CVOR Travel Nurse Jobs in Tennessee

There’s a reason Nashville keeps getting called the Healthcare Capital of America — and for CVOR nurses, that’s not just a marketing line. Tennessee is home to some of the most influential health systems in the country, several of which are headquartered right in Nashville and run cardiac surgery programs across the state. Memphis brings a major academic medical center to the table, Knoxville has a growing cardiovascular footprint, and even Chattanooga and Johnson City keep CVOR teams busy. Bottom line: if you do hearts, Tennessee has work for you.

At Junxion Med Staffing, we take OR specialties seriously because our founder lived it — years as a traveling surgical tech before building an agency that actually gets what CVOR nurses need. Explore our CVOR travel nurse opportunities or see the full range of travel healthcare jobs in Tennessee.

Why Tennessee for CVOR Travel Nurse Jobs?

Tennessee’s healthcare industry isn’t just big — it’s structurally different from most states. Nashville alone is the operational headquarters for multiple major for-profit health systems that operate hospitals nationwide. That corporate concentration means investment flows into local cardiac programs, keeping ORs equipped with the latest technology and creating a constant demand cycle for skilled surgical staff.

Outside Nashville, the story is equally compelling. Memphis has a nationally recognized academic medical center with a Level I trauma designation and a full cardiovascular surgery portfolio. Knoxville’s university medical center is expanding its cardiac capabilities. And the east Tennessee corridor — Chattanooga through Johnson City — serves Appalachian communities with limited local access to cardiac surgery, driving referral volumes to regional centers.

Tennessee is an NLC compact state, so your multistate license is valid here. No extra application, no waiting. And while Nashville’s cost of living has crept up in recent years, it’s still well below coastal metro averages. Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga remain genuinely affordable — your housing stipend won’t vanish into rent the way it might in a more expensive market.

Where CVOR Nurses Work in Tennessee

• Nashville: Tennessee’s capital is the epicenter. Multiple major health systems — including some of the largest in the country — run cardiac surgery programs here. Case volume is high, the variety is exceptional (CABG, valves, aortic work, VADs, transcatheter procedures), and the facilities invest heavily in their ORs. This is also where pay tends to peak in the state.
• Memphis: Home to a powerhouse academic medical center and Level I trauma facility. The cardiovascular surgery program here handles complex cases that smaller regional hospitals can’t — think transplants, VAD implants, and high-acuity aortic repairs. It’s an assignment where you’ll sharpen your skills fast.
• Knoxville: East Tennessee’s largest city has a university medical center with an expanding cardiac surgery program. Knoxville offers a good middle ground — meaningful case volume without the intensity of Nashville or Memphis, plus an outdoor lifestyle that’s tough to match between shifts.
• Chattanooga: A growing healthcare market at the junction of Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. Cardiac surgery programs here are building capacity to serve a broadening patient base, and CVOR travelers are a key part of that growth. Affordable city, scenic setting, improving contract options.
• Johnson City: The Appalachian regional medical center here draws cardiac patients from a large, underserved geographic area. CVOR nurses in Johnson City see a steady caseload and work in a setting where their contribution makes a tangible difference for patients who’d otherwise travel hours for surgery.

Pay and Benefits

Tennessee CVOR assignments through Junxion average $3,049 per week, with pay ranging from $2,800 to $4,400+ based on facility, shift, and experience. Nashville commands the top rates — the combination of corporate health system budgets and high surgical volumes drives competitive offers. Memphis isn’t far behind. Knoxville and Chattanooga come in slightly lower on gross pay, but the cost of living difference can make the net take-home comparable.

• Average weekly pay: $3,049/week (range: $2,800 to $4,400+ depending on facility, shift, and experience)
• Housing stipend (you find your own place, stipend goes directly to you)
• Meals and incidentals stipend (tax-free M&IE)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Travel reimbursement to and from assignment
• 401(k) eligibility
• Dedicated recruiter: Not a call center. One person who knows CVOR, knows the Tennessee market, and picks up when you call.

Here’s a financial bonus a lot of travelers love about Tennessee: no state income tax. Zero. Every dollar of your taxable wages stays yours at the state level. For travel nurses already optimizing their tax situation with stipends and tax homes, working in Tennessee can be a significant net advantage over states that take 5-10% off the top.

Licensure and Requirements

Tennessee makes credentialing simple for compact-licensed nurses. Here’s your checklist:

• Tennessee RN license: Tennessee is an NLC compact state. If your home state is also compact and your multistate license is current, you can start working in Tennessee with no separate application. Coming from a non-compact state? Apply through the Tennessee Board of Nursing — expect 4-6 weeks for processing.
• BLS (required): Current AHA Basic Life Support certification. Standard for all clinical positions.
• ACLS (required): Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. Tennessee CVOR facilities won’t credential you without it.
• CNOR (preferred): CCI’s Certified Perioperative Nurse credential, requiring 2 years and 2,400 hours perioperative. In a competitive market like Nashville, CNOR can be the edge that gets you picked first.
• Minimum 2 years CVOR experience: Tennessee programs — especially in Nashville and Memphis — are selective. They want nurses with dedicated, recent CVOR experience. General OR background won’t cut it here.

Questions about the process? Head to our employee resources page or reach out to our team. We’ll make sure you’re submission-ready.

FAQs: CVOR Travel Nurse Jobs in Tennessee

Does my compact nursing license work in Tennessee?

Yes. Tennessee participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact. If your home state is also an NLC member and you hold a current multistate license, you’re authorized to practice in Tennessee immediately. Nurses from non-compact states need to apply for a Tennessee single-state license — don’t wait until you’ve accepted a contract to start that process.

What kinds of cardiac surgery cases are typical in Tennessee?

Tennessee’s CVOR caseload reflects its status as a major healthcare state. You’ll see high-volume CABG (on-pump and off-pump) everywhere. Valve repairs and replacements — aortic, mitral, and tricuspid — are routine at most programs. Nashville and Memphis facilities handle the advanced end: VAD implants, heart transplants, aortic aneurysm repairs, and a growing number of TAVR and transcatheter procedures. Regional centers in Knoxville and Chattanooga focus primarily on CABG and valve work.

What should I expect for call on a Tennessee CVOR contract?

Call expectations are contract-specific and always disclosed before you sign. Nashville’s larger programs often have deep enough teams to keep call manageable — maybe 3-6 shifts per month. Smaller programs in Chattanooga or Johnson City may need travelers on call more frequently. Memphis’s academic center falls somewhere in between, depending on the service and time of year. Your Junxion recruiter will lay out the exact call structure for every position you’re considering.

---

Ready to explore CVOR contracts in Tennessee? Talk to a Junxion recruiter today. If you’ve got eyeing Nashville’s big-volume programs or a quieter assignment in the mountains, we’ll find the right fit.

Explore More

• CVOR Travel Nurse Jobs: Full Specialty Hub
• Travel Healthcare Jobs in Tennessee
• CVOR Travel Nurse Job Breakdown: Pay, Perks, and States
• How to Become a Traveling Nurse
• Employee Resources

Know a CVOR nurse who’d crush it on the road? Refer them to Junxion and earn a bonus when they complete their first assignment.