Top 5 Travel Nurse Specialties
Are you a new grad trying to decide on a specialty or a veteran nurse looking for a change? Currently, there is a considerable opportunity for growth and development in the nursing field. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the RN position outlook will increase by 15% from 2016 to 2026. Choosing or transitioning to the ideal position for you can be rewarding and life-changing. Here are the top 5 Travel Nurse Specialties that we are currently staffing for.
Labor and Delivery. Looking for a position that focuses on the labor and birth of a newborn, this may be the right fit for you. There are approximately 4 million babies born in the United States each year and there will always be a need to help those mothers and their newborns. Because there is a need, L&D Nurses have great job security and a high likelihood for contract extensions. This specialty is also one of the top paying and most rewarding.
Emergency Room. Emergency room nurses, also known as trauma nurses, are responsible for patient care in emergency situations. This nurse is prepared for any situation and needs to have a wide range of skills! They are on the front lines and on any given day could see patients that have been in car accidents, fractured bones or suffered gun-shot wounds. An ER nurse thrives on chaos and is able to handle stressful environments quickly and efficiently.
Medical Surgical/Telemetry. These positions are ideal for someone who is starting their career and is new to travel nursing. Because there is high demand, there are many more locations to choose from when looking for a job as a Med Surg or Telemetry Nurse. This position is a highly trained, dedicated role to postoperative care. Skills related to intravenous therapy drips, arterial lines, and central venous pressure lines are needed for these specialties.
Critical Care – ICU/SICU/MICU/NICU. The intensive care unit role demands an understanding mind, quick thinking, and dedication to achieving the skills necessary. Ready for a learning experience? Nurses in ICU positions are constantly exposed to different types of patients, procedures, and disease processes. Our travel nurses tell us that this is one of the hardest, yet most rewarding specialties. Job security is positive, the demand is high, and because this position treats higher-acuity patients, it is also one of the top paying specialties. Another plus to choosing this specialty is the patient count is very low giving you more time to spend with those who need it.
Operating Room Registered Nurse. Operating room nurses or perioperative nurses as they are now called, are involved in multiple stages of surgery. From before, during, and after, this is a position that is no stranger to responsibilities and tense work environments. Because surgeries generally only occur during the day, this position has daytime hours and often works 4 10-hour days. Within this specialty, you can choose to be a Scrub Nurse who works directly with the surgeon in the sterile field or a Circulating Nurse who observes the surgical team in the non-sterile field.
Are you interested in a Travel Nurse position in one of these specialties? Click here to search our open jobs or give us a call at 888.515.3900 to speak to one of our experienced Nurse Recruiters today.
For additional role and salary information, refer to web resources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or Top Registered Nurse. Education and experience requirements may vary by position.
Sources
BabyCenter (2019). Surprising facts about birth in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.babycenter.com/0_surprising-facts-about-birth-in-the-united-states_1372273.bc
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
Hagstrom, M (date). Which travel nursing specialties are in demand?. Travel Nursing.com. Retrieved from https://www.travelnursing.com/news/features-and-profiles/which-travel-nursing-specialties-are-in-demand/
Host Team (2018). The top 10 nursing specialties of 2018. Host Healthcare. https://www.hosthealthcare.com/top-10-nursing-specialties-of-2018/
Retrieved from Mararac, M. (2016). Life in the intensive care unit. Nurse.org. Retrieved from https://nurse.org/articles/Intensive-care-unit-nurse/
Travel Nurse Across America (2017). 5 Nursing specialties in high demand. Retrieved from https://tnaa.com/blog/traveler-resources/5-nursing-specialties-high-demand/
