BOCA RATON, Fla., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As COVID-19 continues to spread across the country, the burden on hospitals and healthcare workers has increased exponentially. Hospitals are dealing with patient populations that far exceed their usual capacity and permanent staff nurses urgently need support.
Travel nurses, so-named because they "travel" from location to location, fill short- and long-term staffing needs at hospitals across the U.S. Travel nursing agencies, like American Traveler, provide much-needed supplemental staffing when core staff levels need support. In this time of inundation of the healthcare system, hospitals have an advantage when they staff through a travel nursing agency. Nurse staffing agencies locate nurses around the country, verify their credentials, match them with facilities in need, and assist them with pre-employment requirements. This prescreening and credentialing support means nurses can hit the ground running in hospitals that desperately need nurses on the floor.
There is unprecedented demand for travel nurses all across the country during this crisis. At American Traveler, requests for travel nurse staffing in March have increased 50% over the previous month, and nearly 80% from the same time last year. Currently, California, Florida, New York, and Washington state have the highest need for travelers. Among the nursing specialties in highest demand are Critical Care, ER, and Med/Surg. Due to the pulmonary complications associated with the Novel Coronavirus, hospitals are also in pressing need of Respiratory Therapists.
While the demand for nursing staff is skyrocketing, so is the willingness of healthcare clinicians to participate in the relief efforts. The number of healthcare professionals who have expressed interest in travel nursing in March has risen 100% from the previous month, and 75% versus last March, and it shows no sign of slowing.
Says Mary Kay Hull, Vice President of Recruitment at American Traveler, "It is awe inspiring to see the bravery and dedication of the healthcare professionals who are willing to put themselves on the front lines of this crisis. Our admiration for their work knows no bounds."
Many positions are posting with crisis response rates - higher-than-normal hourly rates. Because of the staffing shortage and the highly risky nature of the work, weekly pay has increased 300% for many assignments.
Stability in a Time of Crisis
With a situation that is changing minute to minute, needs continue to flow into American Traveler and these critical areas continue to fluctuate. American Traveler is also navigating the evolving restrictions and requirements emerging as hospitals, counties, states, and the country as a whole grapple with their response to COVID-19. American Traveler is deeply grateful for the tireless efforts of nurses and other healthcare workers across the country, especially in the face of this global health crisis.
About American Traveler
American Traveler is a travel nursing agency that staffs healthcare professionals at more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide including over 80% of the largest hospital systems in the United States. American Traveler is a preferred staffing source for registered nurses, technologists, occupational therapists and physical therapists. The company has continuously demonstrated the quality of its healthcare staffing services by earning the Joint Commission's prestigious Gold Seal of Approval since 2005.
SOURCE American Traveler Staffing Professionals
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