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Now that this week has ushered in the official start of summer, what kind of hold will COVID-19 have on the country? While rates of infection and deaths have dropped in many areas, the virus is still not entirely gone. In fact. Dr. Fauci himself just tested positive for COVID-19, with his symptoms reportedly being “mild.”
There are more vaccines available than ever before—and a recent emergency authorization for children six months of age and older—but also more sub-variants that could pose a challenge in the future. For now, the majority of the country is enjoying a bit of a virus plateau. Some areas, like the West and South, have seen an uptick in cases.
More summer weather—with parties, vacations, and lots of get-togethers and travel—could bring changes with the virus, as well as other needs for travel nurses in hospitals with staff fluctuations. Here’s more on what’s happening with the virus in the U.S. now and what COVID travel nurse jobs are available.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
A chief epidemiologist told the NYT that the U.S. is currently in a “plateau” of COVID, even with two key Omicron subvariants on the scene now. Additionally, she does not expect a new surge to hit until late summer or fall.
Officially speaking, here are the stats from the CDC:
The CDC has not updated its hospitalization data from the last week tracked, but the last recorded data was a weekly average of 4,127, which was an increase of 8% from the previous week tracked.
The NYT reports that on average, about 30K people are hospitalized each day with COVID-related symptoms, a number that’s been pretty consistent over the past month.
Travel nursing opportunities may be increasing again with rises in cases and hospitalizations, as well as the onset of the summer months when many healthcare workers may take time off. If you are looking for a COVID-specific travel nursing job, here are some of the current travel nursing positions available with weekly rates listed.
All of the following positions are MICU/SICU/ICU roles, which are most commonly COVID units:
Speak with a recruiter about available assignments in COVID-impacted areas today.
Both the Pfizer-BioTech and Moderna vaccines have been authorized for EUA by the FDA. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for children six months and older, while Moderna is approved for kids aged 6017. The CDC is now officially recommending that all people six months and older receive an initial COVID-19 vaccination series, with additional recommendations for booster shots.
Moderna has also developed a revised vaccine, the bivalent booster vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273.214, that better fights the Omicron variant and potentially other variants. The revised vaccine will most likely be offered as a booster vaccine in the fall. The bivalent vaccine targets two different strains of a virus and has the potential to provide broad immunity to COVID-19 as new variants develop, because it uses mRNA to target specific mutations in a protein that appear across both older and emerging COVID-19 variants. However, it’s very possible that even with the revised vaccine, a new subvariant could take over, rendering even that version less effective.
And to add to the COVID vaccine round-up, the FDA has supported Novavax, a fourth COVID vaccine that uses different technology from the other currently available vaccines, moving to the next round of authorization. That means that while it’s not fully approved for emergency use just yet, it’s well on its way, with “thumbs up” from the FDA advisory board. Novavax works like traditional vaccines by introducing a small fragment of the actual coronavirus into the body—but in this case, the fragment has been built by a lab.
The FDA has also suggested that COVID vaccines may be recommended annually, much like the vaccines for influenza and pneumonia. Researchers are also in the process of testing a blood test that can measure someone’s immunity to COVID-19, whether through vaccines or infection. Ideally, the test could help guide someone to decide what steps they should take to protect themselves in the future from COVID.
According to the CDC, 221.9 million people in the U.S. have now been fully vaccinated. Vaccination rates have definitely slowed from earlier in the pandemic, but here’s how the current vaccine numbers stack up:
The CDC recommends that kids between the ages of 5 and 12 receive 1 booster dose, while people aged 12 and over should receive a series of two booster shots to protect against severe complications from COVID-19 infection.
Here are the exact recommendations from the CDC regarding boosters:
| If your first vaccine was: | Get this booster: | When: |
| Pfizer-BioNTech | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna for your first booster if you’re over 18; Pfizer-BioNTech for children between 6 months and 17. | 5 months after your first vaccine series; 3 months if you’re severely immunocompromised. If you’re getting a second booster, get it 4 months after your first. (Second boosters are not recommended for kids under 11.) |
| Moderna | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. | 5 months after your first vaccine series; 3 months if you’re severely immunocompromised. If you’re getting a second booster (recommended for age 50+ and anyone severely immunocompromised), get it 4 months after your first. (Second boosters are not recommended for kids under 11.) |
| J&J/Janssen | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna You can also get a second mRNA-only booster if you’re over 50. | 2 months after your first vaccine. If you’re getting a second booster (age 50+ or severely immunocompromised), get it 4 months after your first. |
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
More than 113K new COVID infections are occurring daily, but so far, new subvariants don’t appear to be more deadly.
COVID infections appear to have stabilized, but the New York Times cautions that appearances may be deceiving as most states have stopped reporting data about the virus and more people eschew formal testing for at-home tests or skip testing altogether.
What we do know is that there are two Omicron subvariants–BA.4 and BA.5–that are quickly taking over as the dominant strands, a trend that experts successfully predicted. The subvariants avoid some of the antibodies produced by both natural infection and vaccines, but the good news is, they don’t appear to cause more severe disease than previous strains. And overall, officially speaking, there are more than 113,000 new COVID-19 infections occurring every single day in the U.S.
