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Why We Need More Nurses On the Road

Author: Coast Medical Service

Posted: August 17, 2021

Travel Nursing

Travel nurses comprise a crucially important demographic of the healthcare industry. Despite the fact that nurses are the largest clinical population in hospitals, there is a nationwide nurse shortage. Hospitals and other medical settings across the country have a high need for nurses that has only increased as rates of COVID-19 continue to soar.

In times of crisis, the nurses willing to take travel assignments to other medical settings, cities, and states are the glue holding our healthcare system together. Thanks to travel nurses, short-staffed hospitals are able to supplement their bandwidth by pulling employees on 4-week travel nurse assignments from outside the hospital’s usual hiring area.

Travel nurses are an invaluable asset to under-staffed medical settings and an essential factor in providing adequate care to all patients. Here are just a few of the reasons why we need more nurses on the road.

1. New COVID-19 Hotspots Appear Constantly

When COVID first rose to prominence in the U.S., the major hotspots were Los Angeles, New York, New Orleans, and other major metropolitan areas; those areas continue to shift. Nurses who take travel assignments are essential because the ability to prepare necessary locations with the right staff and equipment as quickly as possible is vital. 4-week travel nurse assignments are of particular importance because hospitals can benefit from short-term relief without keeping nurses from other understaffed facilities for longer than necessary.

2. Many Hospitals are Understaffed

Even during the slowest times, many hospitals in rural or smaller urban areas require nurses willing to go there on short travel nurse assignments simply because local areas do not have the resources to meet patient demand. The added burden of rising COVID-19 cases has further strained the ability of public health facilities to keep up with the demand for medical services.

A smaller facility that must contend with the challenge of treating large numbers of patients with the novel coronavirus can quickly be depleted of staff and resources. Nurses who take 4-week travel nurse assignments to hospitals with fewer resources—or even hospitals that are typically well-staffed but simply cannot deal with the unprecedented number of patients—help to alleviate the strain on these facilities.

3. Traveling Provides a Great Medical Education

Travel is an enriching way for any person to grow and learn , but medical travel assignments add a special context. While many workers in the U.S. are limited to a set location for the majority of their job, travel nurses have the opportunity to experience different subcultures and cities across the nation. Different locations and facilities all face their own unique medical challenges, giving nurses who take travel assignments a breadth of experience that they would not have otherwise.

Whether it is a 6-month or 4-week travel nurse assignment, new people and places can further develop a nurse’s medical knowledge as well as their soft skills and cultural competency. A travel assignment to an ICU in rural Texas requires—and provides—a different set of experiences than an assignment to a convalescent home in San Francisco.

There are medical facilities across the entire United States in need of immediate help. Partnering with a company like Coast and taking on any length of travel assignments, can offer nurses the ability to help, an impressive depth of knowledge, and a wide range of experience.

4. Permanent Staff Need Help Battling Burnout

The novel coronavirus is not only stretching hospitals to their limits in terms of equipment and capacity but nurses and doctors themselves are facing unprecedented challenges given the abnormally high patient load. By accepting travel assignments to hospitals where the staff is battling emotional burnout, travel nurses can provide permanent staff with a bit of relief. New staff members can provide new expertise that the permanent staff may not possess, but they also boost morale just by virtue of their appearance and fresh attitude. Even 4-week travel nurse assignments inject much-needed reinvigoration into the permanent staff by supplementing them with brief but effective aid.

5. Creating a Beneficial National Community of Nurses

Nurses who accept travel assignments act as a link between otherwise-disparate locations and facilities across the country. This connection between diverse locales and medical settings creates a national network of nurses who can support, uplift, and inform each other in times of need. Even short travel nurse assignments are long enough to form connections between temporary and permanent staff that can benefit facilities and patients across the country thanks to the exchange of experience, knowledge, and advice.

By accepting travel assignments, nurses are able to spread knowledge and form relationships with other medical professions that benefit both staff and patients.

The Coast Medical Difference

Coast Medical Service is always looking for caring, qualified medical professionals who know their worth and truly want to help others to the best of their abilities. We pride ourselves on hiring amazing nurses who are willing to take short travel nurse assignments to whatever location may need their help. Additionally, we foster the relationships between nurses and the facilities they travel to, so nurses don’t have to spend time handling the logistics instead of helping others.

