By Covelo Group

July 31, 2023

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Job Outlook: Why Do Hospitals Hire Travel Nurses?

Covelo Group provided this article.

Despite the U.S. healthcare industry making enormous strides since the pandemic, hospitals still struggle to stay fully staffed with nursing professionals. This problem isn’t new. The U.S. has had a persistent lack of healthcare workers for decades, and the shortage[i] of RNs is projected to continue to spread across the country through the year 2030.

As a result, healthcare systems still rely consistently on the travel nursing industry to fill both short-term and long-term staffing gaps. While root causes depend on the unique set of circumstances and challenges facing each medical center, here are some common reasons why hospitals hire travel nurses:

hire travel nurses

Nursing educator shortage

The healthcare industry is one of the fastest-growing career fields in the U.S. and has been for years. Data tells us that the demand for nurses in the U.S. continues to grow faster than the supply of qualified nursing candidates. Check here[ii] to see the nurse-to-population numbers in your home state.

As the Baby Boomer population experiences greater longevity, the demand for healthcare professionals is increasing. Unfortunately, not enough nursing school graduates are entering the workforce to meet those growing needs, creating a nursing deficit.

A major contributing factor to this deficit is the need that nursing programs have for nursing educators. A lack of qualified educators means that nursing schools remain extremely competitive and can admit only a fraction of their applicants. Ultimately, fewer nursing students lead to fewer nursing professionals.

Seasonal hires

Flu season typically starts in October, with flu activity sometimes stretching into May. Although the peak of flu season[iii] varies from year to year, it frequently happens in or around February. Not only do hospitals experience an influx of patients during flu season, but their full-time staff may also need to take more sick days due to increased exposure to infection. Hospitals also see a higher volume of requests for personal time off during the holidays.

Hiring travel nurses for seasonal spikes in patient load allows hospitals to keep operations running smoothly without increasing their full-time staffing volume.

Underserved communities

Remote hospitals in rural communities face a chronic struggle to keep enough doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals employed on a full-time basis. Given the challenge of attracting permanent clinical staff from bigger cities, these small-town clinics rely on a constant rotation of travel nurses to care for their patients. The travel nursing industry will always be essential to the health and well-being of patients in these isolated communities.

Absences and retirement

Every hospital has to manage covering shifts for their full-time nursing staff during the occasional extended leave of absence, consistent with the Family Medical Leave Act[iv]. Travel nursing is a convenient way for hospitals to cover an employee’s temporary leave of absence, which can last up to 12 weeks.

It’s also true that thousands of American nurses are approaching retirement age. In fact, according to the 2023 National Nursing Workforce Survey,[v] 19 percent of the current RN workforce is 65 years of age or older. This is no small challenge for the hospitals charged with replacing these seasoned nursing professionals within a few short years.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.


[i] https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-information/fact-sheets/nursing-shortage

[ii] https://nursejournal.org/articles/the-us-nursing-shortage-state-by-state-breakdown/

[iii] https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season.htm

[iv] https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/benefits-leave/fmla

[v] https://www.ncsbn.org/research/recent-research/workforce.page

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By trustaff

July 28, 2023

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TravCon 2023: Tips For Making The Most Of It

Trustaff provided this article.

Are you planning to attend TravCon 2023? Taking place each September in the booming city of Las Vegas, this event is the largest traveling healthcare conference in the country. It offers attendees a fun atmosphere with networking opportunities, engaging speakers, exciting freebies, and more.

Below is a list of suggestions to make sure you get the most out of your trip to TravCon this year.

travcon 2023

Make a list.

In preparation for TravCon, many companies will publish their booth numbers well in advance. Creating a list of exhibitors you want to visit, as well as their booth numbers, will be helpful, especially if you’re eager to collect all the freebies and giveaways – a fan favorite for attendees.

Leave room in your luggage or pack an extra bag.

How do you plan to handle all the freebies you’ll bring home from TravCon? Make sure you leave some luggage space or bring an extra duffle bag or backpack with you so you can transport all of your new gifts home. Some companies may even give you a new backpack or bag.

