3 week travel nurse assignments

Short-Term Nursing Travel Assignments: Embracing Short-Term Growth and Flexibility

by Trusted Nurse Staffing | Apr 1, 2024 | News | 0 comments

Maybe you’re a registered nurse who is starting to feel bored working at the same hospital day after day. 

You love what you do, but you could really use a change of scenery.

Your lifestyle is pretty flexible. You enjoy traveling, and you have a desire to help wherever there is a need.

Or maybe you’re already a travel nurse who is used to 13-week contracts and would like to move around a little more often.

In either case, short-term travel nurse contracts could be perfect for you.

In this article, we will highlight why travel nurses are so critical, the significant benefits of taking short-term nursing assignments, and how you can start your travel nurse career today.

Table of Contents

Why short-term nursing assignments are available.

• 3 Reasons Why Hospitals Need Short-Term Travel Nurses for Rapid Response 

3 Big Benefits of Short-Term Nursing Assignments for Travel Nurses

• Possible Cons of Short-Term Travel RN Assignments 

Trusted Nurse Staffing Can Offer You Short-Term Travel Nurse Assignments 

Travel nurses are trained registered nurses sent to hospitals and facilities with short-term staffing needs. 

To qualify for short-term travel nursing assignments, you must:

• Hold a nursing degree and have passed the NCLEX exam.
• Generally have a minimum of 12 months of recent acute care experience in your specialty of choice.
• Provide references.
• Obtain necessary certifications.
• Obtain RN licensure in the state where you’ll work or use a multi-state license based on the Nurse Licensure Compact .

Travel nurse contracts are typically about 13 weeks long but may vary depending on the job and facility. 

Most recruiters consider short-term travel nurse contracts less than 13 weeks in length — generally, anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks.

Short-term travel nurse jobs may become available in the following circumstances:

• Seasonal staffing demands
• Short-term staffing gaps
• Facility-wide nursing strikes
• Disaster relief 
• Crises resulting in surge capacity 

Short-term travel nurses are used to supplement facility demands at a moment’s notice. They are essential in providing patient care and support in times of dire need. If you find this possibility exhilarating, short-term travel nursing may be the career path for you. 

To get started in this rewarding and lucrative career path, you’ll need a travel nurse staffing agency that you can trust. Trusted Nurse Staffing is leading the industry with great benefits, pay, and a new way to find short-term travel nursing assignments quickly. 

You can use Pronto to sort jobs by specialty, location, pay, shifts, and assignment link. With Pronto, we allow our travel nurses to customize their search as much as possible so that they can find their dream assignment. Begin your search for short-term travel nurse contracts on Pronto today.

Rapid Response Travel Nurse

A rapid response travel nurse is the most common type of travel nurse because they are typically needed the most during situations that exceed a facility’s surge capacity. These situations may be crises caused by mass casualty situations, disasters, or pandemics.

Rapid response nurses are usually:

• Able to start very quickly — typically within two days to two weeks.
• Good at working under pressure.
• Highly adaptable and able to adjust to new environments.
• Flexible in their assignment length.

As a rapid response travel nurse, you might be able to negotiate for a better contract since you are usually needed quickly and on short notice. You may also likely have greater flexibility in the assignment length.

Travel Nurses Working During Nurse Strikes

Strike nurse travel jobs are usually available to help fill regular hospital staff positions while they are off of work due to a labor dispute. While labor strikes are vital to driving change in the healthcare industry, facilities and patients still rely on nurses for treatment. 

Sometimes, strikes can leave a facility altogether void of nursing staff. For example, in January 2023, 7,000 nurses went on strike at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and Mount Sinai in Manhattan. To supplement the staffing gap during the strike, travel nurses were called in to continue to render care and avoid delays in patient treatments.

As a strike nurse, you:

• Are probably needed very short-term, maybe a few days to a few weeks.
• May receive high pay since hospitals are in dire need of nursing staff.
• Might have a few weeks’ notice (hospitals usually know a few weeks in advance if their staff will be striking).

3 Reasons Why Hospitals Need Short-Term Travel Nurses for Rapid Response

Short-term nursing assignments for rapid response happen quickly and are often an unexpected need.

There are three common reasons that hospitals tend to need short-term travel nurses for rapid response situations:

• When hospitals update medical software
• For filling remote positions
• An increased need for staff due to a crisis, natural disaster, etc.

Reason #1: Electronic Medical Records Conversions

Electronic medical records ( EMR ) conversion is a complex process that involves migrating paper patient files and/or legacy EMRs whenever a facility adopts, updates, or switches software. 

This may sometimes require the facility to pull staff members from the floor to complete the necessary training, which may leave gaps in the schedule and require additional nurses. 

For example:

Nicole is an ICU nurse at a busy hospital. Every few months, she and her coworkers must undergo training to ensure they’re up-to-speed on how all of their medical software works. These different training sessions can last hours, sometimes even the length of an entire shift, depending on the type of training.