Even if it’s only from a 4-week travel nurse assignment, the bonds formed with the place you visit and the people you meet can last a lifetime. Whether you are a pediatric nurse, an ICU nurse, or anything in between, you can find a home at Coast Medical Service. We make sure our travel assignments go to the best and brightest in the healthcare industry, and if that describes you, then we want to meet you.

If you are ready to take the next step in your career and start making a positive difference across the country, apply for a position with us now and ask about our rates and placement options. We serve locations across the entire West Coast, Southwest, and South, and we are constantly expanding and finding new travel assignments for our staff. Travel nursing is fast becoming one of the most important medical vocations of our time, and we would love for you to make the biggest difference that you can by joining the Coast family today.

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Travel Nursing and Allied Therapy Jobs

If you're interested in working and venturing away from home, travel assignments are perfect for you travel and explore what the world has to offer, all while doing what you do best — providing quality care., travel contract jobs for  nursing and allied therapy healthcare professionals.

Your opportunities with GrapeTree are endless! Along with per-diem shifts and local assignments, our healthcare professionals have the opportunity to travel and explore new areas without giving up a regular income. Travel contracts are 8-13 weeks in length, offer opportunities to work outside a 50 mile radius of your home, and include travel + housing stipends. Mesh your career with new personal life experiences by becoming a traveling healthcare professional with GrapeTree!

You get the best of both worlds. Earn a competitive wage while exploring your surroundings in your down time.

Live in, make memories in, and explore a new area with every new travel assignment

Receive a weekly, non-taxed per diem, to assist with travel, meals, housing, incidentals, and other necessary expenses.

Guaranteed hours

Your schedule is set from the moment you are booked into a travel assignment with GrapeTree.

We currently offer travel opportunities throughout the states below – but we are still expanding! Check out all of the fun things to do in each of our states and pick your next home-away-from-home.

Make More With Travel Contracts

The weekly package range for travel assignments is a combination of hourly taxed rate and a weekly non-taxed per diem reimbursement to cover housing, meals, incidentals, and other necessary costs. Package amount is based on facility type, specialty, location, and certification of healthcare professional.

CN A s &  STN A s

$1,200-$1,700 per week.

Must have 6 months of experience working as a CNA or STNA.

PTAs, OTAs, COTAs

$1,500-$1,800 per week.

Must have 6 months of experience working as a PTA, OTA, or COTA.

$1,600-$2,000 PER WEEK

Must have 1 year of experience working as an LPN.

PTs & OTs

$2,000-$2,600 per week.

Must have 6 months of experience working as a PT or OT.

Must have 1 year of experience working as an RN.

Must have 6 months of experience working as an SLP.

Your h ome address must be least 50 miles away from the facility to qualify for travel pay rates. Contracts are available as local assignments  for those whose home address is less than 50 miles away from the facility address.

Get Certified in Other States

Only certified to work in your home state? No problem! While each state has their own process for becoming licensed, it is easy to get your license transferred. This process is called getting "reciprocity" or "endorsement." Our team has compiled a list of all our states' registries so that you can easily transfer your license. Give our team a call to learn more about getting reimbursed for gaining reciprocity in other states! Click the button below to get started.

The Perks of Travel A ssignments

Flexibility.

You have the flexibility to choose where you go and what assignments you take on.

Avoid Burnout

Experience higher job satisfaction working in a travel assignment by avoiding overtime.

Gain Knowledge

Explore what you love about nursing by working with more people in diverse settings.

Career Advancement

Strengthen your experience an build up your resume to show that you thrive in all environments.

What People Are Saying

I've been working and traveling with GrapeTree Medical Staffing for about five months now and have loved every minute of it! The communication is great, the pay is excellent and I love how flexible they are! If you are looking for a great company to work for I highly recommend GrapeTree!

Alissa | Travel CNA

Got questions we've got answers..

Book Your Dream A ssignment

Our team is waiting to hear from you! Learn more about our travel opportunities or book your dream assignment by giving us a call at (712) 336-0800.

