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Demand to fill COVID-19 travel nursing positions has not slowed as cases continue to occur across the country the threat of a second wave continues to loom.
As many parts of the country have appeared to move back into normalcy — with some workers heading back to in-person offices and children in states like Michigan, Texas, and Florida starting school only a few weeks ago — it may seem like the threat of COVID-19 is finally slowing.
But infection rates in the U.S. have not exactly slowed down. As one simulated tracker illustrates, a new COVID-19 case is reported approximately every 2 seconds in the U.S, just close behind India, where a new case is being reported about every second.
It remains a bit uncertain what will happen with COVID-19 in the fall, but there are still plenty of opportunities for travel nursing positions available. Read on for more info on what you should expect from a second wave and what states are hiring right now.
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With reports that Europe is now seeing a second wave of COVID-19, there are concerns about what will happen in the states this fall with the virus. Unlike Europe, the U.S. never really lowered infection rates, so a second wave could have potentially damaging effects. Many parts of Europe have already put lockdowns and social restrictions back into place over fears of the second wave and experts here across the ocean health experts are cautiously monitoring what could prove to be a complicated fall and winter.
There are many factors that could contribute to a second wave of COVID-19 also occurring here in the states: colder weather bringing more events inside, dry air facilitating the spread of the virus (just like the flu and common cold viruses in the colder months), and increased gatherings at schools.
“We could see a perfect storm of accelerated COVID-19 activity as people gather more inside in particular, as they become increasingly fatigued with the mask wearing, social distancing and the hand hygiene, and as they are exposed to seasonal influenza,” noted Jeanne Marrazzo, director of the infectious diseases division of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, at a news briefing from the Infectious Diseases Society of America, or IDSA on September 10.
Additionally, some experts fear that even if symptoms for both viruses of the flu and COVID-19 are relatively mild in a lot of individuals, getting both viruses at once could pose new complications and cause more severe symptoms. (And here’s your reminder to get your flu shot, folks!) Although that’s typically not what happens with viruses, as one virus tends to “dominate” a host, like a lot of things with the novel coronavirus, experts just aren’t 100% sure what to expect.
Currently, there are still plenty of travel nursing jobs open in areas like general Med/Surg, ER, and ICU units. There are also travel nursing positions open in some of the western states that have seen wildfire devastation, such as California and Oregon.
According to our research, some of the highest-paying states with travel nursing positions open right now are:
Talk to a travel nursing recruiter today.
This is a tough question: one hand, there are benefits to getting a secure placement now, before things potentially get more complicated with more infections during the fall. But on the other hand, more in-demand generally equals higher pay. So it really depends on what type of experience you are looking for. If you’re looking for a fast pace and high wages, you could always take your time for a last-minute position, but if you prefer a little more stability and to take your time on decision-making, you may consider taking a position right now.
One thing is for certain: while COVID-19 has decimated many people’s jobs and forced millions into cobbling together a living out of freelance work, if you’re a nurse — or are considering becoming one — you have priceless job security and the freedom to choose what works for you.
Whether you choose to try out a travel nursing position this fall, or take on a temporary position until we have a more clear picture of what COVID-19 will look like, there will be plenty of opportunities for employment available to you.
Looking for a travel nursing assignment? Talk to a recruiter today.
The novel coronavirus has forever changed travel nursing and COVID-19 predictions for the coming fall suggest a continued impact on travel nurses.
Hundreds of travel nursing contracts were canceled without much notice leaving nurses across the country scrambling to find their next contract. Crisis nursing positions in Seattle and New York City were filled with lightning speed. As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in parts of America, medical experts are predicting a hard-hitting second wave in the Fall of 2020.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts a second wave may, in fact, be more deadly than the first because it most likely will coincide with the start of flu season.
Unfortunately, it may be difficult to differentiate between a first wave and a second wave as the number of cases is reaching an all-time high in over 30 states. Technically, a wave requires a peak in infections followed by a substantial reduction. A new rise and peak would signal the start of another wave. Some will have a very clear first and second wave, such as New York while others will not have the differentiation. Without a vaccine or cure for coronavirus, a second wave is inevitable.
As healthcare organizations across the country continue to ramp up and resume elective procedures, travel nurses are finding an increase in opportunities, especially, in larger cities. Despite the increase in available positions, travel nurses must continue to be flexible and ready to go in a moment’s notice.
Looking for a travel nursing assignment? Talk to a recruiter today.
The second wave of COVID-19 could potentially see similar closings as the first, including suspension of elective surgeries and a decrease in hospitalizations, particularly in children. During the first wave, hospitals rushed to hire hundreds of travel nurses expecting an influx of coronavirus patients. Unfortunately, most hospitals saw a decrease in patients; therefore, an abundance of extra nurses. Nurses working in the OR and PACU were left jobless and scrambling to make ends meet and had to file for unemployment.
