Travel nursing -- is it dead?

Honnête et Sérieux · Apr 13, 2009

I am not a traveler, but several of my friends are travelers...and Facebook is a great thing!

I just received my "Healthcare Traveler" magazine this weekend, and there was an article in there about the contraction among travel nursing. It really is pretty simple.

The bean counters and administrators are not reducing travel positions simply to 'screw' potential travel nurses, but because the health-care industry is getting pinched just like most every other industry; obviously it seems that the only people getting raises and bonuses are our legislators and the industries that they voted to give all our money to.

Travel nurses are needed to 'fill-in-the-gaps.' If the gaps aren't there, then 'occupational natural selection' will result in the reduction of the most vulnerable link in the process; the expensive temporary staff.

At the facility where I work, all travelers were eliminated, and it worked; the travelers all came on board to be regular staff...seems to indicate to me that the travel nurses were just being capitalists (which I applaud), but they have to understand that they can only be as capitalistic as the system will accomodate.

And that isn't the only factor; the article pointed out the tough competition among travel agencies...which simply can no longer be supported as facilities freeze hiring and wages for regular staff. The COL raises for all staff at the hospital where I work was put "on hold." Some hospitals have laid off regular staff, and reduced compensation for leadership. It's not a targeted effort to hurt travelers, but travelers simply need to recognize the disadvantages of pursuing the job for money in addition to the benefits of pursuing it for money.

Portraying this as some focused effort to screw over travel nurses indicates a failure to see the entire industry, and I believe this MAY be only temporary, although it make look much different when it re-emerges. The reason I say it's only temporary is because in spite of who is messing with the economy, it will recover.

Of course, my personal opinion...not fact or otherwise, is that travel nursing simply cannot be considered a consistent way to make a living. Folks have to accept that contracts can't be simply available immediately after finishing the last one, or that they will automatically be renewed. The risk must be acknowledged along with the benefits. My personal potential goal is when I finally decide to "retire," I will enter the travel field and complete 1 or 2 contracts a year, but I won't count on the industry to keep me employed.

WalkieTalkie, RN · Apr 13, 2009

I have two good friends who started traveling last September and they both still have assignments in the Denver area. In addition, my unit just hired two travelers.

April, RN, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2009

My hospital stopped cut travel contracts last year.

bagladyrn, RN · Apr 14, 2009

I am not a traveler, but several of my friends are travelers...and Facebook is a great thing!
I just received my "Healthcare Traveler" magazine this weekend, and there was an article in there about the contraction among travel nursing. It really is pretty simple.
The bean counters and administrators are not reducing travel positions simply to 'screw' potential travel nurses, but because the health-care industry is getting pinched just like most every other industry; obviously it seems that the only people getting raises and bonuses are our legislators and the industries that they voted to give all our money to.
Travel nurses are needed to 'fill-in-the-gaps.' If the gaps aren't there, then 'occupational natural selection' will result in the reduction of the most vulnerable link in the process; the expensive temporary staff.
At the facility where I work, all travelers were eliminated, and it worked; the travelers all came on board to be regular staff...seems to indicate to me that the travel nurses were just being capitalists (which I applaud), but they have to understand that they can only be as capitalistic as the system will accomodate.
And that isn't the only factor; the article pointed out the tough competition among travel agencies...which simply can no longer be supported as facilities freeze hiring and wages for regular staff. The COL raises for all staff at the hospital where I work was put "on hold." Some hospitals have laid off regular staff, and reduced compensation for leadership. It's not a targeted effort to hurt travelers, but travelers simply need to recognize the disadvantages of pursuing the job for money in addition to the benefits of pursuing it for money.
Portraying this as some focused effort to screw over travel nurses indicates a failure to see the entire industry, and I believe this MAY be only temporary, although it make look much different when it re-emerges. The reason I say it's only temporary is because in spite of who is messing with the economy, it will recover.
Of course, my personal opinion...not fact or otherwise, is that travel nursing simply cannot be considered a consistent way to make a living. Folks have to accept that contracts can't be simply available immediately after finishing the last one, or that they will automatically be renewed. The risk must be acknowledged along with the benefits. My personal potential goal is when I finally decide to "retire," I will enter the travel field and complete 1 or 2 contracts a year, but I won't count on the industry to keep me employed.

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.

Honnête et Sérieux · Apr 14, 2009

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:

You are going to have to point out where I ever said that. I mentioned money, but I never even implied that it was "only for the payrate." If you are going to direct criticism for that theory, you need to address the OP, who very specifically made the issue about money.

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.

You are the exception, not the rule. I'm not concocting some previously-unheard-of myth that travel nurses capture better wages.

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.

Well, temporary employment by it's very definition means that the employment is not consistent, I don't know how else this could be explained. Of course some nurses can often move immediately from one contract to another, but I think the concerns which prompted the very origins of this thread kind of support the point about inconsistency. I just spoke with a traveling friend of mine who told me that after three years of traveling, she was unable to get another contract and was fortunate to be able to extend her current contract...at which time she needs to find another job. She said...and I quote almost verbatum "where they were once posting 100 available positions, now we are lucky to see 10."

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.

