What Is the Best Specialty for Travel Nursing?
By Lee Soren, contributor
The increasing demand for healthcare created by the Affordable Care Act coupled with an aging U.S. population is causing employment opportunities for registered nurses to skyrocket. Jobs are projected to grow at approximately 12 percent through 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a number that's significantly higher than the overall occupational average of 5 percent. Job prospects for LPNs and LVNs aren't far behind with an anticipated growth of 11 percent in the next decade.
This job boom is expected to contribute to medical staffing shortages in some regions, generating greater demand for travel nurses in all types of facilities, including outpatient centers, residential facilities and home healthcare organizations in addition to hospitals. Essentially, it will create plenty of employment options for nurses of all specialties.
On the flip side, an influx of new industry professionals may mean increased competition for the best assignments. Because of this, employers may look to hire nurses with extensive work experience or certification in a specialty area. Here are a few of the best travel nursing specialties today and in the coming years so you can get prepared to meet the demand.
Geriatric nursing
The aging U.S. population brings another, more specific demand to the industry – the need for more trained geriatric nurses. With better, more accessible healthcare, people are living longer. This elderly population comes with a unique set of medical issues and requirements, generating a need for healthcare professionals specializing in gerontology. This makes it one of the best specialties for travel nurses seeking prime assignments.
There are other benefits that come along with this specialty. Geriatric nurses generally receive higher-than-average salaries and enjoy job opportunities in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, retirement communities and even private homes. Geriatrics can also be one of the most challenging and rewarding specialties, with nurses making a noticeable impact on the quality of life for many seniors and their immediate families.
Critical care nursing
Another high-demand specialty is critical care nursing. Short-term positions may open up quickly for travel nurses, particularly in times of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding or wildfires, when full-time hospital staff can no longer accommodate a rapid influx of critically injured patients.
While some medical facilities prefer to hire candidates who hold BSNs, this is one specialty where the industry places special value on experience. Critical care nurses can expect their salaries to rise sharply as they accumulate valuable workplace experience.
It's not surprising, considering critical care nurses often work in trauma centers or intensive care units and may need to make quick, crucial decisions for patients dealing with life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Nurses in this specialty must be able to work rapidly and think clearly in high-pressure situations. They may also be asked to put in long hours under intense conditions. These skills make critical care nurses exceptionally valuable to facilities hiring travel nurses.
Pain management nursing
The CDC estimates that, in 2016, over 20 percent of the U.S. population experienced chronic pain, so it's not surprising that pain management nurses are in extremely high demand. These specialized professionals work with patients suffering from acute and chronic pain, helping them manage their conditions and lead full, active lives. Assignments are available in a multitude of settings, including clinics, hospitals, doctors' offices, rehabilitation centers and commercial fitness centers.
Similar to critical care nursing, pain management nurses need extensive experience — up to 2,000 hours — before they can receive specialty certification. Certification also requires individuals to hold an RN license, a BSN and to have been employed full-time in nursing for at least two years.
The best nursing specialty is your specialty
Certain specialties will always be in high demand. Ultimately, however, the continuing nursing shortage means that many facilities are looking to employ travel nurses to shore up gaps in staffing. That means the best travel nursing specialty is your specialty.
If you're an experienced nurse in almost any field, a good recruiter can match your skills to a variety of rewarding positions around the country. Find the best opportunities to further your career as a specialty travel nurse when you explore Travel Nursing's comprehensive job database.