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21 Best Travel Nursing Agencies Ranked [Updated For 2024]

• Kimberly Hennerfeind
• Last Updated: April 17, 2024

Looking to start your journey as a travel nurse and want to explore all of the best travel nursing agencies? Then we’ve got you covered!

While there are an overwhelming number to choose from, we aggregated data from Indeed and Glassdoor in order to determine the top-rated travel nursing agencies for 2023/2024. Best of all, the ratings on these sites come from real travel nurses who have actually worked with these companies.

So, in this post, you’ll see the top-rated travel nursing agencies and learn a little more about each one. If you want to explore an agency further, just follow the links to read our full, in-depth reviews.

We’ll also start with some recommendations based on our research to help you find companies with the best benefits, support, and more.

By the end, you’ll have a good idea of what each company offers, so you can choose the right travel nursing agency for your career goals.

Table of contents

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Axis Medical Staffing is the best travel nursing agency based on ratings from travel nurses on Indeed and Glassdoor.

However, always remember that while one agency may be a perfect fit for one travel nurse, it may be a different story for someone else.

For example, while one travel nurse may value a close relationship with their recruiter, another might be more concerned with salary or benefits.

Host Healthcare is the best travel nursing agency for those looking for robust support from recruiters. As soon as you start working with this company, you’ll have access to 24/7 support.

So, anytime you have a question or concern, you can call, text, or DM to get a quick answer. This makes it a great option for those who are new to travel nursing and might need a little extra guidance.

Of course, whether you’re a new travel nurse or a seasoned pro, there will always be times when you need to get in touch with your agency quickly.

Additionally, Host gives you access to jobs in all 50 states. All you need to do is select your desired contract location, and the company will help you find placements.

If you’re looking for a travel nurse agency with great benefits, you should check out RNNetwork . The company offers Day One benefits, meaning you’ll have access to them on the first day of your contract.

They offer a host of benefits including:

• Zero-Premium Health Insurance: Fully paid by RNnetwork, with dependant and life partner coverage.
• Prescription Pay: No-deductible for medications.
• Dental Plan: 100% coverage for preventive services and children’s orthodontic coverage.
• Vision Benefits: Coverage for lenses, glasses, frames, and exams nationwide.
• Continuing Education: Access to free, unlimited courses and licensure assistance.
• Credentialing Assistance: Full support and substantial cost coverage for licensing and certifications.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access to expert advice for financial, mental, behavioral, and legal issues.
• Life and AD&D Insurance: $50,000 coverage without requiring enrollment in a medical plan.
• Teladoc: 24/7 physician consultation services over the phone.
• Sanvello: Free access to a mindfulness app for stress, anxiety, and depression relief.
• Talkspace: 24/7 access to licensed therapists online.

We discuss some of the other reasons to choose RNNetwork later on in the complete rankings.

The largest travel nursing agency is AMN Healthcare . In fact, they owned nearly 20% of the entire market share of the industry according to a report from a few years ago.

Working with the largest agency comes with a number of advantages, like the number and diversity of available job opportunities. Additionally, you’ll receive robust support and comprehensive benefits, like free housing, 401(k), and life insurance.

Given that AMN is such a big company that’s been around since 1985, you also know they have an established reputation. The company even has exclusive deals with healthcare facilities, giving you access to even more jobs.

Overall, AMN healthcare is a option for those looking for a large travel nursing agency with access to lots of resources.

21 Best Travel Nursing Agencies Ranked

Below we ranked the best travel nursing agencies based on reviews left on Indeed and Glassdoor. In instances where there was insufficient data on these sites, we substituted Facebook reviews.

Axis Medical Staffing earned the title of best travel nursing agency for 2023 based on our aggregated data from ratings by travel nurses.

This agency was founded in 2004 and boasts lots of benefits, including:

• Assignment opportunities in every state
• A “personal touch” unrivaled by other agencies
• A nice payment structure

Though it’s a highly-rated company and travelers are eligible for healthcare benefits the first of the month following their date of hire but it is something to be aware of as there is a month wait. If this is key in your decision, there are other options that offer day-one benefits.

However, if you’re in it for the adventure, this is a great agency to work with.

2. Host Healthcare

We mentioned earlier that Host Healthcare is one of the best travel nursing agencies when it comes to support. You can contact them with questions 24/7, and their recruiters will try to find your ideal placement.

However, Host offers a number of other great benefits too. For example, the company provides access to thousands of exclusive contract positions all across the country. Some other amazing benefits they provide include:

• Day one medical coverage that lasts up to 30 days between assignments
• 401(k) matching
• Travel reimbursements
• A dedicated housing support team

Overall, because Host Healthcare offers such comprehensive support, it’s a great option for those who are new to travel nursing. However, experienced travel nurses can also benefit from working with them.

Triage Staffing operates by the motto of “real and ready.” There are tons of great reviews from their employees, and they emphasize clear and open communication.

If you’re looking to build long-term relationships and communicate with your recruiter regularly, this may be a perfect option.

Just keep in mind that they do promote a more fun and casual culture, which may not be suitable for everyone.

Also, you’ll need two years of experience if you want to work with them. However, if you don’t have the experience yet, they still encourage you to get in touch and build a relationship while you gain that experience.

Fusion Medical Staffing is the next company on our list of best travel nursing agencies.

It began as a small business in 2009, but since then has grown rapidly. They’ve even won awards for being one of the fastest-growing companies and having an excellent workplace culture.

Some of the reasons to choose Fusion include:

• They accept new graduates and provide a mentorship program
• An emphasis on social responsibility and volunteering
• An inclusive culture; for example, participating in LGBTQ+ pride events, disability fundraisers, and more

While the company does hire new graduates, the information on their website isn’t all that thorough. This can be a little scary for new travel nurses, so make sure you ask the right questions so you can decide if Fusion meets all of your needs.

Travel Nurses Inc. has been in business for over 30 years and features 24/7 clinical support. They also won the ClearlyRated Best of Staffing in both 2021 and 2022.

The agency has a robust job board, and even features a “Furnished Finder” tool that allows you to book housing options right on their website.

They provide day-one healthcare coverage and make contract transparency a priority. Your recruiter will schedule a review of your contract before you begin an assignment, ensuring all your needs are met.

While the ratings for this company on Indeed and Glassdoor are a bit sparse, this agency has lots of glowing reviews on Facebook and Google that are worth checking out.

The only thing to keep in mind is that you will need one year of experience to work TNI.

6. Atlas MedStaff

Atlas MedStaff is next in our rankings of the best travel nursing agencies, and has been around for over three decades. They place a focus on working closely with travel nurses and tailoring their contracts to fit their needs.

For example, each contract includes an “ Atlas Adventure ,” which is a unique experience that could include anything from skiing to going to see your favorite professional sports team.

Other reasons to work with this agency include:

• Great insurance and benefits options
• Paid private housing options
• Transparent and long-term relationships

Just make sure you get set up with and develop a good relationship with your recruiter. As with many other of the best travel nursing agencies, this could make or break your experience.

Prime Time Healthcare has been recruiting healthcare professionals for over 15 years.

If salary is a top priority, this may be a good agency to work with. Their travel nurse salary tends to go above average and offer great secondary perks, like:

• An excellent range of benefits
• Referral bonuses
• Paid travel

Keep in mind that Prime Time tends to work with elite-level healthcare professionals.

Also, this agency doesn’t only find placements for travel nurses. They also fill positions for per diem nursing and permanent positions.

If you want an agency solely focused on travel nursing, you may want to look somewhere else. However, if you want to build a long-term relationship with a company and eventually move out of travel nursing, this could be a perfect fit.

Medical Solutions is an agency that focuses on custom-tailored contracts for their travel nurses.

In fact, before a nurse agrees to a contract, a consultant from the agency will speak with them about what is most important to them.

While each contract will be different depending on the needs of each nurse, you can expect:

• An excellent 401(k) plan
• Loyalty bonuses
• Health benefits
• Employee assistance program

While the contract flexibility and customization can be great for travel nurses who know exactly what they want, all the options could be overwhelming if you’re not sure.

If you’re new to travel nursing, it may be better idea to go with an agency offering standard contracts that have been tried and tested by lots of nurses before you.

9. RNnetwork

RNnetwork ranks number four on our list of best travel nursing agencies.

This agency gives you the best of both worlds. While they have a personal and friendly approach to working with travel nurses, they also have the resources of a huge staffing company. This is because they are owned by a parent company called CHG Healthcare Services.

Other benefits of working with RNnetwork are that they:

• Only focus on travel nursing
• Provide great compensation and benefits
• Have an easy-to-use job search platform

Just be wary of the fact that your experience may vary depending on the recruiter you are matched with. The wrong recruiter could leave you with a subpar experience.

OneStaff Medical boasts experienced recruiters and dedication to the nurses they work with.

If you choose this agency, you’ll be able to contact a representative 24/7, 365 days a year. This way, if any problems come up, you can start finding solutions immediately.

They also provide communication on assistance with career goals and help in meeting your travel expectations.

Like most of the agencies on this list, you’ll have access to standard benefits and plenty of housing options.

However, OneStaff tends to work with travel nurses with at least two years of experience.

There have also been complaints of lack of cooperation between the agencies’ departments. Though they may be isolated instances, it’s a good idea to be wary.

Aya Healthcare is one of the biggest and best-known travel nursing agencies in the United States.

Due to their size and reputation, they feature a huge selection of assignments to choose from.

Other advantages of working with this agency include:

• Day-one benefits
• Credentialing and paperwork support
• Scholarships and education assistance

If you want to work with an agency with lots of resources, you should definitely consider Aya.

However, just remember that their size may mean you can’t build the same type of relationship you could with a smaller agency.

If having a “personal touch” is important to you, this may not be the best option.

Fastaff Travel Nursing specializes in “Rapid Response” healthcare staffing. This means they staff facilities in desperate need of nurses during times of crisis, like environmental disasters or extreme staffing shortages.

This agency offers some of the highest pay rates to travel nurses. However, this is largely because the assignments tend to be more difficult given their “Rapid Response” specialization.

If salary is top priority, this may be just the agency for you.

However, keep in mind that you’ll likely need to be ready to start working within 48 hours of accepting a position.

These more difficult assignments also tend be a better fit for more experienced nurses. Their culture is more professional and less friendly because of the urgent nature of most of their placements.

We mentioned earlier in this article that AMN is the largest travel nursing agency, giving you access to a bigger pool of exclusive jobs and resources.

However, there are lots of other great things about this travel nursing agency too. For example, they offer a host of benefits, like:

• Free and high-quality private housing
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) and flex spending accounts
• Life insurance
• Free continuing education courses
• Discounts on things like computers, cell phones, hotels, car rentals, gym memberships, and more

Perhaps most noteworthy is their mobile app. With the AMN Passport app, you can receive personalized job alerts, view time and pay details, and organize your credentials.

Overall, AMN is likely best for travel nurses with a bit of experience under their belt. However, if you’re looking for an agency with robust resources and great benefits, this could be the right fit.

14. Aureus Medical

Aureus Medical has been around for over 35 years, and they promote a highly-personalized approach to travel nursing.

Every nurse has a dedicated recruiter. However, if the recruiter is unavailable, there is always someone to offer support 24/7.

The agency also boasts:

• Long-standing relationships with healthcare facilities
• A dedicated housing and travel department
• Robust benefits

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the agency is rather large. So, despite having a dedicated recruiter, you may have to deal with a number of different staff members.

Unfortunately, this means information can sometimes slip through the cracks, meaning you may have to repeat yourself if your information isn’t passed along by their staff members.

Travel Nurse Across America has been around since 1999. They’ve often been featured in top ten lists for travel nursing agencies, and they’re considered one of the most reputable in the nation.

The agency boasts great relationships with its client facilities and a clear and transparent company culture.

One of the best things about TNAA is their benefits. They send an Assignment Benefit Summary before each assignment begins.

If you’re looking to put in some extra hours, you may also be able to take advantage of “TNAA Boost Pay.” This is a special rate you receive if you work an extra shift.

The agency also features other typical benefits, and even pay protection if one of your shifts gets cancelled.

While the company does boast a robust job board, it doesn’t publish pay rates on third-party sites when promoting job opportunities. This could be frustrating when looking for a position that fits your compensation needs.

16. Krucial Staffing

Krucial Staffing specializes in staffing healthcare facilities in urgent need of nurses.

