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Travel Nurse Opportunities in the Post-Pandemic Era
As a travel nurse, you have the unique opportunity to explore new places, gain valuable experience, and make a difference in communities across the country. The landscape of travel nursing has greatly evolved in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, demand for travel nurses skyrocketed to record highs due to the increase in patients across the country, but that demand is now slowing down. Despite this, facilities still have a strong need for travel nurses to help bridge staffing gaps caused by shortages of healthcare professionals. This means that, even in the post-pandemic environment, travel nursing still remains an attractive option for healthcare professionals. In this blog, we are providing important details to know for anyone unsure about making the switch to travel nursing in the post-pandemic world.
What to Know About Being a Travel Nurse
Demand: The pandemic has highlighted the critical role of travel nurses in times of crisis. While the intensity of the pandemic has subsided, there is still a continued demand for travel nurses, especially in rural or underserved areas. This is due to persistent staffing challenges, an aging population of patients and caregivers, and an emphasis on increasing healthcare accessibility across wider geographical areas.
Compensation & Benefits: During the pandemic, travel nurse rates increased greatly due to the higher demand, leaving many nurses wondering where rates would fall in the aftermath of the crisis. While there has been an expected reduction in travel nurse pay, labor rates still remain well above pre-pandemic levels. Data on nursing salaries in 2023 shows that the average annual salary for a travel nurse remains higher than that of a staff nurse. Additionally, travel nurses who work with an agency often get benefits provided directly through their agency, allowing you to compare offerings and find the agency best suited to your needs. To ensure you are getting the proper compensation and benefits for your hard work, it’s essential for travel nurses to seek out a reputable staffing agency that prioritizes fairness and transparency.
Tax Considerations: As a travel nurse, it’s vital to understand the tax implications of your work. Since travel nursing involves working in multiple states, you may be subject to different tax laws and regulations. It’s crucial to keep detailed records of your income, expenses, and the states where you have worked to ensure you are correctly paying your taxes and maximizing your deductions. Additionally, you can qualify for tax-free stipends and reimbursements by maintaining a tax home, which means keeping a primary residence where you pay expenses and return to between assignments. To help simplify filing your taxes, it can be advantageous to work with a tax professional who specializes in healthcare and travel nursing.
Specialization Opportunities: Since travel nurses often work shorter contracts and have the ability to change settings more frequently, they often get more opportunity to experience working in a wide range of specialties. This opportunity to work in different specialties allows travel nurses to gain invaluable experience in varied settings, making them a potential candidate for a wider range of opportunities. This is especially true in the aftermath of the pandemic, where data suggests that nurses with specialty training, especially those in Med-surg, Radiology, and ER Care, are in high demand. If you are not sure how to get started exploring different travel nurse opportunities or specialties, partnering with a staffing agency is an effective way find available assignments that match your skills and interests.
Professional Growth and Development: The exposure that travel nurses get with different specialties gives you a chance to expand your clinical skills, adapt to new technologies and protocols, learn about different patient populations, and grow professionally. By gaining varied experience, you can also open the door to opportunities you might not have previously considered, like leadership roles or specialized certifications.
Flexibility and Work-Life Balance: One of the most appealing aspects of travel nursing is the flexibility it offers, and this remains true in the post-pandemic era. As a travel nurse, you have the freedom to choose your assignments, allowing you to create a work-life balance that suits your personal and professional goals. You also have a chance to pick from a wide range of travel opportunities across the country, giving you the opportunity to travel the country and experience new regions. Whether you want to explore, find a better work-life balance, or work in a specific area, travel nursing provides the flexibility to design your career path.
Mitigating Burnout: Nursing can be an exciting and rewarding career, but it can also be emotionally and physically demanding. This makes burnout a common challenge faced by travel nurses, especially in the post-pandemic era. Data shows the burnout rate among nurses has increased in the aftermath of the pandemic, and is now even higher than it was during the height of the crisis. As mentioned, travel nursing gives you more flexibility and diversity in your working environment and your working schedule, which can help mitigate burnout by allowing you to set clear boundaries between your work and personal life. These boundaries can help you prioritize self-care and take extended breaks between assignments, which could help mitigate feelings of burnout. You also have a network of other travel nurses across the country to connect with, allowing you to share experiences, advice, and support that can help you navigate any challenges of travel nursing. A staffing agency can also be a valuable resources in helping you avoid burnout. By working with an agency that prioritizes open communication and taking care of your specific concerns and needs, you can feel more supported in your efforts to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Travel with the Guidance of a Staffing Agency
Working with a reputable staffing agency can make all the difference in your travel nursing experience. Staffing agencies specializing in healthcare and travel nursing offer a wide range of benefits and support services that can help you navigate the complexities of the job while ensuring a smooth, rewarding career. Staffing agencies often assign you a dedicated recruiter who will work closely with you to understand your preferences, skills, and career goals while helping you find assignments that align with your needs and aspirations. Staffing agencies also offer the advantage of having established relationships with healthcare facilities across the country, gaining you access to a wide variety of travel nursing assignments that may not be available through other channels. They also help you through the administrative aspects of travel nursing, such as credentialing, and background checks, which can often be complex for nurses working in multiple states. This helps you save time, stress, and effort ahead of a new assignment. Reputable staffing agencies also ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and safety protocols, protecting your interests and well-being throughout your travel nursing journey.
Moreover, staffing agencies offer competitive pay rates, bonuses, and comprehensive benefits packages, including health insurance, retirement plans, and travel reimbursements. Many agencies provide housing assistance or assistance finding suitable accommodations near your assignment location, making your transition to a new area seamless. They also provide clinical resources, such as competence assessments, to test your skills and keep you prepared for upcoming assignments. Another major benefit to working with a staffing agency is getting ongoing support during assignments. If any issues or concerns arise with your placement, your staffing agency can act as your advocate, working with the healthcare facility to resolve problems and ensure a positive working environment. By partnering with a staffing agency, you can enjoy a more seamless, supported, and rewarding travel nursing experience, allowing you to focus on what matters most – providing exceptional patient care.
Come Experience the Amergis Difference
At Amergis, we are dedicated to providing exceptional support and opportunities for travel nurses. As a leading healthcare staffing agency for more than 30 years, we understand the unique challenges and rewards of travel nursing and we are committed to helping you thrive. When you partner with Amergis, you’ll gain access to a wide range of exclusive openings across the country and a team of experienced recruiters who understand how to connect you with opportunities that best align with your goals and vision. We offer competitive compensation, a wide range of benefits, and ongoing support to help you succeed in your travel nursing journey. From job search assistance to streamlined onboarding and pre-placement assessments, Amergis has your back every step of the way. Partner with Amergis to experience the difference of working with a staffing agency that truly cares about you.
Ready to embrace an adventure? Connect with an Amergis recruiter to learn about our travel nursing opportunities today.
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