When healthcare organisations face staff shortages, they need to hire travel nurses. What exactly is a travel nurse? As highly skilled professionals, they fill the temporary positions of nurses in needy regions. They can be found in clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities, providing patients nationwide with high-quality treatment.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a medical staff shortage;  so because of that, there has been a rise in the need for travel nurses. Health professionals attribute this increase to two primary reasons. First, as CNN reports, nurses on staff who are exhausted and demoralized have quit and retired at a much faster pace than hospitals can recruit new nurses. In addition, most nurses leave stable work for better-paying temporary assignments that pay up to $5,000 weekly, working for a travel nursing agency.

Professionals and students interested in this field are encouraged to explore the role and responsibilities of travel nurses, get nursing tips and information, and find out about the travel nurse’s pay and outlook for the job.

What exactly does an experienced travelling nurse’s job? Travel nurses frequently take on roles in understaffed healthcare facilities. They are expected to carry out all the tasks of nurses in traditional settings with no background to provide the care they provide. Travel nurses must become familiar with working in hectic, fast-paced environments.

For example, a travelling nurse could be assigned to an understaffed nursing facility. The nurses working there might not have enough time or resources to review all aspects of the hospital’s charting system. Travel nurses could be required to gather information when they travel.

Travel nurses sign contracts to fill temporary jobs. The contract could last for several days, weeks, months, or days — or even longer. After contracts expire, Travel nurses can either extend their stay in the same place or relocate to a different location and possibility. The duration of their contracts will differ, but the majority of assignments last between 8 and 26 weeks. Some nurses who travel find an assignment they like and seek full-time employment; however, most continue to travel and work from home.