A long history of travel nursing
Technically, the practice of travel nursing is as old as the profession of nursing itself. Nursing pioneers Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, and Mary Seacole were some of the earliest recognized nurses in the Western world, and they were technically Travel Nurses! Nursing began in response to the desperate need for medical reinforcements at the front lines of the Crimean War and the American Civil War, times in which nurses would roam from post to post to tend to areas in which there was a high demand for supplies and medical support for acting surgeons – not at all unlike the times in which we are currently living. Although the career of a Travel Nurse was only officialized in the 20th century, the practice of deploying nurses to short-term contracts in areas of high demand has been in action for centuries.
Beginnings in the Big Easy
Contract travel nursing as we know it is a relatively new career in the healthcare field – it’s only been around since the 1980s! It’s commonly understood that the idea of the Travel Nurse as we know it was born in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, when a festive population spike forced the city to call in nursing reinforcements from elsewhere to assist for a brief, fixed term. And that, as they say, was that.
Big City Life
Since then, it’s remained common practice for cities to outsource nursing staff to help out during unusual spikes in their patient populations. Naturally, in the advent of COVID-19, the demand for Travel Nurses has shot up in vulnerable areas which need critical assistance in busy wards. Some of America’s major metropoles, including New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Francisco, are seeking out the services of these roaming nurses for premium pay-rates.
The future of Travel Nursing
In the current social climate, travel nursing is set to continue to attract Registered Nurses to this burgeoning industry. Employing Travel Nurses can be a cost-effective means for many healthcare facilities to support a surge in patient populations, and it remains an exciting career option for nurses who are seeking to gain invaluable experience and competitive remuneration in their field. In addition to the more obvious benefits listed here, Travel Nursing allows nurses the unmatched freedom of travel in the United States. What better way to do what you love, and to see the world while you do it? Register to become a Travel Nurse with Premier Healthcare Professionals, leaders in healthcare staffing solutions, by following the link below: https://travelphp.com/register/