This means the assignments tend to be in more high-risk, emergency areas. It also means you’ll typically need to be ready to start working within 48 hours.

While these assignments are certainly more challenging, you’ll also be compensated for that extra difficulty.

Additionally, you’ll receive:

• Extra benefits through Krucial’s partnerships
• Excellent housing options

If you’re up for a challenge and want access to a wide variety of assignments that tend to be shorter in length, this may be the right option for you.

NuWest has been around for about 25 years and prides itself on the quick deployment of travel nurses. In fact, they typically send nurses to an assignment within 72 hours.

This agency has a smaller feel and a more personal touch. It also offers competitive pay rates and all the benefits you’d expect from a travel nursing company.

The downside is that they have a smaller number of available assignments compared to some other agencies. They mainly staff facilities in:

However, if you’re a travel nurse looking to work in one of these states and you’re prepared for quick deployment, NuWest may be a good fit.

18. TotalMed

TotalMed Staffing provides healthcare facilities travel nurses and helps nurses find local jobs.

If you’re a travel nurse looking to cover all your basics, this agency may be a good option. They have a large network and robust online job board, meaning you’ll have lots of assignments to choose from.

The company also provides:

• Day one benefits
• Credentialing and paperwork assistance
• Educational and professional support

One thing to be wary of is that some nurses have complained about a long onboarding process. However, for most nurses, the process has not been a problem.

Maxim Healthcare Staffing has been around for over three decades. In addition to travel nurses, they also staff for home healthcare and wellness services. The company employs more than 65,000 healthcare professionals in the United States.

The agency offers competitive pay rates and placements at some of the best facilities in the country.

Like some of the other travel nursing agencies on this list, a lot of the travel nursing assignments tend to be in high-stress, high-volume areas.

While this will earn you a higher paycheck, it may not be the best fit for newer nurses.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the agency has been a bit slow to resolve paycheck issues in the past. While the problems were always resolved, it could add more stress to an already stressful placement.

Trustaff has been matching travel nurses with hospitals for over two decades.

One thing that makes this agency stand out is their superb communication and helpful staff. They have an active support line with people ready to help you out.

They offer everything you’d expect from a travel nursing company, including:

• Health insurance
• Start and completion bonuses

However, assignment length can be inconsistent when working with Trustaff. Most assignments last 13 weeks, but they could end up being shorter or longer.

If you need a more consistent schedule, this may not be the best fit.

Nomad boasts one of the best and most streamlined digital marketplaces for finding travel nursing assignments. Also, their pay packages tend to be on the higher end of the spectrum.

A few other upsides to working with this agency include:

• Licensure reimbursement
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits

However, some travel nurses that worked with the company reported that there was poor communication. This could be a huge problem, especially if you’re new to travel nursing.

Nomad Travel Nursing is part of the broader Nomad Health platform, so it may be easy to get lost in the shuffle of such a big company.

It’s worth noting that there are plenty of both 5 and 1 star ratings, so it may just depend on the recruiter you end up working with.

There is no single travel nursing agency that pays the most. In fact, all the agencies on this list provide competitive rates.

If you’re looking to make as much money as possible from your contract, you should focus on factors like location and the type of contract.

For example, travel nurses have a much higher earning potential in states like California or New York compared to states like Arkansas or Kentucky. Just keep in mind that the cost of living is also greater in the former states than the latter.

Additionally, a more specialized nursing role will typically pay more than a general RN role. So, if you want to make more money, consider earning certifications or getting an advanced degree.

Whichever agency you choose, travel nursing salaries are much higher than resident registered nursing salaries. The average annual salary for a travel nurse is $106,030 per year, compared to resident RN salaries at $82,750 per year.

While Axis Medical Staffing is the top-rated travel nursing agency in 2023, the company that’s right for you will depend on your priorities.

Don’t be afraid to explore multiple options before making your final decision. This will ensure you secure the best contract possible.

If you’re reading to start working as a travel nurse, then start traveling now !

Kimberly Hennerfeind is a freelance writer and registered nurse with expertise in health, medical and legal content at Nursing Notes, LLC. Her almost 30 years of nursing include neonatal/pediatric critical care, and legal nurse consulting. She spent several years as a travel nurse in Tennessee and Texas in large children’s hospitals. She lives near Nashville, TN with her family and beloved dogs.

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The Best Traveling Nurse Services to Work for in 2024

The travel nursing agencies we recommend for your next short-term post

Traveling nurses often find working in different parts of the country, or even the world, exhilarating and fulfilling. Many agencies focus on matching registered nurses (RNs) with short-term working opportunities in a variety of healthcare specialties and settings across the United States and internationally. Healthcare facilities in the U.S. rely on travel nurses to meet the demand for nurses, which is expected to soar by 275,000 between 2020 and 2030.

"Being able to explore other healthcare systems and connect with other providers can help give a travel nurse new experiences and perspectives," says Rachel Norton , BSN, RN, a clinician support manager at Vivian Health , a national travel nurse hiring marketplace.  We reviewed more than 20 agencies and studied hundreds of reviews to create this list of the best travel nursing agencies. We considered factors such as company quality, customer service scores, company reputation, wage ranges, housing options, and benefits.

• Best Overall: Triage Staffing
• Best for Sick Pay: Aya Healthcare
• Best for Education: Travel Nurse Across America
• Best Customer Service: Axis Medical Staffing
• Best Track Record: FlexCare Medical Staffing
• Best Newcomer: Advantis Medical
• Best for Benefits: RN Network
• Best Recruiters: Host Healthcare
• Best for Recent Graduates: Fusion Medical Staff
• Best Job Board: TotalMed
• Our Top Picks

Triage Staffing

Aya Healthcare

Travel Nurse Across America

Axis Medical Staffing

FlexCare Medical Staffing

Advantis Medical

Host Healthcare

• Fusion Medical Staff
• See More (7)

Final Verdict

• Compare Providers
• Guide to Choosing

Best Overall : Triage Staffing

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, overtime, bonuses, per diem
• Housing: Tax-free stipend or company-secured housing for 13 weeks
• Benefits: Health coverage, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, 401(k) with company match, vacation, education reimbursement
• Contracts nationwide: Yes

Triage Staffing tops our list because it provides a higher hourly wage and more frequent bonuses than its competitors. Additionally, the agency offers extensive perks, like tuition reimbursement and 401(k) on the first day.

Contracts available in all 50 states

Insurance available on first day

Paid by direct deposit each week

Dedicated support team available 24/7

Reports of poor weekend support for billing issues

Must have 2 years experience for most positions

Triage Staffing , founded in 2006, is considered by industry professionals as one of the most well-rounded travel nurse agencies among the companies listed here and in general. The company was recognized in 2023 by Inc. Magazine and Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA).

The company, which currently has about 1,500 employees, is based in Omaha, Nebraska, and has an impressive rating on Glassdoor .

Triage Staffing specializes in helping nurses and healthcare professionals find 13-week assignments across the U.S. The company strives for transparency and "to build relationships deeper than simple business transactions." Those who are hired are paid weekly (based on an hourly wage) via direct deposit.

The benefits package includes a wage, overtime, bonuses, per diems, and a housing stipend. Triage will also help its travel nurses find housing, if that's their preference. Health insurance is provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield, and those hired get dental insurance, vacation time, and a 401(k) plan.

Best for Sick Pay : Aya Healthcare

• Pay: Hourly wage, overtime, bonuses, per diem, stipends when called off
• Housing: Tax-free stipend or company-secured housing
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage; life insurance; 401(k) with company match; sick pay; wellness and fitness programs; employee assistance programs; tuition reimbursement; loan forgiveness options

Of the many benefits Aya Healthcare offers, one makes it stand out from other agencies: providing sick pay should you become ill during an assignment. You can rest assured knowing if you get sick, Aya will support you through recovery.

Benefits include sick pay (after 90 days)

Offers local and nationwide travel assignments

Requires only 1 year of experience

Insurance coverage for you and your dependents from day 1

Complaints about communication during recruitment

Large agency size might be challenging

401k eligibility begins after 4 consecutive months of work or 1 year after hiring

Aya Healthcare is one of the most talked-about travel nursing agencies around, literally. A 2017 independent study analyzed the frequency of top travel nursing companies mentioned by users on social media sites. The study concluded Aya Healthcare is the most frequently referenced in user comments.

Aya Healthcare is also one of the only travel nursing agencies that have sick pay, which begins accruing on the first day of an assignment. Nurses can earn one hour for every 30 hours worked, but it can't be used until after at least 90 days after their start date.

In addition to its rare sick pay policy, the company boasts comprehensive benefits. Travel nurses working for Aya Healthcare can start contributing to a company-matched 401k plan after four consecutive months of work for the agency, or one year after their hiring date. It also promises to cover or reimburse nurses for the cost of licensure and help them navigate and expedite the process in the states where they are assigned. Aya Healthcare offers discounts, wellness, and nutrition plans in addition to its medical, vision, and dental benefits, which are available to nurses (and their spouses and children) from their first day with the company.

Aya Healthcare has a strong online presence, including a blog and active social media accounts on nearly every contemporary platform. Its website proudly displays several company awards and accolades, including the Joint Commission's Golden Seal of Approval. The agency has placed thousands of travel nurses and allied workers nationwide and offers a program for  travel nursing from Canada .

Best for Education : Travel Nurse Across America

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, overtime, bonuses, per diem (guaranteed)
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage; liability insurance; 401(k) with company match; sick pay; travel reimbursement; free continuing education; mental health resources; employee assistance program; chaplain assistance program

Travel Nurse Across America (TNAA) offers comprehensive benefits; however, its continuing education programs are what really sets the agency apart. Thanks to a partnership with Aspen University, the agency helps you earn your BSN with tuition reimbursement upon completion.

RN to BSN tuition reimbursement

RN specialty exam/recertification reimbursements

Insurance coverage available on first day

Offers free mental health resources

Per diem guarantee

Unable to see pay rates on the site

Large agency size might feel less supportive

Travel Nurse Across America (TNAA) had the highest average score when analyzing the top 10 travel nurse agency lists across several well-known sites.

Founded in 1999 in North Little Rock, Arkansas, this company was present on three "Top 10" lists in 2019, a notable feat that speaks to its history of satisfaction. According to BluePipes, TNAA was among the top 10 travel nursing agencies, one of the biggest (in terms of company size) on its 2022 list.  

TNAA uses a full-team approach to assist travelers, with specialty staff equipped to handle a variety of needs, including housing experts and clinical leadership, This agency also offers a wide array of benefits, such as low census pay, tuition reimbursement, and paid licensure fees prior to travel. Overtime is included in the payment for any extra hours worked and in every state, paid sick leave starts to accrue from day one.

TNAA also partnered with Aspen University, so individuals can get their Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 12 months. Upon completion, TNAA will even reimburse tuition expenses. It also offers reimbursements for recertification fees to certain eligible nurses.

Best Customer Service : Axis Medical Staffing

• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage; 401(k) with company match; state license reimbursement; transportation stipends; continuing education

With around-the-clock support 365 days a year, Axis Medical Staffing has one of the best customer service reputations in the industry. It offers a wide array of benefits, including healthcare coverage and company-matched 401(k) plans.

Dedicated support team available 24/7/365

Wide variety of specialty contracts

Offers company matching 401(k) with immediate vesting

Can submit questions to real travel nurses

Provides quick email responses

Pays for housing and assists in securing it

Not transparent about pay rates

Doesn't include paid sick leave in benefits

User reviews for Axis remain the highest on this list. Formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2004, Axis provides several coveted benefits, including payment of paid personalized housing options (with pet deposit costs covered by the agency), as well as immediate vesting in its company-matched 401(k) plan.

This agency regularly features a new  Traveler of the Month nurse on its blog. Additionally, the Axis website has a page dedicated to Ask an Axis Travel Nurse , which features an easy submission form where a nurse can answer all your questions.

This encouraging way of connecting can provide novice or even seasoned travelers with a trusted source in the form of a nursing peer who has traveled with this specific agency several times, instead of hosting an impersonal message board. Axis also offers a live chat feature that's easily accessible on the homepage. These features earned Axis the top spot on BluePipes Best Travel Nursing Companies list in 2022.

Axis promises reimbursements and benefits similar to other companies, but it is not immediately clear from the company's website whether it offers paid sick leave.

