Travel nursing -- is it dead?

What has happened in the last year or so with travel nursing upsets me. I mean -- I had always hoped that once I worked my way up, got some decent experience, that I, too, would also be able to try out some travel positions where I could travel and ALSO increase my salary, in a much deserved way, and continue to work at a decent level of pay throughout my career.

Now that travel nursing seems essentially to be on its way out, I just feel like administrators, bean counters, the so-called "economic crisis" etc has all just come together to screw nurses once again out of opportunities to further and better themselves in a very difficult career.

Does anyone wonder if it's all a bit manufactured? I mean, our hospital has just AXED travel contracts dramatically in a very short time. Could they be taking advantage of the situation, or has it truly been necessary to cut it out?

Makes me mad that I will now be relegated to the same job, the same lower end pay scale, for as long as I want a "steady job." Seems nurses are once again given the short end of the stick and kept down, so to speak. We tried, through travel nursing, to better our lot in life, and now this.

Does anyone else feel the same way? I sometimes cannot believe that nurses just lay down and accept it. I have seen many very experienced nurses recently sign on as staff at our hospital, and I assume they have taken major cuts in pay in exchange for this so-called "security." I just have to wonder if we've all been roiled again.

I do think there will always be some need for travelers and that the market will expand again as the economy improves and as hospitals feel the effect of shortstaffing and overloading OT on their permanent staff in the form of poor patient outcomes (and satisfaction) and loss of staff to attrition, illness and burnout.

I will challenge your thoughts on a couple of points here:
First of all, your assertion that travelers are pursuing the career only for the payrate: I initially took a paycut to become a traveler, and if I had remained at my previous (federal) job would have moved up the grades and steps to a much higher annual salary than I make now. Many of us work as travelers for love of travel, dislike of hospital politics, or as in my case family scattered around the country with whom I enjoy spending time.
Secondly, your opinion that travel nursing cannot be considered a consistent way to make a living: I've been making my living strictly as a traveler since October of 1996 - the longest I've stayed in any "position". If you are extremely flexible and persistent, it is still possible now - especially as an "oldie" who is well established with a company.
I agree though that I don't see the current employment contract as a "plot", simply an effect of the overall economic problems. I do think there will always be some need for travelers and that the market will expand again as the economy improves and as hospitals feel the effect of shortstaffing and overloading OT on their permanent staff in the form of poor patient outcomes (and satisfaction) and loss of staff to attrition, illness and burnout.