A travel nurse assignment allows registered nurses to fill temporary staffing needs across the country. Understanding the weekly work commitment is important, as the structure differs from traditional staff positions. The number of hours contracted directly impacts weekly earnings, work-life balance, and the ability to explore a new location. These scheduled hours form the foundation of the contract and determine the rhythm of the travel nursing lifestyle.
The Standard Travel Nursing Contract
The most common guaranteed commitment for travel nurses in acute care settings is 36 hours per week. This figure represents the minimum paid time the facility guarantees the nurse will work and be compensated for, often called “guaranteed hours.” Contracts typically span 13 weeks, guaranteeing 468 hours over the assignment. This standard baseline differs from the typical 40-hour full-time staff nursing schedule. The guaranteed minimum protects the nurse against unforeseen events like low patient census, which could otherwise lead to canceled shifts and lost income.
Common Shift Structures for Travel Nurses
The 36 guaranteed hours are typically met through working three 12-hour shifts each week. This dominant pattern is prevalent in acute care units like the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Emergency Room (ER), and medical-surgical floors. Some facilities may schedule shifts slightly longer, such as 13 hours, to account for mandatory charting and hand-off procedures. Less common are 10-hour shifts, which are usually found in specialized procedural areas or outpatient clinics operating during standard business hours.
Variations in Weekly Contract Hours
While 36 hours is the baseline, travel nursing offers alternative contract lengths to meet diverse facility needs. The 48-hour contract is often utilized during periods of high patient volume or extreme staffing shortages. These contracts require the nurse to work four 12-hour shifts per week, usually offering a premium pay rate.
Another common variation is the 40-hour contract, involving five 8-hour shifts per week. This structure is typical in settings like outpatient clinics, procedural areas, or long-term care facilities that maintain a traditional Monday-to-Friday schedule. Conversely, some specialized contracts may offer a lighter commitment, such as a 30-hour week. Nurses must evaluate the total compensation package, as agency fixed costs are spread over a different number of hours.
Understanding Mandatory Overtime and Call Requirements
A travel nurse’s actual hours may extend beyond the guaranteed weekly commitment. Overtime can be voluntary (picking up an extra shift for premium pay) or mandatory (required by the facility to cover unforeseen emergencies or staffing gaps). While laws often prohibit hospitals from mandating overtime, facilities can still require additional time in specific, limited circumstances, such as a declared disaster or a patient care emergency.
Call requirements are a separate commitment, involving scheduled periods where the nurse must be available to return to the hospital on short notice. On-call time, or “beeper hours,” is compensated at a lower rate than clinical time, though the nurse receives a higher rate if called in to work. The frequency and maximum number of call hours per week should be clearly stipulated in the contract, particularly for units like the Operating Room or Labor and Delivery.
Flexibility in Travel Nurse Scheduling
Despite the fixed contract hours, travel nurses often experience flexibility in how those hours are arranged. Scheduling is typically determined by the hospital unit manager and finalized before the contract begins. A highly sought-after arrangement is block scheduling, where the nurse works all three shifts consecutively (e.g., Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday).
Block scheduling maximizes consecutive days off, often four days, which benefits travel and exploration. In contrast, staggered scheduling spreads the shifts throughout the week (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). While the total contracted hours are non-negotiable, securing block scheduling provides greater quality of life and freedom compared to rigid permanent staff scheduling.