I'm a traveling nurse. The title loosely includes flight nurses who ping around the globe in air ambulances. It also includes those who work for humanitarian organizations doing relief and development work. The vast majority of traveling nurses do short term (13 weeks is the norm, though I've done as short as 2 and as long as 26) contracts at hospitals. They are usually contracted by an agency that provides housing, travel, insurance, etc. It's not just for nurses. Physicians, pharmacists and therapists can all do such "Locums" work as well. It's a great way to see the world. Right now, I'm headed to coastal Maine to start a 13 weeker. After that, who knows????