The first wave led to the early retirement of Baby Boomers and those with pre-existing conditions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a nursing shortage with a career outlook growth of over 12%. The retirement of these nurses has only increased the shortage. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has predicted that there will be a need for 203,700 new RNs each year through 2026, and those numbers will be much higher in the aftermath of this pandemic. Furthermore, it has led to many leaving the bedside to pursue other opportunities in nursing including telehealth nursing. Travel nurses help fill the void left by those staff nurses leaving.
With an all but certain second wave of COVID-19, travel nurses should be prepared to potentially change the way they view travel nursing. Most travel nurses are used to taking high paying positions in highly desirable locations in order to travel locally on off days. Unfortunately, that has not been the case lately due to the ongoing pandemic.
Travel nurses might need to consider taking an assignment closer to home, taking a position in a unit outside their normal specialty, or taking a permanent staff position (even temporarily). Nurses should expect to see a decrease in available positions in certain specialties and an increase in ER and ICU assignments during a second wave.
On the other hand, a second wave could see an increase in patients because of the combination with flu season and those with a compromised immune system are at greater risk. If this is the case, travel nurses would see an influx of highly lucrative crisis positions throughout the country. OR and PACU nurses may need to look for other types of travel nursing assignments, such as a COVID swab nurse, COVID contact tracer, or a telehealth nurse, if elective surgeries are once again suspended.
It’s important for travel nurses to prepare now in case the second wave hits as expected. Your checklist should include:
Ultimately, it is impossible to say what the implications are for travel nurses if a second wave of COVID-19 hits. It’s important that travel nurses stay flexible, have their resumes ready, and be willing to work in unconventional settings.
Looking for a travel nursing assignment? Talk to a recruiter today.
COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, has forever changed travel nursing and perhaps not for the best. Travel nurses from coast to coast had contracts canceled without much notice and without any options except for taking extended time off. Some were lucky to grab a handful of the crisis contract in hotspots such as Seattle or New York City. Now, California, Texas, and Florida are the next predicted hotspots but crisis contracts have been even harder to secure the second time around.
Until recently, travel nurses have been able to generally pick their work locations from a plethora of hospitals and negotiate their contracts. It was a “buyers” market and the buyers were travel nurses. Now, with more travelers fighting for a smaller number of contracts, hospitals can choose not to negotiate with a nurse and the agency but instead select a different applicant.
Looking for a travel nursing assignment? Talk to a recruiter today.
Initially, the pandemic closed units and decreased patient censuses in hospitals across the country due to stay-at-home orders but now as the world starts to reopen, travel nurses are still scrounging for contracts. It’s impossible to predict exactly how COVID-19 will continue to change travel nursing but it has already caused the following:
Let’s take a closer look. Imagine there is one ICU position at a well known academic hospital in a major city. Now imagine 100 applicants for that position. Everyone has similar credentials and would be ideal for the position. The first applicant wants to pick their own schedule, the next need specific days off, the third applicant just wants the job. Which one is the hospital going to choose? The third applicant is completely flexible and willing to take the contract with minimal changes.
Hospitals will continue to choose the travel nurses that fit their needs without hesitation or pushback. Hospitals are overwhelmed with other needs and finding travel nurses is generally not high on their priority list. As a result, travel nurse recruiters have to fight for the few available contracts for their nurses. It’s important to have open and good communication with your recruiter for this reason.
This is a prime example of post-COVID travel nursing. Nurses need to understand that with limited contracts; unfortunately, there is not the same flexibility. As hospitals reopen to elective surgeries and census continues to improve, there has been an uptick in the number of available travel nurse contracts. However, the overall number is still lower than previously. With contracts available throughout the country, travel nurses should have their resumes and credentials up to date and ready for submission.
These changes have forced some travel nurses to take permanent positions. Unfortunately, job security has become a must for some. Others have temporarily taken non-clinical roles in health departments doing contact tracing or COVID-19 testing. While for most this is a temporary setback it can be a viable option as the uncertainty of the coronavirus continues.
Interestingly, the current spike in new cases could lead to more crisis contracts for ICU and ER nurses but fewer contracts for OR and pediatric nurses. Why is this? During the height of the coronavirus, pediatric hospitals were virtually empty and ORs were closed. It’s possible this could happen again. It truly is impossible to know but regardless, it is very important for travel nurses to be ready for their next assignment.
Learn more about available travel nursing assignments here.
Travel nurses are in demand in several states as COVID-19 cases spike across the country, particularly in Southern and Western parts of the country.
Florida has consistently been breaking its own single-day record, reaching 13,965 new cases and 156 deaths in one day on July 16, 2020. Miami, FL has been called the new “Wuhan, China” and some experts have warned that it’s too late to contain the spread, so more hospitalizations are likely in the future.
