Travel Healthcare Jobs: Market Healthy In April As Seasonal Shift Continues

It’s not just the grass that’s growing greener in April—recruiters and industry insiders say the job market is still quite hot following a job-heavy March.

Travel nurses and allied healthcare professional are also officially out of their winter contracts and on the hunt for spring and summer positions, meaning competition has picked up significantly and created a healthy, active market for recruiters and agencies.

There are plenty of states to choose from this month for job opportunities, but Florida sticks out as the most odd choice, said David Kinslow, a senior client advisor for LiquidAgents Healthcare.

Florida is already one of the most popular destinations for travel healthcare professionals, and as such typically has no problems finding travelers to fill needs especially during summer vacation months.

The difference this spring is because of Hurricane Michael, Kinslow said. The Category 4 storm devestated several cities in the Florida panhandle and along the coastline, and many of those communities are still recovering.

This has caused serious problems when trying to find housing for travelers, but it has also caused a rare increase in job orders with higher bill rates for the state, Kinslow said.

“A lot of the facilities in the panhandle are screaming for help and this also why they’re bumping up their bill rates,” Kinslow said.

Travel Healthcare Jobs April 2019

Here’s a quick breakdown of the states and travel healthcare job specialties that are most-in-demand now and are expected to stay popular in April, according to data provided by staffing industry sales and recruiting representatives.

Arizona

• RN: Medical-surgical, telemetry, ICU. Limited options in other specialties.
• Allied: Surgical techs (OR, sterile processing)
• Other Notes: “A new hospital opening in Phoenix has taken full-time staff away from other hospitals. Also, government facilities (Indian Health Service) are needing more help.”

Arkansas

• RN: Medical-surgical, telemetry, PCU/IMC, ICU
• Allied: Respiratory therapists

Florida

• RN: Medical-surgical, telemetry, ICU, ER
• Other Notes: “Bill rates are higher in the Florida panhandle where hospitals need the most help.

Georgia

• RN: Medical-surgical, telemetry, ICU. Limited options in other specialties.
• Allied: Surgical techs (OR, sterile processing)
• Other Notes: “Georgia consistently lacks RN staff after the state went compact, so opportunities are regularly available.”

Illinois 

• RN: Medical-surgical, telemetry, PCU/IMC, ICU
• Allied: Respiratory therapists
  
• Other Notes: “Bill rates have increased to slightly above the national average now, but may come back down as positions are filled.”

Indiana

• RN: Cath Lab, labor and delivery, PICU, PEDS, ER, ICU, telemetry
• Other Notes: “Not as many job needs in Indiana compared to March, but still plenty to choose from and jobs move quickly.”

Kentucky

• RN: Medical-surgical, telemetry, PCU/IMC, ICU
• Allied: Respiratory therapists

Maine

• RN: Medical-surgical, OR, ICU
• Allied: Surgical techs (Cath Lab, OR)
• Other Notes: “Maine is still on fire for jobs this month. Bill rates are up by $10 at least. Portland, Maine has multiple needs. A lot of allied as well, specifically Cath Lab techs.”

Michigan

• RN: Medical-surgical, telemetry, ICU
• Allied: Surgical techs (OR, sterile processing)
• Other Notes: “Warmer weather is coming in and people are venturing out more, so census is picking up at Michigan hospitals.”

Missouri

• RN: OR, ICU, telemetry most in-demand, but all specialties are available.
• Allied: Respiratory therapist
• Other Notes: “Bill rates have increased in April, and the candidate pool is steady. St. Louis, Missouri is specifucally increasing for ICU and telemetry needs at decently high bill rates. Also, any and all ER needs are closing quick—we have the nurses but not many jobs, so they fill quickly.”

Nevada

• RN: Medical-surgical, ER, ICU, NICU, PICU, labor and delivery
• Allied: Rad techs, respiratory therapists, certified surgical techs
• Other Notes: “Renown Health alone has 47 positions available, but the competition will start to increase as people love Reno in the summertime. It’s best to start looking now.”

New Hampshire

• RN: OR, CVOR, ER, telemetry.
• Allied: Rad techs
• Other Notes: “OR is very hot right now and will take nurses at a high bill rate.” (Around $2,000 weekly gross on average)

North Carolina

• RN: Medical-surgical, ER, ICU, NICU, PICU, labor and delivery
• Allied: Rad techs, respiratory therapists, certified surgical techs
• Other Notes: “The state has 150 open jobs currently as many facilities have said they have seen a patient census increase. Competition is steady, but travelers should expect it to increase as we get closer to summer since the spring and summer seasons are so enjoyable in North Carolina.”

Oklahoma

• RN: Medical-surgical, telemetry, ER, OR, ICU
• Allied: Rad Techs
• Other Notes: “Job needs are hot when posted. Not a lot of new jobs are posted regularly, but for those that are, calls and interviews will happen ASAP.”

South Carolina

• RN: Medical-surgical, telemetry, ICU, ER

Texas

• RN: Medical-surgical, telemetry, PCU/IMC, ICU
• Allied: Respiratory therapists

Virginia

• RN: ICU, medical-surgical, telemetry, with a steady increase in ER needs as summer approaches
• Allied: Surgical assistants, surgical first assistants, certified surgical techs
• Other notes: “There are lots of needs, jobs are closing fast, and bill rates tend to be higher. We are beginning to see a slow increase in ER needs. Also, we are seeing an increase in allied needs.”