On a recent weekday afternoon, Dean yelled up the stairs to her 12-year-old, Harper, while blending a protein shake. They were on their way out the door to offseason tumbling practice. Harper was working to perfect her back handspring before next season.

"I didn't really have that many friends," Harper explained about her desire to come home. "I miss it so much being able to be surrounded by different people all the time."

The money was previously unimaginable. But there came a point where being uprooted wasn't worth the sacrifice. Dean says Harper is the ultimate boss.

"She's the one that says, 'No more traveling...I want to go home,'" Dean says. "But that also puts me in a bind."

The pandemic has proven just how valuable highly-trained nurses are.

Hospitals are still paying several times their normal wages to traveling nurses filling in staffing gaps. And turnover is still increasing, with the highest rates in the southeast with roughly one-in-four RNs leaving annually.

But many hospitals won't hire local travelers, even though they're hurting for nurses. They want those RNs to accept full-time positions. And full-time pay, while marginally higher, doesn't come close to the more than $120 an hour that travelers make.

"This makes me sound like I'm in it for the money, but essentially I'm in it for what's best for my family," Dean says.

Sara Dean makes an energy smoothie for her daughter to take to tumbling practice. Supporting her daughter's love of cheerleading and need for social connection brought them off the road after nearly two years of travel nursing during the pandemic. Blake Farmer/WPLN News hide caption

Sara Dean makes an energy smoothie for her daughter to take to tumbling practice. Supporting her daughter's love of cheerleading and need for social connection brought them off the road after nearly two years of travel nursing during the pandemic.

She's been applying at Nashville area hospitals that are still employing hundreds of travelers and holding out for a more acceptable offer.

Hospitals have been exploring ways to get out of relying so much on staffing agencies, who the American Hospital Association has formally accused of price gouging during the pandemic. The AHA has requested that the Federal Trade Commission investigate , though an FTC spokesperson said there has been no inquiry.

Vivian Health is an online marketplace for travel nursing jobs and tracks pay rates across the country. The San Francisco-based tech firm also is assisting hospitals that are trying to move away from their reliance on temporary staffing. And that will require paying full-timers more, said CEO Parth Bhakta.

"You're caught kind of between a rock and a hard place," he says. "I think ultimately health systems need to figure out how to retain their workers more and ultimately, probably, have to pay and incentivize their existing staff more."

The full-time incentives are building. Some hospitals are trying out temporary positions that essentially allow a nurse to work like a traveler without having to leave town. Bonuses have also become the norm for new hires in some parts of the country.

"We are actually seeing a very, very good labor market for nurses with upwards of $15,000 to $20,000 sign-on bonuses for nurses almost anywhere you look around this Nashville area," says Julie Hamm, president of the Tennessee Nurses Association.

Still, the average pay bump last year for full-time nurses was only marginally more than usual nationwide at roughly 4% . And when a nurse has gotten used to making $8,000 to $10,000 a week, a one-time bonus of $20,000 doesn't sound quite so generous, says Sara Dean.

Which is why she and other pandemic travelers face such a difficult transition.

With money in the bank from months on the road, Dean can be a little more choosy about her next job. And she's making the most of her downtime — from spending Christmas with her daughter in New York City to cheering on her preteen at cheer practice.

Meanwhile, she's been trying out something entirely different — working part time at a wellness spa near her house that offers rejuvenating IVs. Beyond how to pull back their nurses from traveling, hospitals are facing burnout like they've never seen. An estimated half million nurses are expected to leave the bedside entirely this year.

"It is refreshing to do preventative health," Dean said. "I have done nothing but death and dying for two years."

• travel nurses

The Future of Travel Nursing: Trends to Watch in 2024

As we step into 2024, the healthcare sector, particularly travel nursing, is undergoing transformative changes, revealing new opportunities and challenges. Let’s explore the significant trends shaping the future of travel nursing this year and their implications for professionals.

Increased Demand in Rural and Underserved Areas

One of the most notable trends is the growing demand for travel nurses in rural and underserved regions. These areas, traditionally facing staffing shortages, are increasingly dependent on travel nurses, emphasizing their vital role in ensuring healthcare equity and offering professionals opportunities to make impactful contributions.

Digital  Health Transformation in Travel Nursing

The advent of digital technology has revolutionized healthcare delivery, with travel nursing at its forefront. This year, we are witnessing several key digital trends:

Telehealth and Virtual Nursing : Telehealth has become essential in providing care remotely, especially beneficial for remote or underserved areas. Complementing this, virtual nursing uses VR and AR technologies for more immersive patient interactions, training, and simulations, enhancing decision-making and task performance.

Remote Patient Monitoring: Advancements in wearable devices enable travel nurses to monitor patients’ vitals and health remotely, improving patient outcomes and allowing for personalized, timely care.

These digital tools are not just transforming patient care but also offering travel nurses unprecedented flexibility and reach.

Mental Health and Well-being: A Priority

The mental health of travel nurses is receiving increased attention. Initiatives like mental health days, counseling, and wellness programs are becoming integral in supporting the emotional and psychological needs of nurses, acknowledging the high-stress nature of their work.

Shift towards Longer Assignments

While travel nursing has traditionally been associated with short-term assignments, there’s a noticeable trend towards longer contract lengths in 2024. Healthcare facilities are recognizing the benefits of longer assignments, such as continuity of care and reduced turnover costs. For travel nurses, this means more stability and the opportunity to form deeper connections with the local community and healthcare teams.

Enhancing Nurse Competencies: A Multifaceted Approach

Staying competitive in travel nursing now requires a multifaceted approach to skill enhancement:

Specialized Certifications and Continuing Education: Obtaining certifications in areas like critical care or pediatric nursing enhances marketability and career prospects. Coupled with this, ongoing education through online courses and webinars keeps nurses abreast of healthcare advancements.

Adaptability in Rapid Response: Proficiency in emergency procedures and adapting to high-pressure situations is increasingly vital, ensuring optimal patient care in diverse settings.

Sustainable and Eco-Conscious Travel

Sustainability is becoming a significant concern, and travel nursing is adapting to this change. In 2024, we’re seeing more eco-conscious travel options, from housing to transportation. Nurses are increasingly seeking assignments that align with their values, opting for facilities that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices.

As we navigate through 2024, these trends signify a transformative period for travel nursing. The industry is not only responding to the immediate needs of healthcare but is also evolving to meet future challenges. For those in the field, this is a time of immense opportunity and growth. As travel nurses continue to adapt and innovate, they play a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare, making it more accessible, efficient, and compassionate for all.

Whether you’re a seasoned travel nurse seeking your next assignment or you’re ready to dive into the dynamic world of travel nursing for the first time, our comprehensive job search portal is your gateway to exciting positions across the country. Connect with us today and take the first step toward fulfilling your next travel nursing adventure!

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Are Travel Nurses Still in Demand?

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for temporary, short-term nurses to fill staffing gaps was significant. According to estimates from travel nursing employment agencies, there were between 50,000 and 100,000 open travel nurse positions available in healthcare facilities across the country.

But nearly three years later, the need for travel nurses has tapered off . Between January to July 2022, the demand decreased by approximately 40 percent. And with that shift, travel nurse salaries also dropped closer to pre-pandemic pay rates.

Yet despite these industry trends, many nurses still find travel nursing an appealing career path . Continue reading to learn what it means to be a travel nurse, why nurses travel for work, and how to decide if travel nursing is right for you.

What Is a Travel Nurse?

You may have heard the term “ travel nurse ” but may not be familiar with what the job entails. A travel nurse is a registered nurse who works in short-term roles in clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities around the country, and around the world.

They fill in the gaps in areas where there are staffing shortages. Unlike traditional nurses, travel nurses are employed by independent staffing agencies, rather than a single hospital or healthcare practice.

What Are the Benefits of Being a Travel Nurse?

Travel nursing is great for RNs who want to avoid burnout from working in the same facility day after day. Many enjoy traveling and meeting and working with new people, along with the freedom and flexibility to choose their assignments.

Travel nurses typically earn competitive wages, excellent benefits, and sometimes even free housing located near their temporary place of employment.

Because pay for travel nurses is generally not determined by education or years in the workforce, an RN with three years of experience can often make the same as someone who has been nursing for a decade or longer.

Travel nursing does not require any additional education or credentials beyond an RN license in good standing, at least 12 months of hospital experience, and any training or certifications specific to their specialty.

Travel Nurses Earn More: One Incentive to Make a Move

Despite all of the challenges facing nurses today, there is plenty of good news, especially for an RN considering a career as a travel nurse. Current weekly pay rates for travel nurses remain high despite the dip in demand for these clinicians.

In December 2019, the average travel nurse made around $1,600 per week, according to data from a travel nursing firm. Just one year later, the average weekly rate for travel nurses came in at more than $3,500 to upwards of $8,000 as the COVID-19 virus spread throughout the nation and the world.

As of February 2023, the average weekly rate for travel nurses is approximately $3,200. The average annual salary is around $127,000 for travel nurses compared to $93,000 for traditional staff nurses.

Are There Cons to Travel Nursing?

There are reasons why travel nurses often make more than their traditional RN counterparts. First is the most obvious: Travel nurses must be away from their home and family for weeks at a time. Life on the road can often be lonely.

There is also the learning curve with each new position. Travel nurses must learn the procedures and protocols for working with each new team and facility. Because they don’t have seniority, travel nurses sometimes get the least desirable shifts, working nights, weekends, and holidays.

Anyone considering this career should carefully weigh the pros and cons of short-term travel nursing to determine if it’s the right fit for their family, lifestyle, and career goals.

Why Do Employers Hire Travel Nurses?

