These strategies include: Listening to nurses' concerns Prioritizing workplace culture Adjusting protocol to meet nurses' needs Increasing diversity and representation in nursing Travel nurses can choose from a plethora of environments. Hundreds of online staffing agencies specialize in travel nursing, but you'll need to differentiate which is the best fit for you. Before the pandemic, hospitals sought to hire about 7,000 traveling nurses at any one time. Theyre coming in to make their money and go, said Piper. The latest nationwide survey of nurse staffing found hospitals face a nearly 10% vacancy rate. As an in-state traveler, Piper said she doesnt get the stipends that a typical travel nurse would get, but she gets good health benefits and a match for her retirement plan. But data from Indeed indicates that travel nurses are now making on average more than 30% more than staff nurses a figure that even falls short of what industry experts say now and excludes sign-on bonuses, insurance and housing and meal stipends. Specialty areas with an increased need for travel nurses include the ICU (intensive care unit), pediatrics, the ER (emergency room), kidney dialysis, the NICU (newborn intensive care unit), and postpartum care (i.e., after childbirth). Consider locating to fascinating cities and become a travel nurse in Winston-Salem, NC, where nurses make $2,623/week. Resources and articles written by professionals and other nurses like you. Many staff nurses leave for travel jobs A recent surge in demand for travel nurses has made long-running staffing shortages at rural hospitals even worse, NBC It boils down to money. Pittsburgh-based UPMC, for example, paid an estimated $85 an hour for a traveling nurse or a nurse from an agency before the pandemic. She urged Health Secretary Steve Barclay "not to be Drawing on their firsthand industry expertise, our Integrity Network members serve as an additional step in our editing process, helping us confirm our content is accurate and up to date. (SOUNDBITE OF TWO PEOPLE SONG, "I'M TIED, TO YOU"). This is especially hard on small rural hospitals, which lack the resources to compete with larger hospital networks. They can work in any type of healthcare setting, including hospitals, residential care settings, and private practices. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, though, the pay for travel nurses has increased dramatically, and much faster than permanent salaries. When travel nurses are thrust into an unknown situation in a hospital/medical center that isnt familiar to them, and they are working with systems theyre not familiar with, whats the best way for them to cope? Students with an ADN degree, transferable college credits, or AP passing scores can finish a BSN in 2-3 years. Theres just one thing to remember when it comes to housing; you have to bring all of your personal items with you. As a travel nurse. Pairing with a mentor or companion will also help you develop soft skills as you learn the ropes of the organization. If you have already made a financial contribution to Vox, thank you. In 2016, I was working as an ICU nurse in Reno, Nevada. When I worked as a travel nurse, there wasnt that much of a discrepancy between my wage and permanent staff, said Mary Jorgensen, an operating room nurse at UW Health in Madison, Wisconsin, and a former travel nurse. 2023 Springer Publishing Company | Privacy Policy. You can do that. I went to a few different places to find where I wanted to be staff, said Piper. All rights reserved. It lists a number of specific policy recommendations, such as mandated staffing ratios and better workplace safety regulations, that they believe will help create sustainable, rewarding jobs and keep nurses in the field. When it comes to the pros and cons of travel nursing jobs, time spent with family and loved ones is an important thing to note. Depending on benefits, food and housing expenses, the difference between travel nurse salaries and staff salaries may not be as significant as the gross pay difference. The cost of moving can vary depending on the state. However, many employers require or strongly prefer a BSN. Copyright 2022 NPR. Travel nursing jobs can be found in any city imaginable. Thats around double what a regular licensed nurse earns$43,170 per year. Prohibits mandatory immunization against the coronavirus; prohibits requiring immunization for attendance at school or day care, transportation, travel, entering public buildings, employment, nursing home residency or receiving government services; provides that no proof of vaccine shall be required or When the assignment is within a nurses scope of practice, but not within their realm of experience or training, saying no to the assignment could lead to dismissal. Pils, a registered nurse in Franklin, a small town near Bryan-College Station, spent the past year working at hospitals in COVID-19 hot spots across the U.S. as a Because of the many nursing roles and specialties for travel nurses, extensive research is essential to the job search. Students with a bachelor's in a field other than nursing can usually transfer some credits towards an accelerated BSN.. BSN programs require a high school diploma or GED certificate and at least some Travel nurses are at best a temporary fix, and the long-term cost is unsustainable. Travel nurses work around the country or the world, usually on a short-term basis. However, travel nursing is one career that favors the number of employers for whom you have worked! The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has compiled information about the nurse licensure compact and emergency action taken by states, which is a great starting place for information. Instead, you can choose assignments only in the best places to live as a nurse. But it's not something that I openly talk about otherwise, just because I feel like that harbors