Listen and learn.

TravCon has a long list of industry professionals who will be speaking at the conference. Check out the list of speakers online and again – make a list! Mark off who you’d like to hear speak at the conference, and plan to spend your week getting tons of new knowledge, insight, inspiration, and more from these wonderful people sharing their stories and expertise.

The parties!

What’s a trip to TravCon without all the after-parties? Most companies will advertise free events (many with free food and drinks) to anyone who attends the conference. Some of these are open to all travelers regardless of which company you are currently working for, but chances are, your company is also hosting an extra party specifically for their current travelers (Trustaff is!) These after-parties are always the highlight of the trip, as you will meet many new faces while having fun and connecting with other travelers and healthcare professionals. Be sure to join any Facebook groups so you can know when these parties are happening – as many require an RSVP.

Make sure to purchase a ticket.

Tickets to the event are available now and often sell out each year – so don’t wait! You can also add on things to your ticket, such as hikes, golf outings, and more, to get extra time to connect with the TravCon crew and other healthcare travelers and professionals. In addition, the conference also hosts certification courses. Being a traveler, finding the time or place to do these mandatory certifications can be challenging, but TravCon makes it easy, and you can tackle those while you’re there. They’ve truly thought of it all!

TravCon 2023 will be the place to be September 17th-20th. We hope this list helps you get the most out of your experience in Vegas.  Will you be there? We can’t wait!

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

By Amare Medical Network

July 27, 2023

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The Ultimate Summer Playlist for Travel Nurses

Amare Medical Network provided this article.

Summer is a time for fun, relaxation, and spending time with loved ones. But for nurses, it can also be a time of high stress. Long hours, short staffing, and the constant demands of the job can take a toll on your mental and emotional health.

That’s why finding ways to de-stress and relax during the summer is so important. And what better way to do that than with music?

A well-chosen playlist can help you unwind, relieve stress, and boost your mood. And with so many different genres of music to choose from, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

summer playlist

Here are a few ideas for creating the ultimate summer playlist for nurses:

  • Pop music: With its upbeat and catchy beats, pop is great music to listen to while working out, running errands, or even relaxing on the beach.
  • Country music: Relax and de-stress with country that is often about simple pleasures, like spending time outdoors, enjoying nature, and being with loved ones.
  • Rock music: Rock can get you pumped up for working out, driving, or just getting ready for a night out.
  • R&B music: Relax and groove to the perfect music to listen to while you’re taking a bath, reading a book, or just spending time with friends.

In addition to choosing the right genre of music, it’s also important to consider the lyrics of the songs on your playlist. Songs with positive lyrics can help boost your mood, while songs with negative lyrics can have the opposite effect.

Be sure to take some time to create a summer playlist that’s perfect for you. Choose songs that you love and that make you feel good. And when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, put on your playlist and let the music work its magic.

Besides making you feel good, music can also have a positive effect on your well-being. Research has shown that listening to music can:

  • Boost immunity by helping produce antibodies and cells that fight against bacteria.
  • Stimulate the release of endorphins, which encourage the production of oxytocin, which helps boost your mood.
  • Assist with treatments for conditions ranging from depression to premature birth.

With a little planning, you can create a playlist that will help you to relax, de-stress, and boost your mood and well-being all summer long. Don’t have time to create your own playlist or don’t know where to start? No problem! Check out this Spotify playlist to get you started.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

By Nadine Westwood

July 25, 2023

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Creative Ways to Preserve Precious Memories From Travel Nurse Assignments

As a travel nurse, you know better than anyone else the joys and challenges that come with the job. You get to explore new places, meet people from all over the world, and have unforgettable experiences that you want to cherish forever. However, as time passes by and you move on to different travel nurse assignments, it can be difficult to hold on to those memories. 

travel nurse assignments

This guide can help you preserve your precious memories from travel nurse assignments. From scrapbooking and journaling to creating custom photo albums and souvenirs, these tips will ensure that your adventures will stay with you for years to come.