Best Track Record : FlexCare Medical Staffing

• Benefits: Health coverage, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) with company match, state license reimbursement, transportation stipends, meals and incidentals stipend, rental car, travel reimbursement, continuing education, license reimbursement

Boasting more than 50 industry awards, including BluePipes’s 2022 Best Travel Nursing Companies list, FlexCare Medical Staffing has a track record of exceeding expectations and fulfilling its promises to traveling nurses.

Award-winning, highly reputable agency

Single point of contact for all your needs

Outstanding benefits

Features a referral program

Have to make an account to view wages

BluePipes refers to FlexCare Medical Staffing as the "most decorated travel nursing agency of all time," with more than 1,727 reviews reported. This agency obtained a gold finish on Travel Nursing Central’s 2019 list of top travel nursing companies and has consistently placed since 2014. FlexCare has also been on the Highway Hypodermics list since 2011.

FlexCare’s website touts its  Premier Traveler Access program, offering prospective travel nurses the opportunity to unlock and view pay ranges for a wide variety of open jobs, in addition to personalized alerts via text and email. This agency explains its mission to support travelers by providing a single recruiter who is able to meet every need (termed “S1NGLEPOINT” on the website) and help simplify the entire process.

This one point of contact can advocate for the traveler, assist in searching for jobs and housing, provide a transparent and competitive salary rate, as well as ensure timely payment.

Best Newcomer : Advantis Medical

• Benefits: Health coverage, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) without company match, transportation stipends, partial license reimbursement

Advantis Medical has a nurse care team available to help you every step of the way—from setting up your profile and walking you through the onboarding process to helping you find your next assignment—making it an excellent choice for those just starting out.

Excellent reviews from its travel clinicians

Quick response times from trained care team

Has a great reputation in the industry

Site offers several communication methods

Site lacks information on benefits package

No company match for 401(k)

Founded in 2018 as a subsidiary of Advantis Global, Advantis Medical's user reviews are limited in number but are glowing regarding people's experiences with the company.

Advantis Medical recruits travel nurses and places them in top institutions across the United States. The agency offers client connections with hospitals, outpatient clinics, same-day ambulatory surgical centers, as well as skilled nursing facilities.

Advantis Medical’s specialization opportunities include placements in divisions like medical-surgical (M/S), emergency department (ED), intensive care unit (ICU), labor & delivery (L&D), and more. Its benefits include highly competitive compensation packages, direct deposit available from day one, assistance with housing options, health insurance (medical, dental, vision), and a 401(k) option.

The agency also has payment incentives for referrals. To make the process as seamless as possible, Advantis Medical has a one-minute application form which could not be any easier, especially for a traveling nurse who is always on the go.

Best for Benefits : RN Network

• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage; life insurance; employee assistance program; Sanvello membership; Talkspace membership; Teladoc access; credentialing assistance; continuing education; traditional and Roth 401(k); travel reimbursement; loyalty program

RN Network provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes day-one health insurance and 401(k) options, plus additional perks like access to virtual therapy and medical care.

24/7 clinical support

Transparent about pay rate

Provides access to virtual therapy and medical care

Weekly pay via direct deposit

Completion, extension, and referral bonuses

No paid time off

Complaints of lower-paying contracts

Founded in 1998, RN Network has over two decades of experience in the travel nursing industry. Its experience shows in the company's user reviews, many of which highlight its great communication, support, and benefits.

The agency provides an impressive benefits package that includes day-one health insurance with a zero-premium option, as well as a 401(k) with company match, both traditional and Roth options. RN Network also offers access to Talkspace, Teladoc, and Sanvello's mental health app—ensuring its healthcare professionals have the mental health resources they need while on assignment.

Available contracts and pay rates are transparent on their user-friendly website, which can be a rarity in the industry. The company hires RNs, LPNs/LVNs, PCTs, and surgical techs for a variety of specialties throughout the country. Only one year of clinical experience is required, and the company offers a comprehensive onboarding program to help simplify the transition.

Best Recruiters : Host Healthcare

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, plus overtime, bonuses, per diem, COVID quarantine pay
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance; 401(k) with company match; travel reimbursement

Host Healthcare recruiters are some of the best in the business, according to clinician reviews. With exceptional customer service , the company strives to make the job hunt and placement process as smooth as possible for its candidates.

Excellent customer service

Straightforward job hunt and placement process

Offers a variety of housing options, including pet-friendly

24/7 support via multiple channels

COVID-19 quarantine pay available

Can’t view facility or pay without an account

Site lacks information on reimbursement offers

Founded in 2012, Host Healthcare is a travel healthcare staffing agency that works with some of the nation's top facilities. The company has earned multiple awards over the years, including being named one of the Top Travel Nursing Companies by BluePipes.

What sets Host Healthcare apart from other agencies are its recruiters, who are consistently praised by clinicians for their exceptional customer service. In reviews, nurses rave about their recruiters being responsive, receptive, and thorough in their onboarding and placement processes. The company also offers a variety of housing options, including pet-friendly ones, to ensure you have a comfortable place to call home while on assignment.

In addition to its comprehensive benefits package, which includes health insurance, dental, and vision coverage, Host Healthcare also offers a 401(k) with company match and COVID-19 quarantine pay. If your facility quarantines you due to possible COVID-19 exposure, the company will compensate you for the duration of your time off work.

One drawback is that the company requires users to sign up for an account before viewing facilities and estimated weekly pay . However, it hires across multiple specialties and licensure types, including nursing professionals, therapy professionals, and other allied health professionals.

Best for Recent Graduates : Fusion Medical Staff

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, plus overtime, per diem, and bonuses
• Benefits: Health coverage, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, 401(k) with company match, short-term disability, travel and transportation per diem

Fusion Medical offers competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and transparent information about opportunities, and welcomes new graduates to sign up.

Transparent information for each job posting

Nationwide network

Attentive recruiters

Competitive pay and benefits

Open to new graduates

Per diem reimbursements may be less convenient for expenses like travel

Past complaints from LGBTQIA employees

Fusion Medical Staffing urges applicants to "choose your own adventure." With thousands of travel nursing positions across the U.S. available on its website, Fusion will definitely give you a lot to choose from.

Founded in 2009 in Omaha, Nebraska, Fusion doubled its size by 2016. The company racked up awards from Inc., People, and Staffing Industry Analysts for being among the best places to work and is rated 4.7 out of 5 on Indeed.com .

Assignments through Fusion Medical typically run 13 to 26 weeks and are available across a broad spectrum of nursing specialties. We particularly like how transparent the pay, terms, and benefits for each opportunity are on Fusion's website.

But what really makes the company stand out is its recruitment. Fusion offers 24/7 support and many of its travel nurses rave about their attentive recruiters. Fusion has a new graduate traveling medical job program recruiting nurses who have just finished training. Most travel nursing agencies require at least two years of experience, so Fusion may be a great choice if you're about to finish school and eager to see the country or aren't sure of where you want to call home yet.

Of note: Some LGBTQIA+ travelers and employees have complained of inclusivity issues and unsupportive leadership. In 2021, the company published a blog post about forming an oversight group dedicated to LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and support and alluded to its efforts to "grow" and "learn."

Best Job Board : TotalMed

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, plus overtime, bonuses, and guaranteed hours
• Housing: Company-provided housing or stipend
• Benefits: Health insurance, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, 401(k) with company match, short-term disability up to 12 weeks plus up to 60% of monthly earnings

TotalMed is one of the biggest agencies in the business and has the job board to match. The company is known for making it easy for travel nurses to quickly find a new post in any state.

Large, well-connected agency with huge job board

Solid day-one benefits

Flexible housing options

Pay guaranteed

Generous short-term disability policy

Some nurses complain of long onboarding process

Pay is competitive, but perhaps not the highest of any agency

Focus on placing nurses in areas of urgent need

Few travel nursing agencies have a job board as full as TotalMed 's. The company leverages its wide network of partner hospital systems to offer nurses a plethora of assignments to choose from.

TotalMed prides itself on placing nurses and other medical workers in new postings quickly and prioritizes assigning workers to places urgently in need of additional staff. It offers a standard array of benefits, plus a pay guarantee and a generous short-term disability policy that covers up to 12 weeks of injury or illness with up to 60% of your pay.

Some travel nurses have complained of a protracted onboarding process, but once the initial paperwork is out of the way, most seem very happy with the company's efficiency and the quality of its recruiters. Its pay may not always be the highest of any agency, but travel nurses working with TotalMed still enjoy the benefit of payment guarantees and the confidence that a new job will almost always be available, and fast. TotalMed also goes a long way to smooth out the transition process by organizing and covering the cost of any licensing and certifications its travel nurses may need, as well as offering reimbursement for pesky costs like new scrubs.

Even though some agencies on our list require account registration to access pay rates, each one offers competitive benefits and wages. Triage Staffing is our choice for best overall travel nursing agency because of its positive reviews, superior customer service, and competitive wages. Day one 401(k) and tuition reimbursement are just a few ways it provides long-term support for travelers. 

Compare the Best Travel Nursing Agencies

Guide to choosing the best travel nursing agencies.

Travel nursing agencies are  staffing agencies  that place registered nurses and healthcare professionals in hospitals and clinics with short-term staffing needs. They often send individuals to national or international locations where there are nursing shortages.

Here are a few tips for choosing the best travel nursing agency to meet your needs.

Is a Travel Nursing Agency Right for You?

There are many advantages to working with a travel nursing agency in addition to the obvious benefit of being able to travel and explore new places. Some of the other advantages of working with a travel nursing agency include:

• Competitive pay: Travel nursing agencies offer competitive pay rates that are often higher than what you would make as a staff nurse and recruiters can help you find lucrative positions.
• Benefits : Health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits are typically included in a travel nursing agency's compensation package.
• Housing: Travel nursing agencies often provide housing or help nurses find housing in their assignment location.
• Specialty assignments based on nursing field: Agencies can help place you in an assignment that matches your specialty, interests, and skills . Some facilities accept travelers into new specialties or a float pool that covers multiple units, as long as they have prior travel nursing experience. This is an added bonus for those who wish to explore new areas of nursing.
• Flexibility: Agencies offer a variety of assignment lengths and locations, so you can choose an assignment that fits your lifestyle.
• Perks and discounts : Free or reduced-cost continuing education courses, travel expenses, gym memberships, completion bonuses, and other perks are often available through travel nursing agencies.

How to Choose a Travel Nurse Agency

Consider the following when choosing a travel nursing agency:

• Average pay rates: Pay rate varies by agency, location, and assignment. Travel nurses often work with multiple agencies at the same time to find the best assignments and pay rates.
• Benefits package: Make sure the agency's benefits are comprehensive and meet your needs. Benefits may include health coverage , dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, 401K, vacation time, and education reimbursement.
• Housing options: Determine if the agency provides housing or assists with finding housing. Some nurses prefer to find their own housing, while others prefer the convenience of having the agency secure housing for them.
• Reputation: Check out online reviews and ratings to get an idea of the agency's reputation. Talking to other travel nurses who have worked with the agency is also a good way to get first-hand information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which travel nurses are most in demand.

Staffing agencies report that demand is high for critical care and medical-surgical nurses. Emergency room staff and labor and delivery staff are also in great demand.

Do Travel Nursing Agencies Pay for Housing?

Your agency will either have housing available for you or will reimburse you for your housing expenses. If you choose to secure your own housing, most agencies will give you a stipend to help offset the cost of rent and utilities. Talk with your agency recruiter about your housing options and what will work best for you.

How Long Are Travel Nursing Assignments?

Some travel nursing opportunities can be as short as eight weeks, while others can last for up to six months at a time. There are often options and offers to extend assignments, too.

What Experience Do You Need to Be Recruited by a Travel Nursing Agency?

Most agencies require new travelers to have recent experience as a nurse—meaning you can't become a travel nurse right out of nursing school. A year or two of experience is commonly required. A qualified nurse may also need more experience to work in the intensive care unit (ICU) or another specialty area.

Can Travel Nurses Choose Where They Work?

Yes, and that's generally a benefit of the job. Some agencies work to assign candidates throughout the United States, while others place travel nurses internationally. Before deciding to work with an agency, it makes sense to find out where they place travel nurses if you have a specific placement location in mind.