negative feelings., For her part, Piper admits the current pay disparities often make her feel guilty., It's a stressful job, said Piper, and I feel like having people come in and having the hospital be willing to pay double or triple what their staff are making is kind of a slap in the face to their staff.. The standard contract is 13 weeks long, though nurses can sometimes choose to extend it to six months or longer. This lets you get back to the real reason you became a nurse in the first placepatient care. Jun 2, 2020 | Blog, Minority and Community Health, Nurse Health. Even McKinsey & Company places improved nursing skills at the top of the priority list for hospitals, and a travel nurse lifestyle is the perfect start. Before deciding to accept a job, nurses need to ensure that their licenses will allow them to practice in that state/jurisdiction. Even if a hospital happens to have maybe some older, outdated policies, at least you learned, Hey, thats a way that that probably should be done, she said. Or, maybe youre more interested in a rural medical facility that requires you to stretch your skills to the limit? On the other hand, a travel nurse has the flexibility to choose how much they want to work. Think about all of the things you can embrace moving on to a new place and assignment every few monthsit is an exciting way to build a career. Each state may vary in its licensing requirements. He said that, even before the pandemic, there was a need to increase the rate nurses are being paid. Graduates of an ADN course can perform testing and monitoring, such as taking blood pressure and other vital signs; safely lift and move patients; communicate effectively with patients; understand the healthcare delivery system; and address legal and ethical aspects of nursing. However, there are some skills that require more time to refine. Each week, we explore unique solutions to some of the world's biggest problems. The traditional route for gaining professional experience often includes a lengthy stint with a single employer. CHATLANI: Jamie Heard, an ICU manager in Mississippi, says for now, nurses know the labor market has changed, and there's a lot less incentive to stay at a given hospital. But relying so heavily on temporary staff brings disruption. Is there any other information that is important for our readers to know? Transform your mindset to think of these instances as challenges that you can overcome. From the earliest days of the pandemic, registered nurses bore the brunt of the increased strain on the health care system. JAMIE HEARD: It all boils down to, I'm doing this for my family. Can Travel Nurses Help the Nursing Shortage? What if the facility allows them to do more than their own state? 1. The COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness about inappropriate nurse staffing and may accelerate this dangerous cycle. For many, travel contracts present a way out they never thought theyd But, travel nurse salaries vary widely by credentials, experience, specialty, location, whether housing or a stipend is provided, and many other factors. Travel nurses should make sure to take time for self-care to preserve their mental health. The BSN curriculum includes prevention and health promotion;, evidence-based nursing practice; statistics/research methods; healthcare systems and management; community health; and communicating with and educating patients. 6 Innovative Ways Top Nursing Executives Are Surviving the Nursing Shortage There are six proven strategies to increase nurse retention. The spike in travel nursing demand and pay shows that the system as it exists now is not equipped to respond to a major crisis without significant disruptions that will have serious consequences down the line. SHALINA CHATLANI, BYLINE: Last year, Kimberly Carson got tired of the nursing job she'd had for eight years at a hospital in Illinois. Relying on temporary staff weakens hospital teams, drawing away the best and most experienced nurses and making it that much harder to onboard new staff, train students, and provide high-quality care. You can get back to basics and say goodbye to hospital politics that can drag you through the mud and make you miserable. ), Increasingly relying on travel nurses more often can also warp the inner workings of a hospital. Thats why, For example, what happens if an emergency family situation comes up that requires you to take months off of work? 2011; 67: 287-296. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. Some states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, meaning that a nursing license earned in one state is valid in others. Its especially easy to get stuck when only a few specialties that interest you are available in your hometown. finding the perfect location that matches your career goals and lifestyle needs can be difficult. BSN programs require a high school diploma or GED certificate and at least some coursework in math, science, and chemistry. You can find a job there. Some Countries Pay More Than Others. Travel nurses were once seen as a way to fill staffing shortages or assist in times of increased need, like flu season, and because they are urgently needed, they traditionally make more money than staff nurses. Youll learn how to be more flexible in different settings, 9 Ways to Get Nursing Experience as a Travel Nurse, In some parts of the country, these jobs may be difficult to obtain or limited in opportunity, but as a travel nurse, you can travel to where the job. But like everywhere in nursing, stress is a big topic for travel nurses as well. When it comes to the pros and cons of travel nursing jobs, time spent with family and loved ones is an important thing to note. you can work that into your schedule and change your assignments to be near your family, so you can be there as needed. Plus, as a travel nurse, youll typically have far more