The Professional Association of Nurse Travelers (PanTravelers), a non-profit association, is a professional organization to advance and protect the nursing profession specialty of travel nursing. It was conceived by an alliance of healthcare travelers in July 2005 and incorporated in January 2006. Opened for public membership on May 1, 2007, the Association is open to nurses, therapists, technicians, and other allied healthcare professionals.
The Association's primary mission is to foster safe, fair, and humane work environments for Healthcare Travelers including the estimated 25,000 Registered Nurse Travelers employed in travel nursing in the U.S.
From 2005-2008 the Association President was Phil Light RN, the Chief Operating Officer was David Whitesell RN, and the Chief Financial Officer was Joseph Smith EA. Strategic direction is provided by a volunteer Advisory Board of Directors.
PanTravelers provides education about the business aspects of healthcare travel for new and experienced travelers. The Association also engages in the political arena by acting as a secure base for political action on legislation important to healthcare travelers and the healthcare travel industry. This includes lobbying state and federal lawmakers to advance the profession and protect the Association Members.