The demand for travel nurses is increasing day by day. Healthcare facilities face shortages of staff for several reasons and to fulfill that demand they turn to travelling nurses to fill these gaps. If you are a nurse with at least two yours of experience you can choose to become a travel nurse. Being a travel nurse has its advantages and rewards, but it has its challenges too.
Reasons why travel nurses are in demand
During covid 19 there was a shortage of staff. The number of people who needed care was increasing day by day resulting in a shortage of staff. During this pandemic, healthcare facilities asked for the help of travel nurses to fill the gaps and provide patient care. Some of the other reasons for the increased demand for travel nurses are as follows:
- Seasonal emergency needs such as earthquakes, floods, etc.
- Shortage of availability of nurses with specialized skills.
- Permanent staff nurses leaving jobs or taking breaks.
Is travel nursing going away?
The demand for travel nurses fluctuates due to many reasons. During covid19 the demand for travel nurses increased due to the shortages of staff. Many nurses were attracted to travel nursing because of its advantages. No doubt the demand for travel nurses is slowing down because many hospitals and healthcare facilities now want to settle for permanent nurses. The reasons the demand for travel nurses slowing down are as follows:
Lower pay rates: During a pandemic, healthcare facilities offered higher pay rates and bonuses to travel nurses so they could collaborate with them. But now the pandemic is gone, and everything is back to normal, hospitals want more permanent nurses. The decrease in travel nurse’s pay is one of the reasons travel nursing is slowing down.
Increase demand for permanent staffing: Healthcare facilities are now looking for nurses who will work full-time or part-time with them to ensure stability. This is also one of the reasons why the demand for travel nursing is decreasing.
Tight hospital budget: with inflation the healthcare facilities are looking for ways to stay financially stable. Their focus is more on permanent staff rather than on travel nurses which is a temporary solution.
Burnouts and travel fatigue: travel nursing has a lot of benefits like discovering new places and high pay. However, nurses might feel burned out with too much traveling. Therefore, they opt for permanent positions.
Increased competition: the perks of traveling nurses have made many nurses think of travel nursing. The competition has increased and due to this, it is difficult for nurses to find the jobs they want.
How many travel nurses are there in the US?
Even though the demand for travel nurses has decreased after the pandemic, there are still over 1.7 million travel nurses in the US. Even now if healthcare facilities are facing a shortage of staff due to some reason, they opt for travel nurses to fill the gaps. Therefore, the demand for travel nurses is still there.
Is Travel nursing still worth it?
Yes! Travel nurses are still worth it due to its advantages and benefits. The reason many nurses choose to become travel nurses is because they want to explore novel places. They are bored working with only one facility. To be adventurous and experience new things they go for the option of travel nursing which comes with high pay and many benefits.
Travel nursing in 2024
Although the demand for travel nursing is stabilizing, it is still one of the most important solutions to the shortage of nurses. So, to answer the question, are travel nurses in demand? Well yes, travel nursing continues to evolve for many reasons such as the following:
- Telehealth integrations.
- Increased demand for flexibility in work.
- Increased focus on mental health and wellbeing.
- Freedom of choosing assignment of choice.
- Increased benefits and compensation.
- Better opportunities for nurses with specialized skills.
- Compact state nursing licenses make it easy for nurses to work in multiple states. with ease.
- Integration of technology.
- Evolving work environments.
Do travel nurses go out of the country?
Yes! International travel nurses go out of the country to provide their services where needed. Although it is less common than domestic traveling, it is still there.
Conclusion
Travel nursing continues to be evolving, although the demand for travel nurses is not as high as it was during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it is still one of the evolving industries. Many healthcare facilities still face a shortage of nurses because of several reasons so they opt for travel nurses to fill the gaps. Travel nursing has its advantages and challenges. To know more about travel nursing read our blog.