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Aya delivers:

• Unlimited complimentary CEUs through MedBridge. Access unlimited CEUs that count towards licensing and additional education hours.
• The most jobs in the industry. We have the largest and most reliable job database, which means the jobs you see are open, updated in real time and ready for you!
• Competitive advantage over other agencies. Front-of-the-line access through our direct facility relationships — many with quick (even same-day) offers, giving you the best chance of securing your ideal opportunity.
• Expedited licensing and streamlined compliance. An industry-leading on-time start rate and strong relationships with boards of nursing across the country to accelerate the process in all 50 states.
• Expert career guidance. A dedicated recruiter to help you achieve your dream career. Travel, per diem, permanent — we have the reach and access to get you the jobs you want, and the expertise to help you realize your long-term goals.
• A best-in-class support system and an exceptional experience. Enjoy accurate, weekly pay, and an entire team dedicated to your happiness on assignment, 24/7.

Plus, you get everything you expect from the largest healthcare staffing company in the industry:

• Exceptional benefits, including premium medical, dental, vision and life insurance beginning day one of your assignment. Want to take time off? Keep insurance coverage for up to 24 days between assignments.
• A generous 401(k) match.
• Paid company housing (we'll help you bring your pets along, too!) or a generous housing stipend.
• Paid sick time in accordance with all applicable state, federal, and local laws. Aya's general sick leave policy is that employees accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. However, to the extent any provisions of the statement above conflict with any applicable paid sick leave laws, the applicable paid sick leave laws are controlling.
• The industry's only clinical ladder program for RNs on assignment.
• Access to unlimited continuing education units online.
• Licensure, relocation and other reimbursements, when applicable.
• Pay listed above includes taxable wages and tax-free expense reimbursements.

For all employees and employee applicants, Aya is an Equal Employment Opportunity ("EEO") Employer, including Disability/Vets, and welcomes all to apply. Please click here for our EEO policy.

FOR THIS TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT STATE LAW REQUIRES A CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT.

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Aya Healthcare gives you access to the most jobs — and the most exclusive opportunities — in the industry. We have strong relationships with leading facilities nationwide, and job options to support your personal and professional goals. Whether you want to put down roots with a permanent role, explore the country with a travel job or pick up per diem shifts close to home, Aya’s got you covered.

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• A rental car and bi-weekly weekend travel home.

With Aya Locums you get:

• Access to top hospitals and healthcare systems in diverse care settings.
• Highly competitive, transparent locum tenens pay.
• Dedicated application and assignment support.
• In-house credentialing and licensing teams.
• Full coverage of licensing costs.
• Travel and lodging coverage.
• Easy timekeeping and streamlined management of documents.
• Malpractice coverage and risk management support.
• Premium medical, dental, vision and life insurance beginning day one of your assignment.
• Paid sick time. Aya provides paid sick leave in accordance with all applicable state, federal, and local laws. Aya's general sick leave policy is that employees accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. However, to the extent any provisions of the statement above conflict with any applicable paid sick leave laws, the applicable paid sick leave laws are controlling.
• Generous 401k match.
• Aya may provide other benefits where required by applicable law, including but not limited to reimbursements.
• Aya coordinates all travel and lodging accommodations.
• Travel information is received the evening prior to your scheduled departure.
• Airfare is covered and, if driving to the assignment, reimbursement is available.
• Once notice is received, communication from our team is sent via email and text to ensure you are kept in the loop as soon as information becomes available.
• Your safety is Aya's top priority. We work closely with the facility to ensure additional security measures are taken onsite so you can focus on what really matters: patient care.
• Licensure, relocation and other reimbursements.

Experience the Aya difference today

• A dedicated recruiter who advocates for you every step of the way.
• We'll ensure the hiring manager prioritizes your interest and schedules an interview quickly.
• A streamlined hiring process means offers are often presented within 24-48 hours after an interview with a hiring leader.
• Flexible start dates that work around your availability.
• We make it simple with one point of contact the entire time.
• University of Washington (UW) offers a wide range of benefits as part of your total compensation package. Choose from top medical and dental insurance programs; plan for your future with tax-deferred investing through the UW retirement options; enjoy generous vacation and sick leave policies; and protect yourself and your family with life and long-term disability insurance. For more information, follow the links shown below or explore the Benefits website at http://hr.uw.edu/benefits/

With Aya, you get:

• Higher compensation - we negotiate on your behalf.
• Work-life balance - contracts are up to 40 hours per week, with workdays ending mid-late afternoon and weekends off!
• An employee advocate - our team ensures you have the support needed to be successful in your role.
• Options post contract - extend, convert to a permanent employee or find a new job.
• Paid company housing (pets are welcome to tag along) or a generous housing stipend.
• If qualified, continued insurance coverage over the summer.
• A generous 401k match.
• A robust team to support you every step of the way.
• A credentialing specialist to streamline the entire compliance process.
• Freedom and flexibility around your current schedule.
• The easy-to-use Shifts app. Select shifts anytime, anywhere.
• Premium medical, dental, vision and life insurance.
• Front-of-the-line access to exclusive jobs at thousands of healthcare facilities nationwide.
• A robust team to support you every step of the way to ensure you start on time, have accurate payroll and an exceptional experience.
• Certification and other reimbursements, when applicable.

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A Guide to Travel Nurse Assignments: Your FAQs Answered

Table of Contents

Whether you’re a new travel nurse or a seasoned traveler, travel nurse assignments can be confusing and sometimes difficult to understand the terms. Let’s review the advantages of working with a travel nursing agency and some FAQs below.

Find Travel Nursing opportunities all over the United States

Registered nurses have the opportunity to become travel nurses at any point during their nursing career. Most of the time, travel nursing agencies require at least two years of nursing experience before becoming a traveler. However, this varies by agency and specialty. 

Just like a career in nursing offers a variety of specialties and job opportunities, so does the world of travel nursing. As a travel nurse, you have the opportunity to work in your specialty while traveling the country. You get the opportunity to meet new people, work with a variety of patient populations, and expand your professional network.

If you’re interested in exploring what travel nursing opportunities are out there, many travel nurse agency websites offer job boards , including Health Carousel Travel Nursing. Most  job board postings detail the location, start date, assignment length, weekly hours, and expected pay ranges. Due to most job boards’ transparency in this criteria, it’s easy to compare agencies and nursing jobs.

Advantages of working with a professional Travel Nurse Agency 

There are several benefits of working with a professional travel nursing agency. Get to know your recruiter first. Your recruiter should understand your needs, wants, and preferences in an assignment. Once they understand your assignment preferences, they can help you with your travel nursing job search . Oftentimes, they can better filter nursing jobs and may offer new jobs that haven’t been made public yet. 

Next, your travel nurse agency recruiter is your assignment advocate and liaison between you and the healthcare facility. They will prepare you for your interview by providing typical questions and prepping your responses. If you need any days off or a more flexible schedule, they will help you ask for these as well. 

Once you have an offer, navigating a compensation package can be pretty difficult to understand. An advantage of working with an agency recruiter is that they will help you through every step of the process. This can include benefits, sick leave, stipend amounts, etc. If you don’t understand an area or amount, or would like more compensation, then ask. Your recruiter will help you negotiate Your recruiter will help you negotiate your travel nursing contract with the healthcare facility, depending on their company policy. Typically, no two contracts will look the same.

Now that we’ve reviewed the advantages of working with a travel nurse agency, let’s detail some frequently asked questions (FAQs) below.

How long are typical travel nurse assignments?

Travel nurse assignment lengths vary depending on the nursing demand, healthcare facility, unit, and season. Most assignments last 13 weeks but can be shorter or longer. Some crisis contracts are as little as two weeks. Other contracts start as 13-week assignments, but hospitals sometimes offer contract extensions of up to a year.

Do travel nurses get easy assignments?

Travel nurse assignments are based on nurse shortages and increased demands in the area and unit. Every travel nursing experience is different. There’s no way to determine beforehand if an assignment is going to be easy. We all know that one day at the hospital can be fairly easy and the next can be draining. 

To prepare, ask about typical unit assignments, patient-to-nurse ratios, and patient populations during the interview process. If the patient-to-nurse ratio seems high for your specialty, consider this before accepting an offer. 

How do I choose a travel nursing assignment?

Many travel nursing agencies offer nursing job boards for you to search for available assignments. Before beginning your search, write down a list of your preferences, including locations, units, and desired pay. This will help you filter your initial search. 