Methodology

We reviewed more than 20 agencies and studied hundreds of reviews from travel nurses around the country to identify the best travel nursing agencies. We then analyzed company quality and customer service scores across multiple sources to determine which companies are most reputable. Wages, housing options, and benefits were also a top priority. We reviewed the range of assignments, as well as the quantity and quality of each agency's listings in all 50 states.

VERYWELL Health / Design by Amelia Manley

U.S. Department of Labor. U.S. Department of Labor announces $80M funding opportunity to help train, expand, diversify nursing workforce, address shortage of nurses .

Healthcare Research & Analytics. Social listening: Evaluation of travel nurse companies: Analysis of travel nurse sentiment towards travel nurse companies .

BluePipes. Best Travel Nursing Companies 2022 .

9 Best Travel Nurse Companies of 2023

Are you ready to try travel nursing? Working with a travel nurse staffing agency can make it easier to find travel nursing jobs and to negotiate pay rates and benefits. An agency gives you a point of contact who can help you navigate job listings and compensation packages.

The sooner you find the right company, the faster you can start traveling.

Click here for today’s top travel nursing opportunities.

How To Find The Right Travel Nursing Company

When looking for the best travel nursing company to suit your needs, you first have to know what your needs are.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when considering travel nursing companies:

• Are you going to need health insurance?
• How important is it that you contribute to your retirement?
• Do you prefer to find your own housing or do you want your company to find it for you?
• Where do you want to travel?
• How do you plan on getting there?
• Do you plan on working per diem as well?
• What kind of healthcare facilities are you hoping to work in?

What to Look for in Travel Nursing Agencies

When looking into travel nurse agencies you should first make sure that they provide the basics: free housing or a housing stipend, health and dental insurance, a retirement plan, travel reimbursement, 24-hour customer support, and a variety and abundance of travel nursing jobs all over the country.

Here are a few tips from my experience about the basics:

Travel Nurse Housing:

Do you want your agency to find housing for you, or do you want to take the housing stipend and search for housing yourself?

I personally found it much easier to have my agency set up my housing for me. This way I knew it was safe, furnished, close to where I was working, and paid for. If there were any problems, all I had to do was call my company and it would be handled.

Many people choose to find their own housing and take the housing stipend instead. There are pros and cons to this choice:

Pros To Choosing Housing Stipends

• Your housing stipend depends on the city you live in, but oftentimes, it is more than the rent you end up paying. This is a good way to make some extra tax-free cash.
• You can find exactly the type of housing you’re looking for at the price you’re willing to pay. You can rent just a room for yourself and pocket a lot of cash. Or rent an entire house if you’re bringing your family or pets along. If you’re traveling with fellow coworkers, you can find a bigger house to share that fits everyone.
• You can choose where you live. Maybe you’re going to Seattle and you’d rather live downtown and commute to work than vs. living next to the hospital in the suburbs.
• There are several websites and groups now to help you find housing
• Once you’ve done it once, you understand how to find housing and can repeat the process in the next location.

Cons To Choosing Housing Stipends

• It can be difficult to find short-term furnished housing.
• Many landlords require a deposit, so you have to front that money before you get your first paycheck.
• If you end up extending your contract, it’s not guaranteed that your landlord hasn’t rented out the place to someone else.
• If you have never been to that city before, it can also be tough to determine whether a neighborhood is safe or not.

Another thing to keep in mind, if you are traveling with a pet, it may make it difficult to find your own housing. Oftentimes, travel nurse agencies have housing already contracted that accepts pets.

There are pros and cons to using your a travel nurse agency’s contracted housing vs. finding your own housing. It just depends on how much time and effort you can put into the search and if you’re hoping to pocket any extra housing stipend cash.

Benefits for Travel Nurses:

• The majority of travel nurse companies offer health and dental insurance.
• Now that the Affordable Care Act is in place, it might be wise to research whether or not it would be more cost-effective for you to go with your agency’s healthcare plan or purchase one of your own through healthcare.org. The benefit of going through healthcare.org is that if you do plan on switching travel nurse agencies, you won’t have to change your insurance.
• Some smaller travel nurse companies will give you a healthcare stipend if you don’t take their health insurance so you can purchase your own.
• As far as retirement plans go, I decided to open up my own Roth IRA and not contribute to the 401K because I didn’t know how long I was going to be traveling.  With some companies you can contribute to your 401K from day 1 and with others you have to wait as long as 1 year.

Travel Nurse Reimbursements

When talking with your potential travel nurse agency, make sure you ask them what the reimbursement is for travel. “Travel” cost is considered the amount of money it takes you to get from your “tax home” to your travel assignment or from one assignment to the next. Often times this can be negotiated if there is a high need in one state that happens to be across the country.

I have found that the average reimbursement is $500.

They will pay you half on your first paycheck and the other half when you complete your assignment. You have the option of either driving or flying to your next destination. I personally drove to each of my assignments; I couldn’t imagine trying to fit all my belongings into suitcases and I love road trips.

Important Pay and Benefits Questions to Ask

Not all benefits or pay packages are created equal. It is important to find an agency that offers benefits, housing, and pay packages that are specific to your needs.

1. What destinations does your agency serve?

The whole point of travel nursing is to travel…right? So it is important to find a company that serves the city or cities you want to travel to. Some agencies claim they have contracts nationwide, however, that may not be the case.

If you know of a specific hospital that you would like to travel to because it looks good on your resume or a specific city you want to explore, then make sure your potential agency has a contract at that location. This is especially important if you want to travel to places such as Hawaii and Alaska.

Match with a travel company here.

2. How are your pay packages broken down?

Does the company tend to pay a higher base rate with lower non-taxable reimbursements or a lower base rate with higher non-taxable reimbursements?

Having a higher base rate may serve you better if you plan on taking company housing, plan on buying a house, or getting a loan in the near future. If you are someone who likes to find their own housing, then a higher housing stipend may be the way to go with a lower base rate.

3. What types of housing do you provide?

Most agencies offer a one-bedroom furnished apartment for your typical 13-week contract. This typically does not include dishes, linen, a washer and dryer, a T.V., or even a vacuum. If you don’t like lugging your belongings around with you all over the country or paying out of pocket to rent this stuff, then it may be wise to either ask if the agency provides any of these necessities at no cost or find your own housing.

If your contract is only eight weeks, then you could get stuck in an extended-stay hotel. I personally like to have nice housing, so I wanted a company that focused on providing comfortable and safe housing options. If you like to find your own housing then this may not apply to you.

4. What type of benefits do you offer?

Most agencies offer medical/dental benefits and a retirement package. If these benefits are important to you, then finding a company with good benefits is essential.

If you like to live on the edge with no health benefits and you brush and floss your teeth like a champ, then maybe you don’t care about benefits. If this is the case then you can ask the company if they are willing to pay you a higher base rate for not taking their benefits.

As far as retirement packages go, I found it easier to do my own Roth IRA on the side. This way, if I switched companies I didn’t have to worry about moving my money all over the place.

Click here to discover new high paying opportunities.

5. What types of extra work-related costs do you reimburse for?

Travel nurse companies can reimburse you for the following:

• Licensing fees
• CEU (Continuing Education) requirements
• Certifications
• Required immunizations

Some travel nurse agencies have a CEU database that is free for their employees. This helps cut costs in those states that require a certain number to maintain or acquire a new license.

These extra costs add up over time so it’s nice to know your agency is looking out for your pocketbook.

6. What are your missed and canceled shift policies?

A missed shift means you called in sick, and a canceled shift means they canceled you for low census. For the most part, the hospital determines how the travel nurse agency handles this, and it will be written in your contract.

This is important because in the travel nurse world if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. And in some cases, you may have to reimburse your agency for housing costs.

There may be a clause written in your contract that allows you to “miss” a certain amount of shifts without being penalized. There will also be a clause that states how many shifts the hospital can cancel you. Usually, it’s once a pay period, and your agency shouldn’t require you to reimburse them for housing costs.

There are even some agencies that offer 100% guaranteed shifts meaning no matter what you will not get canceled.

Find travel assignments in your specialty here.

Other Questions To Ask a Travel Nurse Agency:

• What is the travel reimbursement?
• How much will health insurance cost me?
• If I don’t take health insurance, do I get a healthcare stipend?
• When can I start contributing to my 401K?
• Are there bonuses for extending assignments?
• How often do I get paid?
• Does the company also contract per diem work?
• Do they offer paid time off?
• Are there any referral bonuses available?

9 Best Travel Nursing Agencies

Here is a list and highlights of a few travel nursing companies to consider.

All of these companies offer the basics such as housing, benefits, travel reimbursement, staffing in all 50 states, and 24-hour customer support.

Click here to find the right company for you!

Find the Best Travel Nurse Agency for You

There are a number of travel nursing companies to choose from.

Finding the best travel nursing company that fits your needs and a recruiter that has your best interests in mind are absolutely essential for an enjoyable travel nursing experience.

The right staffing agency for you is out there, now is the time to find them!

  Click here for today’s top travel nursing opportunities.

You may also like

9 Insider Tips From A Travel Nurse Staffing Agent

When Travel Nursing Goes Bad – And How To Fix It

How To Choose The Best Travel Nursing Offer – Pros and Cons

6 Important Questions You Need to Ask A Potential Staffing Agency

Join the many nurses already traveling.

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6 Travel Nurse Rating Websites You Should Know About

Travel nurses face a unique set of circumstances when it comes to things like employment conditions and working with travel nursing companies. Therefore, when they want to get the lowdown on such things, they’re best served by relying on feedback from other travel nurses. As a result, a host of websites provide rating and review features dedicated to travel nurses . In this article, we’ll take a look at 6 travel nurse rating websites you should know about.

General Rating And Review Services For Travel Nurses

Of course, there are tons of popular rating and review websites that cover every category under the sun. Travel nurses can certainly rely on these websites for information on general matters. For example, if you’re looking for information on restaurants, night life, local attractions, or other general categories, then you’ll probably be better served by well established rating services like Yelp, Google, TripAdvisor and amazing apps like Localeur and Trover.

These services are highly trafficked. As a result, you’ll benefit from a much larger volume of reviews. You’ll also benefit from expert reviews. After all, locals tend to be the most reliable experts on their own local markets. These well established rating services also offer reviews from travelers of all types, including travel nurses.

The bottom line here is that travelers aren’t really facing a unique set of circumstances when it comes to general categories. It’s not as though your taste buds change when you become a travel nurse ( or do they 🙂 ) such that only another travel nurse can provide useful restaurant recommendations.

However, when it comes to things like hospitals and travel nursing companies, travel nurses most definitely face a unique set of circumstances. For example, just because a hospital takes great care of its permanent staff, doesn’t necessarily mean that they take great care of their travel staff. The hospital might provide inadequate orientations for their travel nurses or fail to treat travelers as valued team members. And the opposite is true as well. Travelers may be welcomed and revered by stressed out permanent staff members inclined to treat travelers like family.

When it comes to travel nursing companies, travel nurses want to make sure they are not considering reviews from a company’s internal staff. Just because an agency treats their recruiters amazingly well, doesn’t necessarily mean that they treat their travelers well.

As a result, well established employer rating websites like GlassDoor and Indeed are not as useful for travel nurses as they are for the general population. These websites don’t filter by the type of employee who is placing the review, so the overall rating doesn’t coincide with a traveler’s unique circumstances.

Specific Rating And Review Services For Travel Nurses

Luckily for travel nurses, there are a host of websites that help fill this void. However, it’s important to discuss several key differences between the general rating and review services and services specifically for travel nurses. First, the specific services have a much smaller number of reviews. This is due to the fact that travel nursing is such a small industry. At any given time, there are as few as 10,000 travel nurses and as many as 50,000 travel nurses. So, even at it’s peak, travel nursing doesn’t have enough participants to support a huge number of reviews.

Second, many of the services on this list are operated by travel nursing companies or other entities engaged directly in the recruitment process . There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. However, it’s important to note because such companies will sometimes utilize a user’s contact information for recruitment purposes.

Finally, there is no foolproof method for ensuring that reviews are submitted by only travel nurses. You might be wondering who else would post reviews on a travel nursing website. Well, travel nursing companies and recruiters have been caught submitting fake reviews to some of these sites in the past in an effort to bolster their ratings. Some of these sites go to more trouble than others to prevent this from happening and we’ll point that out where we can. Let’s take a look at the websites!

Highway Hypodermics

Highway Hypodermics is owned and operated by Kay Slane, an active travel nurse who started the website in 2003. Kay is also the author of a book called Highway Hypodermics under the pen-name Epstein Larue. We consider this book a must read for all those interested or engaged in travel nursing. You can get your copy here .

