What Is a Travel Nurse?

A travel nurse works as a temporary nurse in healthcare facilities nationwide. Their assignment lengths usually last for a few weeks or months. The demand for certain types of travel nurses has grown substantially due to seasonal fluctuations and industry shortages. Certain locations also have a greater need for specialized skills.

Which Are the Highest-Paid Travel Nurses?

One of the critical factors for many aspiring travel nurses is the potential for higher compensation. While it can vary based on location, experience and demand, some areas tend to command higher salaries. Here are four of the higher-paying specialties within travel nursing:

Critical Care Nurses

Critical care is the process of looking after the seriously ill or injured. Critical care nurses typically work in Intensive Care Units (ICU) and Emergency Departments (ED). They take vital signs and assess patients' conditions. Patients' families may also communicate with these nurses for updates on their condition.

Critical care nurses need more knowledge of ICU equipment and charting, so they're typically among the highest-paid nurses. They are also in high demand because they are experts in handling life-threatening and acute medical conditions.

These specialist nurses should handle a continuum of patient health from mental wellness to physical. A typical day for a critical care nurse might include the following duties:

• Assessing patients conditions

• Taking vital signs or dressing wounds

• Monitoring and reporting patients' progress

• Ordering diagnostic tests

• Discussing treatment plans with physicians

• Translating complex medical terms to patients

• Acting as an advocate for patient needs

• Monitoring medical equipment

Operating Room (OR) Nurses

Traveling operating room nurse is a catch-all term for the different types of travel nurses who work with patients prior to, during and after surgery. They may work behind the scenes by preparing a sterile environment or directly with the surgeon.

OR nurses typically work in a surgery center, hospital operating room or clinic. They are also known as perioperative or surgical nurses. Travel OR nurses receive higher compensation because they perform duties that are vital for patient care, such as:

• Preparing and sterilizing surgical instruments

• Updating patient files

• Understanding how to work with different technologies at various locations

• Educating patients on surgical procedures and aftercare

• Administering vital medications

• Working with anesthesiologists, surgeons and surgical technologists

Cardiac Cath Lab Nurses

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are linked to an estimated 17.9 million deaths globally every year. Cardiac catheterization laboratory nurses are paid feasibly because they're considered invaluable assets in treating patients with heart disease. Early prevention measures can improve patient's quality of life and reduce mortality rates from heart disease.

Of all the different kinds of nurses, cardiac cath lab nurses have specialized skills to diagnose and treat the leading cause of death. They assist during cardiac procedures like valve replacement, heart ablation and balloon valvuloplasty. Patients benefit greatly from oxygen monitoring, biopsies of the heart muscle and coronary angiography.

It's also an extremely high-demand nursing path. The Alliance for Heart Failure stated that the number of heart failure specialist nurses should be doubled or quadrupled to provide adequate care for the rising number of CVD patients.

Labor and Delivery Nurses

Labor and delivery nurses perform different types of nursing jobs involving healthcare for pregnant people. They often receive higher compensation in regions with a spike in childbirth rates. Patients benefit from their support, both physically and emotionally, throughout the labor and delivery process.

Their expertise in obstetrics and neonatal care makes them invaluable at identifying and dealing with potential complications during labor. They understand the mother's psychological and medical needs and provide postpartum care for infants.

One of the most important characteristics of a travel labor and delivery nurse is calmness. Unforeseen labor stations may cause high tension. The nurse should remain calm and comfort patients during high-emotion moments.

Labor and delivery nurses usually work as generalists, but they can choose a specialization, such as advanced maternal age or cesarean section (C-section) births. If you choose to specialize, you can travel to areas that have higher rates of certain labor practices, but even if you don't, these positions usually earn generous compensation.

Which Travel Nurses Are in High Demand?

If you dream of becoming a travel nurse, one of the best tips is to ensure your certifications are up-to-date for the field you wish to work in. In order to travel, you will first need 1-2 years of experience working in a specific area of care. Understanding which specializations are most in demand can help you tailor your skills to raise your chances of securing lucrative and adventurous assignments.

What kind of nurses are there on the high-demand list? Here are five of the most desirable travel nurse jobs:

Medical-Surgical Nurses

Medical-surgical nursing is the most common specialty for RNs as they provide a strong baseline of care for a wide range of patient concerns. These nurses, also known as med/surg nurses, typically work in inpatient hospital settings, but can provide care in outpatient practices, offices, care centers and much more.

Med-surg nurses dig into patients' medical history and let them know of the expectations post-surgery. They provide care for patients preparing for or leaving from a procedure and work to provide comfort and positive outcomes for patients, working alongside physicians, anesthesiologists and surgeons.

Some of the key responsibilities of a Med-Surg RN include:

• Creating and updating patient records

• Changing dressings after surgery

• Monitoring patients' oxygen saturation and blood pressure levels

• Following up with patients post-surgery

• Dressing surgical sites

Telemetry Nurses

Telemetry nurses are types of travel nurses who work with the latest medical technologies to monitor patient condition and disease progression. They play a pivotal role in continuous patient monitoring and are essential to the evolution of the medical technology landscape.

Telemetry nurses' primary responsibility is monitoring changes in a patient's condition using technology like electrocardiograms. They should also be able to handle high-pressure environments. A calm demeanor helps them provide primary patient insight in fast-paced or emergency situations.

Wireless monitoring is one of the recent technological advancements you can expect to work with as a telemetry nurse. This technology allows nurses to monitor patients without them being confined to a hospital bed. Nurses can also monitor patients at the patient's home. They can check for arrhythmias and heart palpitations and be better prepared for impending cardiac incidents.