Create a Travel Scrapbook or Journal

One of the best ways to preserve your travel memories is to keep a travel scrapbook or journal. You can jot down your itinerary, paste ticket stubs, add memorable photographs, and even draw sketches of the places you visited. Not only does it help record your experiences, but it also gives you space to reflect on them – which is great for your mental health!

Print Physical Copies of Photos

One of the simplest ways to preserve precious memories from your travel assignments is to print physical copies of your favorite photos. Photos stored on digital devices may be lost due to technology failures, accidentally deleted, or overwritten without warning. 

On the other hand, old printed photographs can be easily ruined by external elements. You can keep the originals safe by depositing them in a secure location such as a safety deposit box or fireproof safe.

travel nurse assignments

Create a Photo Album To Bring With You

Collecting photos and/or postcards from each place you visit and bringing them together in a photo album will allow you to create a visual diary of your travels that you can revisit whenever you want. 

What’s more, having a physical album with you during your travels will also allow you to share your experiences with new friends or patients, sparking conversations and connections. If you are unsure how to create a memorable photo album, take advantage of specialized services like Mixbook.

Keep Your Dearest Memories in a Safe Place

One important step in preserving your travel memories is to ensure they are kept in a secure place. Whether it’s physical keepsakes like ticket stubs or digital files like photos and videos, these memories hold a special value that deserves protection. 

Consider investing in a fireproof safe or cloud storage service to avoid the risk of loss due to unforeseen circumstances, or consider using the services made available by banks and other security deposits. While this may seem like an investment, your efforts will pay off when these preserved memories will turn your next house into a welcoming home!

Leave Photos and Mementos With Someone You Trust

If you are worried about taking your memories with you on your next assignment, one creative way to preserve precious mementos is to leave them with someone you trust. This ensures that your memories are safe even when you’re far away. You could entrust a family member, friend, or colleague who has your best interest at heart with the task of safeguarding your belongings until you return.

Frame Special Items and Take Them With You

Bringing special items with you on your travel assignment is essential to keeping cherished memories. A few examples of these items are postcards, souvenirs, and trinkets. To take it a step further, frame these items and hang them up in your temporary housing to make you feel more at home.

Record Voice Memos or Video Diaries

While traveling as a nurse, it can be hard to keep a physical journal or scrapbook. However, technology has made it easier to record your travel experience using your smartphone or an audio recorder. Recording voice memos or video diaries can be a great way to capture the sights and sounds of your destination while also reflecting on your personal experiences.

travel nurse assignments

Use Memory-Keeping Apps and Websites

Travel nursing can be challenging when it comes to staying connected with loved ones and preserving precious memories. However, technology can be a game-changer. There are many memory-keeping apps and websites out there that can help you capture your travels, stay connected with family and friends, and make the most out of your assignments.

Use Social Media To Document Your Experiences

Social media is a powerful tool for documenting your travel experiences to share with friends and family. Engage with your followers by posting stories and photos of your adventures during off-duty hours. Use relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience and connect with other travel nurses who may have similar experiences or advice.

Learn About What Other Nurses Do

As a final thought, take the time to learn about what other travel nurses do to preserve their precious memories from assignments. There are bound to be some unique ideas out there that you could incorporate into your own personal memory-keeping routine. Don’t hesitate to experiment and find the method that works best for you!

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Jogan Health

July 22, 2023

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The History of Travel Nursing

Jogan Health provided this article.

When examining the history of travel nursing, one thing becomes glaringly obvious: it runs side by side with the history of nursing in general! Both professions were born at the same time – due to a high demand for professional and approachable assistance for patients – and both remain crucial today. During the COVID pandemic, for example, travel nurses became irreplaceable as a temporary solution measure against a virus that was ravaging healthcare providers almost as often as it was affecting patients.

