Toggle navigation
SUCCESS!
We look forward to helping you advance your career as a travel nurse!
Hospitals have been slowly phasing out travel nurses for the last year. Meanwhile, travelers are complaining that their contracts are being cut short or canceled before they even begin. Signs point to major challenges in the industry — but is travel nursing dead?
Travel nursing has long been a stellar opportunity for nurses to explore new areas and hospitals while gaining valuable experience. However, the pandemic caused a dramatic surge in demand for nurses willing to travel. As a result, many first-time contractors were attracted to the field. Now, many people are questioning what is going on in travel nursing as facilities return to pre-pandemic staffing levels. Here we’ll explore the current state of travel nursing and how travel nurses are affected.
Looking for open travel nurse assignments? Speak with a recruiter today!
Source: Unsplash
According to Timothy Landhuis, vice president of research at Staffing Industry Analysts, there were approximately 50,000 US travel nurses pre-pandemic — approximately 1.5% of the country’s registered nurses. That pool doubled to at least 100,000 as COVID spread.
However, complex factors have contributed to a decline in travel nursing positions over the past year.
Most clearly, the cost for hospitals to bring in travel nurses is very expensive. Contract labor expenditures soared by more than 500% in 2022, as hospitals sought out travel nurses to help with pandemic staffing shortages.
Rather than depending on travel nurses for temporary solutions today, hospitals are increasingly looking for permanent, full-time nurses. Large health systems are developing new programs that allow employed nurses to travel to different facilities within their network. The drop in demand has meant there are fewer opportunities for travel nurses and lower pay rates.
One way to combat this trend is for hospitals to search for travel nurses directly instead of going through agencies, which helps reduce the hospital’s costs and increase the pay for travel nurses.
Despite the decline, there are still openings for all specialties, particularly in rural and underserved areas. These settings often lack permanent staff or rely on travel nurses to replace vacancies in their bare-bones workforce to meet the community’s needs.
Likewise, some medical facilities continue to lean on travel nurses for short-term staffing needs. Currently, some of the highest-paying jobs for travel nurses have been in intensive care units and medical surgery.
Find available, high-paying travel nurse opportunities.
The coronavirus and successive variant waves exacerbated hospital staff shortages, resulting in exorbitant contract nursing fees.
As the average travel nurse salary rose across the country in 2020, so did the number of nurses who quit their full-time employment to travel. More nurses abandoned staff employment, and the turnover worsened shortages.
During the surge of COVID-19, national rates for travel nurses rose to $150 per hour. This was three times more than the national average for full-time staff nurses, which has now decreased back to an average of $44/hour nationally.
Source: Healthcare Dive
Three years later, many travelers are returning home for stable staff positions. Hospitals are now negotiating down contract rates with travel nurse agencies by as much as 50%, and some are even hiring travel nurses directly.
Though not what it once was, travel nursing is far from dead, and the pay is still above average. The average travel nurse income has stabilized at around $2k per week in 2024. Given that compensation has fallen, so have the number of travel nurses, making jobs less competitive and evening back out to pre-pandemic levels.
Still, several factors, such as whether a hospital is dealing with a natural disaster or strike, as well as market demand in that region, can cause assignments to attract higher prices. According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual travel nurse salary in the United States is $101,132 or $49/hr as of July 2024. This is still much higher than the national average for registered nurses, which is $86,070 per year or $41.38 per hour, according to the BLS.
Find open positions today for your specialty.
Source: Nurse.org
Another attractive option for nurses who enjoy traveling is internal travel nurse programs. These are contract positions offered by health systems that allow nurses to travel on a short-term basis to associated hospitals. The pay is often higher, but in some cases, benefits may be limited.
“These positions are enticing for anyone interested in a higher base pay, while foregoing many traditional health and wellness benefits — perhaps nurses who are still eligible for health insurance under their parents or guardians, or those who already have coverage through a spouse’s employer,” said Denise Neely, BSN, Senior Vice President and COO for Bronson Methodist Hospital and Chief Nursing Officer for Bronson Healthcare.
Source: Facebook Travel Nurse Community
Other facilities offering similar internal travel programs include:
These arrangements also relieve some of the pain points that travel nurses experience, such as having to learn new policies and procedures, repeating new hire and HR orientation, and worrying that the hospital may cancel their contract.