Several factors create a need for travel nurses at different types of healthcare facilities:

1. Healthcare Worker Shortages

First and foremost, there are not enough RNs and other healthcare workers to meet the needs of patients. That goes back, in part, to a shortage of nursing school programs and educators to prepare incoming nursing students.

So, the RN workforce is growing in leaps and bounds, but the tools aren’t always available to train them. When healthcare facilities can’t find local candidates to fill RN positions, they turn to travel nurses to fill those spots.

2. Elective Surgery Backlog

Many people put off elective procedures during the early phases of the coronavirus pandemic. Now that people are feeling comfortable visiting hospitals again, more procedures are being scheduled.

One staffing expert predicts it may still take up to 18 months to clear the backlog of surgeries for non-life-threatening conditions. Travel nurses can be invaluable for helping patients who have been waiting get the treatment they want and need.

3. Nurses Leaving the Profession

Caring for patients amid a global pandemic took a real physical and emotional toll on healthcare workers. Some RNs found themselves feeling burned out , exhausted, and frustrated at not being able to meet patient demands. Many left the profession altogether. Hospitals who are unable to find suitable candidates locally must depend on travel nurses to fill those roles.

Rural Communities Have the Greatest Need for Travel Nurses

There is no denying that staffing shortages among registered nurses and other healthcare workers impact patient care at every level. And these shortages have a ripple effect that ultimately affects healthcare systems and patients in rural and underserved communities.

Because they cannot compete with the wages travel nursing offers RNs, rural hospitals are losing their staff to high-paying travel jobs. By taking short-stint, temporary jobs in other cities and towns, travel nurses can earn nearly ten times what they would make in their hometown. In a small-town hospital, the loss of just one or two nurses can make a big difference for their patients.

There’s no easy solution to meet the demand for travel nurses, close the gaps in healthcare staffing shortages, and provide the pay and incentives to encourage rural nurses to stay in their communities. But the answer may start with adding nursing programs and educators to prepare more students for careers in nursing.

Are you looking for a new nursing job? Visit the Health eCareers career center to find your next opportunity.

Stacey Kelleher is a health and wellness writer and editor based just outside of Philadelphia. Her work has been featured online at Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan. In her downtime, she enjoys yoga, running, and spending time with her family.

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Travel Nursing Trends – A Look Ahead

Nursing is currently and will continue to be one of the professions in high demand over the coming years. Because there is so much need for highly skilled RNs, travel nursing is growing as well.

Travel nurses work as contractors through an agency, taking on assignments for a few weeks at a time. They are sent to areas to help fill the talents gaps at hospitals and other medical facilities. What started as a way to help health care facilities in smaller cities and rural areas fill their talent gaps has grown into a thriving niche career for RNs.

Learn more about becoming a travel nurse today.

Over the last few years, travel nursing has become an attractive option for those who wish to take their patient care skills on the road. Travel nurses who line up well-paying jobs throughout the year can earn salaries that are comparable to that of hospital staff RNs. They also enjoy other perks including having their travel and living expenses paid for. Add to that the ability to make your own schedule, and you can see why travel nursing is an appealing option for some people.

Take a look at some of the major trends impacting the travel nursing industry over the last couple of years, along with predictions as to what’s in store for travel nurses in the future.

The Nursing Shortage Grows

If you’ve done any research into the profession, you’re probably aware that there is a shortage of nursing professionals, and it’s likely to get worse. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , through 2022, there is expected to be 1 million job vacancies for registered nurses. This mostly has to do with a workforce that is reaching retirement age, and not enough younger nurses to take their place.

Looking ahead: As a result of the continuing nursing shortage, it could very well end up that medical centers begin to rely more and more on travel nurses and other contracted workers to meet this demand. In many cases, it is more cost-effective for them to bring in nurses as needed as opposed to hiring full-time staffers.

Be part of the solution and become a travel nurse today.

The Affordable Care Act

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services , the Affordable Care Act (ACA) resulted in 20 million people gaining health insurance coverage. As a result, with the passing of this legislation, health care institutions and hospitals needed to pivot quickly, and travel nursing is one of the ways they were able to accommodate more patients.

Keiser Health News even attributed a 20-year high demand for travel nurses directly to the ACA.

Looking ahead: There’s no telling what will become of the ACA once President-Elect Trump takes office. He has promised to dismantle Obamacare, but any changes will likely happen incrementally over time. That being said, he has stated that he plans to keep the parts of ACA that have welcomed formerly uninsured people into the system. This policy includes making sure that those with preexisting conditions have access to healthcare, and allowing young adults up to age 26 to remain insured on their parent’s policies if needed.

See the country while getting paid – find open assignments here .

Bigger roles for nurses

As medical organizations look to reduce costs, they are turning more and more to advanced nursing professionals (such as nurse practitioners) to take on larger roles so that fewer physicians are needed. Hiring or contracting more nurses can also help save money in the long run by reducing readmissions and costly medical errors.

Once again, bringing in travel nurses who are trained in a specific area – such as those with credentials to treat a specific condition like cancer, or who work exclusively with pediatric patients – has provided a solution for improving patient care.

Looking ahead: As more specialty nursing responsibilities emerge, top institutions will seek to find professionals who have the most up-to-date skills and certifications. It’s not just about filling job vacancies; it’s about finding the right professionals who have the exact skill sets needed. For some employers, working with a travel nursing agency helps simplify the recruiting process. In some cases, such as in Florida when senior citizens flock down during the winter months, travel nurses are the perfect solution to meet seasonal demand.

Find a travel assignment for your specialty

Overall, there probably won’t be any monumental shakeups in the travel nursing industry in the coming year. However, based on potential changes to the healthcare system, as well as the aging workforce, older population, and greater reliance on RNs and nurse practitioners, travel nurses will continue to find great opportunities to work across the country.

Speak to a staffing agent about new travel assignments today.  

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Travel Nursing Trends: A Look Into the Future of Travel Nursing

by Trusted Nurse Staffing | Jan 4, 2023 | News

Staffing shortages have kept the need for travel nurses a hot topic since the pandemic in 2020.

With a high demand for nurses, we might expect the coming years to continue offering higher salaries and new opportunities for travel nurses to work short-term contracts around the country. 

Unfortunately, since 2020, burnout and lack of personnel have led many hospitals to seek more help. By staying on top of the many travel nursing trends — from salary to how to handle mental health to an increase in job opportunities and more — you can stay ahead of the game and better prepare for the future of an often challenging career. 

Learn what travel nurse statistics tell us about the future of travel nursing this year and beyond.

Table of Contents

Travel nursing statistics: where does the data come from, pay attention to these 3 big travel nursing trends, 7 additional trends we’re predicting for the travel nurse industry in the coming years, take advantage of future travel nursing trends with trusted nurse staffing.

Many resources work hard to gather data used to help healthcare professionals understand the trends of their jobs. For travel nursing, statistics are gathered from a variety of places.

Every two years, the National Council of States Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) partners with The National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers and conducts a survey focused on the nursing profession. The most recent National Nursing Workforce Survey was done in 2022 and generated information on the supply of nurses in the country. 

The findings included things like:

• The median age of RNs was 46
• Male RNs have steadily increased
• Most RNs (57.5%) work in a hospital setting
• The median pre-tax earnings for RNs is $80,000
• Over 60% of RNs reported an increase in their workload since the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 impacted many jobs throughout the United States, but nurses and other medical professionals saw a huge change that altered the way the profession would be in the years following the pandemic.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Travel Nursing

Demand for travel nurses soared in 2020 and 2021 due to the crisis caused by the pandemic. According to data from the American Hospital Association, the percentage of total hours worked by contract or travel nurses in hospitals grew from 3.9% in January 2019 to 23.4% in January 2022. 

Additionally, hospitals spent about 4.7% of their nurse labor expenses on travel nurses in January 2019, while in January 2022, that average reached 38.6%. This increase illustrates the boost the travel nurse profession has seen over the past couple of years. 

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 National Nursing Workforce Study represents the largest, most comprehensive, and most rigorous evaluation of the nursing workforce. This survey concluded that approximately 100,000 RNs and 34,000 licensed practical and vocational nurses have left the workforce since 2020. 

Although travel nurse statistics show that many things require change in the coming years, three big travel nursing trends jump out — demand for travel nurses, pay for travel nurses, and how the mental health of travel nurses is approached.

Demand Trends in Travel Nursing

Many travel nursing specialties are topping the charts for most demand by healthcare facilities between January and March 2023. 

According to report results , these travel nurse specialties are in demand:

• Med-Surg – 17% demand
• Emergency department – 8% demand
• Step-down – 7% demand
• Med-Surg/telemetry – 6% demand
• Medical ICU – 5% demand
• Telemetry – 5% demand
• Operating room – 5% demand
• Labor and delivery – 2% demand
• Rehabilitation – 2% demand
• Psychiatry – 2% demand

The analysis also notes that of all U.S. states, Texas has the most (7%) travel nursing jobs available, likely because it’s a compact state, which means it allows travel nurses to obtain a multi-state license and speeds up the credentialing and employment process for them.

These states followed with the most travel nursing jobs available in the United States:

• California – 6%
• New York – 6%
• Florida – 5%
• Massachusetts – 4%
• Pennsylvania – 4%
• Illinois – 4%
• North Carolina – 4%
• Maryland – 3%

With some percentage of travel nursing jobs still available in these states, it’s clear that healthcare facilities continue to struggle to fill their permanent positions . With this, a reliance on travel nurses will continue to grow.

Pay Trends in Travel Nursing

Before the pandemic, travel nurses made an average of between $1,800 to $2,600 a week. During the pandemic, this number grew to between $8,000 to $10,000 a week. 

In 2022, the average salary for new travel nurses was just under $84,000 a year . ZipRecruiter reports that in 2023, the national travel nurse salary is just over $105,000 a year. 