confidence when it comes to interviews since youre used to meeting new people and making new friends everywhere you move. But there are real downsides to taking this model too far, which are apparent to travel nurses as well as the permanent staff. The request to appeal was filed just days after conflicting court rulings over the legality of the abortion medication mifepristone. For example, Denver, Colorado offers access to some of the top world-class ski resorts in the world, including Telluride, Aspen, and Vail. embrace moving on to a new place and assignment every few monthsit is an exciting way to build a career. Because I was a former ICU and travel nurse, I received frequent emails from travel nursing agencies when the pandemic first erupted, offering upward of $6,000 per week and occasionally as high as $10,000, if I were willing to relocate on as little as 48 hours notice to one of the cities experiencing a Covid-19 surge. The cost of moving can vary depending on the state. Plus, with each stint, you can learn new skills that you could add to your resume. MAS Medical staffing offers nursing jobs all across the country. As a healthcare professional, you agreed to a contract and should have a good reason for wanting to sever it. Travel nurse staffing agencies may recruit at nursing schools, through referrals, or through advertisements for specific positions or general placements. It's also trying to accelerate visa processing for 5,000 foreign health care workers. Most are using it to hire travel nurses. Find out common answers to travel nurse questions such as what travel nurses do and how much they make. Temporary licenses are also an optionthese are generally reserved for travel nurses who have accepted a job in another state and are awaiting their permanent license. We were more attracted to travel nursing for the lifestyle of going to different locations. The rise of the travel nurse in the time of Covid-19 isnt that surprising. During their studies, nursing students choose a specialization that determines their elective courses and where they perform clinical rotations. Further, plaintiffs counsel can file a lawsuit, immunity or no immunity, if the plaintiffs counsel believes the client was injured and that injury was the direct result of the nurse or other health care professional providing or failing to provide professional services. This can be especially beneficial when life presents unexpected challenges. There are certainly some concerns in the travel nursing population around mental health, self-care, those sorts of things. Burnout, low morale and low pay have contributed to an exodus of nurses from the field, and now demand for travel nurses is outstripping the supply. For NPR News, I'm Shalina Chatlani in Jackson, Miss. When you choose your different travel assignments, you also choose when to take time off and spend time with your family and friends. CHATLANI: So she quit and since December has worked as a traveling nurse, making twice her old salary on a temporary contract with a Mississippi hospital. Explore our full list of Integrity Network members. maybe youre more interested in a rural medical facility that requires you to stretch your skills to the limit? Overall, the analysis indicated that quality of care and patient satisfaction were not affected when use of travel nurses increased. There is no specific travel nurse certification, but you can become certified in various specialty areas, depending on which specialty you pursue as a travel nurse. A6619 (ACTIVE) - Summary. The idea originated in New Orleans in 1978, as a response to the annual influx of patients during Mardi Gras. Honing your adaptability through experience ensures you fit in anywhere. Part-time students working full time may take longer. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for registered nurses is expected to grow 6% from 2021 to 2023. You will have to learn the ropes wherever you go. But thats changed. On Curtin's website, theres talk about the staffing shortages and pay disparities, according to Curtin. Theres so much that goes into a hospital running smoothly, and historically if a travel nurse was needed, they were able to pop in, understand the ecosystem quickly, and everything would function as normal., But now, she notes, were relying on them too much, and theyre thrown into a less stable ecosystem without the support to figure it out.. However, finding the perfect location that matches your career goals and lifestyle needs can be difficult. WebThe travel nursing lifestyle calls for a sense of adventure and those who love to learn quickly and experience new surroundings will thrive, so be honest and ask yourself if you will succeed in such situations or if youd rather stick to what you know. Nurses are working next to a travel nurse who makes three times the money they make and that lies in the problem, the retired nurse said. Honing your adaptability through experience ensures you fit in anywhere. Basically, by the time you add everything up, including your housing, health insurance for travel nurses, and competitive salary package, its a very lucrative career. Generally, it takes at least two years to earn an ADN, the minimum requirement to become an RN. is located instead of waiting for it to come to you. When you travel from job to job, youre able to focus more closely on patient care and avoid all the hospital politics. The COVID-19 pandemic is still evolving, and there is much we still do not know about the virus. Lets take a look at the ten excellent pros and cons of travel nursing to determine if it is right for you! Covid-19 has taken a nurse shortage that predated the pandemic and dramatically worsened it. Travel nurses are not only paid a higher hourly wage, but the agencies generally mark up the bill by 32 to 65 percent to turn a profit. I know two amazing nurses who are some of my best friends, who are travel nurses and they are single mothers, but they still make travel work because they just want to give their kids the best life possible, Mobley told me. Travel nurses perform any type of nursing function, either substituting for regular staff nurses or addressing short-term needs for additional staff, or both (as during COVID-19). If experienced, committed permanent nurses are so essential to a hospitals functioning, providing value that no temporary travel nurse can replace, why arent they compensated accordingly? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for registered nurses is expected to, Lets take a look at the ten excellent pros and cons of travel nursing to determine if, If youre curious and want to learn more about beginning your, , make sure to contact us now to speak to a recruiter. You can also partner with a travel nurse agency like MAS Medical Staffing who offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes relocation stipends, health insurance, 401(k) plans, and so much more! Therefore, the demand for travel nurses seems to be primarily driven by a need to build up hospital capacity to handle the influx of COVID-19 patients. When faced with situations that exceed the scope of practice for the state in which they are practicing, or the skills or knowledge required to care for patients, travel nurses, like all other nurses, should develop and implement proactive strategies to alleviate unsafe patient assignments. Working as a travel nurse typically lured those early in their career who wanted to see new parts of the country and enjoy adventure while earning a good living. places improved nursing skills at the top of the priority list for hospitals, and a travel nurse lifestyle is the perfect start. Certification , or you can even choose your specialty based on its raritygiving you a unique skill set that would be hard to deny. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! Find out what you need to know, including the steps to becoming a travel nurse; learn which nursing specialty areas pay the most, how to find a job, and more. Kelly OConnor, another registered nurse from UW Health, mentioned a colleague of hers left Madison, Wisconsin, for a travel position in Milwaukee the very same week that OConnors unit resorted to hiring a travel nurse from Milwaukee to fill the vacancy at a much higher cost to her hospital. But pay for travel nurses isnt just about your base salary. This first-time event, brought to you by GBH in partnership with NPR, PBS and stations across the country, is a celebration of all that #PublicMediaGives people everywhere. You can choose a specialty based on which one pays the most, or you can even choose your specialty based on its raritygiving you a unique skill set that would be hard to deny. For most nurses, you see the same people and issues day in and day out, meaning youre constantly embroiled in drama, whether you want to be or not. However. You can find a job there. If it doesnt, but frontline workers are still needed, are exceptions being made? The GPA requirements for ADN programs are often lower than for BSN programs, so students who did not get strong grades in high school can improve their chances for a BSN program with better grades in an ADN program. The current challenge in the nursing workforce is "a widespread, national problem without a solution until supply-demand equilibrium is achieved," according to a recent report from the Organization of Nurse Leaders, a five-state membership organization that includes Massachusetts. It also includes clinical hours, developing skills in a healthcare setting. I used to feel that I helped the new nurse grow, and now more often than not were having to rely on each other just to get through the workload, she says. A federal judge in Texas could rule as soon as today on whether to cut off access to a key medication abortion protocol, giving lawyers until day's end to submit additional arguments. We already talked about adventure, but what about the freedom to choose what you want, when you want, and where you want. Read about working as a travel nurse. Support GBH. This is essentially the same as earning raises in a static position based on time spent at the job. The latest data from Aya Healthcare, a national travel nurse staffing agency, shows there are currently 20% more open travel nursing jobs than there were one year ago in Massachusetts: roughly 700 positions in the state out of 35,000 nationally. Hurst K ; Smith A ; Temporary nursing staff: cost and quality issues. Be sure to double check references and the agency's reputation. CHATLANI: The hospital association asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate staffing agencies a year ago. They also require recommendations from teachers or counselors. It's now been a year since the American Hospital Association alleged price gouging and asked the White House to investigate and act. In fact, I hadnt trained as a nurse in the US at all; Im from Canada and went to nursing school there. With ICUs across the country overflowing, hospitals were forced to open specialized Covid-19 wards and staffing was strained. On the surface, it may seem difficult to be a travel nurse with a family. As a travel nurse, you have a fun and flexible lifestyle that few people can boast. With travel nurse housing, you can set down short-term roots in a variety of locations around the country or even around each state until you discover the pros and cons of each area and are able to choose the location that best fits your needs. Many agencies provide you with housing locations. Just as travel nurses make more money in different areas of the U.S., international assignments pay more than others. Thats around double what a regular licensed nurse earns, Why the Average Travel Nurse Salary Will Surprise You, Basically, by the time you add everything up.