According to the CDC, just over 19% of the country is considered “high risk” for community transmission right now. Here’s more on what’s happening with the virus in the U.S. now and what COVID travel nurse jobs are available.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
As with any holiday, epidemiologists expect a rise in both infections and hospitalizations following the 4th of July, although official numbers will take at least a week or two to come in.
Here are the stats from the CDC we have right now:
There are about 4,375 daily COVID-related hospitalizations occurring right now, but again keep in mind that number is expected to rise after gatherings for the 4th of July. Hospitalizations are still occurring at higher rates among those who are not vaccinated, as well as adults over the age of 65. According to the New York Times, about 33,000 people total in the U.S. are in the hospital with COVID, with only 4,000 of those in the ICU.
Travel nursing opportunities may increase again with any rise in cases and hospitalizations, as well as the summer months when many healthcare workers may take time off. If you are looking for a COVID-specific travel nursing job, here are some of the current travel nursing positions available with weekly rates listed.
All of the following positions are MICU/SICU/ICU roles, which are most commonly COVID units:
Speak with a recruiter about available assignments in COVID-impacted areas today.
The CDC is now officially recommending that all people 6 months of age and older receive an initial COVID-19 vaccination series, with additional recommendations for booster shots.
Moderna has also developed a revised vaccine, the bivalent booster vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273.214, that better fights the Omicron variant and potentially other variants—the revised vaccine will most likely be offered as a booster vaccine in the fall. The bivalent vaccine targets two different strains of a virus and has the potential to provide broad immunity to COVID-19 as new variants develop because it uses mRNA to target specific mutations in a protein that appear across both older and emerging COVID-19 variants. However, it’s very possible that even with the revised vaccine, a new subvariant could take over, rendering even that version less effective.
To add to the COVID vaccine round-up, the FDA has supported Novavax, a fourth COVID vaccine that uses different technology from the other currently available vaccines, moving to the next round of authorization. That means that while it’s not fully approved for emergency use just yet, it’s well on its way, with “thumbs up” from the FDA advisory board. Novavax works like traditional vaccines by introducing a small fragment of the actual coronavirus into the body—but in this case, the fragment has been built by a lab.
The FDA has also suggested that COVID vaccines may be recommended annually, much like the vaccines for influenza and pneumonia. Researchers are also in the process of developing a blood test that can measure someone’s immunity to COVID-19, whether through vaccines or infection. Ideally, the test could help guide someone to decide what steps they should take to protect themselves in the future from COVID.
Additionally, researchers are working on developing an inhaled COVID vaccine that would be shelf-stable for up to 3 months. And last but not least, there is talk of introducing a universal vaccine that can offer some protection as new variants and subvariants continue to crop up.
According to the CDC, 222.3 million people in the U.S. have now been fully vaccinated. Vaccination rates have definitely slowed from earlier in the pandemic, but here’s how the current vaccine numbers stack up:
The CDC recommends that kids between the ages of 5 and 12 receive 1 booster dose, while people aged 12 and over should receive a series of two booster shots to protect against severe complications from COVID-19 infection.
Here are the exact recommendations from the CDC regarding boosters:
| If your first vaccine was: | Get this booster: | When: |
| Pfizer-BioNTech | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna for your first booster if you’re over 18; Pfizer-BioNTech for children between 6 months and 17. | 5 months after your first vaccine series; 3 months if you’re severely immunocompromised. If you’re getting a second booster, get it 4 months after your first. (Second boosters are not recommended for kids under 11.) |
| Moderna | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. | 5 months after your first vaccine series; 3 months if you’re severely immunocompromised. If you’re getting a second booster (recommended for age 50+ and anyone severely immunocompromised), get it 4 months after your first. (Second boosters are not recommended for kids under 11.) |
| J&J/Janssen | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna You can also get a second mRNA-only booster if you’re over 50. | 2 months after your first vaccine. If you’re getting a second booster (age 50+ or severely immunocompromised), get it 4 months after your first. |
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
The spring brought surges of COVID around the country, but this week, we have some good news to report: according to the New York Times, COVID cases seem to be stabilizing.
The CDC officially reports that all Americans are at a “much lower risk” of COVID-19 disease and complications thanks to a combination of lower community transmission, vaccinations, and previous immunities.
Summer could bring changes with the virus, as well as fluctuating demand for travel nurses. Here is what’s happening with the virus in the U.S. now and what COVID travel nurse jobs are available.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
A chief epidemiologist told the New York Times that the U.S. is currently in a “plateau” of COVID, even with two key Omicron subvariants on the scene now. Additionally, she does not expect a new surge to hit until late summer or fall.
Officially speaking, here are the stats from the CDC:
Hospitalizations have increased slightly from the previous week tracked, according to the CDC. There has been an increase in hospitalizations in the Southern and Western states, particularly Wyoming and Mississippi. California and Florida have also seen a substantial rise in hospitalizations.
Travel nursing opportunities may increase again with any rise in cases and hospitalizations, especially as many healthcare workers take time off for the summer. If you are looking for a COVID-specific travel nursing job, here are some of the current travel nursing positions and rates available.
