Working in long term care isn’t as glamorous as other nursing specialties. It takes a big heart and a lot of empathy to do the work of a LTC traveler.
Long-term care travel nurses are skilled professionals assisting patients who require extended care due to chronic, long-term illnesses and disabilities. These nurses specialize in performing nursing tasks such as coordinating the care of patients, responding to changes in a patient’s status, and providing much-needed psychological, emotional, and physical support to families and patients.
The field is growing, and the number of positions for long-term care nurses is expected to rise dramatically over the next decade due to the aging population. By 2060, the number of 65+ adults will double from 49 to 95 million, meaning that one-fourth of the U.S. population will be over 65 years old in 38 years. If you have the right combination of skills and ethics, it can be an extremely rewarding role.
Duties of an LTC travel nurse
While the duties of long-term travel care nurses depend on the type of healthcare facility and patient needs, they spend much of their workday coordinating and assessing patient care with an entire team of medical professionals like physicians, social workers, and case managers. Some common responsibilities of long-term care nurses include:
- Wound and/or ostomy care
- Range of motion exercises
- Respiratory therapy
- Provide emotional support for patients and their loved ones
- Educate patients and their families about their conditions
- Administering medication
- Check vital signs
- IV therapy
- Catheter care
- Assist patients with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, feeding, sitting/standing, and using the bathroom
- Enteral tube feeding
- Assisting doctors during patient examinations
Where long-term travel nurses work
LTC travel nurses have a variety of opportunities to work in facilities serving the elderly, patients with disabilities, and those suffering from chronic or terminal conditions rank among the top employers of long-term care nurses. These environments include:
- Assisted living facilities
- Rehabilitation centers
- Long-term care facilities
- Nursing homes
- Home health care
How to become an LTC travel nurse
Requirements
- Hold a currently active and unrestricted RN license
- Postsecondary diploma, associate degree, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Passing the NCLEX-RN license exam
- Minimum of two years of experience as an RN
- At least one year of hands-on experience
Hard Skills
Hard skills vary depending on role, but common skills needed for long-term care nurses include:
- Understands pathophysiology
- Taking vital signs
- Administering medications
- Starting IVs
- Understanding injections
- Proficiency in modality use
Soft Skills
- Mental and emotional resilience
- Strong observation and assessment skills
- Attention to detail
- Compassionate
- Excellent communication
- Time management
- Strong ethics
Pros of becoming a LTC traveler
Travel nursing comes with many perks, but the most predominant one is having more professional autonomy. For those interested in long-term care specifically, here are some of the perks you can look forward to.
Higher Pay
While it’s not a secret that travel nurses earn up to 15% more than permanently placed staff. According to the Beaureu of Labor Statistics, the average salary for an LTC nurse is around $75K, though this, of course, varies on location, education, and assignment.
Work/ Life balance
Working as a long-term care traveler provides more opportunities to work the hours that fit into your lifestyle and in a location, you’re interested in. Because LTC is a 24/7 job, your shift can fit into a more flexible schedule than a standard 8 to 5 or three-day shift. As previously mentioned, this autonomy is a gift not many careers —especially in nursing — offer.
Deeper connections
Long-term care nurses spend a lot of time with more than just their patients. They can create create relationships with their families and a facility’s team, creating opportunities for personal growth while meeting professional goals.
Things to consider
As always, there are things to consider before taking the leap into LTC care. Because working in long-term care requires a lot from its nurses, it can quickly lead to mental and physical burnout. Additionally, because of the connections you build, exposure to death can hit very hard. LTC nurses are advocates for people when they are at their most vulnerable, and those meaningful connections are what make any job worthwhile. After all, it’s the human touch that makes good healthcare stand out, so, before leaping LTC care, there are things to consider before leaping LTC care; there are things to consider.
Travel with Blu Med
There are so many choices when it comes to healthcare staffing, and choosing one that suits you can be overwhelming, so we appreciate anyone who puts their faith in us to get them where they want to go in a meaningful way. Let Blu Medstaff find the perfect placement to help nourish growth both professionally and personally.
Find your next LTC assignment with Blu Med today!