But how did all this start? What are the major events that led to the modern version of our industry? How has it changed over the years? Read on below to answer these questions and more!

history of travel nursing

The History of Travel Nursing: A Timeline

Florence Nightingale and 37 other nurses are considered the first nurses in history. If you are a student of history, you will know that they were also the first travel nurses! When they sprang into action, they did so by traveling to Turkey to assist wounded English soldiers who were victims of the Crimean War. However, these women were not technically “travel nurses,” according to the mainstream definition of the phrase.

The emergence of the modern definition of travel nursing stems from New Orleans, Louisiana. During 1978 Mardi Gras Week, a time that is usually associated with festivities and community in the Pelican State, there was an unprecedented number of injuries. Due to local hospitals being overwhelmed by the massive number of patients, they began to contract nurses from all around the country to provide extra support for a few weeks.

Though this was the birth of the concept, it did not really kick off until a decade later. In the 1980s, the nursing industry was under threat for much the same reason as it is today: a nationwide nursing shortage. By the end of the decade, open travel nursing positions were widely available. They were recognized by the wider healthcare community as a cost-effective way for organizations to fill gaps in their roster and keep the ship afloat.

Travel Nursing in the Digital Age

We’ve come a long way since the ’80s. Nowadays, travel nurses are almost as common as traditional nurses. One of the major changes that facilitated this ubiquity is the advent of the internet. This digital age has empowered nurses to take control of their own careers. Many social forums and platforms now exist that offer placement and travel assistance, which makes the position more appealing than ever before. Jogan Health knows a thing or two about this and has made a traveling career possible for countless nurses all over the nation.

Key Takeaways

As we previously mentioned, the healthcare community had to deal with staffing shortages in the 80s and continues to do so today. While this might seem like a reason to leave nursing by the wayside as a career choice, it’s indicative of quite the opposite. Our industry has been through this before and will overcome this hurdle again. Nursing is here to stay, and regardless of how many times a shortage has threatened to end it, it has remained a viable source of work for people looking to care for others.

At its heart, the job is about spreading compassion and care as far and wide as possible. What better way to do that than to hop on a plane, see a new city, and help save the lives of those you have never met? Empathy is a cornerstone of human experience, and few professions exemplify it to such a degree. So long as we remain human, so long as the health of others continues to concern us, and so long as we are willing to help our fellow man, nursing will not go away.

It might change, as it did when the digital age began, and it might adapt to shifting circumstances, such as patient influxes, but the truth is that, so long as people need care, nurses will be a part of our communities. With a world where traveling has become more and more common, this is also true for travel nursing specifically. So, if you are a nurse or travel nurse, we encourage you to stay on course. You will always be one of the most important parts of any community. And to think this all started with a wild Mardi Gras party!

We hope you found this article on the history of travel nursing helpful. Did we miss anything of importance? Comment below.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

By Furnished Finder

July 20, 2023

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Packing for Travel Nurses: A Comprehensive Guide

As a travel nurse, one of the most daunting tasks that come with a new assignment is packing. You might have limited space to carry your belongings, which means you need to be strategic in your choices. However, with a bit of planning and organizing, you can make sure you have everything you need while keeping your luggage manageable and easy to carry. In this article, we will dive into the essential items that every travel nurse should consider packing for their next assignment.

Packing for Travel Nurses

1. Clothing and Shoes

When packing your clothes, think about the climate at your destination and the duration of your trip. Make sure you have enough clothing to last at least a week. You can pack neutral colors that can be mixed and matched and don’t forget to include comfortable and durable shoes. Apart from work shoes, you might need sneakers for your leisure activities and flip-flops if you’re headed to a sunny spot.

2. Toiletries and Medications

Pack your toiletries, including toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, in a toiletry bag. Also, ensure that you have enough medication for the duration of your assignment. Don’t forget you can always buy more supplies at your destination. You could also carry essential oils or aromatherapy to help you relax after a long day.

3. Electronics and Entertainment

Bring your cell phone, charger, laptop, and any other electronic gadget useful for you. You could bring along an ebook reader, tablet, or music player to help pass the time during a long shift or on days off. Additionally, you should also invest in a good power bank, in case you can’t get access to electricity.

