Fairly new to travel nursing or thinking about becoming one? Then you likely know that it’s not just a career switch. It’s a complete change in lifestyle—and a thrilling one at that.
Naturally, starting your travel nurse career might stir up a bunch of questions, from how to prepare for your assignments to what destinations are available to you. But for many newly-minted travel nurses and those aspiring to become one, the biggest question might be: how long are travel nurse contracts?
Put simply, it depends. So, let’s get into it.
How Long Do Travel Nurses Stay in One Place?
The average duration and vast majority for a travel nurse assignment is 13 weeks. That may seem random to some, but there’s a reason behind it: it’s the standard length of time required to hire and train a new, permanent nurse.
Other assignments may be anywhere between two weeks and 26 weeks (or longer)., All of it depends on a number of factors. We’ll look at these in more depth below, but briefly, they include:
- The specific needs of the healthcare facility where you’ve accepted an assignment
- Your availability
- Whether you need to terminate your contract or want to extend it
Short-Term Assignments
You might be dreaming of working at a healthcare center in Honolulu and spending your time off exploring Oahu’s legendary beaches. Or, perhaps you’re eager to experience life as a nurse in a large, vibrant city, whether that’s Atlanta or San Francisco. Whatever the case may be, you may want to get your feet wet in a certain place before and if making a longer-term commitment.
In this case, a short-term assignment might be just right for your circumstances.
What does a short-term assignment look like, exactly? Ultimately, every situation is unique, and oftentimes, travel nurses will work with a first-rate travel nursing agency like Host Healthcare to better understand what’s available to them.
That said, let’s look at a few examples.
Rapid Response Travel Nursing
Not to be confused with a rapid response nurse, a rapid response travel nurse is called in to fulfill sudden shortages due to events like:,,
- Epidemics
- Labor strikes
- An uptick in patients
- Natural disasters
Generally speaking, these positions must be filled immediately (or upon short notice), and travel nurses may have anywhere between two days and two weeks to pack their bags. The assignment itself might last between one and two weeks, but it might be as long as eight weeks with the chance of an extension.
Two-Week Assignments
You and your recruiter may also come across two-week assignments that aren’t necessarily due to emergency situations like a labor strike. For some travel nurses, a two-week assignment can be ideal: It allows them to feel out a new place but doesn’t require them to relocate their lives for an extended period. It might also be just right for those who can’t be away from home for too long, whether that’s because of family obligations or an upcoming seminar.
Within all of this, though, you may be asking, are there any drawbacks to short and super short assignments?
The answer to this is wholly subjective. You might thrive on constant change. Others, however, may want more time to get to know a place and a new team of colleagues—a potential option we’ll turn to next.
Medium-Term Assignments: Contracts Ranging from One to Six Months
In most cases, a travel nurse may be offered a contract that stretches up to three months or longer. This could be exhilarating for some, particularly if they’re headed to an area they’ve always wanted to visit.
And yet, anywhere between four weeks and six months requires substantially more planning than jetting off to a spot for a one- or two-week assignment. The leading factors to consider include:
- Housing – An extended-stay hotel might be fine for a one- or two-week assignment. However, with anything beyond that, you’ll probably want to settle into a spot that feels a bit more like home. Working with a travel nursing company like Host Healthcare can be enormously beneficial in this regard. Our dedicated Housing Specialists can help you find the most fitting accommodations near your facility, whether that’s Corporate Housing or Housing Help.
- Transportation – Say you find an excellent place to live but it’s not exactly within walking distance of the healthcare facility where you’ll be working. In this situation, it’s important to consider how you’ll get to work (to say nothing of how you’ll get around your new town or city in general). Should you rent a car? Does the city have solid public transportation? The answers to these questions are case by case, of course, but they’re certainly worth considering.
Long-Term Assignments: Contracts Extending Beyond Six Months
Travel nursing is nothing short of dynamic: six-month contracts (and longer) are proof of this.
But how are these extended contracts even possible?
According to the IRS, “temporary” qualifies as a position that’s held for 12 months or less. So, whether your original contract is for six months (or longer) or you’ve fallen in love with a facility and want to extend your contract, you may have the option to do so up to a year after your first contracted date. After this, your once-temporary location becomes your tax home, and you may lose out on per diem reimbursements like:
- Housing
- Lodging
- Transportation
The Pros and Cons of Long-Term Travel Nurse Assignments
As with any commitment, there are both advantages and disadvantages to longer-term roles:
- The pros – A few of the most common advantages of staying at one facility can include building closer bonds with your colleagues and getting to know an area on a much more intimate level than a two-week or even 13-week stint might allow. You may also find yourself at a facility where you’re learning a great deal and know it will serve your career in the long run. Additionally, extending your contract or taking a long-term assignment may simply be more convenient for you (especially if you’re not a fan of packing).
- The cons – Like the advantages, the disadvantages of long-term travel nurse assignments are fairly personal. Some might find that they miss their family and friends; others might be concerned about missed opportunities—especially since a perk of travel nursing is savoring adventures and experiences in a variety of new locations.
Strategies for Extending Your Contract
If you decide to extend your contract, it’s widely advised to:
- Speak with your recruiter as early as possible, as they can help you sort through your options
- Discuss the possibility with your nurse manager
- Continually demonstrate professionalism, which may boost the likelihood of a contract extension
And remember: Even the most diligent travel nurse may not be able to extend their contract if a gap doesn’t exist. In other words? Don’t take it personally if it doesn’t happen.
How Long are Travel Nursing Contracts?: Factors Affecting Contract Duration
In the end, travel nurse contract lengths ultimately depend on your particular situation and the healthcare center where you’ve accepted an assignment. That said, the length of your agreement may hinge on:
- Nursing shortages – It’s no secret that nursing shortages have skyrocketed across the country in the wake of the pandemic. Burnout, an aging population, and family obligations are just three factors that have contributed to the crisis. But, as you may have seen, this crisis is more deeply felt in some parts of the country than others; to date, the southwestern section of the US is especially in need of nurses. Large cities usually have a greater need for nurses as well. This, too, may affect the length of your agreement.
- Changing staffing needs – You know firsthand how quickly things can change in a healthcare facility. Aside from the general nursing shortages just discussed and the emergency situations listed above, a hospital may see a rise in patients with the flu, more ER occurrences, or need someone for a certain shift.
- Your personal goals – Beyond the needs of the facility, there’s also yourself to consider. You might have a set goal to live in four new places in a year or hope to score a longer term assignment at a hospital world-renowned for a specialty like cancer or surgery. Again, it’s best to outline your goals and needs with your recruiter as early as possible to determine the right contract length for you and your unique situation.
What if you need to cancel your contract? Or, on the flip side, what if a healthcare facility cancels your contract?
Leveraging your recruiter’s insights and advice is key in both instances. Top-notch recruiters, like those at Host Healthcare, will work with you to address the situation as quickly and seamlessly as possible. Their goal is always to help you build the life you envision for yourself—now, and in the future.
Experience Adventure with Host Healthcare
How long are travel nurse assignments? It’s an important question to consider as you embark on your voyage as a travel nurse or start searching for a new assignment in a fresh, exciting location. While there’s no single, definitive answer to “how long do traveling nurses stay in one place,” we hope this guide has given you a taste of what may await.
Host Healthcare is the staffing agency to take along on your journey. Our award-winning company matches qualified nurses like you with experienced recruiters who’ll help you find assignments that align with your personal and professional aims. Plus, we have exclusive access to thousands of travel nursing jobs across the US and offer our members everything from 24/7 customer support to day-one benefits.
Apply today to get started with Host Healthcare.
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