Why do hospitals hire travellers?

Specialties Travel

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There are millions of unemployed nurses, everywhere. And the pay of nurses is plummeting in many places. They could hire some of those milions, even to just have a pool of staff on call. Yet they pay huge $ for the travellers (salary, big housing allowances from the agency, food, etc., plus I'm sure the agency gets a big fat slice of the cash pie). I don't get it. Not in this economy anyway. The 80's, that makes more sense.

Do not think the correlation between airline hostesses and travel nurses is at all valid.

One is told at interview and or time of hire where one will train and be based as an airline hostess. This maybe your home city or it could be elsewhere miles away. Also given the nature of the employment even if based at or near one's home it is certain you will be away from it often.

OTOH research has proven most nurses tend to desire employment locally. That is if you are from NYC you want to remain in that area, as opposed to going to PA or Maine.

There are many personal and or professional reasons why a nurse wouldn't want to "leave home" to find a permanent gig much less travel. This goes a long way in explaining why the so called "nursing shortage" is relative to where one is located. Here in NYC there certainly isn't a shortage of all nurses including new and recently licensed. There is however a shortage of experienced nurses in certain specialties/areas which is why travel nurses still are hired.

Between the person mentioned upthread and a few other RNs one knows that do travel and or agency nursing none are going hungry or reporting a shortage of work. The only gripe one had was having to go back for his RN-BSN, but otherwise that was that.

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Another good reply. This topic sure is getting the work over!

AriBNB does not require a 1099, so whatever funds one receives for "renting out" your home or apartment are up to you and the IRS to sort out. The nurse with the NYC apartment lives in a great area of Manhattan with plenty of family close by to keep an eye on things. Don't know and it is none of my business but if a traveler is renting out their home whilst they are away, and obtaining some sort of stipend or whatever for housing, well it is all kippers and marmalade isn't it?

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There is a common misconception about the tax deductions for mortgage interest and so forth associated with home ownership.In reality the number of persons taking said interest deduction is actually quite small and only benefits a certain segment of the tax paying public. As with all deductions the value of the home mortgage interest scheme only kicks in if one has an expensive home with debt *and* income great enough to warrant itemizing deductions. Most homeowners take the standard deduction so the home mortgage interest write off is of no benefit. The thing also does not befront those who have either paid cash for their homes and or otherwise do not have debt.The reason home mortgage interest deduction cost the US treasury so much in lost revenue is that the value is mainly concentrated in high income households with expensive properties. Since most consumer credit is no longer tax deductible but mortgage interest is there are ways to make that part of the tax code work for you if you are in a certain income bracket.
You REMEMBER when credit card interest and etc. was tax deductible? You must be at least as old as I am...
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Do not think the correlation between airline hostesses and travel nurses is at all valid///// Only in the sense they are industries that are generally perceived as glamorous, exciting even. This post has shown that there are lots of 'side effects' from traveling nursing, most of which are news to me.
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AriBNB does not require a 1099, so whatever funds one receives for "renting out" your home or apartment are up to you and the IRS to sort out. The nurse with the NYC apartment lives in a great area of Manhattan with plenty of family close by to keep an eye on things. Don't know and it is none of my business but if a traveler is renting out their home whilst they are away, and obtaining some sort of stipend or whatever for housing, well it is all kippers and marmalade isn't it?
Another source people may not be aware of is vrbo.com I use it for road trips, etc. When I use them I always offer the owners a ridiculous low ball offer , and so far have always found furnished places at less than half the asking price, when it's off season. Just signed up for two months in fact, in a furnished condo, HSI and all utilities, 5 pools, 8 spas, tennis, gated, etc. for a smooth $700/month. It's cheaper than staying HOME! Even cheaper than a Motel 6.
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You REMEMBER when credit card interest and etc. was tax deductible? You must be at least as old as I am...

