Travel Nursing can present many great opportunities and for those with a specialty even more opportunities abound. Supply and demand dictates what are considered the best specialties for Travel Nurses. Having a passion for your specialty is a bonus and that's how most nurses find their niche. When you are pulled to a certain group or position with your heart that's a good indication that you will find fulfillment in your career. There are so many options available from working with premature infants to caring for the elderly and everything in between.

There are several factors impacting the high demand for skilled travel nurses. Some factors include the changing health care environment, seasonal fluctuations and regional demographics. Many specialties have been in high demand for several years and are still in high demand today. The shortage of skilled nurses is expected to grown over 20% in the next five years and that means there will plenty of jobs all across the country for Travel Nurses. An aging population and the federal mandates for the implementation of EMR (electronic medical records) is also contributing to the high demand for nurse travelers. If possible it is best to have at least 2 years experience in your chosen specialty. Experienced nurses with a specialty in one of the high need areas will find they have the luxury of many job choices.

The top specialties needed at this time are:

ER

ICU

Labor and Delivery

OR

NICU

ICU

PICU

Telemetry

But don't worry if one of these is not your chosen specialty. The nursing shortage is across the board and specialties in demand are always change. Follow your heart and start your adventure as a Travel Nurse.

Mary Crawford, HealthCare Employment Network