Instead of operating understaffed, rapid-response travel nurses can be utilized to adapt to scheduling and patient needs. This allows the facility to operate safely, remove excess burden on staff nurses, and provide high-quality patient care. 

Reason #2: Remote Positions 

Remote positions are considered hard to fill because they are not highly desired by nurses.

A remote position is a job at hospitals or clinics that are further away from “civilization,” like many travel nursing jobs in Montana .

These positions are often at facilities in secluded areas that are typically less busy, which may make be difficult for them to retain steady, full-time staff. 

Since there may be an expected turnover rate for these hard-to-fill positions, extra staff may be needed to supplement gaps caused by absenteeism, terminations, and resignations. 

As a short-term travel nurse, you can take on a remote position for a limited time and then be on your way to a new assignment in a matter of weeks — maybe another short-term assignment or a typical 13-week assignment.

Reason #3: Unexpected Fluctuation in Staffing or Patient Loads: 4 Crisis Scenarios 

Sometimes, hospitals experience an unexpected fluctuation in their staff or patients, which leads to an increased need for more nurses. These fluctuations may be the result of the following crisis scenarios:

• Natural disasters
• Man-made disasters

These situations may enact surge capacity protocols, often involving contingent workers like short-term travel nurses. Contingent staffing helps curb the consequences of these crises by:

• Supplementing nurse-to-patient ratios to reduce poor patient outcomes.
• Reducing the need for overtime in staff nurses.
• Supporting permanent staff to remove additional burdens and curb mental exhaustion, stress, and burnout.

Trusted Staff Nursing is on a mission to connect facilities with top talent at a moment’s notice. We also help travel nurses find in-need facilities quickly and efficiently. 

Don’t want to spend too much time sorting through countless short-term travel nursing assignments? You can set up notifications that alert you when a job with your requirements comes up. 

Scenario 1: Flu Season 

Flu season generally begins around October and is most active between December and February. In many locations, flu season can last into the spring as late as May.

The CDC estimates that although we are only in the 10th week of the 2024 flu season there have been an estimated 29 million cases, 320,000 hospitalizations, and 20,000 deaths. These numbers can easily overwhelm a facility already suffering from staffing gaps. 

Since the elderly are at greater risk for complications from the flu, states with higher populations of senior citizens — like Maine and Florida — may have a greater need for short-term travel nurses during flu season.

Scenario 2: Natural Disasters

Natural disasters can cause major injuries or illnesses that might cause an increase in patients at hospitals.

The following qualify as natural disasters:

• Earthquakes
• Landslides or mudslides
• Extreme heat
• Winter weather

In the event of a natural disaster, short-term travel nurses can help with:

• Blood drives
• Health education (CPR, first aid)
• Staffing hospitals
• Providing extra resources
• Alleviating the strain of other care facilities like nursing homes

Scenario 3: Man-Made Disasters

A man-made disaster results from hazards caused by people or groups. These disasters include:

• Civil disturbances
• Terrorism attacks
• Cyber-attacks
• Biological or chemical threats

During these disasters, short-term travel nurses help facilitate care, support staff nurses, and assist in the coordination and other logistics involved in disaster response plans. 

Scenario 4: Pandemics

A pandemic is a global illness that affects a large number of people, such as COVID-19. 

The flow of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic maxed out most facilities’ emergency departments and intensive care units. While the lack of staff and supplies initially impeded hospitals’ ability to evaluate and supply aid, travel nursing was an effective resolution to a potentially catastrophic problem. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of travel nurses doubled as hospitals across the country responded to increased numbers of critically ill patients in their facilities. This spike in demand was not without reward. The growing need for travel nursing resulted in massive salary hikes for travelers. 

Short-term nursing assignments might not be for everyone. 

Maybe you don’t do well being distanced from your friends and family for any length of time.

Maybe you require more time to adjust to a new facility. 

Maybe the continual job searching is stressful and not as stable as you’d like to be.

However, for those who are committed to short-term nursing travel assignments,  there are some pretty big benefits that come along with the job.

Benefit #1: Shorter Assignments and Flexibility 

If you like to travel and have flexibility in your schedule and your life, short-term travel nurse contracts might be right for you.

The short contract lengths allow you to work in a variety of hospitals and positions. You get to travel, immerse yourself in our country’s different cultures, and make new friends.

It’s a flexible job opportunity that lets you get a taste of new experiences and settings. Once your assignment ends, you can immediately find another short-term travel nursing contract or take a break. And if you decide that you’re not ready to leave, the professionals at Trusted Nurse Staffing can help you extend your contract. 

Benefit #2: Great Pay

As of March 2024, the nationwide average salary of travel nurses is $1,944 per week, which is 1.1 times higher than the national average of registered nurses ( $1,689  per week). 