Highway Hypodermics provides visitors with forms to rate travel nursing companies and hospitals . Each form includes 20 questions on topics of specific interest to travel nurses. When a form is submitted, it is reviewed and the data is entered into tables. The tables include each organization that has been reviewed and a running tally of their average scores. The reviewers remain anonymous and their personal information is kept private.

Visitors can review the tables and select the specific agency or hospital to view the organization’s average overall score. The tables also display the average scores for each question. This is great because users can pick and choose based on the factors that are most important to them.

Finally, Highway Hypodermics has a rule that a user’s negative reviews will only be counted if the user has submitted at least one positive review. This ensures that the service doesn’t become an exercise in bashing.

Travel Nursing Central

Travel Nursing Central (TNC) was started by a travel nurse “in the early 2000s”. It was purchased by Medical Solutions , one of the nation’s largest travel nursing agencies, in 2014.

TNC also provides visitors with forms for ranking travel nursing companies and hospitals . The system works quite similar to Highway Hypodermics. However, the questions for each type of organization are quite different than those asked by Highway Hypodermics. Additionally, TNC displays the written reviews that are submitted with the forms. So, visitors are able to view the average scores for each organization as well as the written reviews listed out below the scores on the organization’s individual page.

While TNC is owned by Medical Solutions, they have a pretty strict privacy policy that prevents them from sharing personal contact information with third parties. They also post the reviews anonymously.

TNC might be the website with the most travel nursing reviews. As of December, 2016, they have 5,371 reviews posted for 220 travel nursing companies. And they have 2,679 reviews posted for 1,132 hospitals.

Travel Nursing Blogs

TravelNursingBlogs.com might be the single largest blog specifically devoted to travel nursing. Like Travel Nursing Central, the website is owned and operated by Medical Solutions.

Travel Nursing Blogs has a “Ratings” option and a “Review” option for travel nursing companies only. The Rating option is very basic. The page displays a table with all the companies listed in alphabetical order. Under each company, there are Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down icons. Visitors simply click on one of the icons and the click is recorded on a running counter next to the icon.

The simplicity of this system is certainly nice, but there are issues that visitors should be aware of. First, it would be quite simple for an agency’s representatives to submit ratings. Second, visitors can submit multiple ratings for the same company by clearing their browser’s cache after submitting each rating. That said, Travel Nursing Blogs does review the site for suspicious behavior and will reset an agency’s ratings to zero if they suspect foul play. Interestingly, 76 of the 90 companies listed on the site have more down votes than up votes.

The Review option is a little more detailed. Reviewers are asked to enter some basic personal information including their name and email address. Reviewers then rate the company from one to five stars and enter a written review.

Again, the simplicity of the system is a positive. However, the system is a bit cumbersome when doing company research. First, visitors must locate the company on the main review page and then select the company to go to its individual page. The company may or may not have reviews. In other words, there isn’t a quick and easy way to get an overall synopsis.

How To Evaluate Travel Nursing Pay

Travel Nurse Source

TravelNurseSource.com is a lead generation service at its core. As such, the website makes it easy for those interested in travel nursing to transmit their contact information and basic details about their work experience to travel nursing agencies. The website also includes tons of other useful tools including ratings and reviews for agencies, recruiters and hospitals.

To find or submit reviews for agencies, simply visit the website’s Agencies Page . Once there, you can scroll through the entire list of agencies, or you can filter the results according to the benefits the website tracks. For example, you can choose to view only agencies that are JCAHO certified and provide health insurance if those attributes are important to you.

The Agencies Page displays a brief overview of each agency including the agency’s average rating which is displayed as a number of circles from one to five. You can select a specific agency to view the agency’s full profile. There you will find previously submitted reviews, the option to submit your own review and tons of other useful information.

Finding and submitting reviews for recruiters is quite similar. Simply visit the website’s Recruiters Page . By default, the page displays a random list of 6 recruiters. From there, you can either scroll through the website’s 500 plus recruiter profiles, or filter your search by agency, number of reviews and other useful search filters. Select a specific recruiter to visit their profile, view previously submitted reviews or submit a new review. You can also find recruiters that work for a specific agency by visiting the agency’s profile.

It’s important to note that the agencies and recruiters listed on Travel Nurse Source are an extension of the website’s client profile pages. They are meant to help promote transparency and allow visitors to learn about the agency and their recruiters prior to applying for a job through Travel Nurse Source’s job board. This means companies must be clients of Travel Nurse Source to be listed on the site. If a client leaves the service, then their company and recruiter profiles are taken down.

TravelNurseSource’s Hospital Directory is quite useful. From the main page, you can filter search results by state or by zip code and the system will return a list of all the hospitals in the area. Each hospital profile includes basic information about the hospital as well as information about the city and county. The profile also includes previously submitted reviews and the option to submit your own review.

The process of submitting reviews is the same for each topic. Simply select “Write a Review” at the bottom of the page and enter your review. Submissions require a name, email address, title, and written review. Travel Nurse Source ensures 100% privacy on the information collected by their review forms. So, you can rest assured that this information will not be released to agencies or anyone else. They will only use the contact information should they feel the need to get more information about the review.

Travel Nursing Exchange

TravelNursingExchange.com was launched in 2014 by a travel nurse named Stasha Crawford. Stasha also has a website called TravelNurseHelp.com that was started in 2012. Travel Nursing Exchange has job postings, a blog, a pay calculator and hospital reviews . Travel Nurse Help has a blog and travel nursing company reviews .

These websites might be the least trafficked websites on this list. They’re good websites, but they’re a testament to how to difficult it is to thrive in such a small market. There are very few reviews on either site and the review features seem to be a bit buggy. That said, if you’re looking for information on a specific company or hospital, then it might be worth your time to give these sites a quick review to see if they can help.

 The Gypsy Nurse

TheGypsyNurse.com was started by Candy Treft in 2012 and sold to private investors with ties to a travel nursing company in 2016 . Originally, the website was a blog packed with useful information on all aspects of travel nursing. The new owners brought with them a new website packed with features including ratings and reviews for just about everything. As of December, 2016, they are in the process of combining the new website and the old website into one robust platform.

The new website provides users with 6 different categories to enter ratings and reviews. The Agency category let’s you review Agencies and Recruiters. The City category let’s you review by Activity, Attraction, Hotel, and Restaurant. The Facility, Housing, RV Parks and Can’t Find categories let you place reviews for those specific items.

The review form for every item appears to be the same. It asks for the name, address, start date, end date, comment, and star rating from 1 to 5 stars. There’s also a field for uploading images. The form’s name and address fields offer drop-down menus for convenience.

All-in-all, the rating and review features on The Gypsy Nurse look to be pretty promising. However, at the outset, it’s wise for visitors to temper their expectations. The site is brand new, so you won’t benefit from previously submitted reviews; there aren’t any. So, if you like the concept, then be sure to leave a review to help things along.

Additionally, you should expect the site to be buggy at the outset. For example, we had a difficult time selecting the Address field in the review forms and some pages failed to load. We’re sure they’ll get these issues fixed; these things take a while to perfect.

Finally, it’s important to point out that it’s currently unclear how the website will use its members’ personal information. When new members join, they must check a box indicating they agree to the “Authorization / Release of Applicant Information”. The form links to a “Statement of Terms for Release”. The Privacy Policy contained therein states, “Periodically, we may make our member information available to carefully screened companies we believe offer products or services, which may be of interest to our members.”

Travel Nurse Rating and Review Websites

Given the relatively small size of the travel nursing market, there are quite a few websites offering ratings and reviews. The first websites to provide these features were Highway Hypodermics and Travel Nursing Central. They offer visitors a much larger volume of reviews upon which to form an opinion. Additionally, their reviews are much more detailed given that they each require a response to 20 questions of specific importance to travel nurses.

The newer websites offer modern interfaces and a more digitized process. However, they have far fewer reviews and their reviews don’t require as much detail. It will be interesting to see how these services fare in the coming years.

As always, we hope you found this article useful. We’d love to hear about your experiences with travel nurse rating and review websites or answer any question you might have on the topic. Please post them in BluePipes Forums .

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• Securing a Travel Nursing Job – Your Submission Profile Part 2: The Skills Checklist What is a Travel Nursing Skills Checklist A skills checklist...
• Travel Nursing Assignment Reporting Instructions Travel nurses should receive reporting instructions for a travel nursing...

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Is Travel Nursing Still Worth It in 2023?

Absolutely! Here's Why:

Are you a nurse considering your first travel assignment, or perhaps a seasoned traveler contemplating your next move? If you've been wondering whether travel nursing is still worth it in 2023, we've got fantastic news for you! We're going to take a comprehensive look at the travel nursing landscape in 2023, including what you can expect to be paid as a travel nurse post-pandemic!

During the COVID pandemic, travel nursing experienced a significant increase in demand as healthcare facilities urgently sought more nurses to fill critical needs.  This led to a surplus of high-paying contracts that attracted many nurses who may not have previously considered travel nursing. Now, as the travel pay begins to find a new baseline, some nurses are now questioning whether travel nursing will remain a favorable option in the future.

Post-pandemic travel nursing remains one of the most rewarding and fulfilling career moves you can make and we’re going to break down exactly why that is! While the pandemic presented unique challenges and opportunities, the pulse of travel nursing remains strong. The essence of this career choice—higher pay, flexibility, new connections, adventure, a politics-free environment, and professional growth—continues to thrive.

Travel Nurse Benefits Continue Post-Pandemic

The pandemic brought travel nurses to the forefront of healthcare, filling critical needs and delivering care where it was needed most. While travel nurses once made up only 3-4% of the nursing workforce, that number has risen to an impressive 10% today!  The world has indeed seen significant changes, but the demand for skilled and compassionate nurses within the US has not waned. In fact, with healthcare facilities adapting to new realities, your expertise and adaptability as a travel nurse are more valuable than ever.

Travel Nurse Pay Remains High 

From March 2020 to July 2022, Trusted Health saw travel nurses across all specialties and states making an average gross weekly income of $3,668! Though the average gross weekly income has decreased slightly since then, Trusted is still seeing an impressive average gross weekly of $3,206.  This amount is leaps and bounds beyond the national average of $1,711 earned by staff nurses and is still higher than the pre-pandemic average of $2,273 gross weekly for travel nurses. 

These figures firmly indicate that travel nurses continue to enjoy significantly higher compensation than their stationary counterparts, making travel nursing a financially rewarding choice for nurses seeking financial growth. 

Source: Trusted Health Data & Bureau of US Labor Statistics

Embracing Flexibility

Travel nursing offers you the freedom to take extended time off between assignments - an essential aspect of preventing nurse burnout.   Committing to just 4-13 weeks of work at a time,  you can take breaks between assignments to rest, recharge, visit family, or take off on bucket-list vacations.   When you take your next assignment is totally up to you, ensuring the perfect work-life balance! 

Increased flexibility isn’t limited to time off, either - you also get to choose where you work.  Whether you crave the coast, the mountains, or charming small towns, our vast network of healthcare facilities across the US offers plenty of exciting options for your next assignment.

Making Friends and Connections Across the US

Travel nursing isn't just about exploring new places; it's also about forming connections and building your network. Working with a broad network of healthcare professionals allows you to experience different hospital cultures, learn new ways of doing things, and make friends who will last a lifetime.

Imagine having a support system of like-minded professionals scattered across the country, ready to connect no matter where you go!  Trusted makes it easy from the start - we connect you with other travel nurses through our Trusted Community from day one! 

Adventure Awaits: Embrace New Places and Experiences

We know you love adventure; that's why you’re considering or have made the leap to travel nursing in the first place! Travel nursing takes that adventurous spirit to a whole new level. Each assignment is a new chapter in your life, offering the opportunity to immerse yourself in different cultures, try local cuisines, and discover hidden gems in your temporary home. Be sure you check out our city guides in top destinations like Houston , San Diego , Chicago , and Miami ! 

From the sun-kissed beaches of Florida to the snow-capped mountains of Colorado, from the historic charm of New England to the laid-back vibes of the Pacific Northwest, the country is a treasure trove of experiences waiting for you to uncover. 