All of the following positions are MICU/SICU/ICU roles, which are most commonly COVID units:
Speak with a recruiter about available assignments in COVID-impacted areas today.
The CDC continues to recommend that anyone 5 years old and over receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Today, the FDA is also meeting to make a decision about authorizing the Moderna vaccine for children 5 and younger—a vaccine for COVID for children under 5 has yet to be approved. The FDA is expected to approve the vaccine.
According to Moderna, the vaccines tested in children 6-23 months old and 2-6 years olds revealed both a “robust neutralizing antibody response” and a “favorable safety profile.” Vaccination for children under 5 could come as soon as June 21 for children in California, which will be ground-breaking.
Moderna has also developed a revised vaccine, the bivalent booster vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273.214, that better fights the Omicron variant and potentially other variants. The revised vaccine will likely be offered as a booster vaccine in the fall. The bivalent vaccine targets two different strains of a virus and has the potential to provide broad immunity to COVID-19 as new variants develop because it uses mRNA to target specific mutations in a protein that appear across both older and emerging COVID-19 variants. However, it’s very possible that even with the revised vaccine, a new subvariant could take over, rendering even that version less effective.
And to add to the COVID vaccine round-up, the FDA has supported the Novavax, a fourth COVID vaccine that uses different technology from the other currently available vaccines, to move to the next round of authorization. That means that while it’s not fully approved for emergency use just yet, it’s well on its way, with a “thumbs up” from the FDA advisory board. Novavax works like traditional vaccines by introducing a small fragment of the actual coronavirus into the body—but in this case, the fragment has been built by a lab.
The FDA has also suggested that COVID vaccines may be recommended annually, much like the vaccines for influenza and pneumonia. Researchers are also in the process of testing a blood test that can measure someone’s immunity to COVID-19, whether through vaccines or infection. Ideally, the test could help guide someone to decide what steps they should take to protect themselves in the future from COVID.
According to the CDC, 221.8 million people in the U.S. have now been fully vaccinated. Vaccination rates have definitely slowed from earlier in the pandemic, but here’s how the current vaccine numbers stack up:
The CDC recommends that all people aged 12 and over get a booster shot to protect against severe complications from COVID-19 infection. Here are the exact recommendations from the CDC regarding boosters:
| If your first vaccine was: | Get this booster: | When: |
| Pfizer-BioNTech | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna for your first booster if you’re over 18; Pfizer-BioNTech if you’re between 12 and 17. You can also get a second mRNA-only booster if you’re over 50. | 5 months after your first vaccine series. If you’re getting a second booster (age 50+), get it 4 months after your first. |
| Moderna | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (adults 18+ only). You can also get a second mRNA-only booster if you’re over 50. | 5 months after your first vaccine series. If you’re getting a second booster (age 50+), get it 4 months after your first. |
| J&J/Janssen | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (adults 18+ only). You can also get a second mRNA-only booster if you’re over 50. | 3 months after your first vaccine. If you’re getting a second booster (age 50+), get it 4 months after your first. |
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
As summer arrives, it appears that COVID-19 just can’t quit: two new subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5, both the offspring of Omicron, are now increasing in the U.S., according to the New York Times.
Currently, these subvariants make up 13% of the new COVID-19 cases in the U.S., which is a big increase from last week. Experts warn that the subvariants could “quickly” gain a foothold, but they aren’t sure just yet if that will actually happen.
Still, we have good COVID news to report overall. After a slight surge that seemed to primarily hit the Northeast, the wave seems to be receding.
Here’s more on what’s happening with the virus in the U.S. and COVID travel nurse jobs.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
As expected, isolated outbreaks of COVID continue to crop up around the country. For instance, South Carolina, Washington and Los Angeles have all seen recent outbreaks of the virus.
On average there are around 100K new cases diagnosed each day. However, fewer than 8% of counties around the country have been classified as “high risk” by the CDC as of June 2. And keep in mind that officially reported infections likely don’t represent the true number of infections, as at-home testing becomes more popular and people with minor symptoms are less likely to test.
Here are the current stats from the CDC:
Hospitalizations have increased slightly from the previous week tracked, according to the CDC. The 7-day daily average for May 25–31, 2022, was 3,789, which is a 4.7% increase from the previous week tracked. However, overall, hospitalizations seem to be stabilizing from a recent small surge in the Northeast.
Additionally, less than 3,000 of the patients hospitalized with COVID-19-related symptoms are in the ICU.
If you are looking for a COVID-specific travel nursing job, here are some of the current travel nursing positions available with weekly rates listed.
All of the following positions are MICU/SICU/ICU roles, which are most commonly COVID units:
Speak with a recruiter about available assignments in COVID-impacted areas today.
The CDC continues to recommend that anyone 5 years of age and older receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna has also asked the FDA to authorize its vaccine for children 5 and younger—a COVID vaccine for children under 5 has yet to be approved. According to Moderna, the vaccines tested in children 6-23 months old and 2-6 years old revealed both a “robust neutralizing antibody response” and a “favorable safety profile.” Vaccination for children under 5 could come as soon as June 21 for children in California, which will be ground-breaking.