Keep in mind how much you make as a short-term travel nurse may depend on the following:

• Specialization
• Facility needs
• Geographical location
• Year of experience 

The highest-paying states for travel nurses are:

• New York : $2,310 per week
• Pennsylvania : $2,115 per week
• New Hampshire : $2,068 per week
• New Jersey : $2,037 per week
• Wyoming : $2,015 per week
• Washington : $2,012 per week
• Wisconsin : $1,998 per week
• Massachusetts : $1,998 per week
• Alaska : $1,992 per week
• Oregon : $1,976 per week

Benefit #3: Travel More Often 

Short-term travel nurse jobs allow you to break from your normal environment and enter new landscapes full of new horizons, opportunities, and adventures. With so much to do and see, short-term travel nursing assignments allow you to quickly flit from place to place so that you can see it all. 

If you love to travel , why not get paid to do it?

Imagine spending two weeks working in New York, then traveling to Miami for six weeks before finishing up with a four-week assignment in rural West Virginia. In just three months’ time, you earned good money while enjoying the big city, the beach, and the mountains.

Pronto and Trusted Nurse Staffing make it easy to find the right job in the right location for you. Sign up with Pronto to get scrolling toward your next big break today. 

Possible Cons of Short-Term Travel Nurse Assignments 

While the benefits of short-term travel RN assignments are appealing, the job might not be for everyone.

Some cons to short-term travel nurse jobs include:

• Feelings of homesickness or loneliness.
• Less choices in contracts compared to longer term assignements.
• Navigating the logistics of travel (time changes, language barriers, travel stress).
• Always learning how to work with a team that already knows one another well.
• Consistently having to adapt to new environments, policies, and procedures.
• Potentially limited choices in housing. 

Working short-term travel nurse assignments can be a fun and rewarding job. You can travel, negotiate your contracts, make good money, and have some flexibility with work.

You’ll also have access to these amazing benefits and perks:

• Travel, housing, and meal stipends
• Referral and completion bonuses
• Dental, health, and vision benefits
• Sign-on bonuses

At Trusted Nurse Staffing, we want to help our travel nurses explore all of the possibilities for flexibility, growth, and opportunity. We encourage our nurses to continue to hone their potential, which is why we now support employees with a tax-free student loan reimbursement of up to $5,250 annually.

We hope that this allows our nurses to breathe easier and pursue further education without being burdened by their student loans. 

It is also important that our travel nursing allies can find assignments granting them job satisfaction and purpose in an industry that can sometimes be hard to navigate. We created Pronto to give travel nurses the power to find and choose the travel nursing assignments that would best suit their preferences, needs, hopes, and dreams. 

Empower your travel nursing experience with the help of Trusted Nurse Staffing and Pronto. Begin your search for short-term travel nursing assignments today. 

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Aya delivers:

• The most jobs in the industry. We have the largest and most reliable job database, which means the jobs you see are open, updated in real time and ready for you!
• Competitive advantage over other agencies. Front-of-the-line access through our direct facility relationships — many with quick (even same-day) offers, giving you the best chance of securing your ideal opportunity.
• Expedited licensing and streamlined compliance. An industry-leading on-time start rate and strong relationships with boards of nursing across the country to accelerate the process in all 50 states.
• Expert career guidance. A dedicated recruiter to help you achieve your dream career. Travel, per diem, permanent — we have the reach and access to get you the jobs you want, and the expertise to help you realize your long-term goals.
• A best-in-class support system and an exceptional experience. Enjoy accurate, weekly pay, and an entire team dedicated to your happiness on assignment, 24/7.

Plus, you get everything you expect from the largest healthcare staffing company in the industry:

• Exceptional benefits, including premium medical, dental, vision and life insurance beginning day one of your assignment. Want to take time off? Keep insurance coverage for up to 24 days between assignments.
• A generous 401(k) match.
• Paid company housing (we'll help you bring your pets along, too!) or a generous housing stipend.
• Paid sick time in accordance with all applicable state, federal, and local laws. Aya's general sick leave policy is that employees accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. However, to the extent any provisions of the statement above conflict with any applicable paid sick leave laws, the applicable paid sick leave laws are controlling.
• The industry's only clinical ladder program for RNs on assignment.
• Access to unlimited continuing education units online.
• Licensure, relocation and other reimbursements, when applicable.
• Pay listed above includes taxable wages and tax-free expense reimbursements.

For all employees and employee applicants, Aya is an Equal Employment Opportunity ("EEO") Employer, including Disability/Vets, and welcomes all to apply. Please click here for our EEO policy.

• Bi-weekly weekend travel home.
• A rental car and paid housing.

With Aya Locums you get:

• Access to top hospitals and healthcare systems in diverse care settings.
• Highly competitive, transparent locum tenens pay.
• Dedicated application and assignment support.
• In-house credentialing and licensing teams.
• Full coverage of licensing costs.
• Travel and lodging coverage.
• Easy timekeeping and streamlined management of documents.
• Malpractice coverage and risk management support.
• Premium medical, dental, vision and life insurance beginning day one of your assignment.
• Paid sick time. Aya provides paid sick leave in accordance with all applicable state, federal, and local laws. Aya's general sick leave policy is that employees accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. However, to the extent any provisions of the statement above conflict with any applicable paid sick leave laws, the applicable paid sick leave laws are controlling.
• Generous 401k match.
• Aya may provide other benefits where required by applicable law, including but not limited to reimbursements.
• Aya coordinates all travel and lodging accommodations.
• Travel information is received the evening prior to your scheduled departure.
• Airfare is covered and, if driving to the assignment, reimbursement is available.
• Once notice is received, communication from our team is sent via email and text to ensure you are kept in the loop as soon as information becomes available.
• Your safety is Aya's top priority. We work closely with the facility to ensure additional security measures are taken onsite so you can focus on what really matters: patient care.
• Licensure, relocation and other reimbursements.

