Even though nursing is an important job, it can become repetitive after a while. You might find yourself longing for a change of pace or scenery.
If this sounds like you, travel nursing could be the perfect career path.
We share the top reasons to be a travel nurse and how to find your ideal travel nursing position. Adventure awaits — are you ready for it?
Table of Contents
- Is Travel Nursing Right for You?
- 15 Reasons to Be a Travel Nurse
- Find Your Ideal Travel Nursing Position With Trusted Nurse Staffing
Is Travel Nursing Right for You?
Let’s be honest, nursing is hard work, and travel nursing is no exception.
Travel nursing is not all sunshine and roses and sometimes travel nurses get the worst shifts. However, there are a lot of benefits to travel nursing.
Check out the following list to see why travel nursing might be a good move for you.
15 Reasons To Be a Travel Nurse
A career as a travel nurse can be rewarding and fulfilling. You will work as a travel nurse in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities across the country for short periods.
There are many benefits to becoming a travel nurse, but these are just a few reasons nurses opt to pursue this career path.
Reason #1: It’s in the Name – You Get To Travel!
The name says it all!
Some travel nurses are just curious or feel as if they are stuck in a rut, while others have been bitten by the travel bug.
With proper licensing and with the appropriate educational requirements, you can work throughout the United States.
The opportunity to work as a travel nurse is particularly appealing to those who are adventurous. As a travel nurse, you can choose the locations of your assignments, and the agency pays for your travel to get there.
Maybe you will be in:
- Louisiana for Mardi Gras
- California for Stagecoach
- Colorado for skiing season; or
- Texas for South by Southwest
The possibilities are endless!
Not only do you get to work in the destination of your choice, you can make the most of your free time by exploring.
Reason #2: You Often Earn Higher Wages as a Travel Nurse
Have a lot of student loans to pay off?
On average, travel nursing pays more than staff nursing positions.
A travel nurse’s salary is higher than a staff nurse’s salary due to:
- Tax-free stipends
- Reimbursement of travel expenses; and
- Various monetary incentives
According to Indeed.com, the average weekly salary for a travel nurse in 2024 is $2,088. That is significantly higher than the average salary for staff nurses, which is $1,544.
Along with the higher salary, travel nurses have the opportunity to earn different types of bonuses.
Three standard bonuses are available to travel nurses:
- Hospital-provided bonus — This is considered a “completion bonus” and is paid by the hospital following the completion of the assignment.
- Agency-added bonus — This consists of money that the company does not include in its original compensation calculations.
- Agency-factored bonus — The company factors the bonus cost into the compensation.
Earning more money through referrals is another option. RNs who refer their friends to travel nurse companies will often be rewarded with referral bonuses.
In addition, free furnished housing or a housing stipend might be available. Travel nursing offers financial stability and peace of mind.
With a higher salary and other financial perks, it may be possible to pay off those student loans or even save for retirement.
Reason #3: Figure Out Where You Want To Live When You’re Ready To Settle Down
Have you ever considered moving to another state?
How about living near a beach if you love summer?
Enjoy hiking and want to live near the mountains?
With a traveling nurse career, you can live anywhere for a while!
Instead of settling down in an unknown area, you can move all over the country until you find the right place for you. Have you been thinking of relocating, but aren’t sure where? View current job listings on Pronto to get an idea of where travel nurses are needed most.
Reason #4: Experience Working in Diverse Settings
With new job environments come new procedures and learning opportunities.
Some settings you might work in as a travel nurse include:
- Big city hospitals
- Rural hospitals
- Community health centers
- University hospitals; and
- Urgent care
No matter where you go, they’ll do things a little differently in each location, and every experience you gain will be helpful.
Travel nursing provides you with access to facilities throughout the country that you might not otherwise consider.
In addition, you can boost your resume by taking on a contract at a reputable hospital or clinic.
Just imagine your resume being full of exciting and diverse experiences. With travel nursing, you will have the most impressive resume around if you decide to take a location-stable job based on:
- Your new professional contacts
- New on-the-job skills; and
- Your experience in many types of environments
Reason #5: Use Breaks Between Contracts To Do Whatever You Please
Travel nurses usually work with 13-week contracts. However, as the profession grows and demands change, there are more variations in contract lengths.
Whatever your contract might be, the time you take off between assignments is entirely up to you.
Finish an assignment, head to Europe!
Finish another job, fly to Asia!
But, of course, you can also go home to spend time with family and friends.
All of this is on your own schedule. Travel nursing means you are not bound to long-term employment agreements and earned and scheduled vacation times.
Reason #6: Travel Nursing Allows You To Minimize Feelings of Burnout
Many staff nurses suffer from burnout after working in the same area for many years.
Nurse burnout is the state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion caused by sustained work-related stressors such as:
- Long hours
- The pressure of quick decision-making; and
- The strain of caring for patients who may have poor outcomes
Travel nursing is as demanding as any other nursing job; however, think of it as a working vacation every time you move to a new assignment.
Your energy level may be kept up, and your smile becomes genuine when you change:
- Scenery
- Co-workers; and even
- The weather
If you are a nurse suffering from burnout, travel nursing might be just the change you need.
Reason #7: Avoid Workplace Politics
Does anyone enjoy workplace politics? The answer is an unequivocal, “NO!”
No job is free of workplace politics or drama, and travel nursing is no exception, but there is a huge benefit of being a short-term employee:
There is no or minimal management drama or politics for travel nurses. Since they are not stationed in one place for an extended period, they can go in, do their jobs, and focus on caring for patients.
It’s okay if the assignment is not a perfect fit; shortly, a new assignment will be given to you. This thought can keep you going on those long workdays.
Reason #8: Save on Your Cost of Living
If you are interested in saving on the cost of living, travel nursing might be ideal for you.