Other states reporting rising COVID-19 infections and related hospitalizations include Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, and California. And according to data from NPR, COVID cases have increased by over 100% compared to 2 weeks ago in Alaska, Idaho, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Montana, as well as Puerto Rico.
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So, what’s with all the spikes? It may be natural to assume that the increasing number of infections can be attributed to more testing, but you can easily determine if that’s true by looking at the percentage of positive tests as compared to the number of tests given out.
In short, if there’s still a high rate of positive tests even with correspondingly high levels of testing, you know that the infection rate is increasing — not just picking up positive cases that would have already been there. For a visual on this, you can see some easy charts via Time Magazine. Additionally, increasing hospitalization rates — as both Texas and Arizona are seeing — is a huge indication that the infections are indeed new.
Because the numbers show a clear increase in cases, experts have speculated this may be the second wave of COVID or a resurgence in infection rates as states move through reopening phases. Additionally, factors like summer holidays, public attitude becoming more relaxed and people returning to normal travel patterns, and recent public gatherings including protests and a handful of rallies, are thought to have played a role.
There is also some evidence that the spikes may be higher in states that reopened bars on an earlier timeline, as bars may be a ripe environment for spreading the virus, with poor ventilation, small inside areas, and attracting large crowds.
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Travel nursing opportunities are still available in many parts of the country, especially as hospitals and facilities are playing “catch-up” on procedures and patients who may have delayed care during the pandemic.
But scouring leading travel nursing websites from across the web reveals that a few states are especially seeking travel nurses in specialties like ICU and ER. From our research, we have found nursing travel opportunities with higher-than-average pay in:
The data with COVID-19 infections is constantly changing and one of the hardest parts for hospitals is being ready for what the numbers will look like in two weeks from now — not just right now. Because of the way the virus works, with an approximately 2-week incubation period, as well as a sometimes delayed onset of more serious symptoms that could require hospitalization, new infections today could turn into new hospitalizations in weeks or even months from now.
That means that you are a valuable asset as a travel nurse, especially if you have experience working with COVID-19 patients, and are ready to take on an assignment when one is available.
So, if you are interested in signing on for a travel nursing assignment in emerging COVID-19 hotspots, or just want to offer your experiences as a veteran COVID-19 nurse, now is the time to get your paperwork in order and speak with a recruiter who can alert you of any position matches.
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here!
Specific travel nursing specialties are in demand as COVID-19 is making a comeback in certain parts of the country — especially in southern states like Florida and Texas, as well as Arizona and some isolated parts of the nation as well.
However, even previously hard-hit places like California have seen an increase in spikes lately too, and inconsistent rules and regulations on how to best manage the infection have made it difficult to flatten the curve in some areas as well. With nice weather, relaxed attitudes over gatherings, and less fear about the virus in general as the public has grown accustomed to living with it, infection rates are still rising in many areas.
For instance, Florida broke its own single-day record, reaching 13,965 new cases and 156 deaths on July 16, 2020. Miami, FL has been compared to Wuhan, where the outbreak first occurred, and so far, case counts keep rising, so the future could very well hold even more hospitalizations.
Other states that have reported increasing COVID-19 infections and related hospitalizations include Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, and California. And according to data from NPR, COVID cases have increased by over 100% in Alaska, Idaho, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Montana, as well as in Puerto Rico, when compared to only 2 weeks ago, so the next hot spot could very well be lurking just around the corner.
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Because of how the novel coronavirus works, an increase in infections now often means a risk of hospitalization later. The virus has a 2-week or so incubation period, which means that if you are infected right now, it may not be two weeks before you show any symptoms at all. And then, it’s common for more serious complications to show up much later the initial positive test as well.
So, what does that mean? Essentially, that means that all those new positive COVID-19 cases in current hot spots like Florida and Texas may not even require hospitalizations for a few weeks down the line — and if those hospitalizations do occur, travel nurses will be needed to help care for an increased patient load.
It’s expected that infections will only continue to rise, as people have continued to gather and embark in recreational activities during the warm weather. For example, even on the day when case counts reached over 10,000 in Florida, Disney World opened its doors to welcome park-goers back for the first time since the pandemic hit.
The approaching fall also holds a lot of unknowns for how infections and subsequent complications could affect the country. Some areas are planning on resuming in-person school with modifications, like requiring students to wear masks and extra cleaning, and some states, like Georgia have struck down state-wide mandates on facial coverings in public, so there are a wide variety of beliefs on how to best manage the virus. Only time will tell what the result of the different ways the virus is being managed will result in for public health — as well as any potential demand for more travel nurses.
Looking for a travel nurse assignment? Start here!
A spike in COVID-19 cases across the country means that there could be increased opportunities for travel nursing positions in hard-hit areas. And if you’ve already had experience working in a COVID unit, you can be a valuable asset to any travel nursing agency.