Yet, it’s also reported that travel nurse salaries can float around $200,000 a year as the need for nurses continues to grow. 

A 2022 report shows that as turnover rates for nurses continue to rise, and the fact that it takes roughly three months to fill a new nurse position, the need for travel nurses is even greater. With high demand comes higher pay.

Pay for travel nurses depends on many things, one being where in the United States you accept a travel nurse contract. ZipRecruiter reports that in 2023, the highest hourly paid states for travel nursing are:

• New York – $61.67
• New Jersey – $53.28
• Wisconsin – $52.95
• Nevada – $52.50
• Wyoming – $52.49
• Massachusetts – $52.40
• Indiana  – $51.79
• Arizona – $ 51.77
• New Hampshire – $51.73
• Pennsylvania – $51.58

And the lowest-paying states were reported as follows:

• Kansas – $43.09
• Michigan – $42.76
• Louisiana – $42.56
• Missouri – $42.47
• Texas – $42.23
• Nebraska – $41.24
• Idaho – $40.99
• Kentucky – $39.73
• North Carolina – $39.7
• Arkansas – $39.04

When compared to RNs with permanent positions , travel nurses are making more, and there are many travel nursing job opportunities available. 

If you’re hoping to take advantage of competitive salaries, Trusted Nurse Staffing can help you find a travel nurse contract that works for you. You can also utilize Pronto to search for current available positions.

Mental Health Trends in Travel Nursing

Amid the pandemic, the mental health of medical staff across the board suffered. Because the pandemic was intensified by a lack of personnel, the fact that many healthcare facilities were not crisis-ready, and inadequate emotional backing, healthcare professionals have been leaving their careers in droves. 

Many issues causing the drop in medical staff, including nurses, have been associated with:

• Lack of support

With the mass exodus in nursing, it became evident that something needed to change. For nurses to provide top-notch care to their patients around the clock, they need to be prioritized — especially their mental health. 

If you find yourself struggling with mental health as a travel nurse, consider some of these options that will become widely available in 2023 and beyond:

• Join a support group
• Attend therapy, in-person or virtual
• Utilize sleep relaxation apps
• Exercise regularly
• Practice gratitude daily
• Confide in family or friends
• Seek professional help
• Take breaks when necessary
• Share or talk about work traumas
• Join an employee assistance program (EAP)

There are many resources available to the nursing community — including the ANA and American Nurse Foundation’s Well-Being Initiative — to help avoid both mental and physical burnout. Once you recognize the triggers, you can help prevent it from happening time and time again.

As a travel nurse pondering the future of your career, there are many trending factors to consider. 

Remember, travel nursing statistics show that a career as a travel nurse is in demand. In 2020, travel nursing grew by 35% and it hit a 40% growth in 2021. Will this trend continue as permanent RN positions are still left open throughout many healthcare facilities? 

If you choose to take on a career as a travel nurse, what could you expect for the future?

#1: An Increase in Travel Nursing Within Hospitals

More hospitals and healthcare facilities are offering internal travel nurse programs as a way to help combat the staff nursing exodus they’ve been experiencing over recent years. 

As travel nursing has become increasingly more popular (thanks to its many benefits ), paired with the effects of the pandemic on healthcare professionals, many hospitals have begun to lose their staff nurses. 

Now, many large healthcare facilities are launching travel nurse programs, offering short-term and high-paying contracts to travel nurses. Some even offer limited benefits. 

For a nurse looking to try out a short-term contract or who wants more flexibility in your work schedule while still remaining local, an internal travel nurse program is a great option that benefits both you as a nurse and the healthcare facility.

#2: An Increase in Flexibility

With the pandemic also came telemedicine and travel nursing to the forefront of society —  and it looks like they’re both here to stay . These two nursing professions offer great flexibility to a nursing career.

Telenursing provides care through technology, allowing nurses to practice their careers remotely with much flexibility. 

Travel nurses get to choose (to an extent) where they want their next assignment to be, allowing them to spend time in different places, experience new locales, and get a feel for different areas of the country. They also can easily take time off between contracts or sometimes have the option to extend a contract if that works best for their lifestyle.

#3: A Steady Number of Opportunities in Nursing

As mentioned earlier, the demand for travel nurses is high . And many different nursing specialties need nurses. 

Between 2020 and 2030, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be around 194,500 annual openings for RNs — an 8% growth rate over the decade. 

But the demand for nurses doesn’t just come from RNs leaving their positions. 

With the median age of RNs in 2020 being 52 years old, many were/are on the brink of retirement. It’s estimated that one-fifth of the RN population will retire by the end of the decade.

Whether you’re a med-surg nurse, an ER nurse, or a labor and delivery nurse, there are and will continue to be many travel nurse contracts available for you to pursue.

#4: A Growing Demand for Home Health Care Travel Nurses

Today, there are around 46 million baby boomers — adults aged 59 to 77. An Aging in the United States report says that by 2060, this number is expected to be more than 98 million . That’s a dramatic increase!

Because of this increase, it’s expected that about 75% of Americans will need care in a nursing home, offering many opportunities for travel nurses to work outside of a traditional hospital.

#5: A Growing Demand for Behavioral Health Travel Nurses

As a behavioral health nurse, you typically care for patients with behavioral and mental health conditions or substance abuse disorders.

Unfortunately, opioid addictions and suicide rates are rising, and people need help. 

In 2023 , the percentage of adults in the United States with any mental illness is 21%. The percentage of adults with substance abuse disorder is 15%. Overall, 5% of adults have thoughts of suicide.

The U.S. The Department of Health and Human Services states that by 2025, the U.S. will be 250,000 professionals short of what the demand will require. 

#6: Technological Advancements in the Healthcare Profession

Technology is revolutionizing healthcare and the way that medical professionals practice medicine, treat patients, and conduct work regularly. 

Travel nurses will begin to see things like:

• Electronic medical record systems
• Telemedicine platforms
• Mobile health apps and devices
• Wearable technologies for patient monitoring

As travel nurses learn to adapt to these many technological advancements in healthcare, many things can change. 

#7: Consistency Across the Demographics of Travel Nurses

According to a July 2023 report by Zippia , there are over 1,733,502 travel nurses currently employed in the United States. 

• About 85% are women while 15% are men.
• The average travel nurse’s age is 43.
• Regarding ethnicity, nearly 70% are White, 12% are Black or African American, 9% are Asian, and 9% are Hispanic or Latino.

As for the future of travel nursing, these numbers are expected to remain consistent, just as they have over the last decade.

Does the future of travel nursing sound promising? With the many job opportunities available, the pay rates, and the chance to travel to new places, why pass up the chance to work as a travel nurse?

Trusted Nurse Staffing works to connect you with rewarding job opportunities that offer great benefits and competitive pay. We are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals which is why we encourage (and help with) continued education, reward success and accomplishments, and help you pursue your growth. 

With Pronto, you can search for available travel nursing contracts and work alongside your recruiter at Trusted Nurse Staffing to secure your desired contract with the pay and benefits that you deserve.

Contact us today.

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Home > Blog > Assessing the Value: Was Travel Nursing Worth It in 2023, and What’s the Outlook for 2024?

Assessing the Value: Was Travel Nursing Worth It in 2023, and What’s the Outlook for 2024?

September 26, 2023 by Voyage Healthcare

Travel nursing, a profession that flourished with demands for healthcare flexibility and a growing trend of nomadic living, was undeniably a popular career choice in 2023. The pertinent question, as we step into 2024, is whether the pursuit was worth it for those who embraced this dynamic career, and what the future holds for travel nursing.

Travel nursing involves registered nurses taking up temporary assignments in various locations, often filling in gaps where nursing staff is in high demand. This career path offers an opportunity to explore different parts of the country or even the world, all while gaining diverse clinical experience. The profession offers a blend of adventure, learning, and financial rewards, making it a sought-after career choice for many nurses.

The Rising Trend of Travel Nursing

Historical Growth

Travel nursing, as an occupation, emerged as a response to nursing shortages and evolved significantly over the years. Historically, during the early 1980s, the concept of travel nursing originated to address regional shortfalls and cater to seasonal population fluctuations. The industry’s growth trajectory since then has been remarkable, underpinned by an ever-increasing demand for healthcare services and a need for specialized nursing skills across various geographical locations.

Current Demand and Supply Dynamics

Fast forward to 2023, the travel nursing sector is experiencing an unprecedented boom. The ongoing global health challenges, notably the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, have amplified the requirement for skilled nursing professionals across the globe. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are grappling with increased patient loads, and the specialized skills of travel nurses have become invaluable in ensuring that quality care is uncompromised.

Current market dynamics showcase a supply-demand mismatch, where the demand for travel nurses far outweighs the supply. This imbalance has led to competitive remunerations, enhanced benefits, and varied opportunities, making travel nursing a highly attractive career option. The flexibility and autonomy associated with this career are further fuelling its popularity among the nursing community, especially among those seeking diverse experiences and work-life balance.

Predictions for 2023 and Beyond

Analyzing the current trends, 2023 is poised to be a year of substantial opportunities and growth for travel nursing. The ongoing healthcare developments, demographic shifts, and increasing healthcare needs predict a sustained demand for travel nurses. Advancements in telemedicine and digital health platforms will likely further integrate travel nursing into the broader healthcare ecosystem, offering more diverse and remote opportunities.Looking ahead to 2024, industry analysts predict sustained demand for travel nurses. The ongoing evolution of healthcare needs, coupled with the desire for flexible staffing solutions, will continue to drive opportunities for travel nurses.

