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.