Travel nursing is a profession that takes you far beyond then the four walls of a hospital. One day you are working in the hospital of a bustling city and the next day you are working in a rural area. This is the beauty of travel nursing where you can explore different cities, areas, and hospitals and come across different patients. This not only helps with your professional development but also with your personal growth. But do you know that travel nurses are of different types? In this blog let us discuss different types of travel nurses and what they do. Their educational requirements, duties, salaries, and more! Which one is the perfect fit for you?
What is travel nursing and what do travel nurses do?
Travel nurses are specialized nurses who perform their duties at different hospitals with a staff shortage. Sometimes, hospitals or healthcare facilities might face a staff shortage due to many factors, such as emergencies, pandemics, etc. To ensure that people can get enhanced care without any difficulty, healthcare facilities demand travel nurses. These nurses travel to different cities to provide effective patient care.
Types of travel nurses
Let’s explore different types of travel nurses, their educational requirements, roles, and salaries. It is important to understand that every nurse has the following educational requirements before they apply to become a travel nurse.
- Obtaining a nursing degree such as an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) that requires 2 years to complete or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) requires 4 years to complete.
- Pass the NCLEX exam (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses).
- Obtain state licensure of the state you will be working in. Nurses also apply for NLC (Nurse Licensure Compact) which allows nurses to work in multiple states without applying for multiple licenses that save them both money and time.
- Gain clinical experience of at least 1-2 years before applying for a travel nursing job.
Acute Care RN
Acute care RNs are specialized registered nurses who take care of patients who need urgent medical needs. They work in a fast-challenging environment, where they must think quickly to provide patient care to seriously ill patients.
Certifications:
- Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
- Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
Roles and duties:
- Continuous patient assessment and monitoring.
- Provide medications, IVs, or procedures like wound care.
- Act quickly in emergencies to stabilize critical patients.
- Educate patients and their families about their conditions, treatments, and procedures.
Career outlook:
The demand for acute care RN is increasing due to the aging population and an increase in chronic conditions. If you are a nurse who thrives in challenging and high-paced environments, then becoming an Acute Travel Nurse is perfect for you.
Emergency Room RN (ER RN)
Emergency room nurses work in an emergency department where they take care of patients who are in critical condition. ER RNs are the first nurses who come in contact with the patients once they enter the emergency room. They must assess and stabilize the patient who needs urgent care. These types of travel nurses visit areas where there is an urgent need for ER nurses due to pandemics or disasters to provide care for severely ill patients.
Certifications:
- Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
- Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
Roles and duties:
- Triage and assessment to make sure the most serious patient gets medical care first.
- Responding quickly to stabilize the patient.
- Administer medications and treatments.
- Patient education and discharge planning.
Career outlook:
The demand for ER RN nurses remains high due to the higher number of people visiting Emergency departments, increased chronic conditions, and the aging population. If you are a nurse and have brilliant skills to stay calm under stressful conditions and communicate effectively during emergencies the Emergency room nurse job is a rewarding and fulfilling career for you to choose.
Intensive Care Unit Nurse or ICU RN
ICU nurses are the type of nurses who work in ICU with the patients who are in critical condition and require continuous monitoring. These patients are suffering from life-threatening conditions such as traumatic injuries, organ failures, etc. ICU nurses are required to have the knowledge of using complex equipment, giving attention to details, and making rapidly life-changing decisions.
Certifications:
- Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) (if working in a Pediatric ICU)
Roles and duties:
- Knowledge of how to use advanced and complex equipment.
- Continuous monitoring of severely ill patients.
- Perform advanced procedures for tracheostomy care or central line placement.
Career outlook:
ICU nursing is both a challenging and rewarding career. The increasing demand for ICU nurses is increasing day by day because of the increased prevalence of chronic illness and the aging population.
Med Surg nurse
Med Surg travel nurses are the backbone of hospitals because of their ability to take care of diverse patient populations. They take care of patients with a wide range of medical conditions.
Certifications:
- Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
Career outlook:
Med-surgical travel nursing is one of the largest nursing specialties and one of the most demanding types of travel nurses. Med Surg nurses work with patients with different conditions. They prepare the patient for the surgeries, help them recover, administer medications, and help with discharge planning. Nowadays there is an increase in medical procedures and surgeries, hence making med surg nurses high in demand.
OR Nurse
OR travel nurses are known as perioperative nurses, these types of nurses’ work in surgical settings and make sure that the surgery goes smoothly, and patients get the care they need. The operating room nurses take care of the patients, before, during, and after the operation.
Certifications:
- Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
Career outlook:
Due to advances in surgical technology and the increased number of surgeries, the demand for OR RN is increasing. These types of nurses can perform multiple roles such as Surgical Nurse Educator or Surgical Nurse and much more. If you are looking for a more stable job but also want to have an option for changing your career later in the healthcare field, then being an OR nurse is a great option for you.
What are the other types of travel nurses?
Different types of nurses are required for different reasons. Depending on the situation, factors, and location, travel nurses visit places to fulfill their duty and provide patient care.
Some other types of travel nurses are:
- Labor and delivery nurse
- Progressive care unit nurse
- Physical therapist travel nurse
- Stepdown RN
- Cardiac nurse
- Trauma nurse
- Oncology nurse
Conclusion:
Nowadays travel nurses are in high demand. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a shortage of staff in healthcare facilities. To full fill the gaps and make sure that the patient gets the best care they need, healthcare facilities moved towards travel nurses. Nurses traveled to different states to perform their duties and provide patient care. Even after more than 4 years, the demand for travel nurses is still there. If you are a nurse and thinking of becoming a travel nurse it is important to understand the different types of nurses, their roles and duties, and educational requirements. In this blog, we have provided you the details about types of travel nurses and which can be a perfect career choice for you. Join SkillGigs now! To find a job that meets your needs and interests.