In states that are currently experiencing outbreaks of COVID, you may be especially critical if you have experience in certain specialties. Hospitals and facilities that are dealing with COVID may not be prioritizing certain elective procedures or may be in need of more trained specialty nurses, so if you have experience or specialization certifications in the following areas, you may be in more demand.
Travel nursing jobs in general ICU and COVID-ICU have a wide range at the moment because needs are so varied. In higher-demand areas like Texas and Arizona, ICU travel nursing assignments are offering rates between $2-$4k per week. Florida, on the other hand, has some $5K+ positions available.
We are learning more about how COVID affects the vascular system, and some patients have experienced vascular complications, including blood clots and DVTS. Hemodialysis has been needed for some patients, in addition to regular dialysis patients, and travel nurses are wanted in some states to help meet those needs. Nurses with hemodialysis experience can earn up to $3.7K/week and as a bonus: most hemodialysis positions are day shift only if nights just aren’t your thing.
Telemetry is also high in demand, as it’s the first stop for many patients admitted with COVID or COVID-like symptoms for monitoring. In Arizona, telemetry travel RN positions have been seen for as high as $5.5K on night shift and closer to the $3K range in Massachusetts.
Florida again tops the list for ER travel nurse jobs, hovering right around the $5.5K mark. Texas is a close second, with ER positions being offered around $4.8K per week. Arizona ER positions are a bit lower, with an average of $3-$4K weekly pay.
Can you guess where the highest-paying Med-Surg state is right now? If you guessed Oklahoma, you would be right — the Route 66 state has been trending upwards in COVID cases and is offering rates as high as $5.8K/week for general Med-Surg right now. South Dakota, Arizona, and Texas are all also seeking travel nurses with specializations in Med-Surg in the $3 -$4K range.
If you have been infected with the novel coronavirus yourself, or have tested positive for the antibodies, you may also (rightly so) be wondering how that could affect your employment potential. In a way, having COVID already might be considered a “specialty” of its own. But while it can be definitely helpful if you want to share that information with your nurse recruiter if you choose to do so, as of right now, there are no official policies that are granting preference for nurses with COVID-19 antibodies.
Some antibody tests are still being tested for accuracy, and some may have been faulty to begin with, so more research on their validity is needed. In addition, because the novel coronavirus is, well, novel, scientists still aren’t 100% sure what mutations of the virus may look like — and what that could mean for potential reinfection rates.
And even if you have already tested for antibodies or have had a negative COVID-19 test, you can expect that any new assignments you sign on for will require you to get tested again. Every facility will have its own policy and procedure for testing and monitoring travel nurses.
The data with COVID-19 infections is constantly changing and one of the hardest parts for hospitals is being ready for what the numbers will look like in two weeks from now–not just right now. As we mentioned already, because of the way the virus works, with an approximately 2-week incubation period, as well as a sometimes delayed onset of more serious symptoms that could require hospitalization, new infections today could turn into new hospitalizations in weeks or even months from now.
The large uncertainty about what COVID will look like this fall, along with any complications from new infections now, means that your services as a travel nurse may be especially important in the weeks and months to come. You are a valuable asset as a travel nurse, especially if you have experience in one of the in-demand specialties or have experience working with COVID-19 patients already.
To best position yourself to take on the right travel nursing assignment, it’s important to be prepared as far in advance as possible, so you are ready to take on an assignment when one is available. You’ll want to reach out to recruiters now, be sure you have your paperwork and compact nursing license in order (if necessary), and can make arrangements to travel quickly should an assignment come up without a lot of notice.
Additionally, if you are interested in expanding your skillset to one of the more in-demand specialties, now is a good time to pursue certification in those areas so you can add that to your travel nursing resume. More specialization means more money when it comes to travel nursing jobs, so follow your passion so you can give back and take care of your patients while reaching your highest potential.
Talk to a recruiter about available assignments for your specialty.
In the wake of the first wave of COVID-19 cases, hospitals and healthcare workers are left to evaluate our healthcare system. As we ask hard questions about what’s working and what’s not, travel nurses are uniquely positioned to provide answers.
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As the country seems to be recovering from the initial wave of COVID-19, hospitals and healthcare workers are taking a literal and physical deep breath. Fears of not having enough resources, ventilators, and staff are quelling and healthcare workers may be lowering their masks (outside of work, socially-distanced, of course) for the first time in a long time.
And as we move into post-pandemic life — and hope a second wave is not in our future — many in healthcare are left trying to answer the question: Did we do a good enough job? And what did COVID-19 show us needs to change in our healthcare system?
Being faced with a pandemic from a novel virus laid bare some of the challenges the healthcare system has faced. Racial disparity in healthcare, for one, became glaringly obvious, as COVID-19 hospitalization rates hit black and Hispanic individuals the highest. We also saw more clearly the impact that dangers of delaying care based on the fears of being able to pay that many low-income and uninsured Americans can have. For instance, delaying care could potentially lead to more serious healthcare problems for the individual because what could have been a minor problem with early intervention turns into a more serious condition, as well as a more expensive issue for the healthcare facility.
And more narrowly, the pandemic also revealed aspects of how individual hospitals and healthcare facilities are equipped to handle an emergency like a pandemic. For instance, according to data from travel nurse company NurseFly, we now have a clearer understanding of how important factors like personal protective equipment (PPE) levels, crisis training for staff, mental health resources for healthcare workers, and communication protocols are.
“We are committed to bringing transparency to the travel nursing industry, by providing nurses the most comprehensive picture of travel assignments including pay and hospital conditions,” said Parth Bhakta, NurseFly CEO, in a press release. “The perspectives of nurses shed a light on the fault lines within our public health system, and serve as call-to-action to healthcare policymakers, public, and decision-makers on what needs to be done to protect our healthcare workers.”
NurseFly pooled responses from over 1,380 healthcare workers from their travel nursing community to glean some valuable insight on what those workers found about hospital preparedness, hospital operations, and what changes might be necessary for the future. The survey revealed important information about healthcare, such as:
Speak with a recruiter today about available travel nursing assignments.
As the snapshot shows, travel nurses can provide valuable insight into how hospitals measure up against each other. Because unlike staff nurses, who stay at one facility in one geographical career for their entire careers or for a large portion of it, travel nurses have the advantage of moving from facility-to-facility and to geographical areas across the country.
Thanks to their movement, input from travel nurses can provide crucial information about key areas that could be improved upon. For instance, a travel nurse who has worked in one hospital in Detroit who then works in a hospital in California could see huge fluctuations in resources, facility culture, and practices — and reporting on those differences could help paint a broader picture of any gaps in the healthcare picture.
So, how can you help? The first step is simple — work as a travel nurse! That step alone is a vital one, as any experience as a travel nurse will not only expose you to different healthcare environments but also increase your own knowledge and ability to think critically about any gaps or challenges you see that might need to be addressed. Being exposed to different ways of doing things and having the knowledge to compare and contrast situations are crucial.
Next, work with your travel nurse agency on any surveying protocol they may already have in place. If they offer you a survey about your experience, you can consider sharing your input and experience with them to help paint that bigger picture of the challenges in healthcare that need to be addressed.
If your experience with low levels of PPE at one facility concerns you, or you see a better system of communication implemented at another hospital, share that information. As a travel nurse, your input is vital and matters to the entire healthcare system — and along with making an immediate difference in your patients’ lives, you could impact the entire future of healthcare too.
RN’s can earn up to $2,300 per week as a travel nurse. Speak to a recruiter today!
Chase and Lindsay Garrett are “a married travel nurse couple living in an RV on a mission to see the world and become financially free!” These travel nurses have traveled the US in their RV with their cat to work in some of the busiest CVICUs in the country. Lindsay, originally from Pennsylvania, and Chase, from West Virginia, met while attending nursing school at WVU and married in 2015 after several years of dating. They recently quarantined in Florida before accepting their next travel nursing contract.
According to their website, www.wereoutnabout.com, Lindsay and Chase chose travel nursing for three main reasons:
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A common trend amongst travel nurses, Lindsay and Chase, will often take several weeks off in between contracts in order to travel the world. One of their goals is to visit 30 countries before their 30th birthdays. So far, the couple has traveled to 20 countries together including Spain, Malta, Italy, Greece, Iceland, and Norway.
They share their travel nursing adventures on Instagram as @wereoutnabout.
Kathleen Gaines (KG): How has COVID-19 impacted your travel nursing contracts current and/or future?
Lindsay and Chase (L&C): As travel nurses, one of the main reasons we chose this lifestyle was for the traveling part. Between contracts, we usually take a month or two off and travel internationally. We had travel plans made for a trip to Thailand and Cambodia in April which was canceled due to COVID 19. Aside from our fun travel plans, we have found it increasingly difficult to find contracts. As a result of the pandemic and hospitals canceling elective surgeries, multiple travel nursing contracts were canceled and jobs were few and far between. Personally, we have been without a contract since April and are finally starting to see an increase in job needs. The competition for each job is more than ever before because there are so many travel nurses in the same situation as us who are eagerly searching for a job.
KG: Has there ever been that moment during a contract that either of you has wanted to stay and put down roots?
L&C: We absolutely loved working in Savannah GA. The unit we worked on felt like home and if we were ready to end our travel nursing careers, there’s a good chance we might have put down roots there.
KG: What do you wish you knew before starting the travel nurse life?
