How Many Hours A Week Do Travel Nurses Work?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Hiring agencies and individual contracts differ, but travel nursing positions usually comprise

40-hour workweeks

, either five 8-hour, four 10-hour, or three 12-hour shifts, although hours and days vary by facility. You typically begin each contract period with an orientation session that lasts several days.

Is travel nursing worth the money?

So, the question today remains, is travel nursing worth the money? and the short answer is

yes

. Throw in the adventure of travelling to new areas, meeting new people, working in new facilities and building your skills and resume, and you’ve got yourself one very interesting and unique job.

How often do travel nurses work?

The average travel nursing assignment is 13 weeks long. That means a travel nurse working regularly could expect to move

four times in a year

(52 weeks in a year/13 = 4). But of course, 13 weeks is just the average. Some travel nursing assignments can be up to 26 weeks, and others can be as short as four weeks.

Do travel nurses work every week?


The average travel nursing assignment is 13 weeks, but with Trusted Nurse Staffing you can choose contracts that range anywhere from 8 to 52 weeks

. Nurses are commonly given the opportunity to extend their contract one or more times depending on the needs of the facility, often with additional benefits.

Do travel nurses work 3 days a week?

Hiring agencies and individual contracts differ, but

travel nursing positions usually comprise 40-hour workweeks, either five 8-hour, four 10-hour, or three 12-hour shifts

, although hours and days vary by facility. You typically begin each contract period with an orientation session that lasts several days.

How do travel nurses survive?

  1. Do your research. …
  2. Get organized. …
  3. Get the right recruiter. …
  4. Understand your limits and flexibility. …
  5. Search for housing. …
  6. Connect with other nurses in the area.

Do travel nurses pay taxes?

Because travel nurses are paid a bit differently than staff nurses, so too do travel nurses file taxes a bit differently. This is because

travel nurses are paid a base hourly rate, that is taxable, and a weekly travel stipend that is not taxable

– both of which equal their total pay in a given contract.

Do travel nurses make a lot of money?

Under normal circumstances,

many travel nurses have the potential to earn over $3,000 per week

. Travel nurses can bring in over $50 per hour, plus company-paid housing accommodations. Making it entirely possible for travel nurses to make well over $100K per year.

Is being a travel nurse stressful?

Stress Management – Hospitals generally hire travel nurses because they’re short-staffed or facing a crisis, and so these nurses are often the first staff to be floated between departments. All of that

can be stressful

.

Can you break a travel nurse contract?

Nurses can Cancel Contracts


Travel nurses do have the ability to cancel their own contracts but it is not recommended

. The majority of reasons travel nurses cancel are because of family emergencies, personal health problems, facilities not adhering to agreed time off and schedule, and a poor working environment.

Who is the highest paying travel nurse agency?


Triage Staff

is our best overall pick because it pays more than most agencies, providing high hourly wages and frequent bonuses. This agency attracts top talents thanks to its benefits and extensive perks, like tuition reimbursement and day one 401(k).

How much does a traveling nurse make?

Travel nurse salary

To calculate a travel nurse’s compensation, you’ll need to base the salary off the average median income of a registered nurse in the U.S. In many scenarios, travel nurses can earn about

$3,000 weekly

. They can charge as high as $50 per hour in addition to the hospital-paid housing benefits.

Where are the highest paying travel nurse jobs?

Large metropolitan areas, such as

Los Angeles and New York City

, are experiencing high volumes of COVID-19 patients and have the capability to offer higher rates for travel nurses. Contracts in these cities have been listed as high as $10,000 per week.

Can travel nurses bring their families?

Can travel nurses have families?

Yes

. While there are certain factors to consider, travel nursing is not reserved for singles. Some nurses choose to be a travel nurse only during school break, while others have made a career out of travel nursing year-round with their families.

Can travel nurses work close to home?

Did you know that travel nursing does not necessarily require traveling? Although it may sound like an oxymoron,

RNs can sometimes find short-term local travel nurse jobs in their hometowns or in locations nearby

, which make it easy to return home on their days off.

What do travel nurses do in a day?

On a typical day as a travel nurse, you might do things such as

conduct physical exams to assess a patient’s condition, listen to patients and care for their needs, provide counseling to patients, and coordinate with healthcare providers

.

Do travel nurses get 401k?

Explore your retirement saving options

Traditional 401(k):

Many travel nurse agencies offer employer-sponsored traditional 401(k) plans

. The contributions you make to this plan are tax-deferred, meaning you don’t pay taxes on the funds until you withdraw them in retirement.

Why are travel nurse assignments 13 weeks?

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year, so 13-week contracts adequately cover these periods of absence.

How do travel nurses make the most?

  1. Pick Up Extra Shifts. As a travel nurse, most assignments are set in terms of your weeks booked. …
  2. Refer A Traveler. …
  3. Sign On Bonus. …
  4. Become More Specialized. …
  5. Take More Experiences. …
  6. Take The Housing Subsidy. …
  7. Get More State Licenses. …
  8. Extensions.

How do I become a successful travel nurse?

  1. 1) Get Organized. …
  2. 2) Be Flexible. …
  3. 3) Pick A Place of Comfort. …
  4. 4) Don’t Take Things Personally. …
  5. 5) Take A Test Drive Before Starting Your First Assignment. …
  6. 6) Arrive Early On Day One. …
  7. 7) Prepare For Your Pets. …
  8. 8) Take Care Of Your Home Logistics.

What can travel nurses write off?

Travel nurses can also claim tax deductions for legitimate business expenses in excess of reimbursements or allowances. These include

expenses for transportation, lodging, and meals

. However, a 50 percent limit applies to deductions for business meals and entertainment.

How do travel stipends work?

An employee travel stipend, also called a vacation stipend or travel reimbursement, is

an allotment of funds that workers can use during each calendar year at their discretion to pay for personal travel expenses

.

Is a travel nurse self employed?


Often, traveling nurses get hired as an independent contractor

as opposed to being a full-time employee. The difference means you’re accountable for all of your tax payments and all of your travel expenses.

What nurse makes the most money?


Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists

earn a mean average salary of $183,580 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it the top paying nursing specialty. CRNAs typically work 40 hours per week, making the hourly wage average out to approximately $88.26 per hour.

Why do hospitals pay travel nurses so much?

Filling a position between full-time hires; covering for hospital nurses who are off the job due to health or personal reasons; or providing additional support during busy seasons, such as flu or tourist season, are some of the most frequent reasons hospitals hire traveling nurses.

What is a traveling nurse called?

The term “travel nurse” most commonly refers to

Registered Nurses (RN)

. However, it could also refer to Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN/LVN) or Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA). Some people use it to refer to Nurse Practitioners (NP), Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA).

Maria Kunar
Author
Maria Kunar
Maria is a cultural enthusiast and expert on holiday traditions. With a focus on the cultural significance of celebrations, Maria has written several blogs on the history of holidays and has been featured in various cultural publications. Maria's knowledge of traditions will help you appreciate the meaning behind celebrations.