Many states are transitioning to the nursing licensure compact agreement . If you hold a compact license, this means you can practice nursing in that state without applying for a new nursing license. It makes it easier for travel nurses especially since they work in different states. However, keep in mind that you may only obtain a compact license if you reside in a compact state.

What type of travel nurses are most needed?

Travel nurses are  always needed. However, the demand for what specialty of travel nursing varies greatly, depending on the area, nursing shortages, and employers. Most of the time, there is a high demand for medical-surgical, intensive care, and emergency room nurses.

Is it hard to find jobs as a travel nurse?

Typically, it’s not hard to find travel nursing jobs. You may not get your first assignment choice, but there are always plenty of other options available. To make it easier during your job search, apply for several assignments and obtain your compact state nursing license if you haven’t already done so. 

Is travel nursing risky?

Working as a travel nurse comes with the same risks as working as a staff registered nurse. You will need to understand the state regulations, the scope of practice, and the healthcare facility’s company policies as you would with any other new nursing job. 

Is travel nursing worth the money?

Many registered nurses transition to travelers and make travel nursing their career. Most travel nurses find travel nursing worth the time and money. You get to travel the country, typically make higher pay than staff nurses, and make your schedule (for the most part). ZipRecruiter shows that the national average salary for travel nurses is $118,400, which is well beyond the average staff nurse salary.

Health Carousel Travel Nursing Boasts Travel Nursing Assignments To Advance Your Career

Health Carousel Travel Nursing has travel nursing jobs available for you throughout the country. Our recruiters work to understand your needs and want to keep you aligned with your career goals. We partner with top healthcare facilities throughout the United States, so you have many career options available. We also offer great benefits, including medical and dental insurance, and sick leave.

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How Does Travel Nursing Work? | Salary and FAQs

Travel nursing is a great way to advance your career and earn great pay while traveling the country. Plus, travel nursing can provide advantages to nurses who value flexibility in their careers and don’t want to be locked into one facility or specialty. Travel nursing can also help nurses who are looking for variety in the nursing profession to learn new skills and gain valuable experience.

While providing excellent patient care is one part of the job that won’t change, there are some differences between being a travel nurse versus a staff nurse that you should be aware of before you make the switch.

Below you’ll learn the travel nurse basics as we answer 15 of the most frequently asked questions about travel nursing.

Discover available travel nursing assignments in the area of your choice!

Table of Contents

• How Does Travel Nursing Work?
• Who Can Become a Travel Nurse?
• What is The Salary Like as a Travel Nurse?
• How Long are Travel Nursing Assignments?
• Where Can Travel Nurses Go?
• Can I Take a Travel Assignment Close to My Home?
• Am I Eligible for Benefits Like Health Insurance and Vacation?
• Does the Staffing Agency Pay For My Living Expenses?
• Can I Travel With My Family and/or Pets?
• Can I Travel With Another Travel Nurse?
• Will I Get the Worst Assignments?
• If An Assignment is Cut Short Due to Low Census, Do I Get Full Pay?
• Is Travel Nursing Good for Career Advancement?
• How Long Will There Be Demand for Travel Nurses?
• How Do I Become a Travel Nurse?

1. How Does Travel Nursing Work?

Travel nurses are hired to bridge staffing shortages on a shorter-term basis, which may be caused by a variety of factors:

• A lack of qualified nurses in the area
• Seasonal patient population increases
• Natural disasters or pandemics
• Staff nurses taking expected leaves of absence like maternity leave or vacations

To find skilled nurses to fill these often short-term assignments, these facilities work with recruitment agencies.

Most travel nursing assignments are around 13-14 weeks long, so as the travel nurse, you sign a contract with a travel nursing agency to work that length of time at a designated facility. While 13-14 weeks is an average length of time, there may be other assignments that are shorter or longer.

Every facility will have different policies, but most will also have clearly explained policies about what will happen if you feel unsafe, are unable to complete your assignment, or if the hospital decides to cancel your contract before the length of time is up.

Your travel nurse recruitment agency will work with you to place you at a facility and help you arrange things like housing , meals, and other practical things you may need during your stay, like internet or utilities.

You also have the option to receive retirement benefits and insurance for the duration of your assignment, although those benefits usually end when your assignment does, so some travel nurses opt to pay out-of-pocket for the benefits they need so they last between assignments.