L&C: We did a lot of research for about 8 months before we started, so we felt pretty prepared. There are definitely certain things you can only learn as you go. We definitely recommend working with more than one company. That ensures that you have multiple recruiters job searching for you which gives you access to multiple jobs and opportunities. We also would advise to make sure you are reviewing the net/take-home pay package rather than the gross pay which is before taxes are taken out. Another tip, if you don’t get something put in your contract before you sign it — it’s not guaranteed. That applies to shift times, request offs, and floating guidelines.
KG: With COVID-19 dampening plans for travel nurses, what is a professional goal you have for the remainder of 2020?
L&C: Professionally, we are both certified critical care nurses and are always looking for opportunities to grow as nurses, learn new skills, and stay up-to-date with the newest therapies.
KG: How much student loan debt did you have upon graduation?
L&C: We had a combined debt of just over $100,000. When we started travel nursing we had $60,000 remaining. We made it a goal to pay off our debt in just one year of travel nursing and thankfully accomplished it. Now we are working on paying off our mortgage.
KG: If you could change one thing about travel nursing, what would it be?
L&C: We come from a state that allows us to have a compact license which makes life so much easier as a travel nurse. However, we wish that all states honored and accepted compact licenses. We’ve all passed the same NCLEX regardless of where we were educated and feel as if this is one of the biggest inhibitions for us personally when we make a decision of where we want to take a contract. If we choose a state where we have to apply and pay for a new license and then keep up with it per the state’s nursing board protocol, it’s less likely that we’ll choose to travel there.
KG: Do you work with one recruiter and travel nurse company or multiple ones?
L&C: As we mentioned previously, working with more than one company is one of the best ways you can increase your opportunities as a travel nurse. This increases transparency because you can compare contracts and pay packages for the same job. If one company is offering you more than another, you are able to negotiate rates to ensure you’re making the most you can as a travel nurse. It also gives you access to specific jobs that other companies/agencies may not be contracted with.
KG: What sacrifices did you make in order to pay off your debt?
L&C: We built a budget prior to travel nursing and worked hard to stick to it. We also focused on buying what we needed and eliminated some of the wants and materialistic things that would have been fun to buy. We’ve always valued experiences over things so although we saved when it came to shopping, we’ve definitely spent money on traveling without regret!
KG: How did you successfully pay off your debts?
L&C: We have a lot of information on our blog (www.wereoutnabout.com) and on our Instagram @wereoutabout where we address this topic quite frequently. The first step is building a budget, evaluating how much money you need to live off of each month, and doing your best to stick to your specific budget!
KG: What experience did you have prior to becoming a travel nurse?
L&C: We both had four years of experience, BSN degrees, and made sure we were certified critical care nurses prior to traveling as it makes you more marketable. We also came from a level 1 trauma center, magnet teaching hospital so we received tons of experience as staff nurses prior to traveling. One of the most important things to consider before traveling is your level of experience and confidence when it comes to being an independent nurse.
KG: Do you feel like asking for similar contracts and schedules as your partner has ever limited opportunities?
L&C: Absolutely not. We worked as CVICU nurses together as staff nurses prior to traveling. We’ve always chosen to work the same shifts because that allows us to have our days off to live our lives and explore the area. When we’re at work, you would never be able to tell we’re a couple or married aside from us having the same last name. We keep it strictly professional at work and our patients and their families are our focus and number one priority. Working together has only helped strengthen us as a couple and as nurses. As far as job availability goes, we’ve always been able to find a job where there are at least two needs for the same specialty and unit. We actually think it’s easier to find two of the same positions rather than if we were both seeking different specialties.
Ready to start travel nursing? Start here.
Recent testing across the country reveals a huge increase in the number of positive COVID cases.
As the country seems to be a mix of people cautiously venturing outside again and those who never really embraced the mask, one thing has become increasingly clear: the pandemic is definitely not over.
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Some of the states that are showing spikes of coronavirus include Alabama, Florida, Texas, and Arizona.
Alabama, CNBC reports, has 29,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and a quarter of those were verified in just the last two weeks. Florida reached a record-high rate on June 20th, reporting 4,049 new cases on just that day alone–numbers that were high enough to prompt some concern from the NBA, slated to begin playing in Orlando in July.
Meanwhile, Houston reported over 1,800 new cases by the weekend, and The Texas Medical Center’s hospitals analyzed data that showed the greater Houston area had 400 new hospital admissions in only the past two days. The Arizona Department of Health Services released their numbers as 52,300 cases with 1,339 known deaths, a 5.2% new infection rate, and a record number of new hospitalizations for COVID. A local sheriff scheduled to meet with the President even tested positive upon arriving at the White House — but says he will not wear a mask or enforce mask mandates after his quarantine is over.