However, the transient nature of travel nursing also brought forth challenges, particularly concerning job security and work-life balance. Some travel nurses expressed concerns about the unpredictability of assignments and the potential impact on their long-term career trajectories. Balancing the demands of frequent travel with personal life and relationships was another area that required navigation and adaptation.

Why Consider Travel Nursing?

In a dynamic world, the allure of travel nursing comes from its unique blend of professional development, adventure, and financial incentives. But what makes it particularly appealing in 2023 and beyond?

Financial Rewards

One of the standout benefits of travel nursing is the financial reward. Travel nurses often earn competitive salaries, and the chance to work overtime can further boost income. Let’s explore some high-paying contracts with Voyage Healthcare:

• Pay: $2,495/wk (36 hrs)
• Duration: 13 weeks
• Shift: 3×12’s Flex
• Pay: Starting $2,336/wk (36 hrs)
• Shift: 3×12 Nights
• Pay: Starting $1,799 (36 hrs)
• Pay: Starting $4,880 (36 hrs)
• Shift: 3×12 Days

These contracts showcase the lucrative opportunities available, making the financial aspect of travel nursing quite enticing.

Flexibility and Adventure

Beyond the paycheck, travel nursing provides a sense of adventure and flexibility. The ability to choose assignments in various locations allows nurses to explore new cities, experience diverse cultures, and meet different people. This variety not only keeps the job exciting but also fosters personal growth.

Building a Diverse Skill Set

Travel nursing enables nurses to work in different healthcare settings, from large urban hospitals to rural community clinics. This exposure helps in building a diverse skill set, making travel nurses adaptable and highly sought after in the industry.

Real-Life Examples

Across the globe, many travel nurses have found fulfillment and success in their careers. They’ve explored breathtaking landscapes, immersed themselves in diverse communities, and have made a significant impact on the lives of their patients, all while advancing their nursing skills.

Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Like any profession, travel nursing comes with its set of challenges, such as adjusting to new environments and dealing with the uncertainty of temporary assignments. However, with the right mindset and preparation, these challenges can turn into growth opportunities.

Addressing Common Concerns

Job security.

Job security is a critical concern for individuals contemplating a career in travel nursing, given the contractual nature of assignments. However, the skyrocketing demand for healthcare services, especially post the global health crises, has made travel nursing one of the more secure professions in the healthcare sector. The ongoing shortages of skilled nursing staff across various geographical locations have led to a constant and increasing demand for travel nurses. While individual assignments may be temporary, the abundance of opportunities available means that travel nurses often have the next assignment lined up well before the current one concludes, contributing to consistent employment and income.

Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is another common concern, given the variable and sometimes unpredictable working hours associated with nursing. Travel nursing, however, offers a unique advantage in this regard. The flexibility to choose assignments, control over the duration and location of the job, and the ability to take extended breaks between assignments contribute to a better work-life balance. Moreover, travel nurses can explore new locations, experience diverse cultures, and enjoy recreational activities that a traditional, stationary job might not permit, thereby enhancing life satisfaction and overall well-being.

Benefits and Compensation

In terms of benefits and compensation, travel nurses are often at an advantage compared to their stationary counterparts. Due to the high demand for their specialized skills, travel nurses typically command competitive salaries, often higher than permanent staff. In addition to this, many agencies offer comprehensive benefits packages, including health insurance, retirement plans, housing allowances, and travel reimbursements. These perks not only address the financial aspect but also cater to the holistic needs of travel nurses. Moreover, the opportunity to earn bonuses and overtime can further enhance their earning potential.

In conclusion, travel nursing in 2023 offers a plethora of benefits, from financial rewards with companies like Voyage Healthcare to the thrill of adventure and the chance to build a diverse skill set. And yes, while travel nursing presented its share of challenges in 2023, for many, the rewards and experiences garnered made it worth the journey. The outlook for 2024 remains positive, with continued opportunities and an evolving support landscape for travel nurses. The profession’s dynamism, combined with ongoing efforts to address common concerns, suggests that travel nursing will continue to be a valuable and rewarding career path in the coming year. If you’re ready to kick start or take on your next travel assignment in Tulsa or anywhere else in the US, Voyage Healthcare is here to help! Call them today at 800-798-6035 for more details about travel contracts.

• Registered nurses with at least one year of clinical experience are eligible for travel nursing.
• Typically, assignments last 13 weeks but can vary depending on the contract.
• Yes, travel nurses have the flexibility to choose their preferred assignment locations.
• Most travel nursing agencies offer housing stipends or assistance in finding accommodation.
• Yes, reputable agencies like Voyage Healthcare provide comprehensive benefits to travel nurses.

Read Another Blog Post: Explore the Best Books for Travel Nurses: Unlocking Knowledge and Inspiration

Don’t forget to follow Voyage Healthcare on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest news and information about travel nursing and healthcare. You can find Voyage Healthcare on:

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/voyagehealthcare/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Voyagetravel

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/voyage-healthcare/

TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@voyagehealthcare

Future of Travel Nursing: Preparing for Transitions After COVID-19

Whether you were on the frontlines when COVID-19 unfolded at unprecedented speeds or in your final year of nursing school, it’s hardly news that the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including the realm of health care.

Now, in our “post-pandemic” universe (yes, even as the illness continues to pose a threat across the globe), we’re continuing to see how COVID-19 has impacted the medical field and the nurses it employs. Additional PPE is largely required, while telehealth has moved from a niche practice to downright prevalent. Compensation has increased right alongside the demand for nurses—a shortage that has been partly fueled by professional burnout. And last but not least, nurses have become increasingly aware of their utter importance and asking for change.

But will these crucial shifts affect travel nurses in particular, and what does the future hold for travel nurses, period?

The Future of Travel Nursing in 2023

With a lot of strain on our health systems, is health care a good career path? In order to get a better handle on the future of travel nursing after COVID-19, we should first reflect upon the past and examine how the changes in nursing are impacting us today:

• The demand for travel nurses rose dramatically during the pandemic – Travel nursing has long held widespread appeal for registered nurses searching for flexibility, solid pay, and the opportunity to explore other towns and cities. During the pandemic, the need for travel nurses positively skyrocketed: In 2020, the profession rose 35% from the preceding year.  

This was primarily due to two critical factors: 1) an overall shortage of nurses in various health care settings (keep in mind that there was a nursing shortage even before COVID-19 rocked the world), and 2) professional burnout, with 66% of 5,600 nurses surveyed by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses reporting that they’re considering leaving their profession.

• Some states waived licensures – Nurse.org reports that, at the height of the pandemic—when a state of emergency was declared—states forewent state licensure to fill nursing staff shortages. Other states accepted temporary licenses. This paved the way for travel nurses to work at different facilities across the nation—and allowed them to provide care during a tremendous “hour” of need.
• The need for travel nurses will continue to rise – According to some estimates, the need for travel nurses will only continue to escalate—the field is expected to rise another 40% in the future. This bodes extremely well for anyone who is weighing the pros and cons of the future of travel nursing.
• Wages for travel nurses may escalate even more – COVID-19 may have been an exceptionally distressing time for nurses—before and after vaccines were widely released, with 76% of nurses in the survey quoted above stating that unvaccinated patients “ threatened their mental and physical well-being.”

At the same time, travel nurse pay increased as well. The average travel nurse salary grew by 25% in April 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, with some travel nurses now earning between $5,000 and $10,000 per week.

• The interest in travel nursing has increased – Flexibility with scheduling, higher pay, the capacity to see different parts of the country, and the excellent benefits afforded by travel nursing agencies —all have motivated people to consider pursuing the profession. According to Indeed, interest in travel nursing roles has continued to ascend; searches for travel nursing positions are roughly five times higher than they were before the pandemic hit.

Lastly, more and more nurses are permanently leaving their positions, in part because of the mental and physical challenges they experienced during the pandemic. This will lead to increased shortages and—you guessed it—a more immediate need for travel nurses to fulfill these empty roles.

How Has COVID-19 Affected Health Organizations?

Every healthcare organization around the globe was acutely taxed during the pandemic, and its employees felt it. A high level of professional burnout was felt across medical care facilities, from large city hospitals to small community clinics. 

In fact, according to a survey performed at the beginning of the pandemic by American Nurses Foundation, roughly half of nurses reported feelings of angst, overwhelm, and irritability.  

Meaning, nurses were desperately needed, but they were also tested.

Indeed, if there’s one thing that the pandemic has reminded the world, it is this: People in the medical profession are invaluable . 

Travel nurses may have started bringing in a more lucrative income during the pandemic, but they were also working exceptionally hard: in January of 2022, the number of hours travel nurses put in rose 23% from the previous year.

Now, nurses have become empowered—and are advocating for change and health equity. Typically, nurses are:

• Exploring new avenues in their field that extend beyond bedside care and into medical research, home care nursing, and telehealth
• Requesting higher pay
• Asking for stronger mental health policies
• Demanding better protection for themselves
• Petitioning for block booking

And because the need for nurses isn’t going anywhere anytime soon—the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the field will continue to grow by 6%—nurses may be in a better position than ever to receive what they request.  

To this end, many nurses are choosing to work with reliable travel nursing agencies to pair them with places and opportunities that will fulfill their wishes.

How to Adapt as a Travel Nurse

Whether you have just launched a career as a travel nurse intent on capitalizing on the positive wave of change in the profession or have recently started exploring traveling nursing jobs , you may be feeling a tad… daunted by what is ahead of you.

And yet, with some advance planning, you can easily adapt as a travel nurse. Here are a few tips:

• Embrace (and hone) flexibility – It goes without saying that working as a travel nurse necessitates working in numerous facilities in numerous locations—and each facility will have their own way of running the proverbial ship. 

“Go with the flow” may be overused, but it’s imperative in this particular career. Embracing new policies and adapting to new procedures, knowing that it is part of your role, is key to dodging frustration and becoming a trustworthy, helpful member of any medical team.