The equipment also provides a greater understanding of the potential triggers for certain medical conditions. As technology advances, telemetry nurses will continue to grow in demand. They work with a diverse set of ailments, including diabetes, coronary disease and gastrointestinal disorders. Traveling telemetry nurses are in high demand in regions where healthcare technology is used more prominently.

Psychiatric Nurses

If you're passionate about providing mental and emotional support to patients and working with conditions like depression and anxiety, then psychiatric nursing may be the specialty for you.

The growing awareness of mental health issues calls for more psychiatric nurses. Psych RNs typically work in mental health facilities like hospitals or psychiatric health centers. Duties involve working with patients to achieve daily tasks, monitoring medications and ensuring safe and effective care.

The key duties of psychiatric nurses include:

• Creating treatment plans

• Providing counseling services

• Administering and keeping track of medications

• Evaluating patients' needs and emotional status

As a traveling psychiatric nurse, you'll work with patients requiring assistance with their emotional and physical wellness. We hope that you prioritize your mental health as well to keep your cup full.

Home Health Nurses

If you prefer working one-on-one with patients, home health nursing might be a good fit for you. This field allows you to care for patients in their homes and build a deep connection with them. You'll understand their day-to-day struggles and work in a more personal setting.

As a home healthcare nurse, you'll provide care to patients who are critically or terminally ill, elderly or recovering from surgery. You may also work with people with disabilities or people who have recently been in an accident.

Home health nurses usually report to a facility for their daily assignments and then meet the patient at their home to provide one-on-one care. You have more autonomy as a home nurse than you would in traditional nurse roles. However, you still have to report back to a facility on the patient's condition and symptoms.

Depending on your qualifications, your duties may differ as a home health nurse. Registered nurses take on a larger number of duties, but they're also generally paid better. Their typical duties as home health RN include:

• Assessing patient needs

• Developing a care plan with physicians

• Coordinating care plans with the patient, family and other support staff

• Monitoring the efficacy of treatments on patients' symptoms

• Assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) like grooming

• Checking vitals

• Tending to wounds

• Performing physical assessments

As a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), a home health nursing position is the perfect entry-level job. Some of the duties may include:

• Assisting with ADLs and patient mobility

• Managing wounds

• Monitoring patient symptoms

• Reporting patient concerns to RN

• Administering intravenous fluids (IV) and medications

• Directing nurse assistants

The need for home health nurses is on the rise as the population of the United States continues to age. One of the plus sides of home-based healthcare is you sometimes get to work flexible hours, so you have time to enjoy your time as a traveler.

Pediatric Travel Nurses

Pediatric travel nurses care for ill or injured children from birth to 18 years old. They don't just attend to children in their care, they must also communicate with guardians and family members. The typical work environment for these travel assignments includes hospitals and pediatric offices. They can also work in certain subspecialties like Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), pediatric oncology and pediatric ER.

Travel nurses in this field must be patient, compassionate and able to have fun. They should also have deep knowledge and care of working with children, especially how to dispel children's fears of healthcare.

One key duty is informing parents on how to manage their children's conditions and look out for their special needs. Pediatric nurses play a special role in ensuring children enter into a healthy adulthood.

Other Types of Travel Nurses

There are other types of travel nurses. These are a few examples of positions that are highly rewarding and can help you make a difference while traveling:

Rehabilitation Nurses

Rehabilitation nurses help patients who are recovering from injuries or surgeries. They use specific activities, medications and nutrition to help patients regain their independence and speed up their recovery. Typically, patients include people living with disabilities or chronic illnesses or those who were in an accident.

Rehab RNs serve as patient and family advocates and engage with patients' goals to help create effective treatment plans. They help patients alter their lifestyles by changing sedentary behaviors and encouraging them to adopt habits that aid recovery.

Oncology Nurses

Oncology travel nurses work with cancer patients. They administer treatments, keep track of symptoms and improvements and provide emotional support. Studies show that oncology nurses play three crucial roles in cancer care:

• Act as a central hub for both patients and healthcare practitioners

• Advocate for the needs and desires of patients

• Bridge communication gaps between patients and the healthcare team

Hospice Nurses

Hospice travel nurses are highly empathetic nurses trained to offer end-of-life care to patients with a short period left to live. These patients typically have terminal illnesses that cause debilitating symptoms like pain and discomfort. The nurses administer medications, monitor symptoms and offer emotional support.

As a hospice travel nurse, you can travel to regions in demand and care for patients before they pass on. You'll play a significant role in maintaining their end-of-life comfort and also offer support to their families. Hospice care can take place at a hospital or health center, but take place in the home, crossing paths with home health nursing.

How to Become a Travel Nurse?

Are you ready to learn how to become a travel nurse and start your next career adventure?

Traveling nurses are required to finish their education and become licensed to practice. They must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Thereafter, they'll need to get a license for whichever state they're interested in working in.

To get started on travel assignments, you will need at least a year (sometimes two) of nursing experience in your area of care. Travel nurses are expected to hit the ground running when they arrive at their assignment and should have a comprehensive understanding of their specialty's require skills.

Once you're ready to travel, Trustaff can help you get licensed in any high-priority state. We'll also reimburse you for the cost of your license and offer you ongoing support.

Start Your Next Adventure With Trustaff Travel Healthcare

As a travel nurse, you'll enjoy plenty of perks like expanding your skills, more flexibility and higher pay. You can travel to different states, meet new people and experience working at advanced healthcare systems.

At Trustaff, our recruiters are passionate about helping you find a travel assignment that offers you better pay and an exciting experience. Our Ingenovis Health ACT program connects you with high-paying travel nurse positions. We offer benefits that go beyond the norm, like mental health and wellness resources, because we believe in taking care of the people who take care of us — nurses like yourself.

Take a few minutes to fill out our quick application form, and you'll be on your way to making the most of your nursing career and your life.