Moderna has also developed a revised vaccine, the bivalent booster vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273.214, that better fights the Omicron variant and potentially other variants as well. The revised vaccine will most likely be offered as a booster in the fall. The bivalent vaccine targets two different strains of a virus and has the potential to provide broad immunity to COVID-19 as new variants develop because it uses mRNA to target specific mutations in a protein that appear across both older and emerging COVID-19 variants. However, it’s very possible that even with the revised vaccine, a new subvariant could take over, rendering even that version less effective.
And to add to the COVID vaccine round-up, the FDA has supported the Novavax, a fourth COVID vaccine that uses different technology from the other currently available vaccines, to move to the next round of authorization. That means that while it’s not fully approved for emergency use just yet, it’s well on its way, with “thumbs up” from the FDA advisory board. Novavax works like traditional vaccines by introducing a small fragment of the actual coronavirus into the body—but in this case, the fragment has been built by a lab.
The FDA has also suggested that COVID vaccines may be recommended annually, much like the vaccines for influenza and pneumonia.
According to the CDC, 221.6 million people in the U.S. have now been fully vaccinated. Vaccination rates have definitely slowed from earlier in the pandemic, but here’s how the current vaccine numbers stack up:
The CDC recommends that all people aged 12 and over get a booster shot to protect against severe complications from COVID-19 infection. Here are the exact recommendations from the CDC regarding boosters:
| If your first vaccine was: | Get this booster: | When: |
| Pfizer-BioNTech | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna for your first booster if you’re over 18; Pfizer-BioNTech if you’re between 12 and 17. You can also get a second mRNA-only booster if you’re over 50. | 5 months after your first vaccine series. If you’re getting a second booster (age 50+), get it 4 months after your first. |
| Moderna | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (adults 18+ only). You can also get a second mRNA-only booster if you’re over 50. | 5 months after your first vaccine series. If you’re getting a second booster (age 50+), get it 4 months after your first. |
| J&J/Janssen | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (adults 18+ only). You can also get a second mRNA-only booster if you’re over 50. | 3 months after your first vaccine. If you’re getting a second booster (age 50+), get it 4 months after your first. |
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
Since our last update, a lot has changed regarding COVID. For instance, mask restrictions were lifted – literally mid-flight – in airports and on planes. Nationwide, virtually all indoor mask restrictions have also ended.
Some have felt the CDC relaxed restrictions too soon while others have celebrated the move. Some states brought back temporary masking in response to rising cases that seemed to coincide with the restrictions being lifted. Meanwhile, other states, like Michigan, have already issued warnings about rising cases and the new variant possibly causing a spring surge. Becker’s Hospital Review reports that nationwide, COVID infections have gone up 50% over the past two weeks.
Here’s more on what’s happening with the virus in the U.S. now and what COVID travel nurse jobs are available.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
Officially speaking, COVID cases are again rising after a significant decline in the U.S. However, official testing has also slowed considerably and home testing has risen significantly, which means that we don’t have all of the most accurate numbers for case counts either. Additionally, vaccination rates and previous immunity may mean that re-infections or post-vaccination infections are more mild, resulting in people not testing for the virus at all.
Here’s what we do know officially though:
According to Becker’s Hospital Review, hospitalizations have risen 18% over the past week in the U.S. with 40 states reporting an increase in COVID-related admissions. They report the top 12 states with an increase in COVID hospitalizations are:
The New York Times COVID map and tracker also confirms that COVID cases have doubled over the past few weeks, but added that overall, infections seem milder than they were in previous surges. For instance, there are fewer ICU patients hospitalized than at any point in the pandemic so far.
Travel nursing opportunities may be increased again with any rise in cases and hospitalizations, as well as the summer months when many healthcare workers may take time off. If you are looking for a COVID-specific travel nursing job, here are some of the current travel nursing positions available with weekly rates listed.
All of the following positions are MICU/SICU/ICU roles, which are most commonly COVID units:
Speak with a recruiter about available assignments in COVID-impacted areas today.
The CDC continues to recommend that anyone 5 years old and over receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna has also asked the FDA to authorize its vaccine for children 5 and younger—a vaccine for COVID for children under 5 has yet to be approved. According to Moderna, the vaccines tested in children 6-23 months old and 2-6 years olds revealed both a “robust neutralizing antibody response” and a “favorable safety profile.”
The FDA has also suggested that COVID vaccines may be recommended annually, much like the vaccines for influenza and pneumonia.
