3 Reasons why healthcare facilities should hire travel nurses

The healthcare industry is facing a severe challenge: a nursing shortage. According to the American Nurses Association, 1.1 million registered nurses (RNs) will be in deficit by 2030. This will impact quality patient care, staff burnout, and hospital efficiency. 

One effective solution in bridging the gaps is staffing travel nurses. They work under temporary contracts to meet the staffing needs of various types of healthcare facilities. Here’s why travel nursing professionals are a valuable asset for healthcare facilities: for them to ensure continuous, quality care for patients, reduce staff burnout and improve total hospital efficiency.

1. Bridging the gap during nurse shortages

A nurse shortage is caused by many factors, such as an increasingly aging population needing care, declining numbers of new nurses entering practice, and high rates of burnout for the nurses that exist. This challenge creates a significant demand for travel nurses to fill these gaps effectively

This will lead to:

• Fewer patients who receive care: Inpatient admissions might be restricted, or wait times for procedures extended if there are fewer nurses.
• Increased workload of the existing staff: This may cause burnout, a decline in job satisfaction, and, consequently, more nurses leaving their jobs.
• Compromised patient care: Additionally, stretching a nurse too thin compromises patient safety because there is always a higher chance of errors and complications.

Traveling nurses provide an easy solution for these problems through bridge staffing travel nursing. They can be rushed to any place since they are flexible, providing adequate coverage and continuity of care.

Consider this: a 2013 study by the American Hospital Association indicated that 95% of the top US hospitals use travel nurses. The sheer practicality of such a large adoption is proof that travel nurses, facilitated through travel nursing staffing platforms, effectively bridge the shortage gap.

Also read: How MedSquirrels Can Solve Your Healthcare Staffing Shortage Crisis

2. Cost-effectiveness and reduced administrative burden

Recruitment and induction of a permanent nurse are, in most cases, a time-consuming and costly process. As much as it is unnecessary to recruit nurses on a full-time basis when you have a seasonal or temporary high-patient census, hospitals have to incur the costs of advertising, interviewing, background checks, and training. Travel nurses lighten this load by:

• Lower recruitment costs: The travel nurses are not recruited by health facilities. This saves the facility plenty of money through the recruiting and interviewing processes. This is done by the staffing platforms.                                             
• No benefit packages: The travel nurses are often employees of the agency that finances their benefits like health care insurance and paid time off. This saves the hospital some extra costs on the benefits for full-time employees.
• Faster integration: Traveling nurses come in fully credentialed and need minimal orientation. They start working, and less time is lost in terms of patient care.

Travel nurses are normally paid at a premium on an hourly basis compared to permanent staff, and, on the other hand, saves recruitment and benefits balance, and sometimes travel nurses bring special skill and experience which results in better patient outcomes and a reduced rate of readmission to hospitals; consequently, leading to a reduced cost.

3. Access to a larger pool of talent and a wide range of skills

Travel nurses are a heterogeneous group who often seek new experiences and opportunities to use their skills in various healthcare settings. This allows hospitals to draw upon a much broader talent pool than would be available locally.

• Selecting for niche nursing positions: Hospitals in remote locations or entities with specific services seek the most qualified nurses in their location. Travel nurses can provide critical care, pediatrics, or oncology expertise. 
• Contract work: Travel nurses are ideal for short-term gaps in staffing caused by maternity leave, vacations, or an unpredictable surge in patient volume.
• Skill acquisition: Travel nurses typically work in multiple healthcare settings and have experience with diverse patient populations. This knowledge enriches their professional experience, benefiting both the travel nurse and the healthcare facility.

What is next? 

Now that you know and understand why you should hire travel nurses, it is time to find qualified professionals who will fill those empty slots in your healthcare facility. That is precisely where MedSquirrels comes in!

MedSquirrels will be your home, where you can connect to a network of expert travel nurses. This is how we can help:

• Streamlined matching: Using AI, our platform matches the needs of your facility with perfect travel nurses based on the requirements, qualifications, and schedules.
• Lowered costs: MedSquirrels skips the agency markups by directly placing travel nurses into facilities, carrying a monthly transparent flat fee structure.
• Simplified process: No long recruitment processes are needed. You can breathe easy and forget the lengthy recruitment processes since MedSquirrels searches and vets potential travel nurses.

MedSquirrels keeps your process to hire travel nurses smooth and effortless. Focus on giving excellent patient care and let them have the right travel nurses to take on the staffing challenges for you.

Conclusion

Travel nurses are an important resource for healthcare facilities threatened by the challenge of nursing shortages. These professionals ensure quality patient care and relieve permanent staff of pressure. Utilizing travel nurses can make a healthcare facility far more resilient and adaptive, paving the way for a healthier future for both patients and the healthcare system at large. 

FAQs

Why should healthcare facilities hire travel nurses?

Travel nurses provide flexible, cost-effective staffing options for healthcare facilities. They help bridge the gaps and ensure patients’ quality care without burdening permanent staff.

How do travel nurses enhance the quality of patient care?

Travel nurses bring along a wealth of massive experience and expertise, which contributes to elevated patient care. Healthcare facilities can provide the best quality of care despite facing a staff shortage by associating with travel nursing staffing agencies to bridge the gaps.

Can travel nurses reduce staff burnout issues through their role?

Yes, travel nurses can significantly reduce staff burnout by filling the staffing gap and easing the workload on permanent staff. Timely staffing of travel nursing ensures that healthcare workers are not overwhelmed, hence promoting a healthier work environment.

How fast can travel nurses be deployed to healthcare facilities?

Travel nurses can be assigned to hospitals within a short period of time. Travel nursing staffing agencies hire staff whose specialty is fast placement, thereby ensuring that facilities are adequately manned.