Nursing has a very promising career prospect, and it grows even more if you are considering travel nurse jobs. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the US has over 4 million workforce of registered nurses currently employed. However, there’s still a critical nursing shortage due to the rapidly aging population, growing medical industry, and high demand for healthcare. Studies estimate that the USA needs approximately 200,000 more nurses to join the healthcare force and carry the burden of growing healthcare needs.  

Due to the critical nursing shortage, many healthcare facilities offer travel nursing jobs. These travel jobs are offered for short-term periods on high hourly or weekly wages to cater to urgent demands. Although there are many nursing specialties, only a few offer travel assignments. Most of them lie in the critical units, as a staffing shortage there can be fatal. Some of these specializations are in critical care, the neonatal department, and surgical areas.  

Top 8 High in Demand Travel Nursing Jobs 

Not only does travel nursing offer several opportunities in diverse specialties, it also has the advantage of better financial benefits, flexible work opportunities, and the opportunity to travel around the country or even the world. However, the question is, how will you know which specialty is most in demand? Understanding the demand of each travel nurse specialty will give you invaluable insights to pick the right specialization. So, without further ado, let’s find out which travel nursing jobs are most in demand.

1. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Jobs (CRNA)

CRNAs are the highest-paying nursing profession. This is due to their extensive education and training. However, some credit goes to the shortage of anesthesiologists. They are usually responsible for administering anesthesia during various medical and surgical procedures. However, their autonomy varies in different states. And with the abundance of travel nursing jobs in CRNA, this is the most money you can make as a travel nurse. 

2. Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit Travel Nurse Jobs (CVICU)

Cardiac issues are on the rise in the US. Due to this, CVICU jobs are in high demand. They specialize in providing intensive care to cardiac patients. According to research, approximately 695,000 people die from cardiac issues per year, which means that every 1 in 5 deaths is caused by cardiac issues. Hence, travel nursing jobs are abundantly in demand in the cardiac sector.  

3. Neonatal Intensive Care Travel Nursing Jobs (NICU/PICU) 

Caring for children and newborns with premature birth, serious conditions, or life-threatening problems is very critical. Unlike adults, they can’t express their symptoms. Hence, NICU and PICU nurse jobs are very crucial. To decrease the infant mortality rate, these nurses play a very vital part, providing care to newborn babies and kids in the intensive care units. Since the job is very critical and demanding, the NICU nurse salary and PICU nurse salary expectations are very promising.  

4. Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Travel Nurse Jobs (PACU)

PACU is the unit where the patient is most vulnerable in their entire hospital visit. This makes PACU travel nurse jobs very critical and in demand. The rapidly growing population has increased the risk of chronic disease and medical conditions requiring invasive treatments, which need anesthesia administration. Not only is administering anesthesia a critical job, but caring for post-anesthesia patients is even more demanding. Due to this, PACU nurse jobs are in high demand, with an average salary of $131,043 annually.

5. Emergency Room Travel Nursing Jobs (ER)

ER travel nurses are responsible for taking care of patients in critical conditions. The work environment of the ER is very fast-paced, with severely injured or ill patients coming and going in minutes. This is why an ER nurse job requires both knowledge and experience for critical decision making and clear thinking even in such situations. Due to the rise in emergency cases for several reasons, ER travel nurse jobs are highly in demand, with an average salary of $86,737 per year.

6. Family Nurse Practitioner Jobs (FNP)

With the rapidly aging population, long-term care is increasingly becoming essential for most families. Apart from that, these nurses are also responsible for the care of chronically ill patients. Due to this, travel family nurse practitioner jobs have become very high in demand.  In the US, the average travel family nurse practitioner salary can go up to $130,295 per year.

7. Operating Room Travel Nurse Jobs (OR)

The average salary of OR travel nurse jobs is around $94,573 per year. They can find jobs not only in hospitals but also in surgical centers, clinics, and medical facilities for specialized invasive procedures. These nurses maintain the OR, keeping it clean and sterile.  

8. Intensive Care Unit Travel Nurse Jobs (ICU)

ICU nurses are responsible for dealing with severe and life-threatening situations. These patients have often undergone critical procedures, trauma, or have serious medical conditions. No matter the reason, they require constant monitoring and intensive care, which is why ICU travel nurse jobs are so highly in-demand with high salary expectations. The average salary of ICU travel nurse jobs is $126,164 per year.

Growing Demand for Travel Nursing Jobs

The nursing shortage issue in the US has persisted since the 1900s and has gotten even worse after the global COVID-19 pandemic. To rectify this situation, the US needs approximately 2 million more registered nurses by 2030. However, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), one-fifth of the current nursing workforce intends to leave the profession, either due to retirement or burnout, meaning even more shortage. 

This is why travel nursing jobs have become more popular to bridge the gap of staff shortage. Hence, these travel nursing jobs often come with higher earning potential, better compensation, and more flexibility. 

Travel nursing jobs offer a great opportunity to explore different healthcare settings without being tied to a single employer for years. This also gives the opportunity to gain more experience and maximize your earning potential with lucrative packages and the ability to take multiple travel assignments. 

The US government offers thousands of jobs for traveling nurses to rectify the nursing shortage in medical facilities. To find the best travel nursing jobs, the best way is to connect with the best travel nursing agencies, who usually have listings of travel assignments. A healthcare staffing agency can match you with the right travel job with a competitive salary that matches your expertise and career goals. 

How to Become a Travel Nurse?

Now that you know the prevalence and rising demand of travel nursing jobs, one question must be lingering in your mind, how to become a travel nurse? Although traveling nurse jobs are very flexible, but they are very labor intensive and have extensive education and training requirements. 

• Start your journey by earning your ASN or BSN degree
• Pass the NCLEX to acquire your RN license
• Gain hands-on experience and complete clinical hours 
• Pass licensure exams for different states (each state has different requirements)
• Sign up with a travel nursing agency to find the most suitable job

If you want to further maximize your earnings, opting for specializations is the best choice. Certification in CRNA, CCRN, NRP, and similar specializations can help improve your earning potential significantly. 

Conclusion 

Traveling nurse jobs are a great alternative to full-time healthcare jobs. They offer great financial benefits and flexible work opportunities, making the path much more lucrative. To find the most suitable travel nursing job, connect with the best travel staffing agency and begin your career.  

Explore different travel nursing jobs with the best healthcare staffing agency and have a successful career ahead!