Packing for Travel Nurses

4. Personal Items

Personal items might include jewelry, purses, and decorative items for your mid-term rental. You could also include task-specific tools, like a stethoscope or work log books necessary for your assignment. Don’t forget to carry some cash, credit card, or ATM card, as well.

5. Documents and Paperwork

Finally, make sure you have all your essential documents and paperwork when traveling. You might need your nursing license, travel documents, passport, health insurance, and more, depending on your assignment’s specifics. Keep all these documents in a zipped folder and label them so you know what’s in there.

Packing as a travel nurse can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. With careful planning, you’ll know exactly what you need to bring and what you can leave behind. Also, packing essentials can help you avoid unnecessary expenses and stresses during your trip. By focusing on the essential items, you’ll pack in a way that gives you peace of mind, no matter where your travel nurse journey takes you. Happy packing!

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

July 18, 2023

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Washington State Nursing License and Compact State Status

TNAA-Travel Nurse Across America provided this article.

Earlier this year, Washington state became the 40th jurisdiction to join the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), and the new law goes into effect on July 24, 2023. This is exciting news for travel nurses who have had the Pacific Northwest in their travel nurse assignment sights and for nurses with a Washington state license who want to expand their travel nurse assignment locations. In this article, we’ll dive into what a compact nursing license is and share some unique Washington destinations to check out if you take an assignment there.

washington state

What is a Compact Nursing License?

A compact nursing license, also called a multistate nursing license, is an agreement allowing nurses to practice in any jurisdiction within the NLC. The NLC was established in 2000, and 25 states had joined it by 2015. In 2018, the NLC streamlined the licensure process for nurses through the Enhanced Nursing License (eNLC).

Despite the benefits of the compact nursing license, many other states were reluctant to join. However, the increased demand for nurses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic illuminated the need for a faster, more efficient system for nurses to gain licensure, and there are now 40 compact license states included in the NLC.  

The Impact of Compact Nursing Licenses

A multistate nursing license makes a big difference for nurses and facilities. It eliminates the need for nurses to obtain a license for each state or jurisdiction they wish to practice in, often a time-consuming and expensive process. Because nurses with an eNLC can practice in any participating state, traveling nurses can start assignments anywhere they wish without waiting to get their license first.

The compact nursing license benefits hospitals and facilities, too, providing them with a more extensive network of nurses available to hire for open positions. It also helps facilities expand their telehealth services.

Getting Your Compact Nursing License

If you’re interested in obtaining an eNLC, you must meet the eligibility requirements and apply through your board of nursing. There are several requirements, including residing in a compact state, so it’s important to research what you need before you begin the application process.

The good news is that your travel nurse agency’s quality assurance team can help. They can tell you the required licenses, certifications, immunizations, and training for all states you wish to take travel nurse assignments in, including non-compact states. Check with your agency to see if they have a Quality Assurance team who can help.

What to do While on Assignment in Washington

washington state

Now that the Washington State Compact license law is going into effect, travel nurses can add Washington to their desired assignment destinations list. Taking a travel nurse assignment in Washington is a decision you won’t regret. The Evergreen State offers an abundance of activities all year round. And the best news is that the state is small enough that no matter where your travel nurse assignment is based, you can easily explore everything this unique state offers through day trips or weekend getaways.

Here are a few Washington State attractions to add to your WA travel bucket list:

  • Mt Rainier National Park
  • The Olympic Peninsula
  • The Gorge Amphitheater
  • Leavenworth
  • Greater Seattle Area
  • Spokane
  • Columbia River Gorge
  • San Juan Islands
  • Washington Wine Country

The Gypsy Nurse job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Miles Oliver

July 16, 2023

2399 Views

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How To Turn Your Travel Nurse Job Into a Workcation

Being a travel nurse is exciting and invigorating. You get to explore places of the globe that many others don’t, helping people along the way who might not otherwise receive the care they need.

