Discover the top ten healthcare jobs that allow you to travel, from nursing to therapy. Explore rewarding careers with flexibility and adventure.

<p>Everyone dreams of a career aligning with their interests, passions, and goals. If traveling is one of yours, along with helping others, you can combine both for ultimate success. A profession as a travel healthcare worker may not be familiar if you are outside the industry. With all the personal and professional benefits, it is a wonderful path.</p>

<p>Healthcare is broad, even within each category, so we are breaking down the top 10 healthcare jobs that allow you to travel and thrive at that same time.</p>

<h2>Travel Registered Nurse (RN)</h2>

<p>When considering becoming a <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/the-faqs-of-a-career-in-travel-nursing">travel nurse</a>, there are over 65 specialties. The <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm" target="_blank">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a> (BLS) states that the employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.</p>

<p>With so many jobs, travel nurses who can fill gaps when needed are always in high demand, which means their salaries are often higher than nurses who do not travel. Some travel nurse specialties are more demanding than others, including Emergency Room (ER) Travel Nurses, Labor and Delivery (L&amp;D) nurses, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Travel Nurses. As a travel RN, you will typically work 12-14 weeks at a time in multiple locations unless extending your contract is available and desired.</p>

<h2>Travel Therapist (OT, PT, SLP)</h2>

<p>As a <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/rlp/pt-nationwide">travel PT</a> you may study to become an occupational therapist (OT), physical therapist (PT), or speech-language pathologist (SLP). You will play a critical role in helping patients regain their health, strength, and mobility while reducing pain. As a travel OT, you will focus on improving the patient&#39;s ability to perform activities of daily living so they can live an independent lifestyle. As a travel SLP, your focus is patients with difficulty with speech, communication, and swallowing disorders.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/travel">As a travel therapist</a> working with a well-known and reputable recruiter, you will benefit from higher pay, travel opportunities to new cities, housing reimbursements, insurance, bonuses, and more. Depending on your specialty, you may have a contract in a hospital, school, private practice, clinic, or corporate office.</p>

<h2>Locum Tenens (Physicians and Advanced Practitioners)</h2>

<p>&quot;Locum Tenens&quot; is a Latin phrase loosely meaning &quot;to hold a place.&quot; As a locum tenens healthcare provider, you will fill any medical staff gap. Some examples may include maternity leave, training, or vacation. You will also fill a vacancy until a permanent healthcare professional is hired or assist with seasonal coverage needs.</p>

<p>Working as a locum tenens healthcare professional offers greater choice and control of your career and the ability to travel and explore new practice settings. If the busy day-to-day rigor is wearing on you, this is a wonderful opportunity to do what you love while scaling back and having more flexibility to fulfill other passions.</p>

<p>Unlike a typical travel contract, a locum tenens contract ranges from a few days to over a year, depending on your specialty. You are paid hourly or daily as an independent contractor and receive travel, lodging, stipends, if applicable, medical malpractice insurance, and referral bonuses.</p>

<h2>Radiologic Technologists</h2>

<p>Healthcare professionals who pursue travel imaging jobs or careers in radiology are referred to as radiologic technologists or rad techs, and they specialize in imaging tests, such as X-rays, MRIs, sonograms, and CT scans. These tests help radiologists and other specialists provide accurate diagnoses for their patients.</p>

<p>Travel rad techs make a great salary, get to see the country, and have a flexible schedule. According to the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/radiologic-technologists.htm">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, overall employment of radiologic and MRI technologists is projected to grow 6% from 2021 to 2031. Travel radiologic technologists can receive great benefits, such as comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance with optional family coverage, 401(k) with company match, professional liability coverage, travel and temporary housing reimbursement, assistance with state licensing and certification, and more.</p>

<h2>Respiratory Therapists</h2>

<p>Travel respiratory therapists help patients with breathing disorders or diseases, such as asthma, chronic respiratory diseases, and emphysema. The patients can range from newborn babies born with lung abnormalities to elderly patients with lung disease.</p>

<p>The occupational outlook is positive as employment of respiratory therapists is <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/respiratory-therapists.htm">projected to grow 13 percent from 2022 to 2032</a>. There is a growing demand for respiratory therapists, and when you add the element of travel, that demand increases. Travel respiratory therapy contracts can take you to hospitals, physician offices, and nursing care facilities, depending on where you are most needed.</p>

