SEE ALSO: 9 Ways to Get Nursing Experience as a Travel Nurse. By the end of my initial 13-week contract, which I chose to extend for a total of six months, I was familiar with the hospitals processes, and actually able to provide support and mentoring to the many recently-graduated nurses on the permanent staff. The latest nationwide survey of nurse staffing found hospitals face a nearly 10% vacancy rate. Whats not clear at this time is the breadth and scope of these regulations and orders. Students with a bachelor's in a field other than nursing can usually transfer some credits towards an accelerated BSN. Or, perhaps, a small town with charm and a slow lifestyle has more appeal (think: New England). Theres so much that goes into a hospital running smoothly, and historically if a travel nurse was needed, they were able to pop in, understand the ecosystem quickly, and everything would function as normal., But now, she notes, were relying on them too much, and theyre thrown into a less stable ecosystem without the support to figure it out.. CHATLANI: So she quit and since December has worked as a traveling nurse, making twice her old salary on a temporary contract with a Mississippi hospital. And when tax time rolls around, you also get to enjoy many different. This means that travel nurses cannot count on the expected incremental pay raises that come with a salaried position. My initial contract was for just 13 weeks. But now that hospitals have this over-reliance on travel nurses to try to make up for the nursing shortage crisis, the amount theyre spending on travelers is astronomical.. Not just at tax time. On the surface, it may seem difficult to be a travel nurse with a family. Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree? Basically, as a travel nurse, you can base your travel assignment on anything youd like: Some travel nurses enjoy the snowbird lifestyle, while others travel to where they can hike, scuba dive, surf, or explore their favorite historical museums to their hearts content. If youre curious about which locations are searching for travel nurse positions, make sure you contact recruiters at MAS Medical Staffing to learn about our retirement savings, travel reimbursement, and long-term contracts that we provide. Are you ready to upgrade your nursing resume? This computer adaptive test takes up to six hours and covers nursing practice, conditions and treatments, how the healthcare system works, legal and ethical issues, and patient communication and education. The association has sent multiple letters to the White House, too. Sign up here. This is only making it harder than it needs to be.. Piper, who works in the medical intensive care unit at Boston Medical Center, said prior to the pandemic she worked as a staff nurse in Worcester and made a third of what she makes now. you can work that into your schedule and change your assignments to be near your family, so you can be there as needed. As a travel nurse, you are only limited by your own choices. Hospitals Say Nursing Agencies Are 'Exploiting' the Pandemic When faced with situations that exceed the scope of practice for the state in which they are practicing, or the skills or knowledge required to care for patients, travel nurses, like all other nurses, should develop and implement proactive strategies to alleviate unsafe patient assignments. Each week, we explore unique solutions to some of the world's biggest problems. While its very unlikely, it is possible that none of those locations appeal to you. Now the pay differences have made for tension among nursing staff. When it comes to the pros and cons of travel nursing jobs, time spent with family and loved ones is an important thing to note. The financial fallout of this trend for hospitals and nursing homes is staggering. All rights reserved. Traveling Nurse Housing Problems to Between your professional contacts, range of on-the-job skills, and experience in a variety of environments, a travel nurse resume stands out in the crowd. 1. He began blogging about his experience and providing advice through the social media platform TikTok under the username NickMurse. HEARD: I can bounce within my career and make more money. Nick lives in coastal Florida, and in his spare time, he enjoys going to the beach and traveling. CHATLANI: Last week, nearly 200 members of Congress signed on to a letter to the White House, urging quick action to rein in high travel nurse costs. Find out what you need to know, including the steps to becoming a travel nurse; learn which nursing specialty areas pay the most, how to find a job, and more. Travel nurses can also expect many incredible salary benefits: SEE ALSO: Why the Average Travel Nurse Salary Will Surprise You. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! The average travel nurse salary could reach as high as $103,893 a year, according to Payscale.com. But during the pandemic, hospitals have increasingly relied on travel nurses to fill the gaps. You need to pass the National Council Licensure Exam for RNs (NCLEX-RN) to earn an RN license. , or you can even choose your specialty based on its raritygiving you a unique skill set that would be hard to deny. Travel nursing didnt begin with the Covid-19 pandemic. Top 5 Most Common Nurse Safety Issues - travelnursing.com finding the perfect location that matches your career goals and lifestyle needs can be difficult. The current challenge in the nursing workforce is "a widespread, national problem without a solution until supply-demand equilibrium is achieved," according to a recent report from the Organization of Nurse Leaders, a five-state membership organization that includes Massachusetts. To retain more nurses, the Organization of Nurse Leaders as well as nursing unions are calling for increased staffing to reduce nurse to patient ratios, more flexibility and growth opportunities and help to manage burnout and stress. Nursing shortages existed well before the pandemic and have reached an all-time high across the country, according to the American Hospital Association. Think about all of the things you can embrace moving on to a new place and assignment every few monthsit is an exciting way to build a career. The original intent was just to kind of sample the wares. They can work in clinics, hospitals, private practices, ambulatory surgical centers, and residential care settings. Travel nursing didnt begin with the Covid-19 pandemic. It lists a number of specific policy recommendations, such as mandated staffing ratios and better workplace safety regulations, that they believe will help create sustainable, rewarding jobs and keep nurses in the field. One of the best travel nursing tips I can offer is for you to keep your licenses and certifications up-to Even McKinsey & Company places improved nursing skills at the top of the priority list for hospitals, and a travel nurse lifestyle is the perfect start. According to Indeed, the average travel nurse's salary in the U.S. is $2,046 per week with New York and San Diego as the top-paying cities. Insurance coverage ending when contract ends. MAS Medical Staffing offers 24/7 access to our dedicated team of recruiters who can connect you to the best opportunities. On Curtin's website, theres talk about the staffing shortages and pay disparities, according to Curtin. (If youre curious and want to learn more about beginning your career as a travel nurse, make sure to contact us now to speak to a recruiter). At the start of my contract, we had a couple of days of onboarding and were then expected to hit the ground running. 