So, what’s with all the spikes? It may be natural to assume that the increasing number of infections can be attributed to more testing, but you can easily determine if that’s true by looking at the percentage of positive tests as compared to the number of tests given out.
In short, if there’s still a high rate of positive tests even with correspondingly high levels of testing, you know that the infection rate is increasing — not just picking up positive cases that would have already been there. For a visual on this, you can see some easy charts via Time Magazine. Additionally, increasing hospitalization rates — as both Texas and Arizona are seeing — is a huge indication that the infections are indeed new.
Because the numbers show a clear increase in cases, experts have speculated this may be the second wave of COVID or a resurgence in infection rates as states move through reopening phases.
Travel nursing assignments available in COVID affected areas.
Surprisingly, preliminary research has found that the states that had large numbers of protestors in the wake of George Floyd’s death and escalating racial tension did not result in a large number of new COVID infections.
Minnesota, which served as the ground zero for the protests over three weeks ago — and feared incubator of the virus — rolled out aggressive testing sites near the protests in an effort to curb the spread. According to reports, the testing sites saw large numbers of protesters who were swabbed, not necessarily because they were showing symptoms, but because they were aware of the risks they had exposed themselves to. So far, the results of the testing show a 1.8% positive rate, which experts have hailed as a relief.
Other states that saw protest numbers were high included New York, Illinois, and Washington, and so far, the numbers are coming back consistent with far less-than-expected positive rates. So why didn’t the spike that experts feared would happen actually happen? Experts aren’t entirely sure but have theorized that it’s a combination of protesters wearing masks, being outdoors, and practicing social distancing even during the events.
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A spike in COVID-19 cases across the country obviously means that there could be increased opportunities for travel nursing positions in hard-hit areas. And if you’ve already had experience working in a COVID unit, you can be a valuable asset to any travel nursing agency.
You may be especially critical if you have experience in areas such as:
If you have been infected with the novel coronavirus yourself, or have tested positive for the antibodies, you may (rightly so) be wondering how that could affect your employment potential. And while it can be definitely helpful if you want to share that information with your nurse recruiter, as of right now, there are no official policies that are granting preference for nurses with COVID-19 antibodies.
Some antibody tests are still being tested for accuracy, and some may have been faulty to begin with, so more research on their validity is needed. In addition, because the novel coronavirus is, well, novel, scientists still aren’t 100% sure what mutations of the virus may look like–and what that could mean for potential reinfection rates.
In the meantime, however, if you are interested in signing on for a travel nursing assignment in emerging COVID-19 hotspots, or just want to offer your experiences as a veteran COVID-19 nurse, now is the time to get your paperwork in order and speak with a recruiter who can alert you of any position matches.
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According to the most recent data, after an initial surge in March and April, the demand for travel nurses has slowed significantly heading into the summer months.
Hard-hit areas such as Washington and New York City, which preemptively hired travel nurses in record numbers — and sometimes for record wages — have slowed their hiring and canceled many contracts. Although COVID-related travel nursing jobs are still available across the country, some with crisis wages, the numbers are not as high as they were through the past two months.
The future of travel nursing in the next coming months may be difficult to predict, but here is more on what we think travel nurses should prepare for.
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As you can imagine, COVID had a significant impact on the travel nursing industry, especially in areas where COVID affected higher numbers of people or had more severe health effects. The demand for critical care specialties, like ICU and ER, jumped considerably, while other nursing areas actually saw a significant decrease in demand.
Data shows that the following areas saw the largest increase in demand for travel nurses:
The data also revealed that certain areas of the country had the most significant increases in travel nurse demand:
And of course, you can’t forget the pay increases. Thanks to crisis pay, rapid response pay, bonuses, and other reimbursements for emergency-declared areas, travel nursing wages in crisis positions went up a whopping 76% in some areas.
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If you had hoped to sign up for a COVID travel nursing assignment, there are still positions available. A search on some of the leading travel nurse job listing pages, such as TaleMed, reveal crisis COVID-19 positions scattered around the country from Florida to New Hampshire. While the intense demand may have waned, there are still some areas offering crisis COVID-19 wages, so if that’s the type of position you’re looking for, it comes down to finding an area that you’re willing to travel to.
Some healthcare facilities may also find they are in need of travel nurses as they reopen previously closed services, such as elective procedural units, or offices. For instance, data showed that the demand for nursing roles in the following areas decreased as a result of COVID:
With the reopening, it’s feasible to expect that the job demand for those areas will once again rise, and may even be higher than before the shutdowns were enacted, due to demand and staff availability. For instance, there may be a large influx of patients who delayed care or staff who had been laid off may elect not to return at all, leaving gaps in the workforce. And as the entire country has started the reopening process, it’s also possible that additional COVID hotspots could crop up among states that had previously low numbers.
