This article will provide you with information about Everything You Need to Know About Travel Nurse, With a Step-by-step guide on how to start your career as a traveling nurse.
INTRODUCTION
Traveling nursing can be one of the most exciting and satisfying options for nurses looking to explore different parts of the country or world, as it allows them to still help patients and practice their trade while traveling from place to place. But, just as with any other job opportunity, there are some things that you need to know before you decide if this path is right for you. Here are all the things that you need to know about travel nursing before getting started.
Travel nurses have become popular due to the high demand for experienced professionals in the healthcare field. While you may think that travel nursing and traditional nursing are completely different, there are some similarities between the two that you should know before deciding on which one to pursue. In this article, we will cover all of the information you need to know about travel nursing to help you make your decision with ease and confidence.
What Is a Travel Nurse?
For starters, it’s helpful to know what travel nurses are. In short, they’re registered nurses (RNs) or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) who receive a temporary assignment from their staffing agency often for an extended period of time to work in a hospital setting. This type of position is ideal for individuals who are looking for flexibility, either with their hours or location, but do not wish to commit long term to any one facility.
How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?
According to PayScale, registered nurses are among one of most-lucrative roles within travel nursing. The site found that travel RNs made a median salary of $42,471 in 2016. The top 10 percent were paid more than $67,621 annually. Registered nurse employment is expected to grow by 19 percent from 2014 to 2024, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which equates to around 52,000 new jobs in that time frame. This rate of growth is much faster than average for all occupations and indicates that there will be plenty of opportunities for those interested in becoming travel nurses.
ALSO SEE: How Much a Travel Nurses Make According to Their Specialty
What Are The Duties of Travel Nurses?
Travel nurses can provide care in a number of different settings, such as hospitals, extended care facilities, clinics and physicians’ offices. A travel nurse’s duties will vary depending on his or her location.
Some common travel nursing duties include
Patient assessment: Travel nurses perform patient assessments, which help them determine what kind of treatment is necessary for each individual patient. This process often involves taking vital signs and collecting medical history information from patients.
Medication administration: Travel nurses may administer medication to patients who are recovering from surgery or illness, among other things.
Patient education: In addition to treating patients, travel nurses may also educate them about their condition or how they should take their medications going forward.
What Are The Benefits of Travel Nursing?
A career as a travel nurse allows you to enjoy many benefits that are otherwise unattainable in other fields of nursing. At least, they’re not attainable without moving to a new state or sacrificing your lifestyle.
Although some of these benefits might seem like small details, they can add up over time and make all the difference in your overall quality of life.
Here are just a few:
The Best Part: The best part about being a travel nurse is getting to see different parts of the world while still maintaining your current lifestyle. This means not uprooting yourself and starting from scratch somewhere else, and it also means being able to spend more time with family members who live elsewhere. If you have children, for example, traveling around can be an excellent way to spend more time with them while still earning money.
ALSO SEE: Why Ascend National Healthcare Staffing is the Best Agency for You
What Are Travel Nursing Specialties in Demand?
The travel nursing profession consists of various specialty as follows:
- Case Management Nurse
- Cath Lab Nurse
- Critical Care Nurse
- Dialysis Nurse
- ER Nurse
- Home Health Nurse
- ICU Nurse
- Labor and Delivery Nurse
- Med Surg Nurse
- Neonatal Nurse
- Obstetrics Nurse
- Oncology Nurse
- OR Nurse
- Orthopedics Nurse
- PACU Nurse Nurse
- Pediatric Nurse
- Psychiatric Nurse
- Step-Down Nurse
1. Case Management Nurse
A Case Management Nurse is a registered nurse who has completed a specialized education program and certification in Case Management. They are responsible for coordinating, assessing, and implementing care plans for patients.
They are often the first person to see a patient when they arrive at the hospital or clinic. This gives them an opportunity to assess the patient’s condition before any other members of the healthcare team come in contact with them.
The Case Management Nurse will also be involved in arranging treatments and procedures that need to be done on a particular day as well as scheduling follow-up visits with specialists as needed.
2. Cath Lab Nurse
A Cath Lab Nurse is a registered nurse who has completed training in the skills needed to manage patients undergoing cardiac catheterization and other interventional cardiology procedures.
Cath Lab Nurses provide care for their patients from the moment they arrive at the Cath Lab until they are discharged following their procedure. They also work closely with a variety of health care professionals, including physicians, perfusionists, technologists, nurses and allied health professionals to ensure that patients receive appropriate care.
Cath Lab Nurses may also be involved in educating healthcare providers about new developments in cardiovascular interventions and treatment.
3. Critical Care Nurse
Critical care nurses are usually found in an intensive care unit. They provide a high level of care for patients who need a lot of medical attention. They help the patient with their physical needs, emotional needs and their spiritual needs.
