What Travel Nurses Can and Can’t Do

Travel nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who work temporary assignments in various healthcare settings, typically hospitals or clinics, often in different geographical locations. Their scope of practice is largely determined by the same standards that govern all RNs, but there are specifics and variations that are particularly relevant to travel nurses.

What Travel Nurses Can Do

Travel nurses play a pivotal role in healthcare settings, bringing their expertise and flexibility to meet the dynamic needs of hospitals and clinics across different regions. Here is what they can do:

Provide Patient Care

Like all nurses, travel nurses provide direct patient care. They assess patients, administer medications, monitor vital signs, and assist with daily living activities. They also provide education and support to patients and their families. They often manage care plans and coordinate with other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care.

Provide Specialized Care

Many travel nurses have specialized skills in areas like intensive care, emergency room care, labor and delivery, or pediatrics. Their assignments are often based on these specializations. This allows facilities facing short-term staffing shortages in specialized areas to maintain patient care standards without long-term hiring commitments.

Education and Advocacy

Travel nurses educate patients and their families about health conditions, post-treatment care, and preventive health practices. They act as advocates for their patients, ensuring that patient rights are respected and that they receive appropriate care according to the latest health standards. In addition to providing critical information about medications, procedures, and recovery expectations, they also help patients navigate the complexities of healthcare systems, including insurance processes and follow-up appointments.

Collaborate with Healthcare Professionals

Travel nurses work closely with doctors, therapists, and other nurses to ensure that patient care is coordinated and effective. This collaboration often involves participating in or leading multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss and plan patient care. They contribute unique perspectives gained from diverse clinical experiences, which can lead to improved patient care strategies. Their role often includes relaying critical information about patient conditions and treatment responses to the team, facilitating adjustments to care plans as needed.

What Travel Nurses Can’t Do

While travel nurses are highly capable professionals, there are certain limitations and restrictions that govern their practice, rooted in both legal and professional standards. Here is what they can’t do:

Operate Outside Their Scope

Nurses are bound by a scope of practice, which is defined by state or regional nursing boards. This scope dictates what nurses are legally allowed to do based on their qualifications, education, and training. Travel nurses cannot perform tasks or procedures for which they are not credentialed or trained. If they are found operating outside their scope, they risk disciplinary action and potential loss of their nursing license.

Prescribe Medications

Unless they are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) with the appropriate authority, travel nurses cannot prescribe medications. Most travel nurses are not APRNs and thus, do not have prescribing rights. In settings where medication management is necessary, they work under the supervision of a doctor or an APRN who has the authority to prescribe.

Make Autonomous Decisions in Specialized Areas

Without specific training or certification, travel nurses generally cannot independently perform specialized medical procedures or make critical decisions in specialized fields like anesthesia. They must collaborate with specialized healthcare providers who are qualified to make complex clinical decisions.

Work Independently of Supervision

Depending on the state and setting, travel nurses, like all nurses, may need to work under the supervision of a physician or a more senior nurse. This supervision ensures adherence to established treatment protocols and patient safety guidelines. It also helps integrate travel nurses into the team-based approach to healthcare delivery.

Ignore Local Policies

Travel nurses must adhere to the policies and protocols of the healthcare facility where they are assigned. Ignoring these can lead to legal and professional consequences. They must familiarize themselves with and follow all specific procedures and guidelines, which can vary significantly from one facility to another.

The exact scope of practice can vary, so travel nurses should always check the specific regulations of the state or country where they are working. It’s also beneficial for travel nurses to be familiar with the policies of the healthcare facility to which they are assigned.