A Comprehensive Guide: The Urgent Care Travel Nurse Job Outlook & Salary

There is an abundance of travel nurse opportunities out there, but becoming an urgent care travel nurse can be an exciting option for new nurses or those who are looking to make a shift from one specialty to another. Urgent care nurses play a vital role in healthcare, treating patients who need immediate care but don't need to be rushed to the emergency room. Their responsibilities and professional opportunities are diverse and dynamic. Making a career shift or choosing a career path isn't something to be taken lightly, and understanding the urgent care travel nurse job outlook & salary can help you determine if this is the right move for you, along with Career Coaching from Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health. We'll look into the role these travel nurses play, what it takes to become one, and the salary that you might expect when pursuing this career path.

The Role of an Urgent Care Travel Nurse and Potential Opportunities

Urgent care travel nurses work in urgent care clinics, providing episodic treatment for illnesses and injuries that require immediate care but are not serious enough to require an emergency room visit. As a travel nurse, they take temporary assignments, lasting around 13 weeks with Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health at various urgent care facilities nationwide.

Going into this nursing specialty provides you with an opportunity to gain a wealth of knowledge because you rarely know what's going to walk through the door at urgent care.

Traveling nurse jobs aren't all the same, even within the same specialty. This can change based on the location you're working in and the company you're working for. Generally, the role of an urgent care travel nurse involves:

• Providing triage services and assessing patients' conditions
• Ordering diagnostic tests like X-rays and lab work
• Diagnosing and treating minor illnesses and injuries such as flu, infections, sprains, cuts, etc.
• Administering medications and IV fluids
• Educating patients on care, treatment plans, prescriptions, self-care tips, etc.
• Documenting care and completing paperwork
• Collaborating with onsite providers as needed to provide comprehensive care

Urgent care travel nurses need to have strong clinical skills, assessment capabilities, and the ability to treat a wide variety of patients across their lifespans. Excellent communication skills are crucial when educating patients and families. They also need flexibility, resilience, and the ability to adapt to different work settings while working as an urgent care travel nurse.

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Typical Travel Nurse Opportunities

When you partner with a travel agency like Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health, you'll have access to a wide range of opportunities at various medical institutions around the country. For prospective travel nurses seeking positions in urgent care facilities, there are still a lot of travel nursing jobs that you can choose from. Some of the opportunities you might find while searching for a travel nurse career include:

• Major metropolitan areas
• Rural communities
• Suburban areas
• Seasonal hotspots
• Disaster relief spots
• Tourist destinations

Beyond the various settings, you might find yourself working in as an urgent care travel nurse, there are other opportunities that you can benefit from while pursuing this career:

• Invaluable Experience: You'll gain experience working in fast-paced urgent care settings and with various patient populations.
• Competitive pay rates: Travel nursing generally pays more than staff nursing.
• Flexible Schedules: Many positions are flexible, allowing you to explore your new destination during your time off.
• Different Locations: You can explore various parts of the country while working to see where you might want to live if you ever want to stop being a travel nurse.
• Time Off: You can take time off between assignments for whatever you want before looking for a new one.
• Networking: You can network and make lasting connections in the healthcare world.

Overall, travel nursing allows nurses to expand their skills and collect higher-than-average pay while enjoying an adventurous lifestyle and building your dream career.

The Earnings Potential for Travel Nurses

The Average Annual Salary for an Urgent Care Travel Nurse

According to Indeed, the average annual salary for travel nurses is roughly $2,106 weekly. Even though that's the average travel nurse's salary, it's not indicative of every travel nurse's salary. Travel nurse salaries can vary widely based on experience level, certifications, specialty, and work location. The average salary you'll earn as a travel nurse will depend on factors like:

• Geographical Location: Working in larger metropolitan areas with a higher cost of living will generally offer a higher average salary than in smaller areas with a lower cost of living.
• Experience: Travel nurses with more experience in general or in urgent care facilities will typically earn more from job opportunities than nurses with less experience.
• Education: Those with higher education tend to garner more money from travel assignments.
• Certifications: Nurses are required to have certain certifications like Basic Life Saving (BLS), but additional and relevant certifications like the Ambulatory Care Nursing Certificate (AMB-BC) and Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) can earn more.