No More Workplace Politics: Focus on What Matters

Many experienced travel nurses will tell you that one of the best parts of travel nursing is that you get to skip the office politics that often plague traditional staff jobs. Say goodbye to the drama, the gossip, and the unnecessary stress. Instead, focus on what truly matters: providing exceptional patient care and making a positive impact on people's lives, wherever you are.

By working in different healthcare settings across the US, you'll gain valuable experience and enhance your adaptability—qualities that will make you a stronger and more versatile nurse, prepared for any challenge that comes your way.

Professional Growth: Elevate Your Nursing Career

At Trusted Health, we're committed to your professional growth. Travel nursing allows you to gain experience in various specialties and settings, sharpen your skills, and broaden your expertise from coast to coast. Whether you're a seasoned nurse or just starting your journey, each assignment presents an opportunity to expand your horizons and elevate your nursing career . As a traveler, you can gain experience in all kinds of settings, from rural facilities where resources are limited, to large magnet facilities where care is top-of-the-line.  No matter where your travels take you, you’re improving your ability to function as a valuable team member and learning new ways of doing things in order to provide the best care possible for your patients. 

Don’t Sacrifice Health Insurance and Retirement Benefits

We know that taking time off between assignments is essential for preventing nurse burnout and ensuring you're ready to take on your next adventure. When you travel with Trusted, you don't have to worry about gaps in insurance coverage during your downtime. We’ve got you covered from day one and your insurance coverage is active through the end of the month in which your contract ends. We also offer coverage options between assignments, so you can enjoy your time off worry-free, knowing you're protected and supported. All you need to do is sign a contract for a new assignment that has a start date within 28 days or less of your current end date and let your Care Team know that you'd like to stay enrolled in your current benefit plans.  So enjoy those 3 weeks off, without having to worry about a gap in coverage. 

And finally, we recognize the importance of planning for the future, which is why we offer a 401k plan to help you secure your financial stability in the long run. With Trusted, you can take charge of your retirement goals while enjoying the exciting journey of travel nursing. Plus, our coverage options between assignments ensure that you won't have to worry about any gaps in coverage during your downtime.

With Great Adventure Comes Great Reward

So, for all the nurses who are contemplating whether travel nursing is still worth it post-pandemic, we have one resounding answer: Absolutely, yes! This is your time to seize the adventure, embrace the rewards, and become part of a community of passionate healthcare professionals.

The travel nursing landscape may have evolved, but the essence of this extraordinary journey remains unchanged. Higher pay, flexibility, new connections, adventure, a politics-free environment, and professional growth—all of these await you as you embark on an unforgettable travel nursing experience.

Trust in yourself, trust in the opportunities that await, and trust in Trusted Health to be your partner in this life-changing journey. Let's create a future filled with boundless opportunities and unforgettable memories as you bring your exceptional skills and heart for nursing to every corner of the nation! Are you ready to embrace adventure? Sign up to travel and become a part of the Trusted Health family today! Your extraordinary journey awaits!

Audrey McCollough, RN, BSN, is a pediatric critical care nurse who traded her scrubs for a laptop to come work internally at Trusted two years ago. With eight years of critical care experience and four years of travel nursing under her belt, Audrey now uses her experience and expertise to support others in the healthcare industry, particularly her fellow nurses. When she's not at work, Audrey loves to explore the great outdoors! Hiking, skiing, or just soaking up nature's beauty - Audrey is all about it.

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Travel Nursing: Price Gouging or Supply and Demand?

I have been in the literature the past few weeks reading about moral distress, moral injury, compassion fatigue, and burnout of nurses. The focus lately has been on the crisis in nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I and others believe the crisis started much before the pandemic. The pandemic has just stretched the limits and shown what was bubbling underneath the surface. Dall'Ora et al 1 conducted a review focused on burnout in nursing. In summary, they found that adverse job characteristics, such as high workload, low staffing levels, long shifts, and low control over the work environment were associated with nursing burnout. They also stated that the association between turnover and burnout needs more research, but it is not hard to see the tie-in. And it is especially interesting to know that the studies used in the review were conducted before the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic.

I also have been reading these past few weeks about travel nursing. It seems that many nurses are choosing to forgo their regular jobs and move to travel nursing. Travel nursing requires that a nurse sign up with a travel agency and work short-term, usually 13-week contracts. If the hospital or other healthcare agency still needs a nurse and the nurse has enjoyed working at the facility, the contract can be extended. The benefits of travel nursing include picking a geographic area that a nurse would like to see, higher pay—much higher pay than the typical staff nurse makes, and most importantly, control of your own workplace environment. If you are working in a facility with a toxic environment, you can wave bye as you leave after 13 weeks. What is the downside to travel nursing? Some nurses like more stability or perhaps, because of family obligations, cannot travel. Some nurses prefer to work where there is more familiarity with policies and procedures. In some facilities who have travel nurses working side by side with their staff, there are tensions over the pay differential. The demand for travel nurses has increased exponentially; 2 it increased by 35% in 2020 and is expected to have increased by 40% more in 2021. 3

There is an ongoing discussion now about “price-gouging.” Price gouging refers to retailers and others taking “advantage of spikes in demand by charging exorbitant prices for necessities, often after a natural disaster or other state of emergency.” 4 , (para 1) Legislators have asked the White House Covid-19 team to look into whether travel nurse agencies are price gouging during the pandemic, and some states are trying to cap travel agency salaries. 5 Is it price gouging or supply and demand? Nurses in great numbers are retiring, leaving nursing, and changing positions. Hospitals believe the travel agencies are price-gouging. Others believe that the price of a travel nurse relates to supply and demand. 3 One point of agreement is that something must be done to facilitate addressing fundamental problems with healthcare staffing. 3 Significantly, outcomes of poor staffing related to burnout results in poor patient safety, poor quality of care, and adverse events. 1 Is the answer to cap the salaries for travel nurses thus reducing the supply? Or is the answer to work hard at the root problem which is pointing to workplace environment?

I have been in meetings where some nurse leaders believe that nurses are moving to travel nursing only for the money. Is money the only motivator? It does not appear to be so. In a review of 91 papers on nursing burnout, pay was not found to be an associated factor if you assume that burnout may be a factor in the move to travel nursing. 1 The problem is that we do not have the data to know why nurses become travel nurses. We do not even know how many perianesthesia nurses have left work in a PACU or Day Surgery Unit to travel. When I searched CINAHL and PubMed, there are various articles about becoming a travel nurse, very little peer-reviewed papers published before the pandemic, and no research related to travel nursing during the pandemic. So anecdotally, I asked a nurse to tell me three major priorities as to why she had left her position in an intensive care unit to travel. Her answers were: 1) Flexibility of schedule—13-week assignments with a potential for breaks in between; 2) Poor pay and poor treatment as a full-time employee; 3) Opportunity to see new places. This nurse went further to say that if hospitals are not going to prioritize retaining their most experienced staff, then people like her are going to look elsewhere to make nursing more tolerable. She went even further to state that travel nursing is used as an excuse to deflect from poor leadership or undervalued nursing. And if you think she is the only one with those thoughts, check out #nursetwitter.

I believe that many nurses leave to travel to control the working environment, to control their schedules. What is the root of the problem? Lack of resources to provide a safe environment (eg, personal protective gear, N-95 masks), no consistent communication from leaders, no significant effort to retain experienced staff, and high nurse/patient ratios. Those are just a few of important issues. No one is asking to leave the unit understaffed while they attend resiliency training or attend a pizza party. 6 As Udod et al 7 state: “…nurses need more than psychological support to allay their concerns: They need food, rest, and a sense of safety.” Focusing on individual nurse resiliency puts the responsibility on the nurse and not on how the organization can support nurse efforts. 7

What are some concrete strategies that can be done? One suggested strategy is to appropriate money so that the National Health Care Workforce Commission, established in 2010, can meet. The finances to begin the commission's work became politicized and was never funded, so the commission never met. The first Chair-designee was Dr. Peter Beurhaus who is the expert in all things related to the nursing workforce. 8 Another strategy is to improve working conditions with nurse to patient ratios. California's law regarding nurse/patient ratio has reduced nurse injuries by one third 9 and increased patient safety and nurse retention. 10 Transformational leadership is effective in terms of maintaining consistent communication and effective role modeling. 6 An emphasis on retention of experienced nurses is also needed. The days of showing nurses who burnout to the door knowing that other newer nurses who require less salary are right around the corner is over. We have an acute nursing shortage driven in part by the issues that were boiling under the surface and by the stress of the pandemic. Nurses need to be paid in a manner that shows their value. I have wondered often if hospitals had increased salaries and had clear, consistent communication if many of the nurses who left to travel would still be there. We need policymakers to assist in allocating funding for the provision of essential personal protective equipment for frontline nurses and ensuring a safe workplace for nurses by legislating appropriate health and safety measures. 11 We also need the help of policymakers to appropriate funding for increasing enrollment at nursing schools and funding for the increased space and staff that will require. However, at the same time, we cannot keep tossing our new graduate nurses out into toxic workplace environments which is why improvement in the workplace is a priority.

The bottom line is that we cannot continue with the healthcare system as it currently exists. National nursing organizations that are not 501(c)3 need to become involved at the policy level. Those of us who do belong to non-profit organizations like ASPAN can still become involved at the individual level. If you are in an area that uses travel nurses to staff your unit, how would you staff if salaries were capped and no one came….supply and demand. If you are in leadership how many staff members can you keep by supporting a safe environment and increased pay. I am interested to hear your opinions ( [email protected] ).

The ideas or opinions expressed in this editorial are those solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ASPAN, the Journal, or the Publisher.

Conflict of interest: None to report.

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For more than 30 years, our Founder & CEO has worked in the medical field – as an RN, Travel RN, CEO, CNO, & DON. While she has found her time in the field to be immensely rewarding and fulfilling, she also noticed a problem – one she thought she knew how to fix. She watched as institutions struggled to staff their facilities with qualified, reliable, experienced staff. She saw nurses frustrated with their assignments, and, at times, with their agencies. The lack of transparency, sometimes unfair compensation, and an inability to listen to their clinicians and adapt was leaving her colleagues feeling unhappy in their roles. She knew that she could do better – so On Demand Nurse Staffing was born.

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The biggest concern for most nurses considering travel jobs: Where am I going to live? In this video, the Travel Nurse Academy explains what travel nurse housing options are, who pays for it, and how the accommodations are arranged.

You want to make the leap into travel nursing, but aren’t quite sure how your loved ones—including your pets—fit into the picture. The Travel Nurse Academy tackles these common questions about travel nursing with a family, explaining how each can enjoy this new journey with you.

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• Open access
• Published: 29 April 2024

The experiences and needs of older adults receiving voluntary services in Chinese nursing home organizations: a qualitative study

• Qin Shen 1 &
• Junxian Wu 1  

BMC Health Services Research volume  24 , Article number:  547 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

Older adults living in nursing home organizations are eager to get voluntary help, however, their past experiences with voluntary services are not satisfactory enough. To better carry out voluntary services and improve the effectiveness of services, it is necessary to have a deeper understanding of the experiences and needs of older adults for voluntary services.

The purposive sampling method was used to select 14 older adults from two nursing home organizations in Hangzhou and conduct semi-structured interviews, Collaizzi’s seven-step method was used to analyze the data.

Older adults in nursing home organizations have both beneficial experiences and unpleasant service experiences in the process of receiving voluntary services; Beneficial experiences include solving problems meeting needs and feeling warmth and care, while unpleasant service experiences include the formality that makes it difficult to benefit truly, lack of organization, regularity, sustainability, and the mismatch between service provision and actual demands. The needs for voluntary services mainly focuses on emotional comfort, Cultural and recreational, and knowledge acquisition.

Older adults in nursing home organizations have varied voluntary experiences, and their voluntary service needs are diversified. Voluntary service needs of older adults should be accurately assessed, and voluntary service activities should be focused upon.

Peer Review reports

Introduction

As a result of advancements in medical technology and improved sanitation conditions, the average life expectancy of Chinese people has increased significantly from 60 years in 1970 to 77.3 years in 2023. However, this has led to a growing number of older adults in China. According to the seventh population census conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, there are now 260 million people over the age of 60 living in the country [ 1 ], The aging population in China is growing, and population balance is becoming a core challenge for the country in the long term. The increasing aging population has posed significant challenges and burdens to the state and society [ 2 ], China’s aging population challenges the current security system, requiring significant efforts from the state and society for improvement [ 3 ].

