Travel RN Salaries
As the health care industry in the United States grows, the demand for nurses also increases. Despite the gaining popularity of a nursing career, there is still a shortage of nurses. Travel nurses most commonly provide temporary help and relief to hospitals and medical facilities where there are shortages. Travel RNs usually offer the same services as standard RNs but only work in a location for anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. The salaries for travel RNs can vary depending on several factors.
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Qualifications
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Traveling RNs must complete a nursing diploma program or an associate's or bachelor's degree. Like all nurses, traveling RNs will study anatomy, physiology, nutrition, medical terminology, and a variety of behavioral sciences. Upon completion of formal training, all nurses must take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) before being eligible to legally work as a nurse. The most significant difference in requirements for traveling RNs versus standard nurses is the need to be flexible and available when it comes to scheduling, as traveling RNs will often move around the country or the world several times each year.
Location
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As with most professions, the location in which a travel RN works may have an influence on salary. This may be due to the cost of living in the area as well as the level of demand for registered nurses. For example, in Phoenix, Arizona, travel nurses earn a base salary of $85,330 a year, more than $20,000 more than a regular staff nurse, according to RN Travel Space. However, in Anchorage, Alaska, where there is a greater nurse shortage, a travel nurse will average $98,486 a year, or about $13,000 more than a staff nurse in the same area.
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Type of Working Environment
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A travel nurse providing standard RN services in Houston can average $88,001 a year, but the same nurse in Houston can earn $92,101 a year working in an emergency room environment. At the higher end of the pay scale would be a travel RN working in a home care environment. In Houston, this type of travel nurse could expect an average annual wage of $101,540, according to RN Travel Space.
Benefits
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One of the most unique benefits often offered to travel nurses is the assignment completion bonus, designed to entice experienced travel RNs and motivate them to stay in the position for the full length of a contract. Another popular perk for travel RNs is the housing allowance. Employers often rent an apartment for the RN or provide an allowance, averaging around $800 per month. Medical benefits are also often provided, but frequently on a lower level of coverage that for permanent employees. Agencies that oversee the placement of travel RNs also often provide other standard benefits such as 401K plans, according to The-travel-nurse.com.
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References
- The Travel Nurse: Travel Nurse Benefits
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Registered Nurses, 2010-11
- RN Travel Space: Travel Nursing Salary Comparison Tool, Phoenix, AZ, 2011
- RN Travel Space: Travel Nursing Salary Comparison Tool, Anchorage, AK, 2011
- RN Travel Space: ER Staff RN versus Travel Nurse
- RN Travel Space: Travel Nursing Salary Comparison Tool, Houston, TX, 2011
- Photo Credit nurse image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com