Experience the Aya difference today

• A dedicated recruiter who advocates for you every step of the way.
• We'll ensure the hiring manager prioritizes your interest and schedules an interview quickly.
• A streamlined hiring process means offers are often presented within 24-48 hours after an interview with a hiring leader.
• Flexible start dates that work around your availability.
• We make it simple with one point of contact the entire time.
• University of Washington (UW) offers a wide range of benefits as part of your total compensation package. Choose from top medical and dental insurance programs; plan for your future with tax-deferred investing through the UW retirement options; enjoy generous vacation and sick leave policies; and protect yourself and your family with life and long-term disability insurance. For more information, follow the links shown below or explore the Benefits website at http://hr.uw.edu/benefits/

With Aya, you get:

• Higher compensation - we negotiate on your behalf.
• Work-life balance - contracts are up to 40 hours per week, with workdays ending mid-late afternoon and weekends off!
• An employee advocate - our team ensures you have the support needed to be successful in your role.
• Options post contract - extend, convert to a permanent employee or find a new job.
• Paid company housing (pets are welcome to tag along) or a generous housing stipend.
• If qualified, continued insurance coverage over the summer.
• A generous 401k match.
• A robust team to support you every step of the way.
• A credentialing specialist to streamline the entire compliance process.
• Freedom and flexibility around your current schedule.
• The easy-to-use Shifts app. Select shifts anytime, anywhere.
• Premium medical, dental, vision and life insurance.
• Front-of-the-line access to exclusive jobs at thousands of healthcare facilities nationwide.
• A robust team to support you every step of the way to ensure you start on time, have accurate payroll and an exceptional experience.
• Certification and other reimbursements, when applicable.

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Travel Nurse Jobs & Travel Nursing Assistant Jobs

Travel nursing and allied therapy jobs, if you're interested in working and venturing away from home, travel assignments are perfect for you travel and explore what the world has to offer, all while doing what you do best — providing quality care., travel contract jobs for nurses & nursing assistants, travel contract jobs for nursing and allied health professionals.

Your opportunities with GrapeTree are endless! Along with per-diem shifts and local assignments, our healthcare professionals have the opportunity to travel and explore new areas without giving up a regular income. Travel contracts are 8-13 weeks in length, offer opportunities to work outside a 50 mile radius of your home, and include travel + housing stipends. Mesh your career with new personal life experiences by becoming a traveling healthcare professional with GrapeTree!

You get the best of both worlds. Earn a competitive wage while exploring your surroundings in your down time.

Live in, make memories in, and explore a new area with every new travel assignment

Receive a weekly, non-taxed per diem, to assist with travel, meals, housing, incidentals, and other necessary expenses.

Guaranteed hours

Your schedule is set from the moment you are booked into a travel assignment with GrapeTree.

We currently offer travel opportunities throughout the states below – but we are still expanding! Check out all of the fun things to do in each of our states and pick your next home-away-from-home.

Make More With Travel Contracts

The weekly package range for travel assignments is a combination of hourly taxed rate and a weekly non-taxed per diem reimbursement to cover housing, meals, incidentals, and other necessary costs. Package amount is based on facility type, specialty, location, and certification of healthcare professional.

CN A s /STN A s

$1,200-$1,700 per week.

Must have 6 months of experience working as a CNA or STNA.

$1,600-$2,000 PER WEEK

Must have 1 year of experience working as an LPN.

$2,000-$2,700

Must have 1 year of experience working as an RN.

Your h ome address must be least 50 miles away from the facility to qualify for travel pay rates. Contracts are available as local assignments at a lower pay rate for those whose home address is less than 50 miles away from the facility address.

CN A s &  STN A s

Ptas, otas, cotas, $1,500-$1,800 per week.

Must have 1 year of experience working as a PTA, OTA, or COTA.

PTs & OTs

$2,000-$2,600 per week.

Must have 1 year of experience working as a PT or OT.

Must have 1 year of experience working as an SLP.

Your h ome address must be least 50 miles away from the facility to qualify for travel pay rates. Contracts are available as local assignments  for those whose home address is less than 50 miles away from the facility address.

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Only certified to work in your home state? No problem! While each state has their own process for becoming licensed, it is easy to get your license transferred. This process is called getting "reciprocity" or "endorsement." Our team has compiled a list of all our states' registries so that you can easily transfer your license. Give our team a call to learn more about getting reimbursed for gaining reciprocity in other states! Click the button below to get started.

The Perks of Travel A ssignments

Flexibility.