There are travel nurse assignments available in nearly every specialty, from ICU to labor and delivery to advanced nurse practitioner positions like CRNAs and NPs. In general, the more specialty experience you have, the higher pay you may earn as a travel nurse. If you have specialty training or would like to gain it, be sure to talk to your nurse recruiter.

2. Who Can Become a Travel Nurse?

Travel nurses are Registered Nurses with typically 12-18 months of hospital-based RN experience in their field. Depending on the specialty or the specific requirements of the facility, the required work experience may be longer. Travel nursing assignments are available for multiple specialties, but some specialties like ICU and oncology are more in demand. Nurses with advanced certification, such as NPs, CNMs, and CRNAs can also take travel positions.

See other high-demand travel nurse specialties.

3. What is The Salary Like as a Travel Nurse?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a Registered Nurse in 2023 was $86,070  per year, while travel nurses can make on average approximately $114,560 per year. However, keep in mind that while high-rate travel nursing positions are still available, they are not as high as they were reaching at the peak of the pandemic.

Total travel nurse compensation depends on multiple factors such as your specialty, the contract details, and the location of the hospital. In general, travel nurses are often paid well, because they’re filling a high demand for nurses.

In addition to your hourly rate, you’ll often be eligible for these perks:

• Medical and dental benefits
• Stipends for housing
• Travel expenses

Keep in mind that when working as a travel nurse, you’re employed by the travel nursing agency and not the facility. It’s also important to remember that travel nurses are paid (and taxed) differently than staff nurses . Travel nurses are paid through agencies, not the hospital, so you have to look at your total pay. This will include your hourly base pay + your non-taxable stipends, which are things like housing and meals.

Your hourly base pay may look lower than you expect, but when you factor the stipends in, you can get a more accurate picture of what your total pay looks like. You’ll also need to be sure you have a “tax home” to avoid paying taxes on the stipends as well.

4. How Long are Travel Nursing Assignments?

The standard travel nursing assignment lasts 13 weeks, but anything between 8 and 26 weeks is common. Hospitals will often offer to renew your contract, too, if you agree — called extensions.

Extensions usually occur during the last 3 to 5 weeks of your assignment, but if you’re interested in staying on longer, you should talk to your recruiter. You don’t have to wait to be approached by the facility.

Standard travel nurse hours are five 8s, four 10s, or three 12s, though this will vary by facility. Your shift and hours should be written in your contract.

The beauty of being a travel nurse is the flexibility. You can work as long or as little as you would like — you can choose to extend an assignment, take on a new one as soon as one contract ends, or take an extended break between assignments.

5. Where Can Travel Nurses Go?

Travel nursing jobs are available nationwide, but available assignment locations will depend on current staffing needs. While vacation destinations like Hawaii or California might be the dream for many travel nurses starting out, they’re also high in demand and as such, may not come with as high of pay.

On the flip side, choosing less in-demand areas may garner you higher pay and help you build your resume and experience. You can also sign up to be on a list for crisis travel nursing positions so that when something pops up last minute, like a hurricane in Puerto Rico, you can take a crisis pay travel nurse position.

Ultimately, you decide where you want to go — chances are if your dream location isn’t available now, it will be in the future.

Read more: Best Cities for Travel Nurses

It’s also very important to remember that in order to legally work as a travel nurse, you’ll need an RN license for that state. Some states are part of the Compact State licensure (eNLC), which means that if you have a Compact State license and want to work in any of the states under that license, you’re covered. Otherwise, you’ll have to apply for each individual state you want to work in, which can take a bit more time, so be sure to plan ahead. Ask your recruiter about Compact State licenses , which allow you to work in many states with one license.

6. Can I Take a Travel Assignment Close to My Home?

A common myth is your assignment must be at least 50 miles away from your permanent residence — often called the “50-mile rule.”

The truth is, you can work a contract assignment at a hospital close to your home if you choose. In fact, some nurses even choose to quit their staff positions and take on travel nursing roles at the same hospitals they work at. (Keep in mind that your hospital may frown upon that or even ban nurses from doing that, so be sure to tread carefully if that’s your plan). Additionally, if you do choose a location close to home, you can’t collect the non-taxed housing stipend, which can reduce your overall pay.