Travel nursing is still a viable employment choice for the nursing profession. Travelers can earn better salaries with stipends and bonuses than their counterparts, with benefits packages and affordable living arrangements. Another perk of travel nursing is schedule flexibility. Nurses enjoy the option to work 13-week assignments with breaks in between.
Another common attitude expressed by travel nurses is that contract work allows them to focus on patient care. They can avoid the bureaucracy of dealing with management and leadership that some face in staff roles.
Travelers also choose which hospitals they will work in. They can refuse facilities that they’ve heard have dangerous conditions or too many patients per nurse. California is currently the only state that regulates nurse-to-patient ratios. It requires one nurse for every five patients in most departments and intensive care units to have a 1:2 ratio.
Travel nursing is perfect for those who want the freedom to choose the assignment and department that fits their lifestyle and interests. It allows nurses to obtain experience in a variety of settings while having the freedom to travel. Despite the current economic downturn, travel nursing remains a feasible employment option for healthcare workers with the right mindset and skills.
An industry analysis suggests that the US may face a shortage of up to 78,610 full-time registered nurses by 2025. According to one nationwide assessment of the nursing workforce, nurses are retiring in greater numbers. The number of older nurses retiring, combined with the impending influx of elderly Baby Boomers who will require more care, is expected to exacerbate the situation. These facts suggest that there will always be choices for experienced nurses in all specialties who want to travel.
Technological advancements and virtual care will also continue to have an impact on the ever-changing world of travel nursing. While some features of travel nursing may evolve, traditional short-term assignments will remain a popular option to meet facility needs. Overall, travel nursing is very much alive and an attractive career choice for nurses with a promising outlook for the future.
Ready to start your adventure? Sign up today and start traveling next week.
As a travel nurse, you can expect to make more money than a typical staff nurse in general. This is thanks to the fact that you’ll be filling in-need positions and working with an agency who negotiates a compensation package on your behalf. If you’re new to the field, it’s important that you know some of the behind-the-scenes factors that can influence your pay — here’s how to maximize your income to make the most money as a travel nurse.
Find available, high-paying travel nurse opportunities.
Travel nurse pay is different than staff nurse pay because travel nurses are paid with an overall compensation package that includes a base wage and non-taxable stipends, for things like housing, bonuses, and living expenses. Because this money isn’t taxed, travel nurses can earn more overall. A staff nurse’s salary by comparison earns a base salary that is taxed.
Travel nurses are contracted through agencies to work at healthcare facilities that have a specific need. The higher the need or demand, the more pay travel nurses can expect to earn. Travel nurses also can earn extra compensation like referrals and sign-on bonuses. Some even pocket some of the stipends (like they find cheaper housing than the housing stipend amount). All of these can make travel nurses’ overall compensation higher than staff nurses.
While there are some major differences in the pay for travel and staff nurses, there are some parts of their pay packages that stay the same. Travel nurses, for instance, can still receive benefits like health, vision, dental, and vision as well as 401(k) or other retirement options, and even life insurance.
Although you can expect to make more money as a travel nurse, not all travel nursing positions are paid the same. Pay among travel nursing positions can vary widely, depending on things like what shift you work, or even where you work. Some of the main factors that will influence how much you can make as a travel nurse include:
Working in a location that is in greater need of nurses to staff facilities could equal higher pay for you as a travel nurse. For example, if you’re willing to work in a cold climate during the winter (like Alaska in December) or an area that has a significant nursing shortage (like California and Texas).
Read more: Highest Paying Travel Nurse Assignments This Week
Choosing a travel nurse location where the need is high, but the cost of living is low could mean more dollars in your pocket. In particular, if you take the housing stipend, but are able to find cheaper housing, especially in a lower-cost area, you keep the extra funds non-taxed. You could also save on other costs of living expenses like food and utilities.
Anytime you are able to specialize as a nurse, you have the ability to command a higher pay or negotiate more, since you have a unique skill that hospitals need. You can acquire additional certification in a high-demand area, such as women’s health, emergency room, PICU, critical care, and OR. Or, speak with your agency for their current list of in-demand specialties. Some agencies may even be willing to offer tuition assistance or reimbursement for you to advance your skills in a clinical speciality.
Find open positions today for your specialty.
There’s no way around this one — if you’re willing to work the night shifts, holiday shifts, swing shifts, on-call shifts, and any other shift that isn’t straight daytime hours, you can make more money.
