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Travel nurses are hired to fill staffing shortages on a short term basis which can be caused by: Lack of qualified nurses in the area Seasonal patient population increases Natural disasters or pandemics Strikes Staff nurses taking expected leaves of absence like maternity leave or vacations To find skilled nurses to fill these often short term assignments facilities work with recruitment agencies. Most travel nursing assignments are 13-14 weeks long so as the travel nurse you sign a contract with a travel nursing agency to work that length of time at a designated facility. While 13-14 weeks is the average length of time there may be other assignments that are shorter or longer. Every facility will have different policies but most will also have clearly explained policies about what will happen if you feel unsafe, can’t complete your assignment or if the hospital decides to cancel your contract before the length of time is up. Your travel nurse recruitment agency will work with you to place you at a facility and help you arrange things like housing, meals and other practical things you may need during your stay like internet or utilities. You also have the option to receive retirement benefits and insurance for the duration of your assignment although those benefits usually end when your assignment does so some travel nurses opt to pay out of pocket for the benefits they need so they last between assignments.There are travel nurse assignments available in almost every specialty from ICU to labor and delivery to advanced nurse practitioner positions like CRNAs and NPs. In general the more specialty experience you have the higher pay you may make as a travel nurse. If you have specialty training or want to gain it be sure to talk to your nurse recruiter.

Travel nurses are Registered Nurses with typically 12-18 months of hospital based RN experience in their field. Depending on the specialty or the facility requirements the required work experience may be longer. Travel nursing assignments are available for multiple specialties but some specialties like ICU and oncology are more in demand. Nurses with advanced certification like NPs, CNMs and CRNAs can also take travel positions. See other high demand travel nurse specialties.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the average salary for a Registered Nurse in 2026 was $96,070 per year while travel nurses can make on average approximately $120,560 per year. However keep in mind that while high rate travel nursing positions are still available they are not as high as they were at the peak of the pandemic. Total travel nurse compensation depends on multiple factors such as your specialty, the contract details and the location of the hospital. In general travel nurses are paid well because they’re filling a high demand for nurses. In addition to your hourly rate you’ll often be eligible for: Medical and dental benefits 401K Bonuses Stipends for housing Meals Travel expenses Keep in mind when working as a travel nurse you’re employed by the travel nursing agency and not the facility. Also remember travel nurses are paid (and taxed) differently than staff nurses. Travel nurses are paid through agencies not the hospital so you have to look at your total pay. This will include your hourly base pay + your non-taxable stipends which are things like housing and meals. Your hourly base pay may look lower than you expect but when you factor in the stipends you can get a more accurate picture of what your total pay looks like. You’ll also need to make sure you have a “tax home” to avoid paying taxes on the stipends as well.

The standard travel nursing assignment is 13 weeks but anything between 8-26 weeks is common. Hospitals will often offer to renew your contract too if you agree – called extensions. Extensions usually happen during the last 3-5 weeks of your assignment but if you want to stay on longer you should talk to your recruiter. You don’t have to wait to be approached by the facility. Standard travel nurse hours are 5 8s, 4 10s or 3 12s though this will vary by facility. Your shift and hours should be written in your contract. The beauty of being a travel nurse is the flexibility. You can work as much or as little as you want – you can extend an assignment, take on a new one as soon as one contract ends or take an extended break between assignments.

Travel nursing jobs are available nationwide but available assignment locations will depend on current staffing needs. While vacation destinations like Hawaii or California might be the dream for many travel nurses starting out they’re also high in demand and as such may not come with as high of pay. On the flip side choosing less in demand areas may get you higher pay and help you build your resume and experience. You can also sign up to be on a list for crisis travel nursing positions so when something pops up last minute like a hurricane in Puerto Rico you can take a crisis pay travel nurse position. Ultimately you decide where you want to go – chances are if your dream location isn’t available now it will be in the future.