There are three main modes of old-age care in China: family old-age care, community old-age care, and institutionalized old-age care. Family old-age care is the most traditional form of old-age care in China, due to the reduction in family size and the formation of the “4-2-1” family model - which consists of four older adults, one couple, and one child - the traditional family model is no longer able to meet the growing demand for older adults care [ 4 ]; China’s community old-age care is still in the exploratory stage, facing challenges such as slow construction, insufficient staff, and lack of professional knowledge. As a result, it cannot provide meticulous care services for older adults [ 5 ]. Against this background, institutionalized older adult care has gradually become popular, it refers to older adults in social service organizations such as senior citizen apartments, welfare homes, and homes for older adults to spend their later life [ 6 ]. The challenges of population aging and the inadequacies of family and community support for older adults have resulted in a growing number of older adults opting to reside in nursing home organizations. This has undoubtedly placed additional burdens and challenges on these nursing home organizations. Due to multiple challenges such as late start, low quality, and lack of professional and technical talents, China’s nursing home organizations are still a long way from meeting the comprehensive needs of older adults in terms of health management, skilled nursing care, rehabilitation training, cultural and recreational services, psychological counseling, and social interaction [ 7 ]. To tackle the issue of an aging population in China and ensure that older adults have a high quality of life when choosing nursing home organizations, it is necessary to enhance the quality of older adult care services by engaging social forces, such as volunteer teams [ 8 ]. Voluntary services refer to the voluntary, unpaid public service offered by individuals, organizations, and voluntary service organizations to society or other organizations. The forms of voluntary services are diverse and can be either formal, planned, and long-term, or informal, spontaneous, and intermittent [ 9 ]. At present, volunteer groups in China’s nursing home organizations are mostly informal and consist of university students, healthcare workers, art workers, social workers, and others. These groups are invited by nursing home organizations or come to these institutions on their initiative to provide services for older adults. These services include a wide range of activities such as haircutting, cultural performances, spiritual comfort, hobby learning (e.g., paper-cutting, flower arranging), organizing festive activities (e.g., making rice dumplings on-site at Dragon Boat Festival, making mooncakes at Mid-Autumn Festival, etc.).

Voluntary services are a crucial aspect of long-term care and greatly complement the resources provided by the government,these nursing home organizations welcome volunteers who perform various non-medical activities associated with the daily lives of older adults [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Volunteers offer additional assistance and companionship to residents, provide support to employees such as nurses, nutritionists, and physical therapists, and potentially improve the overall quality of care, in China, these services have become increasingly popular and play a crucial role [ 13 , 14 ]. However, some problems have emerged in voluntary services, The voluntary services provided by volunteer organizations for older adults have certain functional defects and efficiency dilemmas, such as an unsound volunteer management system, high mobility of volunteers, and lack of a corresponding volunteer training system, which leads to the inability to provide high-quality services [ 13 ]. The above problems have undermined the effectiveness of voluntary services and affected the regular operation of nursing home organizations [ 15 ].

For effective services for older adults, it’s critical to understand the needs and experiences of older adults in nursing home organizations, there have been limited studies on how older adults feel about receiving voluntary services and if such services are suitable for their actual needs. One qualitative study documented the experiences of older adults who were helped by volunteers, but it was mainly focused on the volunteers themselves [ 16 ]. Another study looked into the benefits and experiences of receiving voluntary services, but it specifically focused on older adults who were confined to their homes [ 17 ]. There is no research available that sheds light on the emotions and requirements of older adults who receive voluntary services in nursing home organizations. To bridge this gap, we conducted interviews with older adults who have been accepted for voluntary services in two nursing home organizations in Hangzhou. The objective of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the actual needs and experiences of older adults and use this information to guide promoting the effective growth of voluntary services and establishing a voluntary service system that is suitable for older adults in nursing home organizations.

This study adopts a qualitative descriptive approach to examine the experiences and expectations of older adults in nursing home organizations when receiving voluntary services. This study aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of the actual experiences and needs of older adults residing in nursing home organizations regarding receiving voluntary services and explore the types of voluntary services that are most suitable for the needs of older adults. To ensure accuracy and transparency, the authors followed the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines when reporting their findings [ 18 ].

Participants

During June-August 2023, the authors used purposive sampling to sample older adults residing in two nursing home organizations in Hangzhou, the inclusion criteria for the interview subjects were as follows:

they had to have resided in the nursing home organizations for more than a year;

they had to have received voluntary services;

they had to be conscious and able to express themselves effectively;

they had to have given informed consent and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study.

The number of people participating in the study was decided based on information saturation, this means the interviews were conducted until no new topics emerged and responses were repeated, the data from the twelfth interview indicated that saturation had been reached as confirmed by the other two interviews. This research principle was based on previous qualitative research studies [ 19 ]. A total of 14 older adults, coded N1-N14, were included in this study. All older adults who participated in the study agreed to the interview process, and none withdrew during the study. Detailed information can be found in Table  1 .

Interview outline

We developed an interview outline after thoroughly reviewing the literature sources and consulting with the research group [ 20 , 21 ]. We selected two older adults living in nursing home organizations to conduct pre-interviews, we adjusted the interview outline based on the feedback we received from the pre-interviews.

The interview will cover the following topics:

Please describe the voluntary services you have received in detail. How do you feel about receiving these services?

Are you satisfied with the voluntary service you have received? What aspects of the service make you satisfied?

What are your dissatisfactions with the voluntary service? Why do you feel that way?

What are your expectations and needs for the voluntary service’s content, form, and volunteers?

Is there anything else you would like to add to the discussion?

Data collection

A semi-structured interview method was utilized to gather data for this study. The main researcher, (a master’s degree nursing student) has been trained in qualitative research methods and has mastered the semi-structured interview techniques required to conduct interviews independently. Additionally, the researcher has participated in various volunteer activities in nursing organizations and has established a trustworthy relationship with the interviewees. Before conducting the interviews, the main researcher explained the study’s purpose and methodology to the interviewees and, after acquiring their consent, scheduled an appointment in advance. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the respondents in a quiet, private, comfortable conference room. During the interview, the researcher recorded the entire process with the respondent’s consent without interrupting the respondent unnecessarily. The researcher confirmed the key concerns and the content that the respondent could not express clearly by repeating, asking follow-up questions, and asking rhetorical questions. The researcher also promptly recorded the respondent’s non-verbal information, such as movements, expressions, and tone of voice. Each interview lasted 30–45 min, and after conducting 14 interviews, no new information was obtained, indicating data saturation and ending the interview process. At the end of the interview, each interviewee was given a small token of appreciation.

Data analysis

The audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed into text within 24 h of completion, non-verbal information was noted in the transcript at relevant places. The transcribed information was then entered into the NVIVO 11.0 software (QST International, Cambridge, MA, USA) for data extraction, coding, and integration. Two researchers independently analyzed and coded the data, and the results were compared to identify common themes. Any discrepancies were resolved after the research team had discussed them to ensure that the data was complete and the analysis was accurate. Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis method was used to refine the themes from the interviews, which involved the following steps [ 22 ]:

Carefully read all the transcriptions of the interviews.

Analyze the significant statements made by the interviewees.

Code the recurring and meaningful ideas discussed in the interviews.

Gather the coded ideas and form the theme clusters.

Define and describe the themes from the coded ideas.

Identify similar ideas and sublimate the theme concepts.

Return the results to the interviewees for verification, and revision, and add the results based on the feedback from the interviewees. For detailed coding results, please see Table  2 .

After the data analysis was summarized, two main themes were identified: Experiences and Needs for volunteerism.

Theme 1: experiences

Beneficial experiences, solving problems and meeting needs.

Many older adults currently reside in nursing home organizations that are situated far away from their children and friends, they often face difficulties in getting help promptly when they encounter problems, which can affect their daily lives. For instance, in today’s rapidly developing society, many older adults own smartphones but lack the necessary knowledge to use them effectively. This, in turn, reduces their social participation and increases their sense of isolation. However, voluntary services have been instrumental in assisting them in overcoming these hurdles and leading a more fulfilling life.

N11: “When the volunteers come to teach me how to use computers, I ask them something that I don’t understand, and the teacher will explain it to me immediately.” N1: “I don’t know how to buy things online. Volunteers taught me little by little, and after a few teaching sessions, I learned how to do it so I don’t have to bother the caregiver every time. I can also do online shopping by myself, and I feel that life is much more convenient.”

Some respondents stated that volunteers could fulfill their needs. Professional volunteers also taught older adults Chinese medicine and health care and assisted with self-care.

N12: “I’m interested in Chinese medicine health care knowledge, and when students from the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine come over, and I ask them What are the functions of different acupoints, they tell me how to press them to make them work.”

Feel warmth and care

Many older adults live in nursing home organizations, away from their familiar environment and social network. This isolation can generate a sense of loneliness, making them more eager for emotional support. Volunteers provide services to add joy to the lives of older adults so that they feel cared for. Interviewees have mentioned that being taken care of on their initiative makes them feel warm and touched, increasing their overall sense of well-being.

N10: “I am delighted when I participate in volunteering, I feel that I have a group life again, I am pleased, I feel that someone cares about us.” N8: “Volunteers come to serve us, feel that people still care about us older adults, and now the country also cares about us, and society also cares about us, I am thrilled.”

Some respondents said that having someone to talk to and greet them would make them feel happy and that they were willing to communicate with young people and accept their new ideas.

N2: “As soon as I see you young people, I am happy, I feel the atmosphere of youth, my mood is different, I feel less lonely.”

Unpleasant service experiences

A formality that makes it difficult to benefit truly.

According to the interviewees, there are certain formalized phenomena in the domain of volunteering. Some volunteers engage in volunteering activities to obtain a certificate, such certificates can help them get extra points at work. Some volunteers participated in volunteering based on the mentality of the herd under the organizational arrangements of their schools or enterprises. These volunteers lack initiative, violate the principle of voluntarism, and cannot provide services that genuinely benefit older adults due to their single-mindedness and formalism during the service process. As a result, older adults have a poorer sense of experience.

N7: “Some volunteers are asked to serve by their companies, and they have to finish the job; some just go through a process.” N13: “Many volunteers come over to perform a show, then take photos and leave; the service time is very short, just like completing a task.” N5: “Some volunteers are very perfunctory; they come for a while and leave quickly.”

Lack of organization, regularity, sustainability

Many volunteers offer their services without compensation, while they have their formal jobs, which makes it difficult for them to provide services consistently. Additionally, volunteers may be more mobile, which can result in a lack of continuity in the services that are provided and the target groups that are served. However, older adults living in nursing home organizations often have monotonous and lonely lives, and occasional voluntary services may not be enough to meet their needs. As a result, some older adults may feel dissatisfied with the irregular and unsustainable nature of voluntary services.

N12: “Volunteers come on an ad hoc basis; they are not regular. Recently, a school teacher came to teach us how to sing, but unfortunately, they had to leave due to commitments and have not been able to come back.’’ N5: “Volunteers can’t come regularly; they come once in a while or not regularly and don’t have a plan.” N7: “Volunteers come to the nursing home occasionally, so they don’t want to bother them.”

The mismatch between service provision and actual demand

The voluntary services provided to older adults in nursing institutions were not able to match their real needs as the volunteers had no prior knowledge of their needs and did not make any advance preparations.

N4: “Last time, a volunteer came and asked me if I needed help with cleaning. However, I declined their kind offer because caregivers in the nursing home clean rooms every day, and the volunteers could not address the specific things I needed help with.”

The needs of older adults for volunteering can vary significantly based on their experiential backgrounds, and physiological and psychological conditions. Therefore, providing the same services to all older adults can lead to negative feelings towards volunteering among them.

N10: “Some volunteers come just to dance and sing, it feels very noisy. I don’t want to participate, I want the volunteers to talk to me peacefully and quietly.” N14: “I am not very good with my legs, so it is difficult for me to participate in activities organized by the volunteers downstairs. I would like to find activities I can participate in in my room, such as playing games or doing crafts.”

Theme 2 needs for volunteerism

Needs for emotional comfort.

Many older adults live in semi-closed institutions where they lack long-term support from their families and struggle to find someone to talk to. During the epidemic, nursing home organizations prohibited visitors to prevent the spread of the virus, leaving many seniors alone and cut off from the outside world. As a result, many older adults experience feelings of loneliness and depression. To help combat these negative emotions, volunteers can provide companionship and support, which can effectively reduce feelings of loneliness and promote emotional well-being.