According to the CDC, 219.8 million people in the U.S. have now been fully vaccinated. Here’s how the current vaccine numbers stack up:
The CDC recommends that all people aged 12 and over get a booster shot to protect against severe complications from COVID-19 infection. Here are the exact recommendations from the CDC regarding boosters:
| If your first vaccine was: | Get this booster: | When: |
| Pfizer-BioNTech | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna for your first booster if you’re over 18; Pfizer-BioNTech if you’re between 12 and 17. You can also get a second mRNA-only booster if you’re over 50. | 5 months after your first vaccine series. If you’re getting a second booster (age 50+), get it 4 months after your first. |
| Moderna | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (adults 18+ only). You can also get a second mRNA-only booster if you’re over 50. | 5 months after your first vaccine series. If you’re getting a second booster (age 50+), get it 4 months after your first. |
| J&J/Janssen | Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (adults 18+ only). You can also get a second mRNA-only booster if you’re over 50. | 3 months after your first vaccine. If you’re getting a second booster (age 50+), get it 4 months after your first. |
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
From the outside looking in, it almost appears the COVID-19 pandemic is over. In a lot of ways, the restrictions surrounding the virus have ended: almost the entire country has relaxed social distancing guidelines, mask mandates, and even vaccination mandates.
However, from a technical standpoint, the pandemic is not over, and the virus is still causing havoc around the world. Omicron is surging across Asia, the New York Times reports, and Germany has recorded a new daily high of COVID infections on the same day it announced restrictions would be lifted.
If there’s one thing we know to be true about this strain of the coronavirus, it’s to expect the unexpected. In fact, a new variant called Deltacron — a combination of Omicron and Delta — has already been discovered in the U.S. Surges and local outbreaks are predicted to happen, so COVID travel nurse job postings are sure to be continually popping up. Here’s more on what’s happening with the virus in the U.S. now and what COVID travel nurse jobs are available.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
Overall, based on case counts that continue to decrease, the CDC has shifted its COVID-19 monitoring to “Community Levels,” which are meant to provide information about the level of risk — and thus preventive steps that should be taken — based on geographical areas. The levels are:
The CDC now only recommends masking indoors for geographical regions at the Orange level (aside from anyone who is immunocompromised or at high risk for severe infection, who should mask indoors regardless of level).
Here’s what’s going on:
Hospitalizations, alongside a drop in cases, have also been declining. According to the CDC, there’s been an almost 30% decrease in hospitalizations from the past week recorded.
The New York Times COVID map and tracker reports that new infections are the lowest they have been since last summer (right before the Omicron surge). Overall, the NYT says that every single state in the U.S. is in “better shape” than at the height of Omicron.
Related to the decrease in hospitalizations, travel nursing jobs have decreased in demand since some of the surges of the pandemic, but there are still (and always will be) travel nursing positions.
If you are looking for a COVID-specific travel nursing job, here are some of the current travel nursing positions available with weekly rates listed.
All of the following positions are MICU/SICU/ICU roles, which are most commonly COVID units:
Speak with a recruiter about available assignments in COVID-impacted areas today.
As new COVID infections and hospitalizations have fallen, vaccination rates have also slowed. However, more than 75% of the population has still received at least one vaccine dose.
According to the CDC, 216.4 million people in the U.S. have now been fully vaccinated. Here’s how the current vaccine numbers stack up:
The CDC recommends you should receive a booster dose of the vaccine if you received Pfizer or Moderna at least six months ago and you are:
On Jan 4, the CDC shortened the time interval for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster from 6 to 5 months, so you can now receive a Pfizer-BioNTech booster if you received your original vaccination series at least 5 months ago.
The CDC now also recommends that moderately or severely immunocompromised 5–11-year-olds receive a booster dose (the same as the primary dose) of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 28 days after their second shot.
If you received Johnson & Johnson vaccine, boosters are recommended for anyone who is age 18+ and was vaccinated two or more months ago.
Remember, mixed booster doses are approved, so you’re free to choose which type of booster you want. On Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) also reversed its recommendation against blanket boosters and now recommends that COVID boosters be used in eligible populations. The new recommendation goes against its previous stance that boosters contributed to vaccine inequity and supports protection as new variants emerge.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
New COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths have all dropped to lows that this country hasn’t seen since before the Omicron surge. Nationwide guidance is responding accordingly. For instance, the CDC released new guidance on mask-wearing for the U.S., effectively eliminating the recommendation that masks be worn indoors for the majority of the country.
Even areas that have previously been strict on wearing masks indoors, such as California and New York, are dropping mask mandates indoors and at school. The New York Times reports that American fears about the virus are also decreasing.
In general, the country is shifting into a whole new phase of the pandemic (the virus is still a pandemic and has not yet moved to an “endemic” phase) and it seems to be a positive one.
Here’s more on what’s happening with COVID across the country, along with travel nurse job postings if you happen to be looking to pick up a travel nursing shift anytime soon.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
According to the CDC’s weekly data, the COVID pandemic is entering a “new phase.”
Here’s what’s going on:
Hospitalizations, alongside a drop in cases, have also been declining. According to the CDC, there has been an almost 30% decrease in hospitalizations from the past week, with around 6,060 hospitalizations over February 16–February 22, 2022.
The New York Times COVID map and tracker reports that for the first time in a month, the country has less than 2,000 deaths being reported each day. New COVID infections are down to the point they were before the Omicron surge (and hopefully will stay that way).
Related to the decrease in hospitalizations, travel nursing jobs have decreased in demand since some of the surges of the pandemic, but there are still (and always will be), travel nursing positions.