You have the flexibility to choose where you go and what assignments you take on.

Avoid Burnout

Experience higher job satisfaction working in a travel assignment by avoiding overtime.

Gain Knowledge

Explore what you love about nursing by working with more people in diverse settings.

Career Advancement

Strengthen your experience an build up your resume to show that you thrive in all environments.

What People Are Saying

I've been working and traveling with GrapeTree Medical Staffing for about five months now and have loved every minute of it! The communication is great, the pay is excellent and I love how flexible they are! If you are looking for a great company to work for I highly recommend GrapeTree!

Alissa | Travel CNA

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A Guide to Travel Nurse Assignments: Your FAQs Answered

Table of Contents

Whether you’re a new travel nurse or a seasoned traveler, travel nurse assignments can be confusing and sometimes difficult to understand the terms. Let’s review the advantages of working with a travel nursing agency and some FAQs below.

Find Travel Nursing opportunities all over the United States

Registered nurses have the opportunity to become travel nurses at any point during their nursing career. Most of the time, travel nursing agencies require at least two years of nursing experience before becoming a traveler. However, this varies by agency and specialty. 

Just like a career in nursing offers a variety of specialties and job opportunities, so does the world of travel nursing. As a travel nurse, you have the opportunity to work in your specialty while traveling the country. You get the opportunity to meet new people, work with a variety of patient populations, and expand your professional network.

If you’re interested in exploring what travel nursing opportunities are out there, many travel nurse agency websites offer job boards , including Health Carousel Travel Nursing. Most  job board postings detail the location, start date, assignment length, weekly hours, and expected pay ranges. Due to most job boards’ transparency in this criteria, it’s easy to compare agencies and nursing jobs.

Advantages of working with a professional Travel Nurse Agency 

There are several benefits of working with a professional travel nursing agency. Get to know your recruiter first. Your recruiter should understand your needs, wants, and preferences in an assignment. Once they understand your assignment preferences, they can help you with your travel nursing job search . Oftentimes, they can better filter nursing jobs and may offer new jobs that haven’t been made public yet. 

Next, your travel nurse agency recruiter is your assignment advocate and liaison between you and the healthcare facility. They will prepare you for your interview by providing typical questions and prepping your responses. If you need any days off or a more flexible schedule, they will help you ask for these as well. 

Once you have an offer, navigating a compensation package can be pretty difficult to understand. An advantage of working with an agency recruiter is that they will help you through every step of the process. This can include benefits, sick leave, stipend amounts, etc. If you don’t understand an area or amount, or would like more compensation, then ask. Your recruiter will help you negotiate Your recruiter will help you negotiate your travel nursing contract with the healthcare facility, depending on their company policy. Typically, no two contracts will look the same.

Now that we’ve reviewed the advantages of working with a travel nurse agency, let’s detail some frequently asked questions (FAQs) below.

How long are typical travel nurse assignments?

Travel nurse assignment lengths vary depending on the nursing demand, healthcare facility, unit, and season. Most assignments last 13 weeks but can be shorter or longer. Some crisis contracts are as little as two weeks. Other contracts start as 13-week assignments, but hospitals sometimes offer contract extensions of up to a year.

Do travel nurses get easy assignments?

Travel nurse assignments are based on nurse shortages and increased demands in the area and unit. Every travel nursing experience is different. There’s no way to determine beforehand if an assignment is going to be easy. We all know that one day at the hospital can be fairly easy and the next can be draining. 

To prepare, ask about typical unit assignments, patient-to-nurse ratios, and patient populations during the interview process. If the patient-to-nurse ratio seems high for your specialty, consider this before accepting an offer. 

How do I choose a travel nursing assignment?

Many travel nursing agencies offer nursing job boards for you to search for available assignments. Before beginning your search, write down a list of your preferences, including locations, units, and desired pay. This will help you filter your initial search. 

Many states are transitioning to the nursing licensure compact agreement . If you hold a compact license, this means you can practice nursing in that state without applying for a new nursing license. It makes it easier for travel nurses especially since they work in different states. However, keep in mind that you may only obtain a compact license if you reside in a compact state.

What type of travel nurses are most needed?

Travel nurses are  always needed. However, the demand for what specialty of travel nursing varies greatly, depending on the area, nursing shortages, and employers. Most of the time, there is a high demand for medical-surgical, intensive care, and emergency room nurses.

Is it hard to find jobs as a travel nurse?

Typically, it’s not hard to find travel nursing jobs. You may not get your first assignment choice, but there are always plenty of other options available. To make it easier during your job search, apply for several assignments and obtain your compact state nursing license if you haven’t already done so. 

Is travel nursing risky?

Working as a travel nurse comes with the same risks as working as a staff registered nurse. You will need to understand the state regulations, the scope of practice, and the healthcare facility’s company policies as you would with any other new nursing job. 

Is travel nursing worth the money?

Many registered nurses transition to travelers and make travel nursing their career. Most travel nurses find travel nursing worth the time and money. You get to travel the country, typically make higher pay than staff nurses, and make your schedule (for the most part). ZipRecruiter shows that the national average salary for travel nurses is $118,400, which is well beyond the average staff nurse salary.