• Consider self-care one of your primary responsibilities – When it comes to nursing, you know that you must put on your own oxygen mask first in order to survive and be of assistance to others. This takes on a new degree of urgency and importance in the travel nursing field. On top of caring for your patients and working with a new staff, you are also adjusting to a new home environment and, in some cases (and at some times), also recovering from traveling. 

This is where, why, and when self-care becomes an absolute necessity for travel nurses. Ensure that you clock in consistent, quality sleep, eat often and nutritiously to maintain your energy levels, hydrate frequently, take adequate breaks, and decompress between assignments.

• Call upon your communication skills – Adapting to a new environment—and oftentimes environments that operate at a fast pace—is no easy feat and deeply admirable. But one of the golden tickets to ensuring that you make a snag-free transition each and every time is through communicating . Ask questions whenever one arises for you, especially in facilities where management may overlook (or be too pressed for time) to share essential pieces of information with you.
• Build bonds – You may only be on assignment in a certain facility for six weeks—but that’s still six weeks in which you can develop friendships with others on the staff you’re joining. Having a friend and confidante at your temporary place of employment may bring substantially more satisfaction to your job while partnering up with a local nurse (or another healthcare employee) may introduce you to new parts of the city or town you’re staying in on your assignment.
• Work with a travel nursing agency – A solid and reputable travel nursing agency can be an indispensable resource. Whether they arrange for your housing, negotiate your contract, optimize your compensation, or provide you with mental health resources to help you avoid that professional burnout we discussed, they may prove to be a superb ally and advocate on your working adventures.

Elevate Your Nursing Career with MAS Medical Staffing

The pandemic radically changed life for countless people across the world—and life for innumerable nurses. Nurses are now in a prime position to ask for what they want and, importantly, deserve . From better, more realistic pay to enhanced protection, they’re speaking up for themselves and increasingly turning to travel nursing jobs to obtain the lifestyle and income they’ve worked so hard to achieve. 

MAS Medical Staffing is the partner to bring along on your foray into travel nursing. As one of the top travel nursing agencies in the country, we work hard on behalf of nurses to place them in desirable positions, all the while helping them make enormous strides in their careers. With terrific benefits and per diem pay, we can help you reach your professional and personal goals while giving you the chance to explore new locales and accrue fresh experiences.

Reach out to us today to start the conversation—and prepare for a rewarding and meaningful time, one in which the future of travel nursing is yours.  

Rasmussen University. COVID-19 and nursing: 6 ways the pandemic has made an impact.

https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/blog/covid19-and-nursing/

Health Affairs. COVID-19’s impact on nursing shortages, the rise of travel nurses, and price gouging.

https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/forefront.20220125.695159

American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Hear us out campaign reports nurses’ COVID-19 reality.

Hear Us Out Campaign Reports Nurses’ COVID-19 Reality – AACN

Advisory Board. Why travel nursing will likely outlast the pandemic.

https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2022/03/18/travel-nursing

Trusted Health. Transition back from crisis: the future for travel nurses after COVID-19.

https://www.trustedhealth.com/blog/transition-back-from-crisis-the-future-for-travel-nurses-after-covid-19

National Nurses United. Nurses call on FTC to investigate hospital contracts that place onerous burden on RN graduates.

https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-call-on-ftc-to-investigate-hospital-contracts

U.S. Bureaus of Labor Statistics. Registered nurses.

  https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm

American Nurses Foundation. American Nurses Foundation Releases Comprehensive Survey About Nurses. https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2021/american-nurses-foundation-releases-comprehensive-survey-about-nurses/  

Reviewer Bio

Heidi Lough, Principal Recruiter:  Heidi has worked as a recruiter at MAS since September of 2020, right in the middle of the COVID pandemic. She came in and saw our company growing exponentially due to the pandemic which resulted in a severe need for healthcare providers. She is a top performer and loves the hustle of recruiting and helping professionals find their next adventure in their nursing specialty. Outside of work, she enjoys being in nature, being involved at church, and hanging out with her cat, dog, 6 chickens- oh, and husband.

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The Direction Of Travel Nursing Pay In 2022 And Beyond

Category: Travel Nursing

• In the peak of the pandemic, travel nursing pay reached up to $10,000/week. 
• As of February 2022 the average is closer to $3,300/week
• Pay will always fluctuate with supply and demand, but it’s unlikely for travel nursing rates to fall back to pre-pandemic rates.
• Remember to look beyond pay when choosing a staffing agency 

A Facebook post in a group for Traveling Nurses reads “Only making $3-4k a week?? Why not make $5-8k a week??”.

The nursing industry has definitely fallen on some challenging times. The work has become increasingly difficult, nurses are facing burn out at incredible rates, the debate on fair pay for nurses rages on, and there are even rumors of congressional pay caps .

There’s a lot to cover, but right now let’s focus on the money. 

History Of Pay For Traveling Nurses

Prior to the pandemic, traveling nurses earned about $1,800/week. 

The pandemic created a “perfect storm” of an insatiable demand for traveling nurses. We’ll cover that in a moment, but suffice it to say that rates reached an unprecedented high.

During the height of the pandemic (we consider this to be the Delta spike in 2021), salaries for traveling nurses reached $10,000/week for some assignments! Nurses could earn in 2-3 months what previously took a year to earn.

The payoff is those assignments were in places described as a “war zone”.

The average pay has fluctuated throughout the pandemic, but a travel nurse should expect to earn around $3,300/week (as of early 2022), knowing that figure may change a little as time goes on.

Why The Fluctuations In Pay?

Pay for traveling nurses is determined by many things.

For starters, traveling nurses will always earn more than staff nurses because the demands of the job are greater due to the nature of the position.

Traveling nurses have always alleviated staffing shortages in hospitals and facilities that were having a hard time finding nurses to fill their staff positions. 

Economics tells us that prices change based on supply and demand. If there are 10 nurses (supply) to fill 50 positions (demand), the pay rate for those nurses is going to get competitive in a hurry. Nurses would almost be able to name their rate (and in 2020 some did)!

In early 2020 there averaged around 8,000 open positions for traveling nurses. By September 2021 that figure grew by 6x to over 48,000 positions. Assignments have decreased to around 32,000 now.

When you track it, the pattern of open assignments follows the pattern for pay.

The Road Back To Normal

As the world gets back to normal (or closer to what we used to call normal), pay is likely to go down. Again, supply and demand.

Many of the staffing shortages were caused by sick nurses who were unable to work because they had Covid, or were caring for loved ones with Covid. Once they get back to work, the number of open assignments will decrease, and thus so will pay.

Although it probably won’t happen quickly or suddenly.

Burnout will most likely slow the nursing industry’s return to normal compared to other industries. When other industries figured out how to get people working remotely, nurses and others in the healthcare industry were in the thick of it.

This has no doubt added to the staffing shortage issue.

The increasing gap between pay for a staff nurse and a travel nurse is also causing some staff nurses to question whether they should quit and take travel assignments instead. 

Currently traveling nurses earn 3x more than staffing nurses. This is another issue that goes too deep to fully address here, but is a challenge nonetheless. 

Your Goals & What To Look For In A Staffing Agency

If you are looking for a $5,000/week assignment, you might find some. Just know what you’re getting yourself into.

Staffing shortages create chaotic work environments. 

The greater the shortage, the greater the chaos.

The greater the shortage, the greater the pay. 

If however you want to earn as much as possible, but realize that you have a specific set of requirements that make an assignment ideal for you—then give us a call.

MSG Staffing stands on three guiding principles. The life-saving acronym of CPR seemed fitting given our mission of resuscitating the life-work balance for the nursing industry.

1. Convenient

We believe your relationship with a staffing agency should be convenient for you, not the staffing agency. 

Assignments should be convenient based on your current and future life goals. Maybe higher pay is something you’re after right now, but later this year you’ll want to be closer to family. It’s okay if your requirements change, because we do everything in our power to find you assignments for the right pay, in the right location, with the right people.

Convenience also means working with us is simple. Onboarding is easy, so is submitting time sheets. Since we disclose everything we know about an assignment before you go there , you’ll also be able to choose if you only take assignments that use systems you’re already familiar with.

2. Personable

Too many of our travel nurses tell us they left their previous staffing agency because their recruiter wasn’t personable. 

When you speak, we listen. We ask questions to get to know you so we can help you find assignments that are the best fit for you. You are not a cog in the machine, but a human being with dreams and goals that we can help you accomplish.

If you look at our satisfaction rating you’ll notice that nurses and clients both enjoy working with us. If you’re dissatisfied with your staffing agency, that’s a blemish on them—not you.

3. Responsive

You deserve a quick reply if you need something. If you have a question, you deserve an answer. If you have a problem, you deserve a solution.

There really isn’t any reason a traveling nurse should show up for an assignment and be surprised by what they got themselves into. 

Not getting responses to emails and phone calls is unacceptable. We already have one of the most responsive teams of recruiters in the industry (you can expect responses between 7am-10pm EST), and are planning to offer an even greater level of support soon. 

It’s a winning combination when that support is provided by someone who cares about making life easier for you.

So what will pay look like for traveling nurses in the future? No one can say for certain, but we believe it will be directly linked to the number of available assignments. 

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How to Make the Most Money as a Travel Nurse

What is a travel nurse.

• How to Become
• Travel Nurse Salary
• Salary by State
• Travel Nurse vs Staff Nurse Salary
• Salary Factors
• Making the Most Money
• Highest Paying Assignments

A  travel nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who works in short-term roles at hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities worldwide. Daily  travel nurse duties are often similar to traditional RN roles, but their flexibility allows them to fill gaps in areas with nursing shortages. As a result, the average travel nurse's salary can be quite high!