If you are looking for a COVID-specific travel nursing job, here are some of the current travel nursing positions available with weekly rates listed.
Speak with a recruiter about available assignments in COVID-impacted areas today.
As new COVID infections and hospitalizations have fallen, vaccination rates have also slowed. However, more than 75% of the population has received at least one vaccine dose.
According to the CDC, 215 million people in the U.S. have now been fully vaccinated. Here’s how the current vaccine numbers stack up:
The CDC recommends you receive a vaccine booster dose if you received the Moderna vaccine at least six months ago and you are:
On Jan 4, the CDC also shortened the time interval for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster from 6 to 5 months, so you can now receive a Pfizer-BioNTech booster if you received your original vaccination series at least 5 months ago.
The CDC now also recommends that moderately or severely immunocompromised 5–11-year-olds receive a booster dose (the same as the primary dose) of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 28 days after their second shot.
Boosters are recommended for anyone age 18+ who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine two or more months ago.
Remember, mixed booster doses are approved, so you’re free to choose which type of booster you want.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
The U.S. is continuing to inch towards the end of the pandemic. Dr. Fauci announced the U.S. is exiting the “full-blown pandemic” phase and moving towards a situation with more local and personal decisions driving the response.
Unfortunately, deaths from the virus are still high but overall cases and hospitalizations are finally on the decline. Data regarding deaths tend to lag behind case and hospitalization counts so these are expected to slow in the coming weeks as well.
COVID-19 numbers are so low, in fact, that states have started lifting restrictions. New York, for instance — home of some of the strictest regulations — just lifted mask mandates for businesses (mask requirements at school and on public transportation remain in effect).
The CDC warned against lifting mask mandates too early but four other states have made moves to do just that. This includes Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Oregon, which all lifted school mask mandates. California is keeping its school mask mandate in place for now but dropped its universal indoor mask mandate.
Masks or no masks, nurses everywhere are relieved to hear an end to the influx of COVID patients may finally be in sight. Here’s more on what’s happening with COVID across the country, along with travel nurse job postings if you happen to be looking to pick up a travel nursing shift anytime soon.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
According to the CDC’s weekly data, COVID cases have started to decline.
Here’s what’s going on:
Hospitalizations have also been declining. According to the CDC, there has been an 18% decrease in hospitalizations over the past week.
Currently, West Virginia has the highest hospitalization rate of any state.
The New York Times COVID map and tracker, the country is now seeing one-third fewer cases than it was even in mid-January.
More than 100K people are hospitalized nationwide with the virus, so if you are looking for a COVID-specific travel nursing job, here are some of the current travel nursing positions available with weekly rates listed.
Speak with a recruiter about available assignments in COVID-impacted areas today.
Despite high levels of vaccination in the U.S. breakthrough infections are still occurring. However, the vaccine is meant to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death. In this regard, the vaccines are still quite effective.
Most people who have been vaccinated or previously infected with COVID and get a breakthrough infection with Omicron are suffering milder courses of illness than people who are unvaccinated or have never been infected. The CDC and leading health organizations are still encouraging vaccinations, even if you have previously been infected with COVID.
There have also been some recent updates about the vaccine. For instance, a study found that there are menstrual cycle changes that can happen after the COVID-19 vaccination. According to the study, the effects on one’s menstrual cycle are temporary, lasting for only about one cycle, and do not impact fertility long-term.
And in one other important update, Pfizer has asked for FDA emergency authorization of its vaccine for children ages 0-5. The agency is expected to analyze the data that Pfizer submitted and release a recommendation as early as this month.
According to the CDC, 213 million people in the U.S. have now been fully vaccinated. Here’s how the current vaccine numbers stack up:
The CDC recommends you receive a booster dose of the vaccine if you received the Moderna vaccine at least six months ago and you are:
65 years or older
Age 18+ and live in a long-term care setting
Age 18+ and have underlying medical conditions
Age 18+ and work or live in a high-risk setting
On Jan 4, the CDC also shortened the time interval for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster from 6 to 5 months, so you can now receive a Pfizer-BioNTech booster if you received your original vaccination series at least 5 months ago.
The CDC now also recommends that moderately or severely immunocompromised 5–11-year-olds receive a booster dose (the same as the primary dose) of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 28 days after their second shot.
If you received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine two or months ago and are 18 years old or older, a booster shot is recommended.
Remember, mixed booster doses are approved, so you’re free to choose which type of booster you want.
With Omicron everywhere, it might seem like a waste of time to get the booster if you will come down with COVID anyways. But according to experts, the booster preps your body to not only better fight off Omicron, but future (potentially more dangerous) variants as well.
Because the variants are unlikely to stop, keeping up on your vaccinations may help prevent them from affecting you as much.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
Today marked some big news in the coronavirus world: This morning, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that deaths from COVID-19 have started to plateau worldwide and that a “plausible endgame” to the pandemic is finally in sight.
Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a plausible endgame to the staffing shortages that continue to plague healthcare facilities around the country. Here’s more on what’s happening with COVID across the country, along with current travel nurse job postings and salaries.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
According to the CDC’s weekly data, COVID cases have started to decline, but deaths haven’t started decreasing yet. (In general, the data quantifying deaths from COVID tend to lag behind data quantifying actual infections by several weeks.)