Health Carousel Travel Nursing Boasts Travel Nursing Assignments To Advance Your Career

Health Carousel Travel Nursing has travel nursing jobs available for you throughout the country. Our recruiters work to understand your needs and want to keep you aligned with your career goals. We partner with top healthcare facilities throughout the United States, so you have many career options available. We also offer great benefits, including medical and dental insurance, and sick leave.

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Highest-Paying Travel Nurse Assignments | Salary & Location

Updated may 6, 2024.

If you’re looking for a new travel nurse assignment—or just curious how much current travel nurse jobs are paying out—here are some of the highest-paid travel nursing jobs currently available across the country.

Cities Paying > $3,000 per week

• Las Vegas, NV: $3.3K in OR
• Greenville, NC: $3.3K in OR
• Springfield, IL: $3.2K in Oncology
• Lebanon, NH: $3.2K in Telemetry
• Rochester, NY: $3.2K in Med/Surg
• Lebanon, NH: $3.1K in ICU
• Malone, NY: $3.1K in MedSurg
• Providence, RI: $3K in ER
• Burlington, VT: $3K in OR
• Hyannis, MA: $3K in Telemetry
• Dayton, OH: $3K in Peds/NICU/PICU

Speak with a recruiter about available travel nursing assignments today!

Highest-Demand Cities

• Nashville, TN: at least 52 assignments up to $2K/week
• Rochester, NY: at least 51 assignments up to $3.2K/week
• Richmond, VA: at least 39 assignments up to $2K/week
• Chapel Hill, NC: at least 39 assignments up to $2K/week
• Louisville, KY: at least 38 assignments up to $2.3K/week
• Montgomery, AL: at least 34 assignments up to $2.8K/week
• Baltimore, MD: at least 32 assignments up to $2.5K/week
• Rapid City, SD: at least 32 assignments up to $2.7K/week
• Albany, NY: at least 28 assignments up to $2.7K/week
• Wichita, KS: at least 27 assignments up to $2.7K/week
• Asheville, NC: at least 26 assignments up to $2.2K/week
• Roanoke, VA: at least 26 assignments up to $1.9K/week
• Fort Wayne, IN: at least 24 assignments up to $2.6K/week
• Utica, NY: at least 23 assignments up to $2.2K/week
• Springfield, MA: at least 21 assignments up to $2.2K/week
• Evansville, IN: at least 20 assignments up to $2.1K/week
• Metairie, LA: at least 20 assignments up to $2.6K/week
• Tucson, AZ: at least 20 assignments up to $2.5K/week

Emergency Room

Here is a sampling of ER travel nurse jobs available across the country:

• AK: $2.4K/week
• AL: $1.3K/week
• AR: $1.4K/week
• AZ: $2.5K/week
• CA: $2.7K/week
• CO: $1.9K/week
• CT: $2.1K/week
• DC: $1.9K/week
• GA: $1.4K/week
• HI: $1.7K/week
• IA: $1.9K/week
• ID: $1.8K/week
• IL: $2.4K/week
• IN: $1.4K/week
• KY: $1.8K/week
• MA: $2.6K/week
• MD: $2K/week
• MI: $2.1K/week
• MN: $2.5K/week
• MO: $1.5K/week
• MT: $1.9K/week
• NC: $1.9K/week
• NH: $2.3K/week
• NJ: $2.4K/week
• NM: $2.1K/week
• NY: $2.2K/week
• OH: $1.6K/week
• OK: $1.5K/week
• PA: $1.7K/week
• RI: $3K/week
• SC: $1.8K/week
• SD: $1.9K/week
• TN: $1.7K/week
• TX: $1.9K/week
• VA: $2K/week
• VT: $2K/week
• WA: $2.2K/week
• WI: $1.9K/week
• WY: $2.2K/week

Labor & Delivery

We found the following opportunities for L&D travel nurses:

• AK: $2.9K/week
• AZ: $2.2K/week
• CO: $2.9K/week
• DC: $2K/week
• FL: $1.5K/week
• IA: $2.1K/week
• ID: $2.6K/week
• IL: $2.7K/week
• IN: $2K/week
• KS: $1.5K/week
• LA: $1.9K/week
• MA: $2.9K/week
• ME: $2.5K/week
• MN: $2.1K/week
• MT: $2.2K/week
• NC: $1.5K/week
• ND: $2K/week
• NM: $2.7K/week
• NV: $2.4K/week
• NY: $1.9K/week
• OK: $2K/week
• OR: $2.4K/week
• SC: $1.5K/week
• TN: $1.9K/week
• TX: $2K/week
• VA: $1.8K/week
• WA: $2.6K/week
• WI: $2.1K/week

Operating Room

There are numerous high-paying OR travel nursing assignments available:

• AZ: $1.6K/week
• CO: $1.8K/week
• IA: $2.5K/week
• IN: $2.6K/week
• KY: $2.2K/week
• MD: $2.3K/week
• MI: $2.4K/week
• MO: $2.2K/week
• NC: $3.3K/week
• NE: $2K/week
• NJ: $2.7K/week
• NM: $2K/week
• NV: $3.3K/week
• NY: $3K/week
• OH: $2.3K/week
• OK: $2.5K/week
• OR: $1.8K/week
• PA: $2.5K/week
• SC: $2.1K/week
• TX: $2.4K/week
• VT: $3K/week
• WV: $2.7K/week

Find available travel nursing assignments near or far.

