In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, many things in the healthcare industry have changed. For instance, travel medicine jobs have surged in demand as hospitals and clinics work to fill staffing shortages and manage changing patient needs.
While staff shortages are not to be ignored, the fact that healthcare professionals who want to experience new work environments have more flexibility is a good thing. So, if you're passionate about healthcare and love to travel, you're in luck.
In today’s article, we’ll explore some of the most sought-after travel med jobs post-COVID, so stay tuned until the end.
1. Registered Nurse (Travel Nurse)
Nurses have become healthcare heroes, stepping into hot zones and providing critical care where it's most needed. You'll likely find opportunities in various specialties like ICU, ER, and telemetry, but it also depends on the area where you want to go.
As a travel nurse, your main job is to help fill a gap (which is quite big when it comes to this field), but you also get to be part of a dynamic team that adapts quickly to new environments. Furthermore, you have the advantage of building a diverse experience from different healthcare settings, which can be invaluable in enhancing patient care.
As a travel nurse, your salary may vary based on experience, specialty area, and location, but there are good chances you’ll make significantly more than your permanently stationed counterparts (sometimes up to $3,000 per week or more).
Additionally, it’s a lot easier to come to the US as a Registered Nurse and work as a travel nurse. Your visa application process is shorter and more flexible, and you’ll get to travel all over the country, meeting new medical teams, and learning about various environments.
2. Mental Health Professionals
The pandemic highlighted the need for robust mental health services as individuals faced unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. Additionally, as we learn more about mental health, scientists discovered it may also play an important role in living a long and happy life. Therefore, the stakes are getting higher with every new study.
This is why we now have a high demand for traveling mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), and psychiatric nurses. They are often recruited to cover shortages in underserved areas or to provide relief to full-time staff overwhelmed by high patient volumes.
3. Med Lab Tech (MLTs)
Laboratories are busier than ever with increased testing requirements for various pathogens, including coronavirus strains. Therefore, the number of travel lab tech jobs has surged as healthcare facilities strive to keep up with the volume of diagnostic tests while also addressing staffing fluctuations due to illness or quarantine among their staff.
Furthermore, as healthcare becomes more connected and technologically advanced, there's an ongoing need for tech-savvy lab professionals who can work with sophisticated laboratory information systems and automation.
4. Military Healthcare Worker
Military healthcare workers include a broad range of professionals, from doctors, nurses, medics, and mental health specialists to support staff such as medical laboratory technicians and administrators.
As a military healthcare worker, traveling to different places is part of your job description. You might get to work at military bases, aboard ships, or in field hospitals in various parts of the world.
You must be prepared to practice in diverse settings, from state-of-the-art facilities in the U.S. to provisional setups in conflict zones or humanitarian missions abroad. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased focus on public health, preventive medicine, and infectious disease control within military ranks.
5. Software Engineers
While not typically associated with the healthcare sector, software engineers play a critical role in its ongoing digital transformation.
The pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital health technologies, such as telehealth platforms, mobile health applications, electronic health records (EHRs), and advanced data analytics tools. Software engineers are the architects behind these systems, ensuring they're secure, user-friendly, and effective at improving patient care.
Wrap Up
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic pushed into high gear a lot of the changes that are happening as we speak across all facets of healthcare in the US and the world. As a result, we also see a shift towards more flexible, resilient, and technologically infused healthcare models, which is why traveling healthcare workers are in high demand.
So, if you’re willing to take your medical expertise on the move, you may be surprised by the number of offers and opportunities. This is a fantastic chance for professional growth, so if you have the possibility, you should take advantage of it.