Critical care nurses have to have a lot of education and training to be able to do this job. The qualifications they need include:
- Graduate from an approved nursing program -Pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) -Pass any state or provincial exams that may be required by law
- Successfully complete an accredited critical care nurse education course
- Successfully complete a mandatory internship program
4. Dialysis Nurse
Dialysis nurses are the ones who are responsible for the daily care of patients who have chronic kidney disease. They work with patients in dialysis centers and in hospitals to provide them with all their needs.
The dialysis nurse is a highly trained professional who has to be knowledgeable about various aspects of the human body, especially its circulatory system, as well as related diseases and treatments. They also need to be detail oriented and have an understanding of how different medications affect the body.
5. ER nurses
ER nurses are trained to handle emergencies and acute care situations. They are responsible for assessing the medical condition of the patient, diagnosing any injuries or illnesses, and providing treatment.
ER nurses work in emergency rooms, intensive care units, operating rooms, and other areas of a hospital. They also provide care for patients who have been discharged from the hospital and need follow-up visits with a primary care physician or specialist.
The ER nurse’s job is crucial to the success of the hospital. They are often on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
6. Home Health Nurse
Home health nurses are healthcare professionals who provide care for patients in their home. They can help with a variety of tasks that would otherwise require the patient to go to a hospital or clinic.
Home health nurses work with patients who are recovering from surgery, need assistance after an accident, or need ongoing medical care. They also work with people who have chronic diseases and need regular medical assistance in their homes.
A home health nurse might help a patient do daily activities like bathing, dressing and eating, or they might be there to provide medication and monitor vital signs.
Home health nurses also teach patients about their condition so they can take better care of themselves at home.
7. ICU Nurse
The intensive care unit (ICU) nurses are responsible for providing medical care to patients who have been critically injured or ill. They need to be able to perform complex medical procedures, such as inserting a catheter or administering fluids.
They also need to monitor and record patient vitals and administer medications, including intravenous solutions. The ICU nurse is an important part of the team that cares for critically ill patients.
8. Labor and Delivery Nurse
Labor and Delivery Nurse is a profession that deals with the care of expecting mothers, fathers, and newborn babies. It is an exciting time to become a Labor and Delivery Nurse. As a Labor and Delivery Nurse you will have the opportunity to work in many different settings. You may work in an OBGYN office, hospital, or even at home with a family who lives far from medical facilities.
Labor and Delivery Nurses are responsible for monitoring pregnancy progression, labor progress, and the condition of both mother and baby during childbirth. They also help maintain records of patients’ medical histories as well as assist with post-delivery care for mothers and babies.
The Labor and Delivery Nurse is entrusted with caring for people during one of the most vulnerable moments in their lives which requires dedication, patience, compassion, empathy, kindness and understanding.
9. Med Surg Nurse
Med Surg nurses are responsible for assessing and managing patients who are experiencing a variety of medical problems. They are in charge of providing emergency care to patients and ensuring that the patient is stable before transferring them to a higher level of care.
The nurse will be able to assess the patient’s condition, provide emergency care, administer medications, and ensure the patient is stable before transferring them to a higher level of care.
10. Neonatal Nurse
11. Obstetrics Nurse
Obstetrics nurses work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, doctors’ offices, and clinics. They are responsible for examining pregnant women and newborns. They also provide education to patients about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. Obstetric nurses may specialize in fields such as maternal-fetal medicine or high-risk obstetrics.
Just like labor and delivery nurses, the role of an Obstetric Nurse is to care for pregnant women from the moment they know they are pregnant until the birth of their baby.
They examine their patients and monitor them throughout their pregnancy to ensure that everything is going well with the pregnancy.
They also provide education to patients about what they can expect during the course of their pregnancy, childbirth and parenting.
Obstetric Nurses may specialize in fields such as maternal-fetal medicine or high-risk obstetrics depending on what is needed by their employer or hospital setting.”
12. Oncology Nurse
Oncology nurses are registered nurses who specialize in the care of people with cancer. They are trained to provide care for all types of cancer and can work in any setting, including hospitals, clinics, private practices, academic institutions, or research centers.
Nurses who specialize in oncology have a wide range of duties and responsibilities. They may be asked to work with doctors and other healthcare professionals to help patients understand their diagnosis and treatment plan. Nurses may also perform some laboratory tests or procedures such as bone marrow aspiration or lumbar punctures.
13. OR Nurse
The operating room nurse (OR) is a healthcare professional who delivers care to patients before, during and after surgery. The operating room nurse is the first person to touch the patient in the OR, and they are responsible for ensuring that everything goes as planned. They preoperative care for the patient, prepare surgical tools and instruments, administer anesthesia, monitor patient vital signs during surgery, and assist with postoperative care.
The operating room nurse may also be assigned to other areas of the hospital such as the emergency department or intensive care unit. This is because they have extensive knowledge of medical equipment and procedures that can be applied in any setting. Operating room nurses are also responsible for educating patients on post-surgical care at home.
14. Orthopedics Nurse
Nurses in orthopedics are responsible for the postoperative care of patients who have had orthopedic surgery. They are responsible for monitoring the patient’s condition and reporting any changes to the surgeon or other medical professionals.