Here are some of the highest-paying MICU/SICU, CVICU and CICU travel nursing assignments we found across the country:

• AL: $1.6K/week
• AR: $1.6K/week
• CA: $3K/week
• CO: $2.5K/week
• CT: $2.3K/week
• DE: $2.7K/week
• GA: $1.6K/week
• IA: $2K/week
• IN: $2.9K/week
• KS: $2K/week
• KY: $2.3K/week
• MD: $2.5K/week
• MI: $2.2K/week
• MO: $2.1K/week
• MS: $1.9K/week
• MT: $2K/week
• NC: $2.1K/week
• ND: $2.3K/week
• NE: $2.2K/week
• NH: $3.1K/week
• NM: $1.9K/week
• NV: $2.5K/week
• NY: $2.7K/week
• OH: $2.4K/week
• OK: $1.7K/week
• OR: $2.3K/week
• PA: $1.8K/week
• RI: $2.3K/week
• SD: $2.6K/week
• TN: $2K/week
• TX: $2.5K/week
• VT: $2.1K/week
• WA: $2.4K/week
• WV: $1.9K/week

For those who prefer working with children, there are NICU, PICU, pediatric OR, and general pediatric nursing opportunities available in multiple states, such as:

• AK: $1.6K/week
• AL: $1.9K/week
• CA: $2.4K/week
• GA: $1.7K/week
• IA: $2.2K/week
• IL: $2.6K/week
• KS: $1.9K/week
• KY: $2.4K/week
• LA: $2.6K/week
• MA: $2.3K/week
• ME: $2.7K/week
• MI: $2.8K/week
• MN: $2.2K/week
• NH: $2.4K/week
• NJ: $2.5K/week
• NM: $2.2K/week
• NY: $2.3K/week
• OH: $3K/week
• OK: $2.6K/week
• OR: $2.1K/week
• PA: $2.1K/week
• SC: $2.3K/week
• SD: $2.7K/week
• TX: $2.2K/week
• VA: $2.5K/week
• VT: $2.2K/week
• WI: $2.4K/week

Medical-Surgical

For medical surgical nursing assignments, here are the highest-paying opportunities per state:

• AL: $2.8K/week
• AR: $1.9K/week
• CA: $2.2K/week
• CO: $2K/week
• FL: $1.7K/week
• ID: $2.1K/week
• IL: $2.3K/week
• KS: $2.7K/week
• LA: $1.8K/week
• MD: $1.9K/week
• ME: $2.9K/week
• MO: $2.4K/week
• MS: $1.8K/week
• NH: $2K/week
• NJ: $2.1K/week
• NY: $3.2K/week
• OH: $2.2K/week
• OR: $2.2K/week
• SC: $2K/week
• SD: $2K/week
• TX: $2.3K/week
• UT: $1.9K/week
• VA: $2.2K/week
• WA: $1.7K/week
• WI: $2.3K/week
• WV: $2.2K/week

If telemetry is your area of expertise you can look in these states:

• AL: $1.7K/week
• AR: $2K/week
• CA: $2.3K/week
• CO: $2.2K/week
• GA: $2.2K/week
• HI: $1.8K/week
• KS: $2.1K/week
• KY: $2.5K/week
• MA: $3K/week
• MI: $2K/week
• NC: $2K/week
• NH: $3.2K/week
• NV: $1.8K/week
• OK: $2.1K/week
• OR: $2K/week
• PA: $2.2K/week
• RI: $2.2K/week
• SC: $2.6K/week
• SD: $2.5K/week
• TX: $1.7K/week
• VA: $2.3K/week
• WV: $2.4K/week

There are many oncology travel nursing assignments available:

• AR: $2.1K/week
• AZ: $2.7K/week
• GA: $1.9K/week
• IL: $3.2K/week
• IN: $1.8K/week
• KS: $1.7K/week
• KY: $1.9K/week
• LA: $2.2K/week
• MA: $1.9K/week
• MD: $2.1K/week
• ME: $2.1K/week
• MI: $1.8K/week
• MS: $1.7K/week
• NE: $2.4K/week
• NJ: $2.2K/week
• NY: $2.5K/week
• OR: $1.9K/week
• TN: $2.6K/week
• WA: $2.3K/week

Speak with a recruiter about available travel nursing assignments!

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Flexible Travel Nurse Contract Lengths

Freedom to do you, unlike some travel nurse agencies, we offer contracts ranging from as little as 4 weeks to the standard 8 to 13-week travel assignments. in some cases, our clients may even request an extension of the contract, which you are free to accept or decline., just let your recruiter know the contracts you want, and they’ll get to work on your behalf..