Here’s what’s going on:
Hospitalizations, alongside a drop in cases, have also been declining. According to the CDC., there has been a nearly 9% decrease in hospitalizations week-over-week.
The New York Times COVID map and tracker reports that cases and hospitalizations nationwide continue to “plummet,” although death reports are still rising at the moment. However, to keep things in perspective, hospitalization rates still remain at some of the highest levels they have been throughout the entire pandemic.
Speak with a recruiter about available assignments in COVID-impacted areas today.
Despite high levels of vaccination in the U.S. breakthrough infections are still occuring. However, the vaccine is meant to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death. In this regard, the vaccines are still quite effective.
Most people who have been vaccinated or previously infected with COVID and get a breakthrough infection with Omicron are suffering milder courses of illness than people who are unvaccinated or have never been infected. The CDC and leading health organizations are still encouraging vaccinations, even if you have previously been infected with COVID.
There have also been some recent updates about the vaccine. For instance, a study found that there are menstrual cycle changes that can happen after COVID-19 vaccination. According to the study, the effects on one’s menstrual cycle are temporary, lasting for only about one cycle, and do not impact fertility long-term.
In another important update, Pfizer has asked for FDA emergency authorization of its vaccine for children ages 0-5. The agency is expected to analyze the data that Pfizer submitted and release a recommendation as early as this month.
According to the CDC, 212.1 million people in the U.S. have now been fully vaccinated. Here’s how the current vaccine numbers stack up:
The CDC recommends you receive a booster dose of the vaccine if you received the Moderna vaccine at least six months ago and you are:
On Jan 4, the CDC also shortened the time interval for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster from 6 to 5 months, so you can now receive a Pfizer-BioNTech booster if you received your original vaccination series at least 5 months ago.
The CDC now also recommends that moderately or severely immunocompromised 5–11-year-olds receive a booster dose (the same as the primary dose) of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 28 days after their second shot.
If you received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine two or months ago and are 18 years old or older, a booster shot is recommended.
Remember, mixed booster doses are approved, so you’re free to choose which type of booster you want.
With Omicron everywhere, it might seem like a waste of time to get the booster if you will come down with COVID anyways. But according to experts, the booster preps your body to not only better fight off Omicron, but future (potentially more dangerous) variants as well.
Because the variants are unlikely to stop, keeping up on your vaccinations may help prevent them from affecting you as much.
Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.
The demand for educated nurses continues to grow — nursing is enjoying a 15% career growth, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), much faster than many other professions. In fact, according to 2006 statistics, nursing is actually the largest healthcare profession in the United States, with over 3 million nurses currently in the workforce, and growing every day.
As the demand for nurses continues to grow, so does the opportunity for you to choose where you want to work. With so many choices available to you as a registered nurse, you might wonder what the highest paying states for registered nurses are. Whether you’re looking to work as a staff nurse or travel nurse, here are the highest paying states for RNs in 2022.
RNs can earn up to $2,300 a week as a travel nurse. Speak to a recruiter today!
| State | Avg. RN Salary | Avg. Hourly Rate | # of RNs |
| California | $113,240 | $55.44 | 302,770 |
| Hawaii | $104,060 | $50.03 | 11,330 |
| District of Columbia | $94,820 | $45.59 | 10,890 |
| Massachusetts | $93,160 | $44.79 | 81,020 |
| Oregon | $92,960 | $44.69 | 36,660 |
| Alaska | $90,500 | $43.51 | 6,210 |
| Nevada | $88,380 | $42.49 | 22,940 |
| New York | $87,840 | $42.23 | 178,320 |
| Washington | $86,280 | $41.43 | 58,000 |
| New Jersey | $84,280 | $40.52 | 80,140 |
| Connecticut | $83,440 | $40.12 | 34,740 |
| Rhode Island | $82,310 | $39.57 | 12,630 |
| Minnesota | $80,130 | $38.52 | 71,000 |
| Arizona | $78,330 | $37.66 | 54,590 |
| Maryland | $77,910 | $37.46 | 53,150 |
| Colorado | $76,230 | $36.65 | 52,510 |
| Texas | $74,540 | $35.84 | 218,090 |
| Delaware | $74,100 | $35.63 | 11,730 |
| New Hampshire | $73,880 | $35.52 | 14,320 |
| Illinois | $73,510 | $35.34 | 129,530 |
| New Mexico | $73,300 | $35.24 | 17,350 |
| Michigan | $73,200 | $35.19 | 96,900 |
| Wisconsin | $72,610 | $34.91 | 61,930 |
| Virginia | $71,870 | $34.56 | 66,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,410 | $34.33 | 148,040 |
| Vermont | $70,240 | $33.77 | 6,270 |
| Maine | $69,760 | $33.54 | 14,490 |
| Georgia | $69,590 | $33.46 | 75,430 |
| Idaho | $67,480 | $33.40 | 14,110 |
| Montana | $69,340 | $33.34 | 10,310 |
| Wyoming | $68,690 | $33.03 | 5,120 |
| Ohio | $68,220 | $32.80 | 125,470 |
| Utah | $67,970 | $32.68 | 21,650 |
| Florida | $67,610 | $32.50 | 181,670 |
| Nebraska | $66,640 | $32.04 | 23,800 |
| Indiana | $66,560 | $32.00 | 67,510 |
| North Carolina | $66,440 | $31.94 | 99,960 |
| North Dakota | $66,290 | $31.87 | 9,750 |
| Louisiana | $65,850 | $31.66 | 40,870 |
| South Carolina | $64,840 | $31.17 | 46,860 |
| Oklahoma | $64,800 | $31.15 | 31,350 |
| Missouri | $64,160 | $30.85 | 68,840 |
| Kentucky | $63,750 | $30.65 | 43,840 |
| West Virginia | $63,220 | $30.39 | 19,830 |
| Tennessee | $62,570 | $30.08 | 63,330 |
| Kansas | $62,450 | $30.02 | 30,370 |
| Arkansas | $61,330 | $29.49 | 25,210 |
| Iowa | $60,590 | $29.13 | 32,980 |
| Alabama | $60,230 | $28.96 | 49,190 |
| Mississippi | $59,750 | $28.73 | 29,550 |
| South Dakota | $59,540 | $28.63 | 12,950 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
If you think of nursing like a business product, it’s easy to see why states that are in higher need of nurses might also pay their nurses more money. Supply and demand, right?
