Agency places travel nurses to help combat coronavirus outbreak

A staffing agency that supplies travel nurses has seen a huge increase in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic

Spotted: As hospitals in the US and elsewhere are straining to care for the huge influx of coronavirus patients, a nursing staffing agency has seen its business take off. Next Move, an agency which places travel nurses, has only been in business for a year but has seen its business take off as it works to supply nurses to hospitals coping with the coronavirus outbreak.

The agency specialises in travel nurses – nurses who take up short term positions, usually for around 13 weeks. ​Travel nursing tends to pay higher wages than a normal position and allows nurses to gain experience while travelling and having adventures, and to try out working in different parts of the country before making a permanent move. Next Move reports that a large number of travel nurses have approached the agency to ask where they can be of the most help. 

Many hospitals are facing a nursing shortage due to a number of factors, including growing patient numbers, the fact that some hospitals have had to quarantine large numbers of their staff, and an increase in the need to rapidly replace sick team members. At the same time, a large number of private hospitals are closing down or cutting staff, due to a shortage of paying patients.

Next Move had expected to see around $8.5 million in revenue this year but now predicts between $13 and $14 million. However, the agency is also honest with nurses who have asked to help. Founder John Nolan cautions that: “There’s no way to comprehend what it’s like to go to work for 18 hours and have all your patients die, not be able to take any breaks, be way understaffed, and not have enough protection equipment.”

Next Move is one of many innovative companies that is adapting its business model to the growing numbers of people who want to work and travel at the same time. Related businesses covered by Springwise include a platform that allows freelancers to work in exchange for accommodation and a platform that links employees with short-term sabbaticals. Another platform is working to match those made jobless with urgent available jobs.

Explore more: Health & Wellbeing Innovations | Travel & Tourism Innovations