Sixty-three percent of health care employers plan to employ more traveling nurses and other temporary positions because of the quality they provide, according to a study of 120 health care executives, conducted by Candidate Direct, an information technology company specializing in hospital vendor management. Lower administrative costs and immediate availability are the other primary reasons many health care employers anticipate hiring more traveling nurses.

“Over the years, traveling nurses are seen as having more experience,” says Sue Higgins, product development manager of Candidate Direct. “They’re familiar with diverse patient populations, think quickly on their feet and adapt to new surroundings fast.”

The study finds combining traveling nurses and contingent workers with permanent employees can save health care employers up to 13 percent on staffing costs, even in a down economy. Sometimes hospitals cut temporary employees to reduce costs, Higgins say, but doing so can have an adverse effect.

“With economic uncertainty on the horizon, investing in permanent staff can be expensive and risky,” Higgins says. “Contingent workers minimize health care employer’s obligation and exposure to labor laws while affording staffing managers the flexibility they need to cost-efficiently downsize their workforce at any time without penalty.”

In fact, just last year, nearly 90 percent of contingent staff users said costs would increase if they dropped temporary workers. With more traveling nurses, hospitals can reduce overtime, health benefits, payroll taxes, pensions and paid time off costs, the study finds.

The time it takes to fill a position and the associated costs with bringing on a permanent nurse are also reasons employers choose to hire traveling nurses, the study notes. Hospitals report that to source and train a permanent nurse takes about 65 days, but traveling nurses are typically available immediately and only require a few days of orientation and training.

Instant Insights /

Health care employers value quality, cost, availability

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