You can maximize the amount of money you make as a travel nurse by also taking advantage of unique circumstances and opportunities, such as:
Are you willing to come in and work on a moment’s notice? Able to set aside time to be on call and work on a flexible basis? If yes, then, you’re extremely valuable as a travel nurse, as agency needs may fluctuate and change on a sometimes daily basis. Nurses who can work rapid response assignments usually can earn more money, so if that’s up your alley, snatch those assignments up — and be sure to let your recruiter know that you’re open for more.
Strikes probably aren’t an ideal situation, but for a travel nurse looking to boost their income, a facility on strike = a facility in need = higher wages. If you feel guilty for working in the middle of the strike, consider that patients still need quality care during a strike. Most nurses who are striking will likely be grateful someone is taking over for their patients while they focus on getting a better contract.
Read more: Crossing the Picket Line as a Travel Nurse
Don’t overlook the power of bonuses, because they can really add up quickly. Before you accept any work, check with the agency if any sign-on bonuses are available. And, if you’ve been with one agency for a while or take on a long-term position, you may be eligible for a retention bonus.
You could also work with multiple agencies to collect new sign-on bonuses for short-term contract positions. Oh, and don’t forget to refer your friends and family or Facebook friends to earn those referral bonuses as well. If every person you went to high school with can ask you to buy their new skincare or lip gloss, you can definitely post a referral link out to fellow nurses.
You can follow all of the “rules” for your income, but if you’d like to make the most money you can as a travel nurse, here are some additional tips:
Speak with a recruiter today about open positions.
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!
Many nurses start their healthcare careers by first becoming a CNA, or Certified Nursing Assistant. Working can be a CNA is a rewarding career path, as well as a valuable stepping stone to advancement in a nursing career.
Maybe you’re already working and want to know what comes after your CNA or maybe you’re curious about what the next level of nursing after a CNA is — but no matter what your career goals are, we have the information you need to know about moving from a CNA to RN.
Start your travel career today.
If you think of a nursing career in levels, you can think of a CNA as the first “level.” Like the name suggests, a CNA is a nursing assistant and they assist with the day-to-day duties of nursing care.
CNAs learn professional skills such as workplace communication, teamwork, diversity skills, and gain a foundation of healthcare clinical skills that support nursing care.
Some of the typical duties of a CNA include:
To become a CNA, you must get certified through a CNA course before becoming licensed, which usually takes around 4-8 weeks. You must also pass a competency test. The specifics of CNA courses vary from state to state, but as a general guide, the Red Cross lists the following requirements to become a CNA:
CNAs differ from Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) in the scope of their practice, what they are responsible for, and the type of clinical care they are able to perform.
For instance, CNAs cannot do assessments or hand out medications, and they are not responsible for the overall monitoring of a patient’s status, labwork, care plan, or orders. They also do not communicate with the healthcare team, such as the physician or nutritionist.
CNAs can work in hospitals, mental health facilities and nursing homes. According to the National Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the average pay for a CNA is $13.72 per hour or $28,530 a year. Working nights and weekends can give you a pay differential of much as $5 an hour. Also, because there is high demand for CNAs, overtime is often an option.
According to the BLS, the projected job market growth for CNAs is 9%, faster than average growth for all occupations. The need for CNAs is only predicted to increase, as the baby boomer population ages and will need more nursing care.
Click here to learn more about travel nursing.
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) have more responsibility than a CNA, but not as much as an RN. LPNs have to work under the supervision of an RN, and unlike RNs, typically can’t specialize in any clinical area. As an LPN, your options for work will be more limited to long-term care facilities or general medical-surgical areas. Only RNs can work speciality units such as pediatrics, labor and delivery, or NICU.
Every state has its own rules for what type of medications LPNs can administer. Some states, for instance, will not allow LPNs to administer IV medications or certain medications, like narcotics. LPNs may also not be able to perform autonomous care for a patient like an RN can, so an LPN won’t be able to do an assessment and nursing care plan.
LPNs can work in hospitals, nursing homes, home health, clinics, and schools, just like an RN, but unlike an RN, LPNs do not hold management positions. LPNs usually only work at the bedside, so there is little opportunity for growth or advancement in non-clinical roles.
