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During The Pandemic, What’s The Best Nursing Job?

COVID-19 has resulted in head-spinning census shifts, resulting in nursing shortages in COVID “hot areas,” while other facilities have furloughed nurses in preparation for the anticipated rise in cases. America immediately learned there were insufficient nurses in places severely hit by the virus.

To the Rescue: Travel Nurses

Travel nurses are a distinct component of the nursing profession. While they account for less than 1% of nurses, their numbers are expanding as more nurse’s volunteer to assist facilities in COVID-19 hot zones. According to American Mobile Healthcare, a travel nurse staffing business, more nurses will accept travel assignments in 2020 than at any point in its 30-year history. This demonstrates the lengths to which our nation’s nurses will travel to assist their fellow healthcare professionals and offer superior patient care.

Why Should I Travel Nursing? Why Now?

There is a high demand for travel nurses. Hospital staff is swamped with COVID-19 and other patients, and some nurses are becoming infected, creating an urgent need for a flexible nursing workforce to address staffing gaps. Aya Healthcare, a travel nurse agency recognized by Becker’s Healthcare as one of the top 150 places to work in 2019, now has over 12,000 nursing and allied healthcare positions listed on their website.

Travel nursing is quite lucrative. Prior to the pandemic, travel nurses earned an average of $1,673 per week. Travel nurse salary has increased to almost $4,000 per week (in some situations), with an average of roughly $3,500. Bear in mind that these “crisis pay” rates are being offered in response to the pandemic, and the maximum rates may be accessible only in locations with a high COVID-19 case count.

Travel businesses are increasing their support for passengers, including 24-hour hotlines and tools for mental health.

Is Travel Nursing Right for You?

Travel nursing is a rewarding career option, but it is not for everyone. Travel nurses must be adaptable to different surroundings and possess a high level of confidence in their nursing abilities. Being a new nurse and being away from home for months at a time might be stressful.

Additionally, as a result of the epidemic, travel nursing has evolved. Despite the increase in salary, many experienced travel nurses are declining assignments due to fear of the virus or exhaustion from front-line work. Travel nurses nowadays must be committed to their patients and continually prepared to deal with a variety of challenging scenarios. However, if you’re a nurse who enjoys traveling and thrives on new experiences, travel nursing may be the ideal career for you.

The Importance of Choosing a Travel Nursing Agency

When contemplating a travel nursing agency, it is critical for nurses to ask the right questions to ensure they have all of the information necessary to make the best choice for themselves. These inquiries may include the following:

  • Is there a 24-hour hotline available for clinical questions, as well as debriefing and mental health assistance?
  • Can an incoming nurse communicate with an experienced nurse working in that region prior to accepting the assignment?
  • How likely is the termination of a contract, and what does this signify for the employee?
  • Will I still be compensated if I am required to quarantine?
  • What expenses is the agency responsible for?
  • Can I accompany a friend on an assignment?

Requirements for Licensing

The majority of travel nursing agencies require that you hold an active registered nurse (RN) license in your state of residence. Certain facilities exclusively hire nurses with a bachelor’s degree. Typically, a travel nurse from a state that is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact must obtain a separate license in each state in which they desire to operate. Nurses with compact nursing licenses may practice in any compact state; however, they must obtain a new license to practice in a non-compact state. However, due to the pandemic’s ability to spread rapidly in diverse regions, states have relaxed their compact licensing standards to allow out-of-state nurses to obtain assignments quickly.

Experience Is Critical

The majority of agencies require at least one year of experience, and certain specialty areas are more in demand than others. According to executives at Cross Country Healthcare staffing service, the organization has witnessed an increase in demand for travel nurses in ICU, telemetry, med-surg, and ER, as well as new opportunities in screener, contract tracer, and triage jobs.

Travel nurses will continue to be in high demand as long as the country continues to see outbreaks of the illness. Even if hospitals resume normal operations, this may result in an increase in elective surgeries and temporary staffing shortages.

If you’re an adventurous nurse looking to make a difference in patients’ lives, this may be your chance to shine as a travel nurse in a challenging yet fulfilling career.