To collect the housing stipend, you must be duplicating expenses — rent or own a home in your home area AND rent a place in the area you’re working. Basically, you can’t work a contract and go home to your main residence at the end of your shift and receive a non-taxed housing stipend.

7. Am I Eligible for Benefits Like Health Insurance and Vacation?

Most travel agencies offer medical and dental benefits as well as other benefits like a 401K that you can collect directly through the agency— some even offer matching 401K plans!

To maintain health insurance, though, you cannot take off more than 30 days. If your plan is to take extended time off between assignments, it would be better to get your own health insurance. You can purchase your own benefits through Marketplace.gov or go through an insurance agency that offers health insurance. You can also open your retirement accounts and contribute directly to them as you please.

Also, most travel nurse companies do not offer paid time off (PTO) or short-term disability. You’ll need to get your own insurance policy if you’re concerned with the possibility of getting hurt and not being able to work.

Bottom line: In the world of travel nursing, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. However, some nurses still find that thanks to the high wages travel nursing offers, they can actually earn more money by working fewer hours and still reap all the benefits of a staff position.

8. Does the Staffing Agency Pay For My Living Expenses?

There are two housing options available to travel nurses:

• Agency-placed housing
• Taking a housing stipend

If you choose agency-placed housing, the agency arranges your living situation, but it isn’t free. The housing fees come out of the bill rate and ultimately reduces your take-home pay. Housing is deducted from the travel nurse’s “cut” of the bill rate. Agencies will coordinate and set up housing, which is helpful if you’re new to travel nursing.

However, if you want to bring home the most money, we recommend taking the stipend and finding your own housing. In that scenario, you can still collect the housing stipend, but you have the freedom to choose your own living quarters, so if you find a place that’s lower than the stipend allows, you get to keep the difference. Many travel nurses choose to do this to keep their housing costs low and take home more pay.

When you get housing through an agency, it’s also important to know that things like a television, washer and dryer, or a vacuum are often not included, but you have the option of renting these items from the company that furnished the apartment. Let your recruiter know what you’ll need, so they can help arrange the rentals.

If you opt for the housing stipend, you’ll be responsible for finding your own housing as well as all of the living expenses.

See available housing listings by state.

9. Can I Travel With My Family and/or Pets?

Yes! You can travel on assignment with your family and/or pets — though finding housing may become a bit trickier. Most travel nurse companies provide a one-bedroom apartment (some just a studio or an extended-stay hotel), which probably isn’t doable if you’re bringing your children. To get housing with additional bedrooms and space, you may be required to pay for part of your housing (if using agency-placed housing). Or, you’ll have to find your own housing (using the housing stipend).

Let your recruiter know if you’d like to travel with your pet so they can find pet-friendly housing. Keep in mind that some housing has breed or weight restrictions, which can limit your options. You’ll also likely have to pay an additional security deposit or pet fee.

Learn more about how to find travel nurse housing with your pets.

10. Can I Travel With Another Travel Nurse?

Yes! It’s not uncommon for RNs to select travel nursing assignments together. You can even request to work in the same hospital or city and to share an apartment or apartment complex. Traveling with another nurse gives you someone to explore with and often saves on housing costs. It’s also possible to do travel nursing as a couple — learn how one couple does it and their advice for other nurse couples .

11. Will I Get the Worst Assignments?

Some travel nurses have reported that many facilities tend to give travel nurses the “easier” patients and leave the sickest to the staff nurses, especially for acute patients. Why? It takes time for a charge nurse to get to know you and learn what you can handle.

However, this may not be the case for you, especially if you are taking on a specialty assignment, like working in a COVID or ICU unit. Additionally, in critical staffing positions, there may not be an option to delegate “easier” patients, as every patient may be critically ill.

As a travel nurse, however, you’ll usually be the first to float. If you dislike that, then you may not enjoy being a travel nurse.

Read more: Are Travel Nurses Treated Unfairly?

12. If An Assignment is Cut Short Due to Low Census, Do I Get Full Pay?

No — typically you will not be paid if your assignment is cut short due to low patient counts. However, your recruiter will attempt to find you a replacement assignment quickly. Also, the number of shifts allowed to be canceled is written in your contract. Some contracts may also have policies about what will happen if the entire assignment is canceled. As a side note, you may also want to confirm that you can get out of your housing contract should your contract be canceled.