As an LPN, job duties usually include:
If you are already a CNA and would like to move from a CNA to an LPN, programs to become an LPN usually take about one year to complete. The average pay for an LPN is $22.23 per hour or $46,240 a year according to the BLS.
Many CNAs choose to become an LPN while pursuing their RN or BSN so they can continue to work and make a higher income. The BLS notes that the job outlook for LPNs is 11%, faster than other occupations.
Explore the country while getting paid.
Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) requires more time and education than both a CNA and an LPN. RN programs are a minimum of 2 years, however, bachelor degrees are becoming required in some hospital settings, so some programs can take four to five years to complete on a full-time basis.
RNs can specialize in any area, from surgical to dermatology to mental health care to private practice, and have more opportunity for career mobility than LPNs. RNs can work in a multitude of settings including hospitals, nursing homes, home health, community health, clinics, aesthetics, management, and education. Earning your BSN concurrently with your RN will also provide more advancement capabilities.
An RN must be able to perform all of the job duties of a CNA and LPN, but is also ultimately responsible for actively assessing, monitoring, and implementing care for patients. Unlike LPNs, RNs assume full responsibility of all aspects of patient care. An RN’s tasks on the job include:
According to the BLS, the job outlook for RNs is a projected growth of 11%, which is similar to LPNs. RNs, however, earn an average of $34.48 per hour, or $71,730 per year, which is significantly more than LPNs.
Speak to a staffing agent to start your travel nursing journey.
Depending on where you are in your life and what you are looking for in a career, any of these professions in the nursing field can serve you — and of course, your patients.
If you decide to start your healthcare career as a CNA, there are many options available for you to advance your profession. For instance, you could go from a CNA to an LPN. Or, you could choose to take the CNA to LPN to RN route. And finally, you could make the decision to go directly from CNA to RN.
Becoming an RN will give you the most freedom to choose what indof career you want, from clinical specializations, higher pay, increased flexibility, and more opportunities for growth and new experiences, such as travel nursing.
No matter what position you currently have in the nursing field, however, remember that you are serving a vital role for your patients. In the healthcare field, there is room for everyone to explore their passions and make a difference, from CNA to LPN to RN and beyond.
The opportunity to be a travel nurse is one of the single best aspects of our profession. I cannot think of any other job which allows you to basically have a trial period of living in a new place of your choice, honing valuable career skills, and earning maximum wages for it. Travel nursing is an incredibly enriching experience both personally and professionally.
The decision to try travel nursing is not easy. It’s very common to find ourselves comfortable — comfortable in our current role, comfortable in our environment, comfortable with predictable shifts, comfortable with coworkers who feel like a small family. However, to truly grow as a nurse and as a human, it’s important to challenge ourselves. To experience the unknown is uncomfortable, but it makes all the difference. That is exactly what travel nursing is — exposure to new environments, new coworkers, new clinical skills — and it will enable you to reach the next level of your potential.
Discover available travel nursing assignments today!
My own journey as a travel nurse has been a rollercoaster. I’ve experienced the fast-paced city life of Chicago, enjoying runs along Lake Michigan during the beautiful summer months and walking to work through harsh winter winds wondering why I chose to live in such a place. I’ve experienced the lush green California forests with coastlines of mountain cliffs meeting the Pacific Ocean during vibrant sunsets.
I’ve experienced working for the nation’s top hospitals with some of the most brilliant minds in the country, learning how to utilize breakthrough research and treatments to help my patients. I’ve worked with an entire spectrum of diverse patient populations. I’ve been thrown into countless situations where I felt lost — unable to locate supplies, unable to manage challenging patient ratios, unable to remember hospital-specific policies — but those were always learning moments.
I’ve also worked with amazing travel nurse companies and companies who didn’t treat me with the respect I deserve. It’s a lifestyle that you can’t imagine until you try it — and I dare you to try it!
There’s another HUGE benefit to travel nursing that we cannot ignore — salary. Travel nursing pay can vary greatly based on a number of variables, so I will try to break down the basics of getting a lucrative contract.
Staffing Company. Choosing a travel nursing company can be difficult because there are so many out there — some are sister companies, some claim to have exclusive contracts with hospitals, etc. The best advice I can give is to shop around and do some research. Pay packages are higher than staff nurses are used to, so first-time travel nurses often settle for mediocre contracts.