But there’s also no question that travel nursing is a lot of work, and it can be stressful at times. However, you do have a unique opportunity to have extraordinary adventures, and it can be done by combining work and leisure to make the most of your career.

While you can’t avoid your duties, there are things you can do to turn your travel nurse job into a workcation. With that in mind, let’s cover a few tips you can use to strike a healthy work-life balance as a travel nurse, as well as financial tips you can use to explore your destinations.

How to turn your travel nurse job into a workcation:

travel nurse job

Dream Destinations

You won’t always get to choose where you’re going as a travel nurse. The idea is to travel wherever there is a need. This can make your career feel more like a journey, and your eyes might be opened to destinations and experiences you never expected.

If you do get to choose your destination, consider places you might like to go if you were taking a vacation. Think about your interests and your needs. Are you an outdoorsy person? Places like the Santa Barbara region, Flagstaff, and Salt Lake City will all be up your alley.

Do you have bigger bucket list locations and adventures on your list? Don’t hesitate to step out of your comfort zone and volunteer to get out of the country. Some of the most beautiful, adventure-filled locations are waiting across the globe. Not only are they great for exploring, but leaving the country allows you to immerse yourself in other cultures. Working and vacationing like a local – in any country – is better than falling into any tourist trap.

Striking a Balance

You can’t always slip away from your responsibilities as a travel nurse to go exploring or find local restaurants. But it also isn’t realistic or sustainable to focus all of your attention on your job while you’re in a different location.

Nursing is stressful, and large amounts of consistent stress can take its toll on the body and mind. Some symptoms of long-term stress include:

  • Feeling overwhelmed or as if you are no longer in control of your own life;
  • Procrastination, difficulty concentrating, or problems managing your time;
  • Having a hard time relaxing.
travel nurse job

However, with proper stress management, these symptoms can be alleviated. In addition to getting enough sleep and exercise, taking the time to balance your career with the excitement of traveling can also help.

When you find a good work-life balance, you’ll perform better on the job and enjoy your time in a new location. Not sure how to achieve the ideal balance? Form a routine, as much as you’re able, and stick with it. Make a point to do at least one self-care item for yourself each day, whether that’s a walk in the morning to explore your surroundings or enjoying a unique meal at a local restaurant after work.

Plan for your next destination to ensure it has everything you need to be comfortable. That includes reliable internet so you can get information about your destination as needed and connect with friends and family back home. Depending on your mobile provider, you should be able to gain 5G internet access on your workcation, so you don’t have to worry about paying extra or accessing public WiFi that isn’t secure. If you’re staying somewhere for an extended period, researching the home options your provider has to offer can help.

Be Smart With Your Travels

It’s important to remember that you’re in a unique position with equally unique opportunities as a travel nurse. With that in mind, there’s no reason you can’t go the extra mile (literally) with your travels and take advantage of some of the financial perks you might get from setting the country or the world.

For example, most of your travel expenses will be taken care of when you’re heading somewhere for work. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the perks of travel-focused credit cards. Consider opening one and using it for all of your expenses — even the ones you’ll be reimbursed for, as long as your employer allows it. Many travel cards have incentives like cash-back rewards, points rewards programs, mileage rewards, and airline and hotel loyalty programs.

When you use a travel card and take advantage of the benefits, you and your loved ones can enjoy extra vacations and amenities when you choose to take some time away from work.

Chances are, you began your career as a travel nurse because you wanted to help people across the globe. But you can’t pour from an empty cup. If you have the opportunity to work in unique destinations, make sure you’re striking a healthy work-life balance and turning every job into a workcation you won’t forget.

Have you turned your travel nurse job into a workcation? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By StaffDNA

July 13, 2023

3562 Views

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Travel vs. Per Diem vs. Staff Nursing–Which One is the Best Fit for You?

StaffDNA provided this article.

