Why You Should Really Consider LTAC Travel Nursing

See a contract posted but see it’s at an LTAC hospital? Before my first LTAC travel nursing contract, I only had a small idea of what working a long term acute care hospital entailed.

Now that I’ve worked multiple LTAC contracts, let me share my experiences and insights to encourage you to take an LTAC assignment as well!

What Is LTAC Travel Nursing?

Long-Term Acute Care (LTAC) travel nursing is a really unique and rewarding endeavor for a nurse. In 13-week increments, you will be treating patients who require acute care for an extended period of time.

LTAC facilities specialize in treating patients with complex medical conditions who require extended hospitalization. In many ways, they act as a bridge between acute care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.

Patients at LTAC hospitals are typically stable enough to transfer from an ICU, but still require interventions that are too acute for a SNF.

For example, they may be weaning off a ventilator, require long term antibiotics, or have extensive burn/wound care.

Even within the umbrella of LTAC nursing, there are specialties such as neurotrauma units, burn units, and wound care units. As a travel nurse in this field, you’ll have the opportunity to work in various specialty settings across different locations, gaining valuable experience while making a positive impact on patients’ lives.

Patients in this specialty include patients recovering from strokes, brain injuries, Guillain-Barre, COVID-19, drug overdose, and MVAs, along with many other admitting diagnoses.

Benefits of LTAC Travel Nursing

1. Diverse Work Environments

One of the primary advantages of LTAC travel nursing is the chance to work in diverse healthcare settings. From large urban hospitals to smaller rural facilities, you’ll encounter a variety of cases and patient populations, broadening your skills and knowledge.

2. Professional Growth

LTAC travel nursing offers continuous learning opportunities. Working with patients who have complex medical needs allows you to expand your expertise, enhancing your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This experience can be a significant asset to your professional development.

Working in an LTAC facility will allow you to gain experience in tube feedings, ventilator/trach care, wound care, IV infusions, seizure management, blood product administration, among other acute care skills.

3. Adventure and Exploration

If you love to travel, LTAC travel nursing allows you to explore new cities and regions while advancing your career. Each assignment offers a chance to immerse yourself in different cultures and communities, making your work not only professionally enriching but also personally fulfilling.

Although often overlooked, there are LTAC hospitals all around the nation. Opening up your job search to include LTAC facilities can really allow you to sign a travel nurse contract in your dream location.

Downsides of LTAC Travel Nursing

1. Emotional Challenges

Dealing with patients facing prolonged illnesses and complex medical conditions can be emotionally taxing. As a travel nurse in LTAC, you may form deep connections with patients and their families, making it challenging to say goodbye at the end of an assignment.

I can recall days at my last LTAC assignment where every now and again I would just need a moment to go off of the unit to regroup. Although fulfilling, it can be very emotionally challenging to take care of patients day after day and see little progress in their health.

2. Adjusting to New Environments

Constantly moving from one location to another can be challenging, especially if you prefer stability. Adapting to new hospital protocols, team dynamics, and living situations requires resilience and flexibility.

At my last LTAC travel nursing assignment, I had only one day of training at the facility, and my first day after was on a whole different unit. As with all travel nursing specialties, you will be required to make that quick adjustment.

Pay Range for LTAC Travel Nursing

Personally, I was paid between $3,900-$4,400 per week for my contracts, paid every other week. However, that was prior to the downtrend in pay rates we’ve been seeing in recent months.

The compensation for LTAC travel nursing varies based on factors such as experience, location, and demand. Another factor that goes into pay rates is the benefits the travel nurse agency offered. I was not offered health insurance through my agency at that time, which contributed to the higher rate.

Researching the pay range for specific locations and collaborating with reputable agencies can help you secure a high paying assignment. Personally, I worked with the same agency with each of my LTAC assignments called Vibra Travels and had a wonderful experience each time.

Agencies Who Hire LTAC Nurses

Finding the right agency is crucial for a successful LTAC travel nursing career. Some reputable agencies that frequently hire LTAC nurses include:

1. Vibra Travels
2. American Mobile Healthcare
3. Cross Country Nurses
4. Aureus Medical Group
5. Travel Nurse Across America (TNAA)
6. FlexCare Medical Staffing

Before making a decision, carefully review each agency’s reputation, benefits, and available assignments to ensure they align with your career goals and preferences.

In conclusion, if you see an LTAC contract on your job feed, don’t immediately dismiss it. I am truly thankful for my time LTAC travel nursing and still use that experience today. Although often emotionally draining, it is equally fulfilling. It was during my time at LTAC hospitals that I really learned how to take care of myself (not just my patients) and I still use many of those self-care practices in my life today.

If you have any more questions about LTAC travel nursing, please feel free to reach out to me 🙂 Also, check out my post about my time in San Francisco where I worked at an LTAC Hospital!