When a position opens at a hospital or facility, that organization offers a set bill rate for the position. Travel nursing companies recruit and manage travel nursing contracts, so they earn money by taking a percentage of what the organization is willing to pay. (The average is 15-30%, but sometimes higher.) This is why transparency is best when negotiating a contract. It’s also completely professional and acceptable to tell recruiters that you’re comparing pay and benefits between companies.
Pro tip: Everything is negotiable in your contract — hourly pay, overtime wages, non-taxable housing stipend amount, travel and licensing reimbursement, and even extension bonuses.
Specialty. Pay packages tend to be higher for in-demand specialties like Labor & Delivery, OR, Oncology, and ICU. If you are a nurse with specialized experience, be sure to note that on your resume. Also, earn any certifications that quantify your experience like CCRN or ONS.
Location. Where you take a travel contract heavily determines what kind of pay package to expect. In general, big cities offer higher wages, and states like New York and California. Alternatively, rural hospitals in need of staff may also offer very competitive salaries.
Timing. The best times to earn money as a travel nurse are during the holiday months, during cold seasons in northern areas, and during acute staffing shortages like strikes. Most contracts are 13 weeks in length, but there are contracts much shorter or longer depending on the needs of the facility. If you connect with multiple travel companies, you’ll be contacted frequently during times of need, which guarantees higher earnings.
Read more: Travel Nursing Salary, Pay Range, & Compensation Rates
So, you’re somewhat convinced. Earning some great money seems nice, trying a new experience sounds like fun, now how do you choose where to go?
To work a nursing contract in any location, you need an active licensure from that corresponding state. A large majority of states in the US are covered under the Compact RN license. If you want to work in a state outside of your license network, you’ll have to apply for a new license. Many travel nurse companies can help you with the process, and many will even pay for your new license.
The process is fairly straightforward. Most require a background check, proof of an active RN license, and a fee made payable to the state nursing board. There are even states that allow faster processing for “temporary” licenses, so you can take an assignment on short notice. Before you have your heart set on a location, know that processing times vary. California, for example, is notoriously long for processing, about 4 months. Once you have narrowed your choices to a few states and your licenses are in process, look for travel assignments often — new travel nurse assignments pop up every day. Alternatively, recruiters ask for your top picks for location and contract and match you as jobs arise.
If you’re not sure where you want to travel, make a list of places in the country you’ve always wanted to explore, are near family and friends, or have top hospitals that you’d love to work at. Travel nursing can take you anywhere you like. Travel nurse companies usually reimburse for travel expenses (like flights and gas) to get to your new location too. If it seems like too much to uproot or the thought of embarking on your own overwhelming, know that many travel nurses adventure with their friends, their partners, their pets, and even children!
Read more:
Phenomenal pay, check. Once in a lifetime experiences, check. But, what about the job itself?
No matter how many years of experience you have as a nurse, there’s always a chance to grow and learn while traveling. Being in a new environment requires you to adapt and be flexible. You’ll need to know your resources because with each new contract there are new policies, new people, and new technology.
You’ll learn new evidence-based practices and how to marry that with your wealth of knowledge. You’ll become incredibly well-versed at performing clinical skills with ever-changing technologies and products. You’ll master all EMR charting systems, which makes you incredibly desirable for future jobs. You’ll see new diagnoses, treat diverse patient populations, and manage challenging workflows. You’ll learn to communicate and cooperate with a plethora of new coworkers. The experience of working as a travel nurse is humbling, exhilarating, and invaluable.
There’s so much to gain and so little risk involved. If you’re still unsure about going it alone, ask a nurse friend to join you — companies can pair your contracts together! If you’re doubtful of moving to a new place, think of it as an extended vacation and plan tons of adventure for your days off. If you’re overwhelmed by the process and don’t know where to start, let the travel companies do all the work for you. That’s what they do best.
Believe in yourself and say yes to an adventure. Happy travels!
Discover available travel nursing assignments today.
I’ve been a travel nurse for over 3 years with 14+ contracts under my belt. But, I learned some lessons the hard way on how best to land a travel nursing job. Below are five tips from building your resume to interviewing with the hiring manager that helped me get multiple travel nurse contracts.
Ready to start traveling? Get connected with a staffing agency now!
As I’m sure you know, 1-2 years experience is needed to become a travel nurse. But, there’s one more thing that’s much more important than experience. Once I discovered this, I was able to land a job over another travel nurse who had twice the experience as me. What is it? Your skill set.
