Best Travel Nursing Jobs By Specialty for 2022

These days it seems like nurses are the ones making sure the world keeps spinning, and hospitals seem to agree. The demand for all types of registered nurses (RNs) is at an all-time high.

The demand for nurse positions is expected to grow by 12 percent by 2028. This means nurses have a lot of leverage when it comes to where they work and what positions are available to them.

The average salary for an RN is $73,000, but a travel nurse salary can be as high as $108,000. Unsurprisingly, many nurses have turned to travel nurse jobs.

Travel nursing allows nurses to work in a variety of different medical institutions all over the country. Travel nurses can even work internationally with the right credentials.

In addition, travel nurses have the power to set their own schedules and take time off between assignments. These particular benefits are practically unheard of for full-time registered nurses. When you think about it, there are very few reasons not to try your hand at travel nursing.

Before you decide whether travel nursing is the right journey for you, take a moment to learn about the different types of travel nurse jobs available.

Labor and Delivery Nurses

A labor and delivery nurse is an integral part of maternal and infant care. They work under the supervision of a physician or midwife in a variety of medical environments, including delivery rooms, maternity wards, and birthing centers.

These nurses are deeply empathetic and have excellent communication skills, which allows them to understand the laboring parent's emotional, mental, and medical needs.

California offers the best salaries for labor and delivery nurse jobs. Their salaries are 50 percent higher than the national average. Of course, the cost of living in California is also about 50 percent higher than the national average.

Labor and Delivery Nurse Qualifications

In order to become a travel labor and delivery nurse, you will need an active RN license from the state in which you wish to work. It is also necessary to have an RN degree from an accredited nursing program and at least one year of recent nursing experience in a labor and delivery environment.

If you do not have experience in a labor and delivery environment, you will need two years of experience as a registered nurse. It's also important to have the required certifications (BLS, ACLS, NRP, and FHM) for the state.

Emergency Room Nurses

Emergency room nurses are an especially talented group of people. Their jobs include the added challenge of caring for patients who routinely lack a diagnosis. Often, emergency room patients come in without a clear indication of what is wrong with them.

ER nurses have to think very quickly in the moment in order to examine, monitor, and treat their patients. They must be prepared to use highly advanced medical equipment in both emergency departments and urgent care centers.

The demand for ER staff nurses is high across the country. States like New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Hawaii, North Dakota, Ohio, and Maine have the highest demand for emergency room nurses.

The states offering the highest ER nurse jobs salaries include Hawaii, Rhode Island, North Dakota, Massachusetts, and Alaska.

Emergency Room Nurse Qualifications

To become a travel emergency room nurse, you first need an RN degree from an accredited nursing program and an active RN license to work in the state of your choice. You will also need two years of experience working as a registered nurse and one year of experience nursing in an ER department.

Operating Room Nurses

OR nurses play an important role in making sure surgical operations go smoothly and safely. These nurses take care of patients before, during, and after they have surgery. An OR nurse works alongside physicians and surgeons as part of the surgical team.

The role of the OR nurse is broad. They care for patients and supervise surgical technicians and nursing assistants. For this reason it is imperative that OR nurses have excellent communication skills and the ability to remain calm under extreme stress.

Operating room nurses have a lot of options when it comes to work environments. They can work in hospitals, private practices, and surgical centers. They also see a wide variety of surgeries, from common operations like joint replacements and cardiac operations to cutting edge and complex procedures.

Operating Room Nurse Qualifications

To get hired for travel operating room nurse jobs, you will need an active RN license in the specific state, a BLS certification, and an RN degree from an accredited program. You will also need two years of experience working as an RN and one year of recent experience working in an operating room.

School Nurses

You may be wondering whether schools even employ nurses anymore, but in reality, demand for school nurses is incredibly high right now. Individual schools as well as entire school districts are on the hunt for qualified nurses with an aptitude for working with children and parents.

The benefits of working in a school setting rather than a hospital are many. Lower stress levels, predictable work schedules, and meaningful opportunities to make children's lives better barely scratch the surface. School nurses play an integral role in children's lives. Good health is imperative to success in school. By advocating for health, school nurses help to foster a positive learning environment for students.

School Nurse Qualifications

To become a traveling school nurse, you will need to be a registered nurse and possess a bachelor's degree in nursing from a four-year accredited program. It is also important to have at least two years experience working in a medical clinic or other healthcare setting.  

Med Surge Nurses

It may surprise you to learn that med surge nursing is the most popular nursing specialty in the nation. If you're wondering why you've never heard of med surge nursing, you're not alone.

Med Surge nursing is shorthand for medical-surgical nursing. These nurses provide medical care for adult patients who are preparing for and recovering from surgery. They work in fast-paced environments and care for higher volumes of patients than other types of nurses.

Med Surge Qualifications

To get a job as a travel med surge nurse, you need to have an RN degree from an accredited program, an active RN license in the state where you'll practice, and a BLS certification. You will also need two years of experience as an RN and one year working in a medical-surgical environment.

Find Amazing Travel Nurse Jobs Today

If you've been paying attention, chances are you're more than ready to start applying for travel nurse jobs. Travel nursing offers the high pay for nurses in the country. You'll also have the ability to set your own schedule and take time off as needed.

The best part of travel nursing is the opportunity to work travel nurse assignments in a variety of medical environments you couldn't otherwise access.

The best way to search for travel nursing job opportunities is through travel nurse agencies. Contact Barton Healthcare Staffing today to learn more about the abundance of travel nursing jobs available. travel nursing jobs available.

About Bob Villemure

Robert Villemure is the Senior Manager for Digital Marketing & SEO for Barton Associates. Bob, a patented inventor for digital media encryption, has a strong passion for digital technology and offers over twenty years of experience in digital marketing, web development and IT. He currently serves on The George Washington University Advisory Council for digital marketing and most recently was part of the opening Executive team for Wynn Encore Resorts as Director of Digital and E-commerce responsible for building the digital department and executing a multitude of digital initiatives for the billion-dollar Wynn Encore resort opening in June of 2019.

Mr. Villemure brings digital experience across many industries including healthcare, hospitality, higher education, online retail and high tech.