It’s Easier to Travel as a Nurse, and Now More Highly Paid
There is massive upward pressure on the travel nursing salary as COVID-19 continues its rapid spread across the nation. Hospitals are suffering with the influx of patients and many are struggling logistically to cope with the pandemic. Demand for nursing staff is skyrocketing, creating opportunities for those willing to take on travel nurse jobs.
Traveling may seem risky in these times, as it increases your risk of infection. Working in a hospital with so many COVID-19 cases increases your exposure to the virus. These factors are deterring many travel nurses from taking on new roles, further exacerbating the gap between demand and supply in travel nursing roles. Consequently, hospitals across the country are willing to pay much higher than normal rates to entice travel nurses to work for them.
Are You Allowed to Practice Medicine in Another State?
In times of emergency, hospitals and regulations must adapt. The current situation is out of the ordinary, and, as such, hospitals and regulators are becoming more flexible to help the healthcare system cope with increased pressure.
Currently, most states have eased their regulations to allow doctors and nurses who are already licensed in other states to practice across state lines without the need to apply for a new license in their state.
The easing in licensing regulations has come to help hospitals quickly build up staff. If you already have a license to practice in your state, you may easily be able to find a role as a travel nurse in another state, especially in those that have been worst hit by the virus.
What Roles Are in High Demand?
The roles in the highest demand are:
- Intensive care unit (ICU) staff
- Emergency departments (ED) staff: over 2x increase in demand since January
- Nurses who specialize in cross-infection control: over 2x increase in demand since January
With the high demand and low supply of staff, traveling nurse salaries are increasing as hospitals try to entice top-quality candidates to take the risk of traveling between states.
In January 2020, the average salary for a registered nurse (RN) was $1,700 per week. In March 2020, COVID-19-related nursing roles have jumped to an average salary of $3,000 – that’s almost double in less than three months. Some travel nurses are currently earning as much as $5,000 per week.
New York and California are the two states that have seen the biggest jump in salaries for nursing roles. With some of the highest median household incomes in the country and many citizens having healthcare insurance, hospitals have the resources in these states to pay the extra salary to the staff they desperately need.
Staff Are Being Repurposed to Deal with COVID-19
The outbreak is escalating daily. While the current situation does give you the opportunity to increase your income, it is unlikely you took up nursing solely for the money. If you are working in a state that has not been as badly affected by the outbreak, the relaxed regulations and flexibility of hospitals give you the chance to help in those states that are suffering the most.
Hospitals across the country are closing units and reorganizing their staff as they repurpose departments to cope with the influx of COVID-19 patients. By taking on a travel nurse role, you can assist in the places worst hit, helping to ensure all patients who require care receive it.
Travel, Save Lives, and Save Up
With the pandemic spreading like wildfire across the United States and many experts saying that it could be months before things return to ‘normal,’ we are witnessing huge demand for travel nurses. Hospitals across the country are desperate for their temporary roles to be filled. This increased demand has led to salaries doubling for nursing roles. Many roles are also offering housing stipends to ensure that travel nurses they employ can take on roles faster and with more certainty.
This is an historic period. The demand for your services is not only creating opportunity to financially benefit, but you can also rapidly improve your knowledge and experience to benefit you through the rest of your career.
Contact Loyal Source for a confidential discussion and to discover some of the country’s best travel nurse opportunities.