N1: “I hope someone will come and chat with us; many older adults have no way to contact the outside world, so they have psychological barriers, they need psychological counseling, they need someone to come and chat with them to relieve their loneliness.” N10: “It’s better to have volunteers to come over to the service, to come and chat with me, to visit me.” N12: “I would like volunteers to communicate with us, tell us what is happening outside, tell us something new.”

Cultural and recreational needs

As people age, their social interactions tend to decrease, and they gradually tend to withdraw from daily life. This results in older adults having more free time after their retirement. Nursing home organizations can provide basic living care and medical assistance for older adults, which relieves them of the burden of cooking, cleaning, and shopping. This also means they have more free time than those who live at home or in the community. Many older adults wish to participate in cultural and recreational activities, such as singing, dancing, sports, and watching performances, to add excitement to their lives. They hope that volunteers can organize such activities to help them reduce their loneliness and spend their time in a meaningful way.

N14: “It’s good for volunteers to come and teach us how to dance, sing, and sing opera, and time passes a little faster when we all get together and learn.” N2: “It is popular for volunteers to bring cultural performances to our nursing home, we love to see young people performing programs, singing some classic old songs or Peking Opera, it is very popular.” N9: “We would like to play tai chi, it is a very suitable sport for us as it strengthens the body and the movements are softer, it would be nice if a teacher could teach us.”

Knowledge acquisition needs

According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory, individuals will naturally shift their focus toward higher-level pursuits once their basic and low-level needs are met. In the case of older adults residing in nursing home organizations, their basic material needs are taken care of, and as a result, their need for knowledge and learning becomes increasingly important. Many older adults require assistance in learning how to use electronic equipment, which can help facilitate their communication with the outside world and reduce feelings of isolation.

N1: “It’s become very convenient to buy things online, but I don’t know how to operate it myself and would like someone to teach me.” N2: “My daughter bought me an expensive Apple phone, but I am unfamiliar with how to use it. It would be great if someone could systematically instruct me on how to use the smartphone.” N8: “I don’t know how to use my smartphone, I don’t understand many functions, so I would benefit from having a teacher to guide me.”

As individuals age, their bodily and cognitive functions may deteriorate, adversely affecting their quality of life. Basic healthcare knowledge can be critical for older adults to maintain good health. Many older adults have a strong desire to learn about nutritional diets, rational exercise, and traditional Chinese medicine physiotherapy as a means of improving their health.

N9: “Volunteers can come and talk to us about medicine and how to predict dementia.” N13: “I have high blood pressure and cholesterol. I need advice on what to eat and what to avoid.”

To prevent any disagreements regarding the distribution of their assets among their heirs after they pass away, older adults seek the help of volunteers to assist them in drafting a will that is by national policies and regulations and has legal validity.

N12: “Volunteers can help us learn how to write a will effectively and can avoid unnecessary trouble and conflicts in the future.”

The current situation of voluntary experiences of older adults in nursing home organizations

Analysis of beneficial experiences.

The study’s findings indicate that individuals residing in nursing home organizations who are of advanced age have mixed experiences when it comes to receiving voluntary services. Most respondents conveyed the warmth and care emanating from the volunteers and the society towards older adults. Furthermore, they shared that volunteering offered them a means to engage in activities actively, create connections with fellow older adults, and foster mutual support and camaraderie. This social participation has the potential to enhance the mental well-being of older adults, thereby decreasing feelings of loneliness and depression [ 17 ]. Voluntary activities like smartphone training can help older adults acquire the necessary needed skills and adapt better to modern technology and life. Competent skills are crucial for older adults, particularly in today’s fast-developing technological society, where electronic devices such as smartphones are becoming increasingly popular. However, many older adults need more skills to operate these devices and thus cannot fully utilize them. Through training, older adults can learn how to use smartphones, including sending text messages, browsing the web, using social media, downloading applications, and more. Learning these skills not only improves the quality of life of older adults but also helps them stay connected with family and friends, thereby reducing loneliness.

Improved skills can assist older adults in accessing and utilizing health information, including online medical advice and health apps. This information can aid in managing their health status, preventing and managing chronic illnesses, and ultimately improving their quality of life. Volunteering is crucial in nursing home organizations. It provides numerous benefits to older adults, including enhancing their mental health and quality of life and receiving the necessary support and care by participating in voluntary activities [ 23 ].

Analysis of unpleasant experiences

During the interviews, some older adults shared negative experiences regarding the content, form, and frequency of voluntary services. They pointed out that volunteers did not understand their needs in advance, focusing too much on material assistance and neglecting their psychological and intellectual needs. Additionally, the service process is often too process-oriented and formalized, with less interaction with older adults, resulting in voluntary services failing to meet their expectations.

Research suggests that negative experiences of receiving voluntary services may impact older adults’ willingness to seek help and the effectiveness of voluntary services. Therefore, when providing voluntary services to older adults, it is essential to take the initiative to understand their experiences and continuously optimize the voluntary program. This approach is crucial to improving the quality of voluntary services [ 24 ].

The current situation of the demands for voluntary services by older adults

The study results show that nursing home organizations can provide comprehensive life care services to older adults, meaning they do not require many voluntary services for life care. However, this does not imply that older adults’ needs are met. Their need for emotional support, cultural recreation, and knowledge-seeking and learning is highly concentrated.

When older adults leave their familiar family environment to move into care institutions, they may experience feelings of loneliness and boredom due to the lack of regular interaction with their children, family members, and friends. This sense of isolation can harm their mental health, and they may seek more opportunities to communicate and interact with younger individuals to gain emotional comfort [ 25 ].

As people age, cultural entertainment and knowledge learning become essential for spiritual growth. After their basic living needs are taken care of, older adults desire more fulfilling recreational activities, such as calligraphy, painting, and singing, these activities enrich the spiritual life of older adults and benefit their physical and mental health [ 26 ].

In today’s rapidly developing society, the widespread use of smartphones and the popularity of online shopping have led to a digital divide among older adults. This phenomenon has, to some extent, hindered their social participation and increased their sense of isolation. Consequently, there is a growing demand for voluntary services that assist with smartphone use and can help them enjoy a convenient and fulfilling digital life.

The need for voluntary services for older adults has changed over time. While they still require help with their daily living, they also need emotional support, cultural engagement, and opportunities to learn new things. We should focus on meeting these needs to ensure our voluntary services are beneficial. By doing so, we can help older adults live fulfilling, healthy, and happy lives in their later years [ 27 ].

Suggestions and strategies for optimizing volunteerism

Accurately assessing older adults’ voluntary service needs.

The study results reveal that some older adults have negative experiences with voluntary services that fail to meet their actual needs, leading to unsatisfactory service outcomes. This highlights the need to accurately identify the real service needs of older adults to improve the quality and effectiveness of voluntary services.

To achieve our goal, we need to take a series of steps. Firstly, we must create appropriate tools for evaluating the needs of older adults for voluntary services. We should also clarify the assessment methods and strategies for assessing these needs, before launching voluntary services, relevant organizations and volunteers must understand older adults’ service experience and needs through qualitative and quantitative assessment methods [ 28 ].

To improve the quality and effectiveness of voluntary services for older adults, we can utilize big data technology to carry out precise reforms. This involves building a unified information platform for voluntary services that enables a quick match between the needs of older adults and the specialties of volunteers through the co-construction, sharing, and everyday use of resource information [ 29 ]. By doing so, we can provide multi-level, multi-category, and personalized voluntary services that cater to the actual needs of older adults, thus achieving the purpose of “precise service.”

In conclusion, we must prioritize the actual needs of older adults and provide them with more personalized and intimate voluntary services by continuously improving the assessment tools and information platforms with the orientation of precise services, the use of big data technology will play a key role in helping us realize the goal of efficient and accurate services.

Improving the quality management system of voluntary services

Volunteering quality refers to the quality of services volunteers provide, as perceived by the direct recipients. Research has shown that low-quality voluntary services fail to achieve their intended goals, moreover, negative experiences of receiving voluntary services may discourage older adults from seeking help in the future. The study highlights a significant gap between older adults’ experience of volunteering quality and their expectations, therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the management of volunteering quality to ensure that expectations are met.

To enhance the quality of volunteering, we need to implement measures. Firstly, we must optimize the recruitment and selection system for volunteers, this entails formulating recruitment plans and selection requirements that align with the voluntary services needs of older adults. We aim to create a stable and committed volunteer team skilled in services knowledge and job skills and willing to participate in voluntary services for an extended period [ 30 ].

To enhance the level and quality of service, it is important to provide regular and standardized training to volunteers. Volunteers should receive professional information support services, such as training on volunteer spirit, etiquette, communication skills, and the physiological and psychological characteristics of older adults. The main forms of training include information consultation, professional knowledge, technology lectures, sharing of previous volunteer experiences, summarizing stage-by-stage voluntary services, and experiential services. Volunteers should be provided with face-to-face or online interaction to help them improve their ability to assist older adults. The training for volunteering encompasses theoretical knowledge about volunteering, including its characteristics and principles, the rights and interests of service users, and respect for them. It also includes basic knowledge of social work, such as interpersonal communication methods and skills, as well as knowledge of health care for older adults. The latter includes the introduction of general knowledge about daily life care for older adults, such as diet, hygiene, and exercise, and the evaluation of the training’s effectiveness. Both voluntary service organizations and nursing home organizations should participate in the training process, only volunteers who have completed the training and assessment can engage in service activities [ 31 ]. It is essential to improve the evaluation mechanism of voluntary service quality. This can be done by creating a scientific evaluation index system involving older adults in evaluating their satisfaction with the voluntary service program and conducting a comprehensive analysis of the evaluation results. This analysis can help to optimize and improve the service program, additionally, tracking and evaluating the effectiveness of optimization measures to continuously enhance service quality is crucial [ 32 ].

Improving the quality of voluntary services is a comprehensive project that enhances various aspects, such as volunteer recruitment, training, and service quality evaluation. This systematic approach can help serve the nursing home organizations better and improve their overall quality of life.

Strengths and limitations

The paper’s strength lies in its focus on the experience of older adults in nursing institutions when receiving voluntary services and their need for such services. This study’s understanding of the real feelings and needs of older adults is beneficial for various organizations in society to provide better services in a targeted manner. However, the study’s limitation is that it mainly focuses on the more developed areas of Hangzhou, which affects the sample’s representativeness and makes it challenging to reflect the general situation of older adults in nursing home organizations. Additionally, the author’s subjective viewpoints may affect the analysis of the material during the data analysis process. Finally, the sample size of this study is relatively small, and there may be individual differences in personality, physical condition, and economic situation, among others. Therefore, expanding the sample size and the region’s scope to carry out more in-depth research is necessary.

This research explored the experiences and requirements of older adults who receive voluntary services in Chinese care homes. The study categorized their experiences into two groups: beneficial experiences and unpleasant service experiences, the needs of older adults who receive voluntary services include emotional comfort, cultural and recreational, and knowledge acquisition. It is crucial to have a timely and comprehensive understanding of the experiences and needs of older adults to create a targeted voluntary service model, standardized management, and training of volunteers in nursing home organizations.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. The datasets are not publicly available due to confidentiality and ethical restrictions.

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Acknowledgements

We want to express our heartfelt appreciation to the 14 older adults who participated in the interview and shared their experiences. We are also grateful to the administrators of nursing home organizations in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, for granting us access and allowing us to conduct the interviews at their facility. Their cooperation was invaluable in gaining insights into the needs of older adults.

This study did not receive any form of financial support.

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Lin Li, Qin Shen & Junxian Wu

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Li and Wu were responsible for data collection, sorting, and analysis, and Li wrote the paper. Shen directed and revised the article and approved the final version for publication. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Qin Shen .

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The study protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (approval No. 20230814-2). Before the interviews, the participants were provided with information regarding the study’s purpose and procedures, the voluntary nature of their participation, and the confidentiality of their data. The interview data was stored securely, and only the research team could access it. The Ethics Committee of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University approved this study.

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Li, L., Shen, Q. & Wu, J. The experiences and needs of older adults receiving voluntary services in Chinese nursing home organizations: a qualitative study. BMC Health Serv Res 24 , 547 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11045-5

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Received : 25 December 2023

Accepted : 25 April 2024

Published : 29 April 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11045-5

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