>> Click here to see available high-paying travel nurse opportunities!

During the COVID-19 pandemic, travel nurses were seeing some of the highest pay packages ever because of the overwhelming need for nurses, especially in hot spots like New York, Florida, and California. While pay packages might not be as high as they were a few years ago, there is still significant money to be made for those interested in pursuing travel nursing.

But, there are still a number of factors you need to consider when it comes to your travel nurse salary. Here's what you need to know to navigate pay as a travel nurse.

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How to Become a Travel Nurse 

Travel nurses do need a few requirements before being considered, including being a registered nurse with a license in good standing, and typically 2 years of nursing experience. They don't need any additional certifications or credentials other than the ones they need for their specific specialty. 

While a BSN is not required to become a travel nurse, it will open more opportunities to nurses such as Magnet hospitals and Level 1 trauma centers. Without a BSN, your options might be more limited. 

How Much Money Do Travel Nurses Make? 

Under normal circumstances, many travel nurses have the potential to earn over $3,000 per week. Travel nurses can bring in over  $50 per hour, plus company-paid housing accommodations. Making it entirely possible for travel nurses to make well over $100K per year.

Travel Nurse Salary by State

Source:  Ziprecruiter

>> Show Me Online Nursing Programs  

How Does Travel Nurse Pay Differ From Staff Nurse Pay? 

Staff nurses  in a hospital are usually paid a set salary based on education and experience. They typically receive incremental pay increases at various time frames. Staff nurses can also see pay increases with overall cost of living increases.

Travel nurse pay is totally different and can be a bit of a gray area. Typical pay packages are composed of various components, including hourly pay, non-taxed travel nurse housing stipends, non-taxed per diems, travel reimbursements, and more. It’s important to speak to your recruiter about specific pay package breakdowns. 

>> Related: Top 10 Six-Figure Nursing Jobs

What Factors Impact Your Pay as a Travel Nurse?

There are a number of factors that can influence how much you can expect to make as a travel nurse. These include:

Location -  The specific location of the assignment most heavily influences travel nurse pay. Simply put, pay rates often reflect the cost of living in the area and also regional trends.

Which states pay the most for travel nurses?  Historically speaking, the highest-paying states for travel nurses include California, Texas, Massachusetts, Washington, and New York.

Southern states  tend to have lower living costs and, in turn, lower travel nurse pay.

Areas that are considered “destination locations”  (like, Hawaii and Florida) may pay lower. Though, with rapid-response assignments, this isn’t always the case.

Specialty -  The travel nurse’s specialty also impacts pay. Non-specialty nurses, such as the medical/surgical and psychiatric specialties, are typically paid a lower rate than specialized nurses. Furthermore, specialized nurses with highly sought-after skills  and credentials have the ability to earn more lucrative pay with seemingly endless opportunities. 

• Shift -  If you haven’t noticed, night shift assignments are more prevalent in the world of travel nursing. The good news is that many hospitals offer higher rates for their night shift assignments. If you want to make the most money, flexibility is key. A word of caution, if the night shift is not your thing, no amount of money is worth your safety, happiness, or license. If you provide better patient care during the day shift, stick to that. Your patients will thank you. 
• Practice level/Education - Travel RNs make more money than stationary RNs. But those who also pursue advanced practice nursing credentials stand to earn even more. For example, the average travel nurse practitioner's salary is around $131,543 per year but can go up to $218,000.

>> Show Me Online Nursing Programs

How To Make The Most Money As A Travel Nurse 

While the factors listed above do influence travel nurse pay, the following types of assignments almost always pay exceptionally well. Oftentimes, these types of assignments are not influenced by location, specialty or shift.

Everything else aside, if you’re looking to make the most money as a travel nurse, seek out these specific assignments: 

1. Rapid Response and “Crisis” Assignments

These assignments boast some of the highest rates in the travel nursing industry due to their urgent requirements. As the name suggests, these assignments require nurses to arrive at work fast -- usually within 2 weeks.

Nurses working in these assignments may have limited options in terms of location. They are also typically shorter than the general 13-week assignment - if you're ready to go, you can get started right away  in areas that need you the most. 

Assignments range from 36 to 48 hours per week but are certainly more lucrative for the nurse working 48, particularly given overtime pay rates. 

Crisis Examples

• A crisis assignment is not always because of a natural or man-made disaster. However, in some cases they are. For example, one agency was able to send nurses within 48 hours to provide support to hospitals treating patients in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.  
• More often, though, facilities in need of rapid response solutions include those managing unexpected census spikes, unit openings, emergency responses, EMR upgrades, and more.
• However, some facilities may leverage flexible-length assignment options to manage patient care during short-term staff shortages.
• Crisis assignments might also occur if a large number of nurses on the unit are on maternity leave at the same time, or can occur if there is an outbreak on the unit (GI illness) and the hospital needs staff immediately.

This type of assignment may be appealing to hospitals because they do not require the 13-week commitment that many other travel companies require. This means that agencies offering these types of assignments have the ability to offer travelers a larger selection of shorter and higher-paying assignments. A great option especially if you’re looking for a position to better fit your lifestyle. 

So, what's the catch? 

As mentioned, rapid response assignments require a quick turnaround. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial for nurses to have their paperwork in order if they want to reap the benefits of top pay. Credentials, tests, licenses, and other documents should be submitted to the agency as quickly as possible. Frequently, there are a limited number of positions available for these types of assignments and some agencies will be first-come, first-serve.

What Travel Nurse Agencies Say About Rapid-Response Assignments

We reached out to travel nursing agencies for more information about their rapid-response assignments. They said that most agencies will occasionally help nurses acquire licenses and certifications, including paying for new state licenses for nurses who complete an assignment with the company there. 

Agencies also offer the option to cover housing costs if the nurse stays in one of their preferred hotels. Alternatively, many travel nursing agencies provide a housing stipend calculated to cover the cost of a nurse acquiring his or her own housing during the assignment. Lastly, they also cover the travel costs nurses incur at the start and end of an assignment. 

Hospital vs Agency Bonuses

Hospital bonuses  are paid separately from the bill rate, are usually offered as completion bonuses. This means they are not paid until after you complete your assignment. These bonuses usually range from  $250-$5000.

Agency bonuses  may be taken out of the bill rate and affect your overall pay. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if you enjoy getting a large amount of money as a lump sum. 

How do you know the difference between hospital and agency bonuses? For starters, you can ask your recruiter where the bonus comes from -- hospital or agency? 

• Retention Bonus

Some agencies will pay nurses bonuses once they end up working with that agency for multiple assignments. This is commonly referred to as a retention bonus and each agency will have its own requirements. These bonuses usually range from $100-$2,000 or more. 

• Referral Bonus

A referral bonus is a fee the agency pays to travel nurses who refer other nurses to work for their agency. The funds often come out of a separate budget allocated to referral fees and should not affect the travel nurse’s pay package. 

Referral bonuses typically range from  $500-$4,000  per nurse referral. Some of the best agencies in the industry pay nurses lucrative referrals bonuses once their referral completes an assignment.

Strikes occur when a labor contract or bargaining agreement between a hospital and a union is up for renewal. When the two sides aren’t able to come up with an acceptable compromise, the union may strike. 

In such a case, patients still need care. Therefore, hospitals will usually hire travel nurses to fill the temporary need. Due to the urgency, travel nurses who work strikes make much more money than they do when working on typical travel nurse assignments. 

How to Find the Highest-Paying Travel Nurse Assignments

First of all, you can always  ask recruiters directly about their highest-paying assignments.  Let them know that money is a motivator and that you are not interested in assignments that pay less than a certain amount. The best travel nurse recruiters will be honest with you about pay while giving you their best pay packages from the beginning. 

We suggest working with agencies that are known to pay high rates and who specialize in rapid-response and strike nursing. Hospitals pay these agencies higher rates to urgently provide highly specialized staff on a short-term basis. Those high rates are passed along to their travel nurses. 

Top 11 Tips For Travel Nurses (From a Travel Nurse Recruiter!)

1. crisis contracts.

Crisis contracts were extremely popular during the pandemic. Travel nurses were able to garner premium pay and had the opportunity to make significant amounts in a short period of time. While these specific types of crisis contracts are not readily available, healthcare companies around the country still need to fill gaps, especially for short periods of time. 

2. Find Your Own Housing

We suggest taking a housing stipend and securing your own housing. This will give you the freedom to choose your price point. Agencies will often house nurses in pricier accommodations (they have a reputation to uphold.) Additionally, agencies sign corporate leases -- leases that come with a “corporate” price tag. Some agencies are able to offer free housing if you stay in one of their preferred hotels. Most other agencies do not cover this cost outright, though, they’ll help you set it up.

3. Be Flexible

If money is your motivation, flexibility is key. Sometimes the highest paying assignments pay higher because they are not the most ideal. They may be in a less-than-desirable location or on a hard-to-fill time shift, such as nights or variables. Though it’s not always the case, nights, variables and weekends may come with higher pay or shift differentials.

4. Work With Agencies Who are Known for Their High Pay and Transparency

Every agency is different and will structure its pay packages differently as well. Transparency is key. The most trustworthy agencies will publish their compensation packages publicly and will disclose take-home pay. This focus on transparency allows nurses to skip the negotiating or fact-finding step and rapidly decide if the position is right for them. 

Industry jargon and terms like “blended rates” get confusing. Negotiations can increase confusion and lead to mistrust between nurses and recruiters. That’s why working with agencies that do not allow for negotiations may prove to be the best agencies to work for. They likely give the nurse their best rate from the “get-go” and therefore actually have no room left for negotiations. If you’re able to negotiate with a recruiter, why weren’t they offering you their best rate from the beginning? Something to consider.

