According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing jobs are expected to increase by roughly half a million between 2014 and 2024. On top of that, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing found that 55% of the nursing workforce is 50 years old or older. Over a million of these nurses will start retiring in the next 10 to 15 years. By 2030 the number of senior citizens will have increased by 69 million. One in five Americans will be considered a senior.
So what does this mean for travel nurses? There is a growing demand for nurses and plenty of opportunities to get paid and see the country.
While there are certain specialties that hospitals are always looking for, the following eight specialties are in high demand and perfect for Travel Nurses to pursue:
- Emergency Room
- Medical-Surgical/Telemetry
- Women’s Health (NICU/MBPP/L&D)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Operating Room (OR)
- Cardiovascular Operating Room (CVOR)
- Long Term Acute Care (LTAC)
- Psychiatric
LTAC NURSE
In 2019, the number of aging Americans will continue to increase dramatically. That means demand will only increase for Long Term Acute Care support and services. Requests for this specialty in the industry are always high, and LTAC RNs can find many excellent opportunities in Georgia LTAC nursing jobs websites.
LTAC (Long Term Acute Care) Nurses serve patients with complex medical needs who require long-term hospital care. If you are considering becoming an LTAC Nurse, you should enjoy bedside care. These nurses spend a lot of time giving their patients baths, helping them eat, and interacting with their families.
Because their patients’ treatments will differ from each other, Nurses working in LTAC units have to be open to learning something new on a day-to-day basis. This specialty is perfect for Nurses who are quick on their feet, enjoy solving conflicts and have excellent time management.
In addition to having an associate or bachelor’s degree in Nursing, passing the NCLEX-RN, and having a license to practice in their state, LTAC Nurses are encouraged to become certified in CCRN, CCRN-E (Tele-ICU Acute/Critical Care Nursing) and ACNPC-AG (Adult-Gerontology). Because of a Nurse shortage, many hospitals now offer acute care orientation and internship programs for Nurses who are interested in becoming an LTAC Nurse.
WOMEN’S HEALTH (NICU/MBPP/L&D)
In 2019, we saw a shortage of Women’s Health Nurses for open assignment, despite growing demand. With such high demand, Nurses with this specialty can find some great opportunities.
NICU
Nurses who work in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are responsible for caring for newborns who were born prematurely or have life-threatening illnesses. As a NICU Nurse, you’ll need to be empathetic while calm under pressure.
MBPP
Mother-Baby/Postpartum Nurses are the mother and the baby’s advocate immediately following birth. As an MBPP Nurse, you will educate and support the new mother. You must also be able to recognize potential complications.
L&D
These Nurses carry a lot of responsibility. Their role is to monitor and assist mothers and babies before, during, AND after birth. RNs working in L&D require competency with both adult and pediatric care. This specialty also requires Nurses to be able to be quick on their feet, particularly during delivery.