Did not say one *took* such deductions but was aware they previously existed. Also know that at one time husbands and wives filed separate returns, but wasn't around in the 1930's either. *LOL*

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Specializes in They know this too!.

I actually have filled spots for people on Medical Leave like for surgeries or having babies. It was such a great place to work I hated to go, that being said they had no openings. Lol I have worked for places that they were getting busy, but at the same time they had staffing problems. I found those two go hand and hand really. Mostly, at the bigger or city type hospitals.

But, I do believe they just don't have the time to orient in most cases. I have interviewed for permanent jobs where orientation was 4 months but I didn't get it because they felt I didn't have enough experience in the specialty. IMO with 4 months anyone can learn to work in that specialty.

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We never had travelers where I work. But in recent months many full time nurses have left. Due to new management that sucks. Now we r so low on nurses they just hired some to start now. Great fully for these nurses to be coming

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I sometimes wonder if it's to weaken the union where there is an "open shop". Staff with 60% travelers, change many staff RNs to lower management positions (management can't be in the union) and viola!!! A union that can never really gain its footing.

Is this all a little to "Evil Empire"?

dde40

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Wow...just wanted to add a few things...not that I am one but there are no airline stewardesses,stewards, hostesses- if memory serves me correctly- the correct title is "flight attendant." I had a cousin who retired early because she just couldn't take the drunks and abusiveness of some of the passengers on flights anymore... sound a bit familiar...like some of the patients and family members who come into the hospital setting as well. I do have to also say upon reading some of the previous posts, NedRN seems to have a good insight into the "life of a travel nurse". Down-time between assignment can be terrible. The luxury comes when one is on a terrible assignment- it often becomes a little more bearable since there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you know that you will won't have to return there once your contract ends. On the other hand, a good assignment can also be sad upon completion.

If you were to ask me why hospitals use travelers, I would have to say that the answer would be dependent on the hospital situation. I've worked on a unit that actually moved to a new building and took all of the staff- for awhile, the unit left behind (my floor) was staffed entirely by float pool nurses and travelers until new staff was hired,trained and oriented. I've also worked on a unit(after being oriented to two different versions of their computer system) to replace nurses so that they could go off the unit and take the computer upgrade class. Also, travelers are used to fill temporary gaps due to maternity leaves (previously mentioned). If you want to see which hospitals use travel nurses...look in the employment ads for hospitals that are constantly advertising for staff nurse positions- you will often see travelers being used in those hospitals as well since the hospitals never fill those permanent positions, usually due to poor working conditions. The only part which might be considered "glamorous" would be being able to see and enjoy new sites and experiences when not working.

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Start by thinking about seasonal needs. South Florida, for example, just about doubles in the winter. Paying a nurse year round doesn't make sense. Next think about regional shortages, and rural shortages. The first is cyclical, the second need is chronic. Next think about vacation season, and pregnancy leaves. Finally, think about the underlying nursing shortage. It is real, you just might not recognize it if you are living in Mississippi.

California has a unique legal situation with their staffing ratio laws - by law they have to be well staffed. Here is where the underlying nursing shortage is really apparent despite excellent staff pay - they just cannot get enough permanent staff. Most nurses in regions where there is no nursing shortage, mostly in the South, don't want to leave home and relocate. Thus you have a need for staff however you can get it. The nature of hospital business is that you may not be able to afford raising pay and improving working conditions enough to attract new staff, but you can afford 1 to 5 percent higher cost contingent staff.

Always impressed with both your insight and your wording Ned. Also appreciate the tidbits of knowledge. I had no clue California had laws on nurse/patient ratios!

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Welcome to travel nursing! While California used a lot of travel nurses before the staffing law was implemented in 2004, it now has to to meet required levels. California is a cool place to be, work loads are typically less than other states, and the pay is typically better, even after accounting for higher housing costs. Sort of a perfect storm that accounts for California's popularity among travelers. But it is huge state, and there are places where I have no desire to work.

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