As a nurse, there are a number of ways you can leverage your nursing license to find the best job to fit your goals and personal needs. If you have only ever worked a “traditional” staff nursing job, it can be confusing if you are trying to decide if other types of employment would work for you. In order to make the best decision for you and your career, it is important to understand the different ways a nurse can be employed and what the pros and cons are of each type of employment.

The three most common types of employment for nursing are travel, per diem, and staff nursing. These refer to the level of commitment and guarantee you give and receive from the health system you work for. These positions are more commonly seen across clinical roles, but you can sometimes find positions for non-clinical jobs as well.

staff nursing

Travel Nursing

Most nurses have a general understanding of how travel nursing works, but let’s take some time and look at some of the common misconceptions that lead nurses to believe travel nursing isn’t for them.

Just because you take a “travel nursing” contract does not mean you have to travel far from home. Some nurses travel in their hometowns or within a short radius of their homes but do not take tax-free stipends. The key here is to be knowledgeable about tax rules and what you can and can’t do regarding stipends and housing if you are staying relatively close to home.

Some pros of travel nursing are higher pay, tax-free income, contracted time off (if approved before you are hired), and unlimited time off between contracts. Travel nurses also typically get some form of guaranteed hours or maximum call-offs per contract, so you don’t have to worry too much about not being needed. You also do not have to take any particular assignment in any specific location. It is up to you where you submit for jobs.

On the other hand, the travel nursing job market has its highs and lows, like all industries do. Job opportunities may be seasonal, and pay rates follow this trend. In addition, contracts can be canceled or altered so long as the hospital gives its workers the notice required by the contract.

staff nursing

Per Diem Nursing

Per diem nursing is sometimes also referred to as PRN. Sometimes per diem nurses work directly for a hospital, or they may work for an agency. Either way, the nurse decides not only when and where to pick up a shift but also how often.

Per diem nursing can be a great way for nurses to have more flexibility and control of their schedule without having to commit to time away from home. You can work per diem locally or out of town. You just usually receive higher hourly pay than staff nurses without tax-free money.

One thing to be aware of with per diem nursing is a lack of guaranteed hours. Generally, per diem jobs will have a minimum amount of shifts you have to sign up for each month, but they do not guarantee you will actually work those hours. Per diem nurses are generally more expensive than staff nurses and don’t have the guaranteed hours that travelers do, so they may have their hours decreased first.

If you are in need of extra money or a place to work in between travel contracts, per diem is a great way to do this. For example, many travel nurses will keep a per diem job near their home so they can work a bit if they take extended time off. Just be sure to check the minimum requirements in case you have to travel back to work those shifts!

Staff Nursing

Staff nursing is the most common type of career path for nurses and one that everyone has to take in the beginning.

Staff nursing is a great way to build a foundation in your skills and to gain confidence as a nurse. In these types of jobs, you will have consistency both in hours and types of patients, which allows you to really focus on your skill set.

staff nursing

Some benefits of staff nursing include consistent hours, PTO, certifications and credentials paid for by your employer, and the opportunity to build relationships with leadership and grow beyond the bedside.

As a staff nurse, you are able to be more involved in your unit and take on more responsibility and leadership roles if you choose to. There are often opportunities to join committees or participate in hospital-wide councils, which are great ways to expand your skillset beyond basic nursing care.

The downside of staff nursing, when compared to travel nursing and per diem, is less pay and less control of your schedule.

So Which is the Best?

Some nurses will certainly tell you that one type of nursing path is better than the other. However, there is a time and place for each type of career. The beauty of nursing is that you have options beyond a standard Monday-to-Friday job. Life changes and your needs surrounding work will likely change as well.

Often, nurses will find that a combination of the different options works best for them. For example, it might be nice to work a staff job and have a per diem job on the side when you want to make extra money. Or, you could work travel contracts most of the year and head home and pick up per diem shifts every once in a while.

Of course, every option has its pros and cons, but you have to decide what your non-negotiables are and what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to mix up your schedule a bit. Chances are there will be plenty of opportunities available if you change your mind.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. There you can search for what you are looking for in housing.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)