How to Embark on a Career as an Urgent Care Travel Nurse

Urgent care travel nursing can be a rewarding career path for registered nurses looking for new adventures and opportunities. Here are some steps to get started on this career journey:

Steps to Becoming an Urgent Care Travel Nurse

The requirements to become an urgent care travel nurse aren't much different from other types of travel nurses. The steps you'll want to take for this travel nursing job are:

1. Obtain your RN license in the state you plan on working.
2. Gain relevant experience working in urgent care or similar settings to show that you're ready for travel job openings.
3. Get certified in required certifications and optional ones that showcase your commitment to the nursing specialty.

Once you have these things in place, you can partner with an agency like Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health, which can help you find the right travel assignments for you.

How Nurse Licensing Compact Influences Travel Nurse Opportunities

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) makes it easier for nurses to practice in multiple states. This is a great option if you plan on having a travel nursing career in various states across the country. Here's how the NLC is influencing travel nursing:

• NLC allows RNs and NPs to have one compact license that's valid in member states. This reduces licensing barriers.
• Thirty-four states currently participate in the NLC. Nurses only need to apply for licenses in non-compact states.
• Travelers can expand their work radius and qualify for more positions in NLC states.
• Renewing/transferring a compact license is simpler than getting a single-state license.
• NLC state requirements still apply - background checks, fees, CE credits, etc. Must follow each state's regulations.
• Joining more states expands job prospects for travel nurses. But it's wise to start in a region first before going nationwide.

Overall, the NLC makes multistate travel nursing achievable. You'll still want to check each state's requirements before applying for licenses so you don't delay getting started.

The Job Outlook of Urgent Care Travel Nurses

The job outlook for travel nurses is very strong. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of RNs is projected to grow 6% between 2022-2032. Greater demand for healthcare and retiring nurses drive this growth. The flexibility of travel nursing is attractive to nurses seeking new experiences. Healthcare facilities also benefit from the ability to fill staffing needs temporarily without the added financial burden of hiring permanently.

Urgent care facilities are constantly in need of qualified and passionate nurses to provide patient care. With the demand for registered nurses increasing, it's safe to say that the job outlook for travel nurses wanting to work in urgent care settings is positive. Travel assignments for these types of facilities will continue to be strong, so traveling nurses who love this setting or want experience in these facilities will have a long and successful career path.

Start Your Career as an Urgent Care Travel Nurse With Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health

Choosing to start a career as a travel nurse can be one of the most rewarding and exciting career paths, especially working in an urgent care setting. Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health takes pride in helping travel nurses find travel positions that will help them further their careers through various medical facilities, from small clinics to large hospitals to urgent care facilities.

As a nurse-nominated top 10 travel nurse agency, we have thoughtful recruiters who are passionate about searching for the right urgent care travel nurse opportunities that align with your education, experience, and career aspirations. Partnering with us isn't just about getting access to job postings. We offer benefits like:

• A Full Circle of Support
• Career Coaching
• Health and wellness plans
• Clinical Ladder and Work Study programs

If you're ready to find the best travel nursing jobs that will help further your career, Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health is ready to help prospective travel nurses. Check out On Demand, our powerful web app, where you can search and apply for urgent care travel nurse jobs nationwide.

FAQs

What is the outlook for a travel nurse?

The outlook for a travel nurse is highly positive, driven by increasing demand for healthcare services, particularly in response to the aging population and the aftermath of global health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This demand is amplified by the flexibility and adaptability that the profession offers, making it an attractive choice for nurses seeking diverse work environments, competitive pay, and the opportunity to travel. The travel nursing industry is expected to continue its growth, offering ample opportunities for those entering the field.

What is the highest pay for a travel nurse?

The highest pay for a travel nurse can vary significantly based on factors such as location, specialty, and the demand for healthcare services in a given area. The average annual income of a travel nurse varies from nurse to nurse. Higher-cost-of-living areas will pay higher than lower-cost-of-living places, and the rate varies drastically based on the medical facility, skill, experience, and urgency of the assignment.

Do travel nurses make six figures?

Travel nurses can make six figures annually, with their earnings dependent on factors such as their specialty, the location of their assignments, and the demand for nurses at the time. Keep in mind, however, that their income can vary widely based on variables like location, experience, and the number of travel assignments they take per year.