Did you know that there are over 1.7 million travel nurses in the U.S.? Without travel nurses to fill in vital roles in healthcare, the industry would come to a standstill.
How? Because one key role travel nurses play is in temporary hospital staffing. However, that’s far from the only healthcare facility where travel nurses play an important role.
If you’re looking to staff your facility with travel nurses, or if you’re looking to become a travel nurse yourself and work around the country, keep reading to learn about all the options that are available to you.
What Is a Travel Nurse
When a hospital, clinic, or other healthcare facility is short-staffed, they hire a travel nurse to aid with their staffing shortages. These nurses are signed to short-term contracts that usually last 13 weeks. However, they can be extended if the need is there and the nurse wants to continue working at that facility.
A big benefit of being a travel nurse is the pay. The pay is typically much higher than the mean salary for nurses. A travel nurse working in a hospital may even make more than the hospital staff.
As an added bonus, some nurses take weeks or even months off between contracts, choosing to travel or relax instead of working and risking burnout. Given the high burnout rate among nurses, the ability to take a few weeks or even months off in between jobs is a huge plus for many nurses.
If you’re new to the travel nurse lifestyle, Barton is a great way to begin a travel nurse lifestyle. This is a career that can be either full or part-time. If you like traveling and seeing different parts of the country, enjoy a flexible lifestyle, and desire to gain experience in a variety of settings, a travel nurse career is right for you.
But what type of travel nurse will you be? And where can you work?
Types of Travel Nurses
While many healthcare facilities are interested in hiring travel nurses, some positions are more in demand than others.
A few of the more common travel nurse positions include:
Travel Medical Surgical (MedSurg) Nurse
Pinning down the responsibilities of a MedSurg nurse is difficult. You’re likely to do a bit of everything: starting IVs, dressing wounds, and interacting with all kinds of patients and their families.
MedSurg nurses are most likely to work in hospitals. However, they can be found in many other facilities such as nursing homes, military facilities, and surgical centers. As you can see from our job postings, medical surgical nurse jobs can be in a variety of locations.
Travel OR (Operation Room) Nurse
OR nurses collaborate with surgeons and other OR staff. This position requires confidence and a calm demeanor.
Generally speaking, OR nurses fall into two categories: scrub and circular nurses.
Scrub nurses help surgeons inside the sterile zone. They aid surgeons by providing them with the instruments they need, essentially acting as a second set of helping hands.
Circular nurses work outside of the sterile zone. A circular nurse may review patient records, assist a nurse anesthetist, and overall help take care of the patient while they are in the operating room.
Most travel OR nurse positions involve working at a hospital. However, some work at physician practices or surgical centers.
Travel ER (Emergency Room) Nurse
If you can handle a fast-paced environment, an emergency room nursing position may suit you. ER nurses provide care to patients who are suffering from severe trauma or injury.
Their work begins with identifying the needs of the patient. Then the patient must be stabilized, and pain management begins.
Other duties of an ER nurse may include:
- Starting IVs
- Resetting bones
- Cleaning wounds
- Administering medication
- Assisting a doctor with other medical operations
An ER nurse must be able to remain calm, adapt quickly, and make quick decisions under pressure. It’s a stressful position, but it pays well.
If you have all of these qualities and a desire to work in a hospital, consider a job as an ER nurse. This is a position that is always in demand, and we have several travel ER nurse positions available at different hospitals.
Other Types of Travel Nurses
Aside from the previously mentioned positions, Barton Healthcare Staffing is able to staff facilities with nurses who specialize in:
- Pediatric care
- Hospice or palliative care
- Home health
- Long-term care facility
- Intensive care
- Neonatal care
- Labor and delivery
- Telemetry
- Post-anesthesia care
- Any other specialty where nurses are needed
Likewise, if you are looking to staff your facility with highly skilled travel nurses, we have a staffing solution for you. We take a proactive approach to staffing, ensuring that we always have a database of knowledgeable staff ready to suit your needs.
We Can Help With Temporary Hospital Staffing
Are you a nurse looking for a travel nurse position? Or are you looking to hire a nurse for temporary hospital staffing?
Either way, Barton Healthcare Staffing can help. Our team partners with healthcare facilities around the country to place highly qualified medical professionals in temporary positions. Our staffing specialists can help pair experienced health professionals with the right organization.
Contact us if you are looking for a new career, or if you are needing to staff your healthcare facility.