Travel nurses are expected to start working on a new unit with minimal training (usually 1-3 days max), so the first thing hiring managers will want to see on your resume is what you can do, not just how long you’ve worked. For example, if you’re an ER nurse with 2 years experience in a Level I trauma center, you’ll likely get the job over another nurse with 4 years experience in a Level IV trauma center, because you’ve probably seen more patients and learned more skills in a shorter period of time.
Pro tip: Add your skill set to your resume, so the hiring manager can compare more than years of experience.
Now that you know how to build a better travel nurse resume, you’re more likely to get a call for an interview. But, don’t miss the call! This was a painful mistake I made as a new traveler and it ended up costing me a job. A hiring manager called once while I was driving. I decided to call her back when I reached home and had reviewed my prepped interview notes. When I called back an hour later, the manager said, “According to your resume you were the perfect fit for the job, but I called another traveler after I couldn’t reach you and she was offered the job.”
I was heartbroken — I lost a contract I really wanted due to a preventable mistake. The travel nurse industry moves really fast. If you’re submitted to a job, make sure your ringer is on ad you’re ready to interview at any time.
Pro tip: Be confident! If the hiring manager is calling you, then your resume fits what they’re looking for. All you have to do is reassure them that you’re the perfect fit for the position.
Once you receive a call from the hiring manager, remember to emphasize that you’re a team player, quick learner, and easy to work with. And most importantly, mention that you’re flexible. The mistake many travelers make when interviewing is bringing up their vacation requests too early in the interview. Yes, vacation time is something you want to confirm in your interview, but mentioning it first thing is the quickest way to bomb your interview. Travel nurses are hired to fill a staffing need — you don’t want the hiring manager to think you’re more worried about your vacation than the role.
Also, make sure to let the hiring manager know that you’ve done some research and know what you’re getting into if you accept the contract. As a labor and delivery nurse, I personally love high-risk units that are busy. For one interview, I told the hiring manager, “When I heard that there’s over 600 deliveries per month on your unit, it immediately put a smile on my face. As a travel nurse I look forward to working on busy units with high-risk patients, because I love a challenge.”
A little bit of research on the role or facility lets the hiring manager know that you’re not intimidated by the job and you’re ready to hit the ground running.
Last but not least, if you think you’re the right fit, then always ask for the job at the end of the interview. A hospital hiring travel nurses is most likely short staffed and needed you yesterday — there’s no sense delaying the process further. I personally ask for the job at the end of each interview and I’ve always heard yes!
Ready to start traveling? Get connected with a staffing agency now!
For some, the greatest attraction of travel nursing is the adventure of visiting new places, making new friends, and enjoying unique experiences; for others, it’s the high salary that makes it worthwhile. One thing is for sure, traveling can be expensive, but doing so as a travel nurse can help you rake in some seriously big bucks.
Many would argue that high pay is just reflective of a high cost of living; however, a substantial contributor to this is the high cost of housing. In this regard, travel nurses are in luck because most travel nursing agencies will pay for housing or include a stipend commensurate with local housing costs.
Here’s a list of states with the five highest salaries for nurses, along with highlights and cost of living in each state.
Explore the country while getting paid! Find assignments in your dream city here.
The Golden State boasts some of the best weather in the country, along with the highest salaries for nurses. The hourly rate for RNs in California averages $48.68.1 Meanwhile, the demand for nurses is higher than most states because California law requires specific nurse-to-patient ratios.
California is ranked as the third most expensive state to live in.2 And while it has a very high cost of living, housing costs are the main factor, eating up an average 33% of a resident’s income.3 Since your travel nursing agency pays for your accommodations, this affords you a significant boost in spending power.
Discover all the excitement of a nursing assignment in California. Sign up today.
The cost of living in Hawaii is the highest in the nation.2 Despite this, everyone still wants to live here, and can you blame them? With its beautiful beaches, tropical climate, and rich local culture, Hawaii is a travel nurse’s dream. Like California, a relatively disproportionate amount of Hawaiians’ income is spent on housing, putting travel nurses in a strong financial position.3
The majestic scenery and pristine waters of Alaska will have you reveling in all its natural beauty as you cash in on the high demand for qualified nurses. Paying an average of $42.55 per hour,1 Alaska is a veritable gold mine. Additionally, housing costs are 38% above the national average,3 making your housing allowance even more valuable.
One of the earliest proponents of the organic, sustainable, and “slow food” movements, Oregon has established itself as a mecca for quirky, progressive creatives, offering some of the highest wages for RNs with an average of $40.29 per hour.1 Though the housing costs are relatively high,2 Oregon beats out every other state on this list for food and other living expenses.3 In fact, transportation costs in Oregon fall below the national average and gas stations are mandated to pump your gas for you4.
The New England state that is home to so many significant moments in U.S. history is also one of the few states whose law mandates a specific nurse to patient ratio in hospital ICUs. With the hourly wage for nurses paying an average of $43.331, you’ll be making history of your own as you explore the Boston Harbor, visit Plymouth Rock, enjoy music at world-famous Tanglewood, visit Emily Dickinson’s home, or walk along the roads of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride.
Though it ranks as the 4th most costly state to live,2 housing costs can be as high as 50%5 of a normal resident’s income; luckily, you won’t be just a “normal” resident.
There are many benefits of being a travel nurse, and the earning potential in these five states could make those benefits even better. Best of luck exploring your options in these locations that will give you more bang for your nursing buck!
Explore new frontiers. Find out where travel nursing can take you.
Sources:
1. “Occupational Employment and Wages for Registered Nurses.” US Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS.gov. May 2015. Web. Accessed Jan 2017.
2. “Cost of Living Data Series.” Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. Missourieconomy.org. Oct 2016. Web. Accessed Jan 2017.
3. “What percentage of Household Income is Spent on Rent in Each State?”. Overflow Data. Overflow.Solutions. Oct 2016. Web. Accessed Jan 2017.
4. “Why can’t Oregonians pump their own gas? Let us count the reasons.” The Oregonian. Blog.Oregon.Live. Feb 2012. Web. Accessed Jan 2017.
5. “Housing puts heavy burden on many in Greater Boston.” The Boston Globe. Bostonglobe.com. May 2015. Web. Accessed Jan 2017.
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.
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.
However, it also has to do with the demographics of the country, and its changing health care needs. The aging population has more senior citizens than ever before, many of whom will develop one or more chronic health conditions. As per U.S. Census data projections, by 2050, there will be 88.5 million people over the age of 65.
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.
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.
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.
You did it! After spending what seemed to be an endless amount of time researching travel nursing companies, you finally found the right one for you. You’ve spoken with several recruiters and discovered the right person to represent you. But what do you do when all the offers start rolling in? How do you know which offer to take and which one is best for you?
Find your next travel assignment here!
Well for me, these were just a few questions I asked myself as my first offers started coming in. This can be extremely frustrating especially when you don’t have the answer to those questions.
First thing, don’t freak out! This is an awesome opportunity for you to be picky and find the best offer for you. A helpful tool I used to help me pick an offer was to create a simple pros and cons list. I would suggest starting with what is the most important to you. Here are the top pros and cons that I use.
For me, the main reason I wanted to become a travel nurse was to see new locations across the U.S. So if the offer was in a new place that I had never been to, this quickly became a pro for me.
I wanted to experience new locations and discover all the new things each location had to offer. If the offer hosted site to my family’s past spring break vacations, I would probably list it as a con.
When I got an offer, I always asked about the area of town where the hospital was located. I wanted to make sure my family would be safe living in this location for 3 or more months.
Weather played a huge factor for me traveling. Last thing I wanted to do was consider a contract in Alaska while I was battling a windy winter in the Midwest. So I would encourage you to consider what the weather will be like while you are visiting. No sense in taking a contract when the weather is going to be at its worst during your time there.
During my first winter as a travel nurse I landed an awesome contract in Arizona. It wasn’t too hot and it wasn’t too cold. So I was basking in the sun while my friends and family were experiencing one of the worst winters back at home.
Discover new travel assignments in your specialty here.
It’s important to remember that just because you have a large pool of additional support staff at your current job, doesn’t mean every location has that same support staff. Some unit ratios are different for the same specialty so make sure you ask during your interview what support staff is available to you.
Another consideration is whether you will be working days or nights. I was typically a day shift only nurse. But when that Arizona opportunity came my way, I had to consider taking a night shift. After weighing the pros and cons, I realized taking a night shift position was well worth the opportunity.
You know how the old saying goes “money drives decisions” but money wasn’t my primary focus.
Typically, if the offer was high paying I would list it as a pro, but if the location was lame and in the middle of nowhere, I would then list it as a con. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a location for pay but by no means should you go below your bottom dollar amount just to experience a warm winter in Florida.
I have always enjoyed a good location that has a rich history.
We would go walk in little historical towns and go shopping or hike in a famous national park. One of my favorites was Mount Rainer National Park. I highly suggest it! So if the location had a high probability of me discovering a few historical sites, I would list it as a pro.
These were just a few of my top motives that would help me consider which offer was best for me. In the end, whichever had the most pros over cons would then become my next contract.
I would encourage you to list what is important to you and then list them as either a pro or a con. Because you will be living there for months and you want to make sure you enjoy your time there.
Travel nurses make up to $2,300 per week.
To learn more about Kyle and his decision to become a travel nurse, check out A Journey into Travel Nursing.
And check out his interview series:
Interview With A Travel Nurse: Preparing for a New Facility
Interview With A Travel Nurse: How to Recover From Failing the NCLEX
Interview With A Travel Nurse: How To Prepare To Be A Rock Star Travel Nurse – Before You Are One
Interview With A Travel Nurse: Sure-fire Signs You’re Working With The Wrong Staffing Agency
Interview With A Travel Nurse: Preparing For Travel Nursing Even Before Nursing School
Close your eyes… now, imagine a day in your nursing career where you go to work, clock in, take care of patients, do a little bit of charting and clock out.
To some of you this may sound typical but to others, a day without co-worker drama, staff meetings, committee duties and mandatory e-learnings sounds like Nirvana.
Now imagine 13 weeks of this pure working environment bliss. Some of you may not realize this but becoming a travel nurse is an excellent way to avoid hospital politics and drama.
Click here to find available travel assignments.
The demands of being a staff nurse are on the rise. Between staff meetings, sitting on committees, completing your required e-learnings and working night-shift, you can pretty much kiss your personal life goodbye.
As a travel nurse you do have various mandatory education requirements but not to the extent of a staff nurse and the best part of the continuing education is that you can choose what you want to learn about. If you don’t want to learn about balloon pumps, you don’t have to.
You are not required to sit on any committees or go to any staff meetings. You just show up and take care of patients. You don’t have to worry about who the next manager is going to be, your next eval or what protocols need to be fixed. This new found freedom allows you to focus on the more enjoyable things in life like sleeping and exploring.
“Showing up and taking care of patients” is what changed my nursing practice the most. One of my biggest fears about traveling was leaving behind my colleagues. They were the whole reason I enjoyed going to work. I would tell them my problems, they would tell me theirs; we were a family.
With everyone sharing their business on social media these days, you may find it surprising that as a travel nurse, staff nurses will not spend all night telling you their deepest and darkest secrets. I found this lack of communication particularly beneficial to my nursing practice.
When nobody is talking to you all night you have no choice but talk with your patients and their families. What I discovered, is that I actually liked connecting with my patients. I had never really experienced this before. It was then that I really started to enjoy being a nurse.
Discover your dream travel assignment here.
Being a travel nurse not only provided me with the opportunity to connect with my patients more but it also changed my perspective on how I care for them and my view on the profession as a whole.
I “grew up” in an ICU surrounded by experienced nurses who had been in the profession for 30+ years. Their wealth of knowledge was priceless, however, their perspective on patients and nursing was hardened. Negativity in the workplace is contagious and my attitude as a staff nurse was also becoming hardened.
As a travel nurse you will be forced to work with all different types of nurses; nurses from different cultures, age groups and backgrounds. Having the opportunity to watch how other nurses interacted with patients and with a little help from a compassion series presented by a Buddhist temple, I discovered a new found compassion towards my patients and people in general.
My experience as a travel nurse gave me the opportunity to create my own nursing practice. I wasn’t distracted by other people’s drama, pointless meetings or non-progressive committees.
I was able to focus on educational material that I felt helped my nursing practice the best. I learned to connect with my patients and their families without judgment. I became confident knowing that I can take care of anyone, anywhere despite who I was working with or what politics might be going on.
As a travel nurse you will become an expert at dealing with all different types of personalities. Your ability to stay focused on your patients and avoid engaging in negative workplace drama will benefit you for a lifetime.
