Thousands of nurses across the country are responding to the call for volunteers to provide medical aid in Haiti following its devastating Jan. 12 earthquake. National Nurses United, the largest RN organization in the country, says that more than 12,000 nurses have answered the call to serve, awaiting only funds (the NNU is asking for donations) and logistical arrangements (transportation, lodging, etc.) to be deployed to Haiti.

This development presents two types of opportunities for the travel nurse. First, nurses between assignments may choose to do a volunteer stint in Haiti.  American Traveler has seen many of its RNs volunteer over the years, and encourages those who wish to serve in Haiti to do so.

The second opportunity involves travel nursing jobs that will become available to fill the temporary absences.  These are likely to be opening up all across the country; check our rn jobs list often for new travel nursing assignments.

In Florida, there has been a particularly large response from volunteers – and thus a looming shortage of licensed nurses. That means there’s a good chance that there will be many excellent Florida travel nursing jobs opening up.

To make it even easier and more desirable for a traveling nurse to take a temporary nursing job in Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist has passed an emergency executive order to expedite the process for licensure by endorsement of nurses holding a valid license to practice in another state.