The traveling nurse phenomenon is exemplary bureaucratic absurdity. To paraphrase a conversation with a nurse friend: Nurse: It's really hard for us to hold on

The traveling nurse phenomenon is exemplary bureaucratic absurdity. To paraphrase a conversation with a nurse friend: Nurse: It's really hard for us to hold on to our good nurses, we can't afford support staff so they get stressed out and leave for traveling gigs. Me: Why can't you afford support staff? Nurse: The traveling nurses cost 3x more. We have to hire traveling nurses to replace the ones that left for traveling gigs. Me: ... Nurse: I know... Me: Can't we just... pretend they are all traveling nurses? Nurse: I know... I'm not a big fan of defrauding your employer, but sort of hope that some of these "traveling nurses" are somehow swapping gigs secretly and subletting their temporary housing to college students.