I seriously doubt our facility will be using travelers for a long time. We barely used them before the economic downturn...but I do believe that other facilities will eventually start seeking them out again.

deege58 · Apr 14, 2009

:uhoh3:

You are going to have to point out where I ever said that. I mentioned money, but I never even implied that it was "only for the payrate." If you are going to direct criticism for that theory, you need to address the OP, who very specifically made the issue about money.
You are the exception, not the rule.
not true, every traveler i work with EXCEPT the young nurses that werent up there on the pay scale yet make less!
I'm not concocting some previously-unheard-of myth that travel nurses capture better wages. And you don't need to lecture me about the reasons nurses travel, because when I travel, I will have my reasons,
How about we just lecture you because you are not a traveler and we are...is there perhaps the tiniest chance that we might know something you dont????
Well, temporary employment by it's very definition means that the employment is not consistent, I don't know how else this could be explained. Of course some nurses can often move immediately from one contract to another, but I think the concerns which prompted the very origins of this thread kind of support the point about inconsistency. I just spoke with a traveling friend of mine who told me that after three years of traveling, she was unable to get another contract and was fortunate to be able to extend her current contract...at which time she needs to find another job. She said...and I quote almost verbatum "where they were once posting 100 available positions, now we are lucky to see 10."
Well, at least some part of my post was noticed.
I seriously doubt our facility will be using travelers for a long time. We barely used them before the economic downturn...but I do believe that other facilities will eventually start seeking them out again.

Honnête et Sérieux · Apr 14, 2009

It might be a tough sell to convince the nursing community that travel nurses don't enjoy an overall better compensation package.

I am an "employee" of three different travel agencies; I haven't taken a travel assignment because I am in grad school and I need the consistent permanent employment...that said, I am well aware what kind of compensation they offer to me as an EMPLOYEE; until about three months ago, they all contacted me several times a week with available assignments and compensation packages.

And I can't help what people feel; my words are straightforward. I never said that wages were the only reason...as it was improperly implied that I said.

bagladyrn, RN · Apr 14, 2009

You are going to have to point out where I ever said that. I mentioned money, but I never even implied that it was "only for the payrate." If you are going to direct criticism for that theory, you need to address the OP, who very specifically made the issue about money.
You are the exception, not the rule. I'm not concocting some previously-unheard-of myth that travel nurses capture better wages. And you don't need to lecture me about the reasons nurses travel, because when I travel, I will have my reasons, my friends have their reasons, and the person who wrote the original post has their reasons. Additionally, such lecturing requires that you hang onto the inaccurate interpretation of what you think I 'asserted.'
Well, temporary employment by it's very definition means that the employment is not consistent, I don't know how else this could be explained. Of course some nurses can often move immediately from one contract to another, but I think the concerns which prompted the very origins of this thread kind of support the point about inconsistency. I just spoke with a traveling friend of mine who told me that after three years of traveling, she was unable to get another contract and was fortunate to be able to extend her current contract...at which time she needs to find another job. She said...and I quote almost verbatum "where they were once posting 100 available positions, now we are lucky to see 10."
I seriously doubt our facility will be using travelers for a long time. We barely used them before the economic downturn...but I do believe that other facilities will eventually start seeking them out again.

I still see a difference between "temporary" and "inconsistent" though I completely agree that contracts are way down and it is much more difficult to obtain contracts which is why I wouldn't currently recommend starting a travel career right now or continuing in one if you can't be available to go just about anywhere (as I have said repeatedly in posts on other threads), but I do think that experienced travelers who are extremely flexible and understand how the system works will be able to ride out the downturn.

Again, just another point of view for people to consider.

allnurses Guide · Apr 14, 2009

thread closed for staff review

allnurses Guide · Apr 15, 2009

Could I please ask that all members remain respectful in their discussions and keep on topic. I have edited some of the posts within this thread as they were detracting from the original post and at risk of taking this thread off topic.

To return to the Original Post

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.

Goss · Apr 17, 2009

I am currently a traveler, and this has been a big topic of discussion both among fellow travelers and among core staff. My view is that just like the overall economic tailspin, there are multiple forces at work here that all interact in a way to discourage travel nursing positions at the current time. You have a population afraid of losing jobs, and afraid of spending money, and therefore not electing for non-essential surgeries... therefore a lower hospital inpatient census. You have growing numbers of the uninsured... less non-acute preventative care being seen coupled with less payment to hospitals. You have hospitals with monetary concerns and budget freezes. Travel nurses cost hospitals more money, so it makes utmost sense to avoid using them if possible. The lower patient census levels and the increased feeling of worry across the board that staff have regarding the fear of job loss add up to a relative decrease in the need for travelers.

It's my opinion that the whole travel nursing industry is inherently not geared for the current economy. It's an industry geared toward excess -- hospitals with too many patients, and enough money to be okay with paying extra money to both agencies and pampered nurses looking to make quick short-term profit (again, I am a travel nurse speaking here... not trying to insult anyone ... traveling has its own stresses, but by definition its own rewards too). I'm not saying at ALL that it's a BAD industry, but just one that thrives during profitable and relatively care-free economic climates.

I know I personally made decisions based on the previous economy relating to nursing education and employment: I sought education at a high-cost private school instead of waiting for two to three years to get into an affordable community college program (much like people bought more expensive homes because the economy supported it at the time). I did it because I planned on travel nursing within three years of graduation, and I expected to make a higher salary as a result and to be able to pay off all the debt I accrued during my education. Well, now that idea has turned on its head and I (like so many other travelers) am shopping around for a staff position to lay low with until ... hopefully ... the economy improves in a way that allows for all the interacting factors to open the way for travel nursing to flourish again.