The future of travel nursing may also pivot to include more non-clinical roles. For instance, some healthcare staffing agencies, such as AMN, are prepping for a future workforce that will need more skilled labor solutions away from the bedside, such as data analysis, case management, and clinical documentation improvement. Although non-clinical roles are not traditionally travel nursing positions, there may be a larger need in the future for healthcare facilities to turn to travel nurses to fill temporary non-clinical needs.
Overall, just like health experts aren’t entirely sure how this virus will affect the country in the coming months, there’s a lot to be seen about what the demands will be for travel nurses.
What is certain, however, is that the need for travel nurses will never go away. So if you’re considering taking a travel RN position in the future–or just curious to explore the possibility — now is a great time to get started on all of the preliminary steps you need to sign on. Your checklist should include:
And if you do decide to take a COVID position, keep in mind that many of the benefits offered to travel nurses during the peak of the infection, like free housing, meals, and even transportation, are waning or no longer available. Although that shouldn’t affect your pay rate or ability to do your job as a travel nurse, it’s just a good reminder to be sure to check your contract over extra carefully before taking on any assignments, as we’ve all seen how quickly circumstances can change in the world of healthcare.
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TravelNursing.org is exploring the stories of travel nurses working on the COVID-19 front lines — travel nurses across the country are serving important roles in this pandemic fight, helping overcrowded hospitals and stepping in when exhausted staff succumb to their own exposure. Their stories are important and it’s an honor to highlight them.
This week’s story comes from 26-year-old Channing Scott, BSN, RN, an intensive care travel nurse originally from North Carolina, now working in Washington, D.C. after accepting an extension of her assignment due to COVID-19. Scott shares her experience working as a travel nurse, her fears of being treated as “expendable,” and the challenges of being immunocompromised with type 1 diabetes.
Interested in travel nursing in areas impacted by COVID-19? Start here.
What precautions are in place at your facility?
“We have to get our temperature checked twice a shift. PPE is slowly becoming more available. However, it seems like we get an abundance of one thing and then nothing of the other. One day we may have masks and no hair nets or shoe covers and no sanitizing wipes.
“It honestly depends on the day. We are reusing mask and face shields—some nurses are actually making their own.”
How has COVID impacted your work?
“Day-to-day work procedures haven’t changed much. Everyone at work is on edge though. As an ICU nurse, I haven’t had to float. Many co-workers have been calling out of work, leaving us short-staffed, and nurses are having to share patients.
“Normally, each nurse has two patients. Some nights we may have three or four and share them between another nurse. Essentially. we are going in and out of the rooms a minimum of 5 times and in all actuality, it ends up being way more.”
What happens when you get home?
“When I get home I really have to decompress. We’re working in a difficult time right now — we are trying to save people’s lives, take care of ourselves, and to be there for people’s family members via phone because they are not allowed in the hospital, along with worrying about our own family members.
It is draining in all aspects. I live alone, so self-isolating has been easy. Face Timing friends and family is the new norm.”
What has been the hardest part about working as a travel nurse during this pandemic?
“Feeling like what you have to say doesn’t matter and feeling expendable because you aren’t there for the long term.”
What has surprised you the most about working as a nurse during this time in history?
“The lack of support and realizing that societal perception of nurses by the general public is not entirely correct. For example, a lot of people don’t realize that we are constantly with the patients, more than any other healthcare professionals, so the inability to not have access to PPE is devastating to our profession and the care we can give to our patients.
You wouldn’t ask a firefighter to go into a fire without proper gear, so why should we?
What kind of fears and feelings do you have currently about working as a travel nurse during a pandemic?
“Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, I have feared how fast this would spread and how I would be able to protect myself when it came to the facility that I am working at.
“I am a type 1 diabetic and have taken measures to be extra careful and cautious to protect myself as well as others. I’m fearful for my patients mostly due to the lack of knowledge that surrounds the coronavirus. Every day, it feels like we learn something new. The lack of communication and lack of transparency in managing these patients has definitely been frustrating in regard to the patient’s plan of care.”
How you are taking care of yourself?
“In terms of taking care of myself, it is completely from the care that I am giving my patients. I feel now more than ever that I am more focused on patient care during my shift as opposed to what is going to happen after work — just really taking it day-by-day, hour-by-hour.
Mentally, I try to escape from work when I’m not there, which is difficult because, with media and my network of friends, it seems to follow me everywhere. In order to keep my mind sharp, I’ve been journaling at least once a day, listening to soothing music, and cooking new recipes.
Physically, I have been trying to work out the best I can and eat healthy. Emotionally, I feel grateful for the support I have from friends, co-workers, and family. They have been so great throughout this difficult time.”
What advice would you give any travel nurse thinking about taking a COVID assignment?
“Do your research and understand what you are getting yourself into. Try to take an assignment where you know someone or are semi-familiar with the facility and area. Money is not the most important thing.”