Travel Job Options If there are specific destinations you want to visit, whether for family or fun, our recruiters will keep a close eye out for relevant travel postings. But most of our nurses opt for our direct rapid response assignments. Although the destinations may not seem as attractive as Hawaii, these hidden gems are higher-paying, shorter commitments, and still offer a rich and rewarding experience.

Avoid Burnout We recognize how mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting nursing can be, and traveling adds other challenges to the equation. The last thing we want is for our nurses to burn out, so take as much time as you need between assignments to recover and stay healthy. There is no commitment to take on a new travel job until you’re ready.

For travel nursing tips, check out our travel nurse resources .

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1 Week Travel Nursing Assignments - What You Need to Know

Flu season is upon us, and this means travel nurses available for temporary work shifts are in high demand at hospitals and clinics around the country. Annual illness fluxuations, unexpected outbreaks, labor strikes, and any number of other reasons create openings which can be as short as one week. With a turnaround time this fast, nurses who fill these roles have to be light on their feet and at the top of their game. Rapid response travel nursing positions come with a unique set of challenges that set them apart from longer term gigs. Below is a summary of everything you need to know to make your next 1 week travel nursing assignment work for you. 

Rapid Response Travel Nursing

It’s exactly what it sounds like: rapid response travel nurses go where they are needed most at the drop of a nitrile glove. 

The typical travel nursing assignment seems leisurely by comparison: nurses should be able to start in 4-8 weeks, and are generally contracted for 13-week jobs, or around 3 months. A rapid response shift, on the other hand, requires nurses to start in 2 days – 2 weeks, and a contract can last between several days to 3 weeks, depending on the cause of the opening. 

Reasons for rapid response need may include:

• Electronic Medical Record (EMR) conversions — hospitals often choose to use temporary staffing solutions to maintain quality care during administrative and technological overhauls. 
• Surplus of remote or “hard to fill” positions — temporary staffing shortages caused by a lack of locational desirability may result in hospitals or clinics offering short-term assignments to compensate. 
• Extreme fluctuations in patient load or staffing — seasonal illness such as the flu, novel outbreaks such as the current 2019nCoV, natural disaster emergencies, etc. can simultaneously reduce nursing teams and increase the number of patients visiting hospitals. 
• Labor strikes — while nursing strikes are an important tactic for soliciting fair wages, illness and injury wait for no one. In the interest of patient care, it may be necessary for organizations to open rapid response positions during critical protests. 

What to Expect on your 1 Week Travel Nursing Assignments

You don’t need to be a career rapid response travel nurse to make these shorter assignments work for you. One of the major benefits of working a 1 to 2 week assignment with a fast onboarding process is the ability to fit it in between other jobs, or using it to replace a contract that fell through. These “filler” positions can keep you earning in leaner times, if you’re willing to keep moving. Additionally, many rapid response gigs offer greater flexibility in their contracts. A 1 week travel nursing assignment can easily become a longer-term job if necessary. 

If you as a nurse are finding your rapid response assignments through a reputable staffing agency, you should expect free, private housing for the duration of your job, as well as reimbursement for all travel expenses. (The latter point is especially important, as last-minute flights, car rentals, or train tickets can be extremely expensive.) 

Pay rates fluctuate depending on the severity of the need at your given assignment. Your staffing agency may additionally be able to negotiate for a guaranteed 48-hour work week for you. With all this in mind,  a nurse working a rapid response contract may earn a 50 – 70% increase in wages over a traditional travel nursing assignment.

How to Prepare for your 1 Week Travel Nursing Assignments

Are you itching to apply for your next rapid response job? Before you start booking flights, you should make sure that you are absolutely ready to take the plunge. 

• Know your limits. Rapid response travel nursing assignments are intense. The nurses who take on these jobs must be experienced, preferably in multiple fields of nursing. They have to know exactly what they’re doing, and must be able to hit the ground running in any new situation. In addition to this, they always have to deal with being the new kid at their next position. If this sounds like you, you might be ready.
• Get your paperwork in order. Travel nurses who frequently change states for positions have this one down already. You should either have active licenses in multiple states, or a compact license, allowing you to work in a variety of places. New licenses can take up to 10 weeks to be delivered, so if you have your eye on a particular state, start your license applications as early as possible.
• Do your research. Perform your due diligence and make absolutely sure that you’re finding assignments through a reputable nurse staffing agency. They should be joint commision certified; have proven experience and a history of rapid response staffing; have a responsive support staff in place to help you navigate to your next position.

Final Thoughts: I Week Travel Nursing Assignments

For travel nurses who are experienced, knowledgeable, and ready to run to their next gig, a rapid response assignment might be the perfect next step. Make sure to reference this article before filling your next application. 

Medely is like Uber for nurses, minus actually calling the Uber. Book open travel positions at a moment’s notice, and make money while you’re on the road with contemporary staffing platform designed for the digital age. Sign up for free with Medely today .