Objective: The aim of this study was to explore factors related to a travel nurse completing or extending an assignment or leaving before the end of an assignment.
Background: Hospitals use various options for staffing shortages. One option is to contract with travel nurses. The recent increase in travel nurse utilization, coupled with the need to retain permanent staff and see a return on investment, requires an understanding of factors driving travel nurse decision-making.
Methods: This qualitative research used semistructured interviews and a survey with prepandemic-postpandemic participants that comprised travel nurses from 2 urban academic centers.
Results: Three themes emerged from the interview data: flexibility, support, and conditions.
Conclusions: Travel nurses report they will stay in an assignment if they feel supported and have flexibility and if the location is desirable. Matching institutional needs with travel nurse experience and assignment expectations can create a mutually beneficial experience for the institution, agency, and the travel nurse.
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