13. Is Travel Nursing Good for Career Advancement?

Traveling as a nurse increases your skill level and makes you a more eligible candidate for future nursing jobs. Why?

• It exposes you to different regional nursing procedures and patient populations
• You may have the opportunity to work in a wider variety of specialties
• You have experience learning a new clinical environment quickly
• Some agencies may also help you get more specialty training or certifications—if you’re interested in this, be sure to talk to your recruiter about what your agency might offer for continuing education!

14. How Long Will There Be Demand for Travel Nurses?

While the pressing need for travel nurses through the pandemic may have slowed, there will always be a demand for travel nurses. Not only do nursing shortages nationwide continue to be a problem, but the rate of new nurses replacing nurses leaving and retiring from the workforce is not an adequate number. Additionally, there will always be things like natural disasters and emergencies that crop up, which will require an influx of travel nurses who can work on short notice.

Nurses comprise the largest section of the healthcare profession, and continuing shortages are still a real problem. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects that over 1.2 million nurses are required to meet the current need and that employment opportunities for nurses are growing at a 6% rate through 2032 , which is faster than average.

15. How Do I Become a Travel Nurse?

We’ve compiled a complete step-by-step guide on how to become a travel nurse . You can also fill out this short form to get connected with up to four travel nursing agencies. We work with the top staffing companies whose recruiters work hard to connect you with the best opportunities available.

Start your travel nursing adventure today!

Make all the right career moves!

Don't miss out on your adventure., learn more about travel nursing.

Highest-Paying Travel Nurse Assignments

Travel Nurse Salary Guide | 2024

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8 Hotel Discounts For Travel Nurses 2024

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4 Week Travel Assignments

Specialties Travel

Published Nov 12, 2006

• + Add a Comment

I have not had or heard of a 4 week assignment....but I did do a 6 week assignment through TravelMax. Great experience.

suzanne4, RN

26,410 Posts

Quite a few of the agencies have four week assignments, but they are not common and usually are for specialty-type areas, such as Operating Room, cath lab, endosecopy lab, etc. Rarely find them for things like med-surg.

They are hit and miss when they have them, last few that I have seen were all for the OR.

What is your specialty?

thanks for the replies...i have worked the majority in M/S and urology; orthopedics; post-partum and same-day surgery...i will continue to look for the 4 week assignments and thanks for the comments...

Try On Assignment, NurseChoice or Faststaff

thanks for the replies...patty:p

Nurseschoice.com only does 4 week assignments I'm told.:roll

Nurse Choice has mostly 8 week assignments and most of them are in the SW and California. They have had some 4 week assignments but not that many.

The Wolf:paw:

nurseontheloose

where did you find a 4 weeker for or? i am a or nurse. i would like to go to alaska for 4 weeks. and help to get me there?

nightingale, RN

2,404 Posts

There are 4 week assignments for all specialties; being an OR Nurse is a big plus. They are not nearly as plentiful as 13 week assignments, though. You do need to "ask" all the Agencies you come into contact with about this option and tell them off your interest. Let them know, you also intend to renew if that is your goal after some time off.

I have also heard that you "can" sometimes negotiate time off (not paid and occasionally paid) in between the period of your contract. Be creative, keep good notes of your research, and remember how valuable you are.

What state, nurseontheloose, are you in? Is it possible to work a drive away from home?

There are several Agencies who utilize 4 week assignments, that I am familiar with: Travel Nurse Solutions, Fastaff, NurseChoice, and Critical Nurse Staffing. There are others but it depends on what state you want to go to for information to an area.

I have also called facilities, spoke with the Scheduling Office, to see who they use for Staffing with an Agency. It helps tremendously if you know where you want to go. I have spoken with the Nurse Manager and had them review my information before an Agency was able to recruit me. This is a lot of extra work but I like getting what I want.

Good luck to you and let us know how you make out.

jackiannieRN

Has Anyone Heard Of 'sunbelt' Staffing Agency? They Are Calling Me Everyday! Every Single Day!!!

Has Anyone Heard Of 'sunbelt' Staffing Agency? They Are Calling Me Everyday! Every Single Day!!! Thanks, Jacki

From the get go, they sound difficult. Have you told them to not call every day? I would tell them you will get back with them.