5. Make Sure Your Profile is Up-to-Date

Top-paying travel nursing assignments come with a timestamp -- they are in high demand and competition is fierce. Truth is, agencies can’t simply submit you for a job just because you want to be considered. They literally have to “sell” your skills to the hospital.

How do they do this?  Through your paperwork, commonly referred to as your “profile” -- resume, references, skills checklists, license, etc. Having organized paperwork that can quickly (and easily) be submitted to a new agency will increase your chances of landing high-paying assignments. The quicker you get your paperwork to your recruiter, the faster they can submit you to a top-paying job.

Side note,  many nurse managers hire travel nurses on a "first come, first serve" basis. Why? Because your agency has already vetted you, the hospital doesn’t need to do more research to determine if you’re qualified. The hospital needs your skills to fill a temporary staffing need. If you treat every high-paying job with extreme urgency your chances of landing the job will increase. We recommend keeping your paperwork up to date and storing it online on the cloud using something like Dropbox or Google Drive. This will make it easy to simply share your paperwork folder with your recruiter.

Another tip, if you don’t have a scanner, download a scanning app -- works like a charm and you don’t have to lug around a bulky machine. Many agencies are getting tech-savvy and developing mobile apps that allow nurses to directly upload documents to their profile with the company, where they can be stored and updated when the app notifies nurses of their expirations, etc.

6. Work With Multiple Agencies

The truth is, no agency will have assignments available in every location in the US. More truth, some hospitals pay each agency at a different rate and local agencies may have better relationships with the hospitals in their area. Bottom line, it’s a good idea to work with multiple agencies, this will increase your opportunities.

Word of advice -- if you work with multiple recruiters, don’t be shady. Be honest with them about each other. Don’t "pit" them against each other. And, by all means, keep in touch with them even if you don’t choose their assignment (this time). Chances are they’ll want to work with you again in the future. Who knows, you might even make a new friend!

7. Maintain Multiple State Licenses

Did you know that many hospitals will not even look at your professional profile if you are not licensed in their state? It’s true. You’ll increase your chances of continuously landing high-paying jobs by maintaining active licenses in multiple states.

For example, rates in northern states usually increase during the winter months -- so, a license in Massachusetts is a must! If you want to work in a certain state, you need to have a license. Period. Even better – have a compact nursing license? This will automatically set you up for success. 

If you don’t have a license in that state, and you want to travel there soon, apply now! Some states have quick licensure turnaround of just 48 hours. Other states, like California, can take up to 6 months to process licensure paperwork.  Some agencies do assist or reimburse for licensing fees.

8. Work Agency Per Diem and Pick Up Extra Shifts

Travel nurses who want to make even more money will often work local agencies’ per diem shifts. They’ll also volunteer to work extra shifts during their assignments.

9. Communicate With Your Recruiter

Recruiters are the connection between you and the highest-paying travel nursing assignments. It’s important to communicate with them about your compensation needs. Looking for a high-paying assignment? Ask. Need a sign-on or completion bonus? Ask. Can’t live happily with an income below a certain amount? Tell them. Remember, a closed mouth doesn’t get fed.

10. Ask for Sign-On, Completion, and Retention Bonuses

Some travel companies may offer bonuses. Bonuses are paid either on day #1 of your assignment, upon completion of the assignment, or when you work multiple assignments with your agency. Inquire about bonuses. 

11. Refer Your Friends to Agencies

In the travel nursing industry, referrals are golden. Nurses are much more likely to trust their friend’s opinion of an agency they’ve actually worked for than they are an advertisement or recruiter. This is why agencies pay nurses referral bonuses to refer their friends. Referral fees differ but some agencies pay as high as $4,000 per nurse referral! 

Travel Nurse FAQs

What does a travel nurse do.

• A travel nurse is employed by a temporary staffing agency to work a contract with a healthcare facility for a short amount of time, usually around 13 weeks. 

What is the highest paid travel nurse? 

•  Any specialty area travel nurse, such as OR, ICU, MICU/SICU will have a higher earning potential. Additionally, APRNs such as a CRNA, will earn the highest wages. 

Is travel nursing worth the money?

• Travel nursing can be highly profitable, but you’ll want to consider all of the factors involved with the job, such as short-term contracts, inconsistent benefits and pay, new environments, and sometimes, high stress. 

What do you need to be a travel nurse? 

• In addition to being a Registered Nurse, typically, you need at least one year of experience on the floor to become a travel nurse. 

Is it hard to become a travel nurse? 

• Travel nursing can be competitive, but if you want to become a travel nurse, there are endless opportunities. You can increase your appeal by earning certifications in specialty areas. 

How much money do travel nurses make? 

• The take-home pay for travel nurses can vary widely based on the area’s need, the nurse’s specialty and any certifications, and other factors, but most travel nurses make well over six figures. 

Why do hospitals hire travel nurses? 

• Hospitals and other healthcare facilities may hire travel nurses when they are lacking their own staff, when the patient census becomes too high for their current staffing, or when a medical crisis, like COVID-19, or an emergency occurs. 

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How to Become a Travel Nurse

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• Career Overview
• Steps to Become
• Education Options
• Certification and Specialization

Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?

Are you interested in a financially rewarding nursing career that offers the flexibility to take short-term assignments across the country and abroad? The nursing shortage has increased the demand for travel nurses in every type of healthcare setting, often in underserved communities in both urban and rural locations. Employers offer higher pay and more generous benefits to travel nurses with certain specialties, such as ICU or neonatal nursing, or those holding advanced practice registered nursing licenses.

Keep reading to learn how to become a travel nurse, what kind of license and certifications you need to enter the field, and what to expect on the job.

How Long to Become 2-4 years

Degree Required ADN or BSN

Average Annual Salary $83,386

Source: Payscale , May 2024

What Is a Travel Nurse?

A travel nurse is a skilled nursing professional willing to take short-term assignments locally, across the U.S., and even internationally . These assignments can last from a few weeks to several months. Instead of seeking permanent positions in healthcare facilities, these nursing professionals find temporary placements using the services of staffing agencies that specialize in travel nursing. Travel nurse contracts outline the start and end dates for the placement, total compensation for the duration of the assignment, and work expectations.

The demand for registered nurses has increased throughout the healthcare industry, along with critical nursing shortages in some geographic locations and in high-demand specializations. Travel nurses have stepped in to fill these gaps. According to data compiled by Zippia , there are 1,733,502 traveling nurses currently employed in the United States. For comparison’s sake, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that as of 2023 there were about 3.2 million registered nurses (RN) employed in the U.S.

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Steps to Becoming a Travel Nurse

A travel nurse must meet the same educational and clinical requirements as all registered nurses (RNs). You must first earn an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). According to the Zippia data, 47% of travel nurses have a BSN degree, more than any other degree type.

Once you earn your degree, you need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam and acquire your state nursing license. Because employers expect travel nurses to immediately begin working, travel nurse staffing agencies typically look for applicants with at least one year of clinical experience. Specializations and certifications can give you an advantage.

Earn an ADN or BSN Degree From an Accredited Program.

Travel nurses must earn an ADN or a BSN to qualify for RN licensure. An ADN offers the fastest pathway to an RN nursing career. However, a BSN, which typically takes four years to complete, provides graduates with a higher level of training and clinical experience, leading to broader employment opportunities. The major travel nurse staffing agencies and large healthcare systems prefer to hire RNs with a BSN degree.

Pass the NCLEX Exam to Receive RN Licensure.

You need to pass the National Council Licensure Exam for RNs (NCLEX-RN) to earn an RN license. This computer-adaptive test takes up to six hours and covers nursing practice, conditions and treatments, how the healthcare system works, legal and ethical issues, and patient communication and education.

Gain Clinical Nursing Experience.

The more clinical experience you have, the more likely you will find a placement. Most agencies only consider applicants with a minimum of one year of experience. However, some healthcare contracts require two years or more of clinical experience. Travel nurses must have the skills and background to jump into assignments without on-the-job training or orientations, adjusting to new environments, staff, and procedures.

Find a Travel Nursing Agency.

Nurse staffing agencies have grown in popularity, filling the nursing shortage gap resulting from RNs who retire or leave the workforce. Consequently, many agencies have emerged that specialize in travel nurse staffing. Travel nurse agencies advertise for specific positions, often recruiting at nursing school career offices, professional associations, and online. Before working with a travel nurse agency, it is important to research its reputation. When evaluating agencies, you should compare if the contracts they offer meet your expectations about available locations, types of assignments, salary and benefits, and travel and housing arrangements.

Begin Your First Travel Nursing Assignment.

Because travel nurses work in multiple settings with varied patient populations , duties and responsibilities differ for each new assignment. In most cases, you will receive little on-the-job training. Depending on the employer, your first shift may begin with a full orientation or just a brief introduction to the facility’s procedures and policies. You may be paired with a nurse for your first few days, but then you will be expected to work independently soon after.

While some travel staffing agencies handle housing arrangements to help you settle into your new environment, you may decide to find your own accommodations to save on living expenses.

Travel Nurse Education

Different employers and positions have different travel nurse requirements. Generally, it takes at least two years to earn an ADN, the minimum requirement to become an RN.

Most travel nurse positions require a BSN, but some nurses start with an ADN, which takes two years to complete rather than the four years required for a BSN. Many BSN programs offer RN-to-BSN bridge programs .

Admission Materials

Program curriculum, time to complete, skills learned.

All travel nurses must be licensed RNs by earning an undergraduate nursing degree, either a BSN or an ADN, and passing the NCLEX-RN examination. However, many employers require or strongly prefer a BSN.

