Advocating on behalf of nurses to have opportunities and avenues to be recognized as critical members of the sexual and reproductive healthwork force is an essential component of NSRH's mission. We do this by developing education, programs, and community spaces that advance the skills and network of nurses to continue providing full-spectrum SRH care.
When SB-8 passed in Texas in 2021, we were grappling with the impact this would have not only on the thousands of people who deserve access to abortions but also on all of the healthcare staff committed to ensuring their communities have access to this care. With this in mind, NSRH created the Abortion Nursing Corps, a short-term travel program that places registered nurses at independent abortion clinics. The need for this program became even more critical when Roe v. Wade was overturned and abortion care workers began losing their jobs and clinics in protected states started seeing surges of patients. Our current system of healthcare and abortion access is failing us. As a national organization committed to SRH and reproductive justce, we have to reimagine new models of care - NSRH’s Abortion Nursing Corps program is one approach to building these new models.
The design of the Abortion Nursing Corps benefits both clinics and participating nurses.
For nurses who have dedicated their careers to abortion access, this program provides opportunity to continue that career outside of your local community. It is also a way for nurses with other experience to use their nursing license as a form of activism, build new skills, expand their SRH network and discover new places!
Nurses interested in this opportunity, check out the Nursing Program Guide and contact us at [email protected] with any additional questions.
For clinics, the post-Roe landscape has been challenging to say the least. The ways in which this program can be beneficial to you is limitless. Have a staff member taking parental leave? Need more bandwith to focus on hiring and onboarding long-term staff? Want to approve more PTO for staff? Need additional nurses to support in high volume months? This program is a great way to be ale to do any and all of those things without the hassle of hiring, onboarding and vetting temporary staff. Clinic managers at previous locations have each mentioned the benefit having additional nurses had on the patient experience and the flow of the clinic.
If your clinic is interested in participating as an Abortion Nursing Corps site, please read the Clinic Program Overview and complete this intake!
Frequently Asked Questions
The travel assignment lasts 8-weeks. If a nurse or clinic is interested in a different length of placement, that may be able to be accomodated on a case-by-case basis.The nurse is expected to complete the full work assignment.
Any nurse with an active license in good standing is eligibile to apply. However, NSRH will be prioritizing NSRH members and nurses with experience in abortion care. Please visit our Join to learn more about membership!
Other eligibility requirements:
- BLS certified
- ACLS Certified depending on the clinic
- Holds an active multi-state nursing license or a license in the placement state
- Up to date on vaccinations including tetanus, COVID, flu, and a negative TB skin test or chest x-ray within the last year
At this time NSRH is partnering with vetted clinic(s) that have identified a need for short-term staffing and can support a travel nurse role. For that reason, travel nurses will not be able to choose their placement site. However, nurses can identify a state or region preference on their applications.
No, it is free to apply and participate in the Abortion Nursing Corps.
All accepted applicants will either need to submit or complete:
- A valid multi-state nursing license in good standing
- Up-to-date vaccinations, including Sars-COVID 19
- Background check
- Current ACLS & BLS certification
- Reference check
Nurses with a valid license to work in the placement state, and who are working within the scope of that license and according to the laws of that jurisdiction should not be subject to any additional scrutiny or risk. NSRH has worked with healthcare attorneys to mitigate any risk to the nurse, but with the changing regulatory landscape regarding the provision of reproductive healthcare services, we cannot ensure that there is no risk. NSRH will support the nurse if any legal action is required as a result of properly provided services by a nurse who is licensed and certified to provide services in a jurisdiction.
The nurse will receive an hourly wage as well as a living stipend which will be distributed by the clinic site.
Individual liability insurance will be covered by NSRH and clinic facility insurance will cover the nurses as well.
Registered nurses who do not have abortion care experience, but may have other affiliate experience (ED, PACU, ambulatory-care etc.) can apply. We are prioritizing nurses with abortion care experience, especially those who may be out of work due to clinic closures.
If your clinic is interested in a travel nurse placement, please complete this form and our team will be in touch.