<h2>Laboratory Professionals</h2>

<p>Several career paths fall under laboratory professionals, including cath lab technicians, who focus on running tests on the heart and assisting with inserting catheters in the heart, and travel medical technologists (MLT), who helps doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases and illnesses through lab testing.</p>

<p>You will work one short-term contract at a time, usually 12-14 weeks each, at different hospitals and facilities such as labs, private practices, or outpatient centers. According to the CDC, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dls/strengthening-clinical-labs.html">70% of today&#39;s medical decisions depend on laboratory test results</a>, which means as an MLT, your role is vital to provide diagnosis and treatments. As a clinical laboratory technician, you will discover various jobs that will take you to new cities and facilities, especially since they are projected to <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm">grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032</a>.</p>

<h2> Surgical Technicians</h2>

<p>Also referred to as operating room technicians (ORT), as a surgical technician, you will help with surgical operations before, during and after the procedure. Your duties may include prepping the OR, surgical tools, and equipment, helping the nurses and doctors scrub in, keeping up with equipment during surgery, maintaining sterile conditions, assisting with tools during surgery, cleaning the OR after surgery, and transporting patients to and from surgery. You will be critical in preventing illness, providing moral support, promoting health and wellness, and educating patients and families.</p>

<p>&nbsp;The travel element will typically offer higher pay, and you can choose the length of your employment, whether that means a contract for as short as 4-8 weeks or as long as 16 weeks or more. You can create the perfect career and explore your new city during downtime.</p>

<h2> Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) </h2>

<p>If you have a genuine passion for helping others and providing compassionate care, along with an itch for traveling, a travel certified nursing assistant (CNA) may be for you. Your responsibilities as a CNA may include monitoring vital signs, assisting with personal hygiene, and ensuring a safe and comfortable patient environment.</p>

<p>Each travel CNA position will vary based on pay, hours, shift, and location. In Middletown, VA, a 26-week contract currently pays $1550 weekly for an 8-hour mid-shift for 40 hours per week for 26 weeks. A travel CNA position in Kapaau, HI, currently pays $1285 weekly for an 8-hour shift for 40 hours per week for 13 weeks.</p>

<h2> Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)</h2>

<p>As a licensed practical nurse (LPN), you will provide patient care under the supervision of a nurse or physician. Your responsibilities may include monitoring patients&#39; vitals, performing testing, collecting samples, changing dressings, helping patients eat, dress or bathe, keeping accurate records, and more.</p>

<p>You can choose to work in a hospital, private practice, home health environment, or other healthcare facility. You can also move around after each contract to a new environment, allowing you to grow professionally as you gain experience in multiple specialties and settings.</p>

<p>Every time you apply for a new contract position, you will have that much more experience than someone else. Benefits can include private housing with a generous housing allowance, comprehensive health insurance and prescription coverage, referral bonuses, travel reimbursement, 401(k) retirement plan, and unlimited free CE credits to further your education.</p>

<h2> Neurodiagnostic Technologists (EEG/EKG Techs)</h2>

<p>Neurodiagnostic technologists perform many tests that diagnose problems with the brain and nervous system. Neurodiagnostic technologists work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, doctors&#39; offices, research facilities, sleep labs, and epilepsy monitoring units.</p>

<p>As an electroencephalographic (EEG) tech, you will use specialized equipment to measure brain abnormalities in patients and monitor electrical impulses of the nervous system. As an electrocardiogram (EKG) tech, you will deliver cardiac care by measuring impulses in the heart.</p>

<p>According to the <a href="https://college.mayo.edu/academics/explore-health-care-careers/careers-a-z/neurodiagnostic-technologist/#:~:text=Career%20opportunities%20and%20outlook,in%20epilepsy%20and%20sleep%20studies.">Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science</a>, &quot;career opportunities for neurodiagnostic technologists are on the rise, due to the increased use of EEG, as well as an increase in epilepsy and sleep studies.&quot;</p>

<p>Well, there you have it, folks: the top 10 healthcare jobs that allow you to travel. You are either excited, a bit overwhelmed about starting your career or shifting into the travel healthcare world, or both. It is crucial to partner with a recruiter with the experience and relationships to find you the best jobs, benefits, and provide personal support.</p>

<p>At <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/">Cross Country</a>, we work with hospitals and healthcare facilities in all 50 states and the US Virgin Islands. Plus, many of the nation&#39;s most prestigious healthcare organizations work exclusively with us, so you&#39;ll find their travel jobs only with Cross Country.</p>

<p>Wishing you safe travels on the new adventures that await you.</p>


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