Traveling Nurses

Traveling nurses are hired to address staffing shortages and/or a lack of qualified nurses in a particular area (especially in advanced specialties). They are also brought in to bulk up staffing in the event of a pandemic, natural disaster, terrorist attack, or labor strike. Others are hired due to expected seasonal patient population increases or to fill positions when salaried nurses take leaves of absence for vacations, maternity leave, or other reasons.

Most travel nursing assignments last 13 weeks, but they can range from eight to 26 weeks. Assignments can be extended if the healthcare provider continues to need extra staff and the nurse is interested in remaining at the job/location for more time. Traveling nurses typically have the following weekly schedules: five, 8-hour days; four, 10-hour days; or three, 12-hour days.

Job duties vary by position, but all nurses evaluate patients’ conditions and record their vital signs, administer medications and treatments, and work closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals to provide treatment and perform diagnostic tests. Some nurses are responsible for patient education, in which they tell patients and their families how to manage illnesses or injuries. Travel nurses may visit the homes of patients to provide medical care.

In addition to general nursing, many traveling nurses work in specialized nursing positions. Examples include cardiac catheterization lab nurse, intensive care unit nurse, labor and delivery nurse, pediatric nurse, operating room nurse, emergency room nurse, and oncology nurse. Positions are also available for advanced practice nurses (e.g., clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, nurse practitioners) and nurse managers.