They also help patients with the rehabilitation process by teaching them how to use their new prostheses, braces, or other devices.
Nurses in this specialty work closely with doctors and surgeons, as well as other medical professionals like physical therapists and occupational therapists.
Nurses in orthopedics may also provide education to patients about how to care for themselves at home after surgery.
15. PACU Nurse Nurse
The Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nurses are the ones that care for patients who have just undergone surgery. They are responsible for monitoring patients’ vital signs and administering medications.
PACU nurses help to make sure that the patient is safe and comfortable during the recovery process. They also play an important role in educating patients and their families about post-operative care, diet, activity levels, medications, and follow-up appointments.
The responsibilities of PACU nurses can be summarized as follows:
1) Monitoring of vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature
2) Administering medication including IV fluids
3) Providing emotional support to patients during recovery.
16. Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric nurses are professionals who are responsible for caring for children and providing them with the help they need. They provide medical care, emotional support and education to children.
Pediatric nurses work in a variety of settings, including in hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics and schools. They also work in home health care environments where they provide care to sick or disabled children.
17. Psychiatric Nurse
Psychiatric nurses work in psychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, correctional facilities, nursing homes and community health centers. They provide care for patients who may have mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Psychiatric nurses also provide care for patients who are experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts.
The duties of a psychiatric nurse include assessing the patient’s condition and ensuring they stay safe while they are in the hospital. They also help with treatments like group therapy sessions where they try to get people to open up about their feelings and share their experiences with others who may have similar problems. Psychiatric nurses can help patients learn how to manage their illness by teaching them coping skills and providing them
18.Step-Down Nurse
Step-Down Nurses are nurses who work in a step-down unit (SDUs) that may be called upon to provide care for patients who are recovering from surgery and need intermediate care. They can also provide care for patients recovering from a medical condition or injury.
The responsibilities of nurses in this position might include:
- Monitoring the condition of the patient and providing ongoing care, including administering medication as prescribed by a physician.
- Providing emotional support to the patient, family members, and other caregivers.
- Assisting in rehabilitation efforts such as with physical therapy if appropriate.
- Helping with discharge planning when appropriate.
- Providing information to families about diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis if requested.
Requirements for Becoming a Travel Nurse
Do you want a job where you can see new sights and experiences, learn about different types of people, and get paid well in order to do it?
If so, becoming a travel nurse could be right for you. To qualify as a travel nurse, here are some requirements that you’ll need to meet:
A high school diploma or GED is required. Most employers prefer at least one year of experience working in healthcare, but some will hire entry-level candidates with no prior experience if they have completed an accredited nursing program and have passed all relevant licensure exams.
A valid driver’s license is also usually required. Aspiring travel nurses must pass a criminal background check and drug test.
How to Become a Travel Nurse
Becoming a travel nurse requires passing an accredited school’s program, as well as completing state licensure requirements and passing any exams required by your state board of nursing.
In addition, you must be eligible to work as an RN in your state and pass both drug screening and criminal background checks.
Is Becoming a Nurse Worth It?
The answer to this question is a definite yes. Nurses have a plethora of benefits that make the profession worthwhile.
Nurses are in high demand and there are not enough nurses to fill the current need. The average salary for a nurse is $70,000 per year, which is more than most professions. Nurses also have the opportunity to work in many different settings such as hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and even in private practices.
Nurses have an opportunity to specialize in fields such as oncology or pediatrics which can lead to higher salaries and more rewarding careers.
Nursing has one of the best employment rates out of all professions with only about 4% unemployment rate for nurses which makes it easier for them to find jobs when they need them.
Lastly, nurses have some of the best retirement benefits with pensions and 401K plans that can provide financial security later in life.
Where Can I Find Work as a Nursing Traveler?
One of your first questions is probably, where can I find nursing travel jobs? The quick answer is all over! A larger hospital might have its own recruiter who finds work for traveling nurses. But if you’re talking about smaller medical centers, they might not have a full-time recruiter on staff.
When that’s the case, it’s up to you to find places that are hiring. Start with hospitals and clinics in your area and then branch out from there.
Nursing job boards like Indeed,
Careerstaff, and LinkedIn are great resources for finding these positions, as well as sites like SimplyHired and America Mobile.
Conclusion
Nursing is a demanding career, but it can also be very rewarding. Nurses are the frontline of healthcare, and their work touches every aspect of patient care.
Nurses have a lot of responsibility. They must have the ability to assess patients and provide them with the care they need to heal. They also need to be able to keep up with the latest developments in their field and stay up-to-date on new research and treatments.
Nurses are often given more responsibilities than other healthcare professionals, like doctors or physical therapists. Nurses may also have more contact with patients than doctors do, which means that they can have a major impact on how patients feel about their experience in the hospital or clinic.
Being a nurse just doesn’t provide a good career but rather you care for patients who are passing through hard times to recover from their varying predicaments.
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