Many travel nursing companies offer free, private housing. As a result, many everyday living expenses are eliminated or drastically decreased with your housing expenses covered.
If saving on the cost of living is your goal, you might want to look into areas known for their low cost of living.
Living in an area with a lower cost of living will help drive down spending and monthly expenses.
Reason #9: Meet New People and Make Connections Across the Country
As you travel to and from facilities, you will have the chance to connect with people from all different walks of life.
You will get to know new people — from your colleagues at the facility to friends you make outside of work. The people you meet and connect with are those you would otherwise never meet.
You’ll make friends all over the country. An added bonus? Just imagine visiting your new friends on vacations in the future!
Another bonus to meeting new people is building your network while working alongside various healthcare professionals.
You never know when one of those relationships could translate into a future job opportunity.
Reason #10: Travel Nursing Allows You To Be Adventurous and Try New Things
In addition to the benefits and security of a nursing career, travel nursing offers many opportunities for adventures.
Every new city will have something new to experience.
Just imagine, on your days off, you can:
- Go hiking in the Rockies
- Relax by the beach
- Tour historical sites; and
- Much more
These are activities you can do in solitude or with the new friends you will be meeting.
With travel nursing, every day can be a new adventure.
Reason #11: Learn How To Live Independently
Have you always lived with family or roommates? Travel nursing allows you to be independent and solely responsible for yourself.
Learn how to:
- Stand up for yourself
- Shop and cook for one; and
- Enjoy solitude
As Alison Gopnik once said, “Becoming an adult means leaving the world of your parents and starting to make your way toward the future that you will share with your peers.”
Reason #12: Job Security! Nurses Are Needed Everywhere
In a field where demand consistently outpaces supply, travel nurses enjoy unparalleled job security, even in times of economic uncertainty. Across the United States and globally, hospitals and medical facilities face nursing shortages due to an aging population, increased healthcare needs, and evolving medical practices.
Travel nurses play a critical role in filling these gaps, especially during:
- Peak seasons
- Emergencies; or
- When facilities face staffing challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, highlighted the essential need for adaptable and mobile nurses to support overburdened systems.
Travel nurses often receive multiple job offers, giving them the power to choose roles that best suit their preferences. Their adaptability and willingness to relocate make them highly sought after in both urban hospitals and rural clinics. Agencies, like Trusted Nurse Staffing, also actively recruit and match nurses with open assignments, ensuring a continuous pipeline of opportunities.
If you’re ready to take the leap — or even if you’d just like to see what’s available — check out the many listings for travel nurses on Pronto today!
Reason #13: Make a Difference in Underserved Communities
By taking assignments in underserved or rural areas, travel nurses help provide essential healthcare services to populations that might otherwise go without adequate care. These communities often lack permanent staff, and the presence of a skilled, compassionate travel nurse can be transformative, improving outcomes and offering support during critical times.
Beyond the technical skills, travel nurses bring fresh energy and perspectives to the teams they join. Their ability to adapt to diverse environments and build rapport with patients and staff fosters a sense of hope and reassurance, even in challenging circumstances.
Every assignment offers the chance to touch lives, whether by:
- Helping a rural hospital keep its doors open
- Comforting a patient in need; or
- Mentoring local staff
For travel nurses, making a difference isn’t just part of the job — it’s the heart of it.
Reason #14: Pad Your Resume With Impressive Experience
Travel nursing is a unique career path that offers unparalleled opportunities for professional growth. By working in diverse healthcare settings, travel nurses gain a broad range of experiences that:
- Sharpen their skills
- Enhance their adaptability; and
- Expand their knowledge base
Each assignment brings exposure to new patient populations, medical technologies, and treatment protocols. For example, a travel nurse might work in a high-tech urban hospital on one assignment and a resource-limited rural clinic on the next. This variety helps nurses become more versatile and resourceful, developing a well-rounded skill set that can set them apart in the field.
Travel nurses also have the chance to explore different specialties and departments, from emergency care to pediatrics, without long-term commitments. This exposure allows them to discover their passions and potentially advance into specialized roles or leadership positions.
Reason #15: Say Hello to the Tax-Free Perks
One of the most attractive financial benefits and top reasons to be a travel nurse is the tax-free perks that come with many travel nursing assignments. These tax-free allowances can significantly increase a travel nurse’s overall income, providing financial advantages often unavailable in traditional nursing roles. Here’s how these perks work and why they matter:
- Housing stipends: Travel nursing agencies often provide housing stipends or arrange housing for their nurses, and the best part is that these stipends are tax-free as long as certain conditions are met.
- Meals and incidentals: Many agencies offer per diem allowances for meals and incidentals, which are also tax-free. These allowances help cover daily expenses like food, transportation, and other incidentals during assignments.
- Travel reimbursements: Travel nurses often receive reimbursement for travel expenses, such as flights, gas, and car rentals, to get to their assignment. These reimbursements are typically tax-free, provided they meet the IRS guidelines.
- Tax deductions: Travel nurses may also be eligible for additional tax deductions based on the nature of their work. For instance, they can often deduct expenses related to maintaining their tax home, such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and travel costs.
By taking advantage of these perks, travel nurses can maximize their income while enjoying the personal and professional benefits of traveling the country or world.
Find Your Ideal Travel Nursing Position With Trusted Nurse Staffing
Whether you are looking for your first travel nursing assignment or are ready for a new journey, Trusted Nurse Staffing can support you at every step.
Our main objective is to help you achieve your full potential as a traveling nurse. To help with this, we will provide:
- Access to your recruiter 24 hours a day.
- Flexible contracts, ranging from per diem to 52-week assignments.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
- A quality assurance department devoted to making your travel nurse experience the best it can be.
Contact us today if you are ready to join our team and start your travel nurse adventure.