If you’re reading this, chances are you are looking to begin your career as a travel nurse. If there’s one thing for travel nursing newbies to know, it’s that the job market purely based upon supply and demand. For certain nursing specialties, there always be a high need to fill those positions. The good news is, however, those jobs can be highly lucrative for nurses looking to branch out and start a new chapter of their career. Check out these top 5 in demand travel nursing specialties to determine which specialty is right for you to travel in.
Travel Nursing Specialties: ICU Travel Nurse
Intensive care unit nurses are highly specialized and qualified healthcare professionals. These nurses take care of the sickest patients, and are trained to make split-second decisions when a patient’s condition rapidly deteriorates. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ICU nurses were on the frontlines as hundreds of thousands of patients across the country were infected and suffered with severe illnesses due to the virus. While the grim outlook on the pandemic has mostly faded, ICU positions are still considered in demand travel nurses across the country.
ICU Nurse Outlook
- Job Demand: ⭐⭐⭐
- Average Weekly Pay: $2,600+
- Average Hourly Wage: $54/HR
Medical Surgical (Med/Surg) Travel Nurse
Medical surgical nurses provide care for patients before and after medical procedures. They are responsible for performing anything from wound care, daily assessments, or post surgical assessments. Med/Surg nurses will always be and in demand specialty for travel nurses because of their versatile skill sets and their ability to adapt to a diverse patient population with varying degrees of illnesses.
Med/Surg Nurse Outlook
- Job Demand: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Average Weekly Pay: $2,400+
- Average Hourly Wage: $50/HR
Travel Nursing Specialties: Operating Room (OR) Travel Nurse
Another in demand travel nursing specialty is the operating room. OR travel nurses work in different surgical settings. They are responsible for performing assessments throughout all pre-operation processes and monitoring patient vital signs during surgery. OR nurses are also in charge of maintaining a clean, sterile environment, ensuring medications are ordered and proper documentation is followed. Since the COVID pandemic put most elective surgeries to a halt, OR nurses have become one of the most in demand specialties for travel nurses.
OR Nurse Outlook
- Job Demand: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Average Weekly Pay: $2,800+
- Average Hourly Wage: $60/HR
Labor & Delivery (L&D) Travel Nurse
L&D travel nurses arguably have one of the most important roles in healthcare, they help bring new lives into the world! As a Labor and delivery travel nurse, you are responsible for providing support to the mother during labor and initial postpartum care to infants. Labor is an extremely mentally, physically, and emotionally taxing process. Your job as an L&D nurse is to uplift and support your patients throughout the duration of their labor. Ensuring a safe delivery for both mother and baby is the most important part of the job!
L&D Nurse Outlook
- Job Demand: ⭐⭐⭐
- Average Weekly Pay: $2,500+
- Average Hourly Wage: $56/HR
Travel Nursing Specialties: Cardiac Cath Lab Travel Nurse
While cardiac cath lab nurses may not necessarily deal with patients in critical conditions, they are highly specialized in their field. Cardiac cath lab nurses are in demand and paid well for a reason. They are responsible for treating patients before, during, and after undergoing cardiac procedures. Cardiac cath lab nurses must also be able to identify rapid changes in their patient’s conditions. They play a vital role in diagnosing and treating patients with mild to severe cardiac conditions.
Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse Outlook
- Job Demand: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Average Weekly Pay: $2,800+
- Average Hourly Wage: $59/HR
