What Types of Travel Nurses Are in Demand
Travel nurses can work in nearly all nurse specialties, and choose from a wide variety of work environments. Assignments are available for registered nurses (RNs) in settings ranging from inpatient units to community clinics, and in locations ranging from urban to suburban to rural. Some LPN/LVN jobs are also available.
Want to work in an academic medical center, a specialty practice, or a small community clinic? Chances are, you can find the type of travel nurse assignment to fit your needs in many locations throughout the country. The compensation and benefits available to travel nurses—including free housing—are also very attractive.
But which types of travel nurse jobs are most requested? The recruiters at AMN Healthcare report that the current job market is especially robust for the following nurse specialties.
6 Top Travel Nurse Specialties
Emergency Room (ER) Travel Nurses
One type of travel nurse specialty that is always in high demand is emergency nursing. Emergency nurses work in a fast-paced environment and care for patients who have experienced traumas or are critically ill. Patients of all ages arrive dealing with a variety of illnesses and injuries, including mental health issues. Nurses providing emergency care must remain calm and have strong clinical skills.
Nurses working in this travel nurse specialty also must possess good communication skills, quickly assess volatile situations and be able to diffuse tensions. Facilities hiring ER travel nurses expect them to start practicing with minimal orientation.
Learn more: ER Travel Nurse Specialty Jobs
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Travel Nurses
Another nurse specialty that is often requested for travel assignments is intensive care unit (ICU) nursing. ICU nurses care for high-risk, high-acuity patients, and must possess skills to closely monitor patients with life-threatening conditions or injuries. As with other nurses, ICU nurses must be able to clearly communicate with physicians, patients and their loved ones.
This challenging specialty requires ICU nurses who can handle frequent changes, manage stress well and rely on their critical thinking skills. Travel nurses who specialize in critical care must also be able to quickly adapt to practicing in new environments and master the facility’s electronic medical record system.
Learn more: ICU Travel Nurse Specialty Jobs
Progressive Care Unit (PCU) Travel Nurses
Progressive care unit nursing is another type of nurse specialty with consistent demand for travel nurses. PCU nurses monitor patients who do not need intensive level care but are not ready for a regular bed or discharge from the hospital. Progressive care units are sometimes called intermediate care units, or step-down units, and the patients may have chronic health conditions or be recovering from surgeries. In many cases, patients in the PCU are on multiple medications and are at an increased risk for complications.
Progressive care nurses must closely monitor and assess their patients, and communicate effectively with both the patient and other members of the care team. Their care is an integral part of a patient’s recovery.
Learn more: PCU Travel Nurse Specialty Jobs
Telemetry Travel Nurses
Like PCU nurses, telemetry nurses closely monitor their patients’ vital signs and heart rhythms in an intermediate care unit. For example, they may use an electrocardiogram to monitor patients with cardiovascular abnormalities, such as those recovering from cardiac surgery or complications. Telemetry travel nurses also assist doctors with procedures and administer medications as needed.
Telemetry nurses are specially trained to use and interpret technological devices that monitor a patient’s internal functioning and vital signs. Certifications can help candidates secure their ideal telemetry travel assignments.
Learn more: Telemetry Travel Nurse Specialty Jobs
Labor and Delivery (L&D) Travel Nurses
Another type of travel nurse in high demand is the labor and delivery (L&D) nurse. These nurse specialists work in maternity units, helping women through the birthing process or assisting with Cesarean sections. They also provide antepartum care to women with high-risk pregnancies and deliver postpartum care and instructions on how to care for a newborn.
Travel L&D nurses must be able to monitor fetal and maternal health, provide encouragement and support, and communicate well. Typically, travel positions require experience and basic or advanced life support and neonatal resuscitation program credentials.
Learn more: L&D Travel Nurse Specialty Jobs
Pediatric Travel Nurses
Caring for ill and injured children is a key component of this nurse specialty that focuses on patients from birth to 18 years of age. Pediatric travel nurses must attend to the children in their care, as well as their parents and other family members. Working in pediatrics requires top-notch clinical skills paired with infinite amounts of patience, compassion and the ability to have fun.
This type of nurse must know how to communicate effectively with children, teens and adults, and use techniques to dispel youngsters’ fears. They must also educate patients and their families in how to manage a child’s chronic conditions or special needs.
In addition to travel assignments in pediatric offices and hospitals, a pediatric nurses can work in subspecialties such as pediatric oncology nursing, PICU nursing, pediatric ER nursing and more.
Learn more: Pediatric Travel Nurse Specialty Jobs
How to Become a Travel Nurse
With high demand for these and other travel nurse specialties, why wait? Join the legions of highly skilled nurses traveling the country with AMN Healthcare.
Travel nursing offers a chance to explore new places, meet new people, learn different ways of doing things and earn excellent compensation. While a typical assignment will last for 13 weeks, contracts can range from 4 weeks to 26 weeks or more.
All AMN Healthcare travel nurses must have graduated from an accredited nursing school and, usually, have at least a year of job experience in the desired nurse specialty. Our recruitment team will work with you to answer any questions, find your ideal assignment and take care of all the logistics—from interview preparations to obtaining a new state license and setting you up in free housing near your assignment facility.
READY TO TRAVEL? Just complete our quick application to connect with a recruiter, or search all nurse specialty jobs for your next assignment.