2023 NurseJournal.org, a Red Ventures Company. CHATLANI: Some states, like Massachusetts, are trying to create rate caps, but Malara says that could drive nurses away. When travel nurses are thrust into an unknown situation in a hospital/medical center that isnt familiar to them, and they are working with systems theyre not familiar with, whats the best way for them to cope? But given the pandemic challenges of working in healthcare, money is whats driving most travel nursing now. Currently, there are certain state and federal regulations, declarations, and orders that extend liability immunity in the fight against COVID-19. Working as a travel nurse typically lured those early in their career who wanted to see new parts of the country and enjoy adventure while earning a good living. And given shortages, theres been a rise in those like Piper who dont have to travel very far to get to their next contract. Between an ever-growing nurse staffing shortage, an increased need for patient In general, travel nurse housing is provided with your job. (On a more local level, Mary Jorgensen and Kelly OConnor are working with other nurses to form a union with SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, in hopes of addressing the short-staffing and other challenges that have plagued UW Health during the pandemic.). The massive pay discrepancy is likely a temporary side effect of the crisis and various economic and funding constraints, but the underlying situation is not about to disappear. You can also partner with a travel nurse agency like MAS Medical Staffing who offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes relocation stipends, health insurance, 401(k) plans, and so much more! But, travel nurse salaries vary widely by credentials, experience, specialty, location, whether housing or a stipend is provided, and many other factors. But its not fair to either travel nurses, or the patients they care for, to ask them to take on so much of the ongoing essential duties of running a hospital unit. hbspt.cta.load(1817469, '9a22933d-0318-4435-b4e5-fcfa678d6f3f', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); SEE ALSO:How Do Travel Staffing Agencies Work for Your Ultimate Benefit? These staff became early veterans of Covid, he said, bringing their experience of the challenges of Covid-19 patients to other facilities. This is the most common Tax Questions of Travel Nurses we receive all year. That means you have a multitude of opportunities all over the United States to pick and choose your next adventure. The great news is that you can spend your extended breaks between assignments visiting them without work interruptions. And when tax time rolls around, you also get to enjoy many different travel nurse tax deductions. The most notable advantages of being a traveling nurse are the ability to spend time traveling around the U.S. working in a diverse range of environments, and forming lasting friendships that you cant find in many other environments. The BSN curriculum includes prevention and health promotion;, evidence-based nursing practice; statistics/research methods; healthcare systems and management; community health; and communicating with and educating patients. The latest data from Aya Healthcare, a national travel nurse staffing agency, shows there are currently 20% more open travel nursing jobs than there were one year ago in Massachusetts: roughly 700 positions in the state out of 35,000 nationally. That's in part because of COVID relief money Congress sent states. A travel nurse housing stipend, or housing reimbursement, is the amount of money employers offer nurses for their cost of housing and living while working on remote assignments. The nurse should describe the task or assignment they dont feel equipped to handle, the reason for their feelings, and the training they would need to be more confident and better prepared. Most Asked Tax Questions of Travel Nurses In most other professions, bouncing around from employer to employer is frowned upon. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average salary for RNs in the U.S. is $ 82,750 per year. Its hard to find a con when it comes to adventure! The average travel nurse salary could reach as high as $103,893 a year, according to, . As an in-state traveler, Piper said she doesnt get the stipends that a typical travel nurse would get, but she gets good health benefits and a match for her retirement plan. We were more attracted to travel nursing for the lifestyle of going to different locations. You will have to learn the ropes wherever you go. The 100,000 open positions then has now doubled. Many staff nurses leave for travel jobs A recent surge in demand for travel nurses has made long-running staffing shortages at rural hospitals even worse, NBC But thats changed. Certification Theres just one thing to remember when it comes to housing; you have to bring all of your personal items with you. Further, plaintiffs counsel can file a lawsuit, immunity or no immunity, if the plaintiffs counsel believes the client was injured and that injury was the direct result of the nurse or other health care professional providing or failing to provide professional services. demand areas. KIMBERLY CARSON: I feel like you should be able to afford to pay your staff more money and better wages. Transform your mindset to think of these instances as challenges that you can overcome. Google Pay. Most employers also require certifications in basic life support and advanced cardiac life support. CHATLANI: The hospital association asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate staffing agencies a year ago. A Single-Hospital Study of Travel Nurses and Quality: you can visit whenever you have a chance. Travel nurses are in great demand right now, as they are helping to relieve frontline workers during COVID-19. Hundreds of online staffing agencies specialize in travel nursing, but you'll need to differentiate which is the best fit for you. WebMake sure all licenses and certifications, and immunizations are current. The COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness about inappropriate nurse staffing and may accelerate this dangerous cycle. But, most travel nurse staffing agencies and clients prefer nurses with a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). Being a travel nurse means that you get to remove one of the biggest stressors that most people face: housing. Politics latest updates: NHS 'on the brink' says nursing union as When the assignment is within a nurses scope of practice, but not within their realm of experience or training, saying no to the assignment could lead to dismissal. Clarification, March 3, 3:40 pm: This story has been updated to clarify the role of Mary Jorgensen and Kelly OConnor in the effort to form a nurses union with SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin.