Registered nurses in the US who work on short-term contracts through staffing companies have similar education levels, are typically more diverse than permanent staff and are more willing to relocate for employment, according to a new study led by researchers at the New York state-based University of Rochester’s School of Nursing.

The study compared data from the US National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses from 1984 to 2008 for supplemental and permanent nurses and was published in the journal Health Affairs.

According to the study’s findings: 

• The proportion of supplemental and permanent nurses holding bachelor’s degrees in nursing increased from 1984 to 2008, from 34% to 46% for supplemental nurses and from 33% to 50% for permanent nurses. On average, supplemental nurses had only three years less nursing experience than permanent nurses.

• During the period surveyed, between 4.4% and 13.7% of supplemental nurses worked in states in which they didn’t reside, compared with 2.6 to 4.5% of permanent nurses.