Seasonal shortages were what originally gave rise to contract nurses and health professionals.Parts of the US that had a seasonal spike in population (warmer climates during traditional vacation times) needed extra staff to handle the inevitable increase in health care related services. This eventually lead to travel nursing industry we have today. Now there are many more facilities around the country using temporary staffing in the form of travel nurses than ever before.
To keep long term overhead down, some health care service providers are willing to take on the higher costs of hiring temporary staff to fill in for seasonal demands - or the demands on an overworked staff. Health care providers that are willing to listen and learn from time -tested rules will realize that an over-worked staff will often turn into a situation where turnover is high, which in turn increases long term training and liability costs. These facilities willing to hire short term staff provide great opportunities for travel nurses who are willing to venture out of there comfort zone and experience new things.
Most people familiar with the health care situation in the US would agree that demand for quality health care professionals will continue to grow as the baby boom generation begin to require more and more health care resources in the coming decades.
Health care staffing agencies are the employers of the traveling nurse. The agency bills the hospital or nursing facility the agreed upon rates. The agency pays and provides the benefits for the traveling nurse.
To provide a little industry jargon: the term often used for a traveling, contract health professional is 'traveler'. This term may apply to a respiratory therapist, surgical technologist, or RN.
Per diem nurses are different from traveling, contract nurses. Per diem nurses are employees of the hospital where they work. Per diem nurses are often paid a higher hourly rate, but often are not offered employment benefits that traveling nurses under contract to an agency are offered. Benefits for a contract nurse are often the same as those offered to a full time nurse in a health care facility. (Benefits like health, and dental insurance, and 401K plans). Contract durations vary as do the shifts assigned to the contract nurse. In addition contract traveling nurses (or "travelers") often have expenses such as housing, travel, license, parking, car rental, and certain other costs.
If you are thinking about opportunities in th travel nurse industry, you should seek an agency that will meet your needs an goals for geographic assignment as well as benefits and pay. When you have selected the agency you want to work with you will have to go through an interview process, possibly provide results of recent physical exam, take tests related to competancy, and possibly take a drug screen test. If your first proposed assignment is in a state where you are not licensed to nurse - you will need to pursue license immediately - often with the help of the agency.
Travel nursing can be an exciting career alternative for experienced nurses who enjoy flexible situations, unique opportunities, changing environments and challenge. These positions are often well compensated and provide opportunities for the willing to try new areas of nursing while enjoying the traveling life.
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