49th Annual Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice Conference

Travel Nursing

Travel nursing is a nursing assignment concept that developed in response to the nursing shortage. This industry supplies nurses who travel to work in temporary nursing positions, mostly in hospitals. While travel nursing traditionally refers specifically to the nursing profession, it can also be used as a blanket term to refer to a variety of travel healthcare positions, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and even doctors and dentists. Reasons cited for pursuing travel nursing opportunities include higher pay, professional growth and development, and personal adventure. Agencies may submit applications for numerous positions concurrently on behalf of a traveler. A travel nurse is a nurse who is hired to work in a specific location for a limited amount of time. Travel nurses typically work 13 week periods in one area, and move around the country depending on where they are needed. Because the demand for nurses is so high, there are often shortages in certain areas, and a traveling nursing will be hired to come in and work in a specific position for a short amount of time. The major benefit of travel nursing is that you get to choose where you live and work. If you are tired of your current location or want to get away from cold weather for the winter, you have the ability to find a job in a different location and move for a short period of time.