Overall, the BLS has predicted that the U.S. will need 203,700 new RNs each year through 2026 to keep up with the demand for nurses.
The demand for nurses across the country is already great — and it’s going to increase by an unprecedented amount in the next decade. The American Association of College of Nurses cites statistics that explain that by 2030, as a large majority of the current nursing workforce retires, a wide shortage of nurses is expected. That shortage is supposed to be worse in the Southern and Western states especially.
A 2017 report by the Department of Health and Human Services found that if the current level of healthcare in the country stays the same, there are four states in particular that will be facing a dire nurse shortage by the year 2030 (the number is equivalent to full-time nurses):
Although overall, there is a high need for more nurses across the country, there are a handful of states that are actually projected to have an oversupply of nurses as compared to demand. For instance, the report found that Florida will have 53,700 too many nurses, trailed by an oversupply of 49,100 in Ohio, 22,700 in Virginia, and 18,200 full-time nurses in New York.
You may think that the states that have the highest need for nurses also pay the highest amount to nurses, but you have to consider the cost of living in those areas. For instance, as of 2022, the highest-paying state for RNs is California, with an average salary of $113,240 — an amount that will likely only rise as the demand for nurses increases too.
While California may need a large number of nurses and offer a higher-than-average salary for full-time nurses, California state residents also have a higher-than-average cost of living. Although at first glance, California seems like it would be the most profitable for an RN, you may make even more money when you factor in the cost of living by choosing a state that has a low cost of living and a high demand for nurses, such as South Carolina, which is the 9th lowest cost of living state in the country, according to a report by USA Today. Thus, when choosing a travel nursing assignment or even a resident nursing assignment, it makes sense to consider both your wages and expenses required when determining what your ultimate take-home pay will be.
Although it’s not great news for the country as a whole that we will soon be facing a nursing shortage (especially as our population ages and chronic conditions increase), the demand for more educated nurses means that, as an RN, you have the opportunity for more work flexibility and higher salaries.
For example, you could move to a state that will be experiencing a nursing shortage, or you could take an assignment as a travel nurse. Overall, travel nurses tend to make more money than staff nurses based on the nature of their work in areas that are high in need, and the fact that they receive monetary incentives such as non-taxable housing, meals, travel, and living stipends that boost their pay.
Not only will working as a travel nurse in a high-demand area drive up your pay, but working in a high-demand specialty can also increase the amount of money you can make as a travel nurse. For instance, traveling nurses who work in the following in-demand specialties tend to make more money than other areas:
It’s especially helpful if you can achieve your own certification in a specialty area prior to signing with a travel nurse staffing agency, so you can let the nursing recruiter know of your availability and credentials in that area; that way they can seek out an area that is specifically searching for travel nurses in your specialty field, which generally equals a higher pay for you.
You can also boost your salary as a travel nurse by strategically planning your travel nursing assignments geographically by season. For example, states like Alaska, Vermont, and Maine have a higher need for nurses during the winter (wonder why, right?), while states like Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas need nurses more during the summer — so, in theory, you could accept a travel nursing assignment in Alabama for the summer, then move on to Vermont for the winter to maximize your take-home pay.
Overall, the highest paying states for travel nurses really depends on a variety of factors, including what specialty you will be working as a travel nurse, what additional incentives you will receive from the nursing agency in addition to your base pay, the time of year you will be working, and perhaps most importantly, the cost of living in your work area as compared to your total pay package. Your best strategy to maximize your pay would be to choose one of the highest-paying states for travel nurses that also offers a low cost of living, so you can balance your pay with your expenses.
RNs can earn up to $2,300 a week as a travel nurse. Speak to a recruiter today!