Travel Nurse Licensure

If you plan on becoming a travel nurse, you must have a valid nursing license in the state where you intend to practice. If the state where you earned your initial RN license participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), you do not need to apply for another license to work in any other NLC state. However, not all states are NLC members . If your intended travel nurse assignment is located in a non-NLC state, you must apply for a license in that specific state before starting your contract. Some states have expedited processes for temporary licenses, and certain staffing agencies can assist you with the application process.

Maintaining an active license as a travel nurse is no different than for other RNs. You need to renew your RN license periodically, meeting the specific requirements for contact hours and continuing education units in your home state. If you are working in a non-NLC state, you must meet the renewal requirements for that jurisdiction.

Travel Nursing Certification and Specialization

RNs often choose to earn specialty nurse certifications in a variety of areas, including emergency care, pediatrics, obstetrics, and infection control. While earning a certification may not be required for a certain position, a specialization helps distinguish you from other job applicants and may boost your salary.

According to a 2019 travel nurse compensation report , the demand for travel nurses is highest for those with specializations in ICU, medical-surgical, operating room, and emergency room nursing. ICU nurses, the most in-demand travel nurse specialty, accounts for 16.5% of all travel nurses. Healthcare employers and staffing agencies often look for travel nurses with specialties in particular patient populations, including neonatal nursing and pediatrics, or those with experience in specific types of services, such as emergency and critical care nursing.

Working as a Travel Nurse

Travel nurses fill temporary assignments wherever nurses are needed. They may find placements in hospitals and clinics facing nursing shortages, community health facilities, and healthcare organizations in the U.S. and abroad that must respond to public health crises, disease outbreaks, and other medical emergencies. The average travel nurse contract lasts between 13 and 26 weeks, but hours and shifts vary widely depending on the assignment.

Travel nurse salaries also vary by setting, location, and specialization. According to Vivian , a major healthcare hiring service, the average weekly pay for travel nurses is $2,104 or $44.79 an hour, compared to $42.80 per hour for RNs overall, according to BLS data . However, earnings can range from $458 weekly for the lowest-paid travel nurses to $6,419 for the top earners, and some travel nurses may be given a housing/relocation stipend.

Although working as a travel nurse has many benefits, there are some potential downsides. Travel nurses may be required to complete onboarding for each new contract they begin, even if they have already previously worked at a facility. This process can require time-consuming steps, such as providing proof of vaccination, fingerprinting, and documentation of your medical history, which can delay your start date.

Some travel nurses have difficulty finding affordable housing options for the duration of their contract. You can review a travel agency’s benefits to determine if they may provide assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Travel Nurse

Do travel nurses get benefits.

In addition to the attractive salaries, some travel nurse placements offer benefits. These may include medical and dental coverage, 401K contributions, sign-on bonuses, and stipends for housing, travel and per-diem living expenses.

Can travel nurses choose where they work?

One of the major perks of working as a travel nurse is the flexibility to choose when and where to work. However, your ability to choose your placement depends on the demand for your particular specialty or the number of available positions in the location where you want to work.

What is the best degree to become a travel nurse?

Many staffing agencies prefer to hire travel nurses who have completed a bachelor of science in nursing. A BSN equips nurses with a solid foundation of nursing knowledge and skills. This can prepare them for a travel nursing role, where they may need to transition between healthcare facilities and effectively adapt to diverse patient populations and settings.

How do I find a travel nurse staffing agency?

Travel nurse staffing agencies may recruit at nursing schools, through referrals, or through advertisements for specific positions or general placements. You can also look online for travel nurse staffing agencies or discover agencies through networking. Be sure to double check references and the agency’s reputation.

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What to Know About Working as an International Travel Nurse

If you love traveling and want to become a nurse, consider the growing field of international travel nursing. Choose from many well-paying positions in a variety of destinations all over the world.

The 7 Top States for Travel Nurses (Fall)

The travel nurse industry is rapidly expanding. If you’d like to plan your first or next assignment, consider these top seven states for your fall destination.

How to Become an International Travel Nurse

International travel nursing offers great pay and adventure. Take these steps to get your first international assignment.

Page last reviewed on April 7, 2024

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Election latest: More bad news for Tory campaign as latest donation figures released

The Conservatives received less than £300,000 in donations during the second week of the campaign, the latest figures show. Listen to the latest Electoral Dysfunction as you scroll.

Friday 21 June 2024 21:30, UK

• General Election 2024
• Tories raised less than £300,000 in donations in second week of campaign - Labour received £4.4m
• Sunak asked if he's confident no more Tory candidates will be caught up in betting scandal
• 'I certainly haven't bet myself,' Welsh secretary tells Sky News
• Davey criticises PM's response to 'immoral' allegations
• Electoral Dysfunction: What are odds betting scandal sinks Tories?
• 'Own it': Corbyn responds to latest Starmer comments
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler

Election essentials

• Manifesto pledges: Alliance Party | Conservatives | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid Cymru | Reform | SNP | Sinn Fein | Workers Party
• Trackers:  Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Campaign Heritage: Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts: Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more:  Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

By Rob Powell , political correspondent

The architect of the government's delayed reforms to social care has told Sky News politicians need to "grow up" and tackle the crisis in the sector.

Amid a bitter election row over public spending, Sir Andrew Dilnot said he believed the two main parties were reluctant to discuss care reform for fear of being accused of plotting future tax hikes.

Sir Andrew - whose 2011 report laid out several key measures adopted by the government - described social care as the "biggest risk that isn't managed" that the country faces.

He said: "Four out of five people are going to need  social care  before they die, we should grow up and face it."

"I think politicians are reluctant to talk about it firstly because they're worried about anything that means an increase in public spending and therefore possible taxation," he added.

You can read more below:

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has taken a break from general election campaigning tonight - to shake it off at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.

Sir Keir and his wife joined thousands of Swifties at the first of three Eras Tour shows at Wembley Stadium - which will be followed up by five more in August.

Government borrowing was less than expected in May, new figures have revealed.

Net borrowing - the difference between public sector spending and income - was £15bn, an increase of £0.8bn on the same time last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported on Friday.

The amount is below the £15.7bn forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and less than expected by economists.

However, it was still the highest amount for the month of May since the  COVID-19 pandemic .

The ONS also said that public sector net debt, excluding public sector banks, was provisionally estimated at 99.8% of gross domestic product (GDP) in May - the highest level since March 1961.

The figure is also 3.7 percentage points higher than during the same period last year.

Economists said it showed that whoever wins the  upcoming general election  will face a string of potential financial challenges.

Nigel Farage has stood by his comment describing Andrew Tate as an "important voice" for men as he greeted supporters in Clacton-on-Sea.

The Reform UK leader had praised Tate while speaking on the Strike It Big podcast in February for defending "male culture" and said the "jury is out" on investigations into the influencer, The Guardian reported.

Since December 2022, Tate has faced charges in Romania of human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, which he denies.

Asked whether Tate was an "important voice" for men as he was leaving a meeting with supporters, Mr Farage said: "He's got a massive following and that shows you how big the gap is.

"I mean, clearly he's facing some serious allegations and has said some things that are difficult to level with, but the fact that he's got the following shows you how big the gap is."

Mr Farage did not specify what "gap" he was referring to.

Our live poll tracker collates the results of opinion surveys carried out by all the main polling organisations - and allows you to see how the political parties are performing in the run-up to the general election.

It currently shows a drop in support in recent days for Labour and the Tories - with a jump for Reform and the Liberal Democrats.

Read more about the tracker here .

The Politics Hub is live on Sky News every night at 7pm throughout the general election campaign.

But stick with us online - we'll have updates throughout the evening.

Norman Phillips and his wife Ros - who lives with multiple sclerosis and dementia - are the human faces of the social care crisis.

Initially Norman was able to combine work with his caring responsibilities, but as Ros's condition worsened, he took early retirement.

The couple found help hard to come by and after Norman suffered an injury, they were forced to sell their home to settle care-related debts.

Ros is now subject to an NHS continuing healthcare plan after Norman suffered a breakdown earlier this year and authorities decided he was unable to carry on caring for his wife.

This includes around the clock care for Ros - something Norman said would not have been needed if a lower level of help had been made available earlier.

He said: "They've got six million of us unpaid carers. If they… help us, we can help the system.

"But what's happened to me, you know, is the system just kept backing away and backing away until I cracked."

By Laura Bundock , news correspondent

The election might seem like a two-horse race, but other parties are jockeying for votes too.

We put their manifestos to the Sky News YouGov Voters Panel.

Representing different political backgrounds and more than 40 different constituencies, they pored over the promises and policies.

Turning to the issue of social care, Labour frontbencher Alison McGovern admits it's a topic that is "often overlooked in politics".

Ali Fortescue points out that it isn't covered much in their manifesto - only one page - and hasn't been spoken about much in the Labour campaign.

Ms McGovern says: "I think that it gets overlooked because it's to do with older people, and it's a lot of women who work in social care.

"But the Labour Party has been talking about this for a long time.

"Back in 2021, when we started talking about a new deal for working people, we knew that we wanted to have fair pay agreements... but there's just so much poor pay and bad practice. 

"By getting a better system, where we can get a negotiated agreement on pay, so that workers can do better by taking on exploitative employment practices, I think we can reform social care."

Shadow employment minister Alison McGovern is now asked about how the Labour Party would negotiate with striking workers in the UK.

It comes after Tata Steel announced its staff will be striking indefinitely for the first time.

The frontbencher says: "My heart goes out to those workers in South Wales because they've lived with, you know, serious uncertainty over their heads."

Ms McGovern adds that the UK has "needed a plan for steel" for "a long time".

So what will Labour do to stop these strikes going ahead?

"What we need is to get through this general election," she says. 

"We are working so hard to get a Labour government, and we really can't take any vote for granted."

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