Travel Respiratory Therapists: A Professional Choice Phenomenon Explored

Abstract

Background:

Travel respiratory therapy has been a professional choice for a small cohort of respiratory therapists (RTs). Over the past two years a professional choice phenomenon occurred where more RTs chose to incorporate traveling in their career instead of traditional employment. Although higher pay is commonly assumed to be the main attraction, multiple factors motivate RTs to transition to a travel work assignment. What is causing this shift? What is it about traveling that attracts RTs? What is it that encourages RTs to extend their contracts?

Methods:

An IRB approved study of travel RTs using online survey. We solicited responses through various social media channels from 2/1/2021 through 5/1/2021. We collected, age, years of RT experience, gender identity, and highest level of education. We used a 5-point Likert scale from 1 = agree to 5 = disagree for the following questions: I look after my personal wellbeing, I find travel work interesting. We asked travelers to rank what made them decide to be a travel RT, and what factors typically lead them to extend at a facility.

Results:

89 unique subjects age 20-68 years (mean = 42) with 1 year to more than 25 years of respiratory experience (mean = 12) were identified. More travel RTs identified as female (78.7%). Highest level of education was Master’s (14.6%), Bachelor’s (34.8%) and Associate’s (50.6%). Fifty-six (62.9%) travel RTs agree they look after their personal well-being, 18 (20.2% partly agree), 10 (11.2%) neither agree or disagree, and 5 (5.6%) partly disagree. Forty-five (50.6%) travel RTs agree their work is interesting, 28 (31.5%) partly agree, 10 (11.2%) neither agree nor disagree, 4 (4.5%) partly disagree, and 2 (2.2%) disagree. Categories ranked as most important when deciding to travel, in order, were: pay, new experiences/learn new things, travel/adventure, and avoiding job politics. Pay (47.2%), schedule (22.5%), and friendliness to travelers (18%) topped the reasons for accepting extensions.

Conclusions:

Travel RTs age is consistent with average age of RTs in the United States. Most RTs taking the survey identify as female (78.7%) where 62.5% of all RTs employed are female. Almost half (49.4%) reported having a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree compared to only 30% of all employed RTs. These RTs prioritize pay, new experiences, adventure, and avoiding job politics. They focus on their well-being. Pay, schedule and traveler friendliness of the host facility are important factors in extension acceptance.