How Healthcare Traveling Has Changed Over Time
Becoming a healthcare traveler is a rewarding career path for adventurous spirits who love a challenge and making a difference. However, though steeped in history, healthcare traveling only emerged a few decades ago. So where did it all begin and how has it changed? Below we’ll traverse the major milestones in the history of travel nursing to see its quick growth and increasing need.
The lady with the lamp and a lady abroad
Technically, the first instance of travel nursing can be attributed to Florence Nightingale and 38 other volunteer nurses in 1854, who were the first to travel to another country. They went to Turkey to assist wounded English soldiers from the Crimean War. Six and a half years later, Clara Burton, a nurse during the Civil War, traveled from Europe to Washington D.C. to attend to the wounded from both sides on the battlefields.
The birth of travel nursing as we know it
When defining travel nursing by today’s standards, the roots are relatively much more recent. The emergence of hiring travel nurses in America can be accredited to New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 1970s. Due to the high volume of injuries sustained in the riots that took place during the 1978 Mardi Gras week, hospitals filled up and overwhelmed the little staff available. Therefore, hospitals contracted nurses around the country to provide extra support for a few weeks.
The idea of travel nursing gained traction in the 1980s as a cost-effective temporary solution to a growing national nursing shortage. As more healthcare organizations hired temporary nurses, more agencies opened to help place qualified RNs who could provide short-term work.
The changes of the modern digital age
Technology advancements like the creation and evolution of EHR systems have changed the way travelers work within a facility, but the digital age broadened their horizons outside as well. The updates and ever-changing landscape of the internet and mobile devices have allowed travelers to remain more connected while out on assignment. In addition, these advancements have made it easier to find out information about available jobs, how to navigate new locations, and network.
Obamacare gets passed
In 2014, the Affordable Care Act was passed and with it, an estimated eight million additional people applied for health insurance. Keiser Health News reported that the demand for travel nursing has reached a 20-year high as a result of the ACA, also nicknamed Obamacare.
The heavy impact of COVID-19 on the industry
The pandemic undeniably impacted the healthcare industry. While far from over, this turbulent era has created significant ups and downs for travelers. The need for travel nurses skyrocketed due to a lack of permanent staff in various facilities and the high volume of patients. However, it also brought on staggering amounts of burnout and exhaustion. In 2021, 66% of surveyed nurses claimed the pandemic made them consider leaving the profession, creating an even greater supply and demand.
The aging population and moving forward
Life expectancy rates have increased due to healthcare advancements, leading to higher demand for care. According to the National Institute of Nursing Research, approximately 80% of people age 65 and older have at least one chronic illness, such as heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis.
This demographic shift also affects the nursing workforce, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting nearly 200,000 nurse openings each year through 2029, due to retirements and workplace exits.
Take your traveling career to the next level with GetMed
Healthcare continues to be an ever-evolving industry and travelers must adapt to keep up. As a healthcare staffing partner, GetMed promises to be right behind our travelers every step of the way to ensure they enter each assignment confidently.
Curious about leaping into a healthcare traveler career? Fill out our quick application to contact our team and learn more about how to get started with a GetMed recruiter today.