Thinking About Travel Nursing?
Whether you’re an RN exploring career options or ready to dive into travel nursing, it’s important to understand the demand, specialties, and what fits your goals. Travel nurses often enjoy higher pay, flexible schedules, and opportunities to explore new places. Not ready to commit fully? Try local travel contracts to get started.
What Is a Travel Nurse?
A travel nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who takes short-term assignments (usually 13 weeks) at facilities experiencing staffing shortages. Contracts can often be extended based on the facility’s needs.
Top Benefits:
- Higher Pay: Travel nurses averaged higher wages in 2024, compared to staff nurses.
- Flexibility: Many take time off between contracts for rest or travel.
- Variety: Work in diverse locations and medical settings.
In-Demand Travel Nurse Specialties
Labor & Delivery (L&D) Nurse
Support mothers through labor, delivery, and immediate postpartum care in hospitals, clinics, or birthing centers. L&D nurses are essential for ensuring safe births, providing emotional support, and responding to complications as they arise. This is one of the most rewarding—and highest-paying—specialties in nursing.
Read: How to Become a Labor & Delivery Nurse
Key Skills: Calm under pressure, strong communication, cultural competence
Certifications: BSN, NCLEX-RN, NRP, RNC-OB, BLS, ACLS, C-EFM
Operating Room (OR) Nurse
Work closely with surgical teams to prepare patients, maintain sterile environments, assist during operations, and provide post-op care. OR nurses are essential in reducing surgical risk and ensuring patient safety.
Read: How to Become an OR Nurse
Key Skills: Detail-oriented, adaptable, team-focused
Certifications: CNOR, BLS, TNCC, CRNFA
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Nurse
Monitor patients immediately after surgery to ensure they recover safely from anesthesia. PACU nurses must quickly detect any signs of complications and provide critical post-op support.
Key Skills: Quick assessment, vigilance, comfort with high-acuity patients
Certifications: ACLS, PALS, BLS
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse
Deliver specialized care to premature and critically ill newborns in hospital NICUs. NICU nurses collaborate with neonatologists and pediatric specialists to support the most vulnerable patients and their families.
Key Skills: Precision, empathy, neonatal expertise
Certifications: NRP, S.T.A.B.L.E., BLS, ACLS
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurs
Provide life-saving care to critically ill or unstable patients requiring constant monitoring and intervention. ICU nurses work in high-pressure environments and often manage ventilators, IV drips, and complex medication regimens.
Read: How to Become an ICU Nurse
Key Skills: Critical thinking, emotional resilience, multitasking
Certifications: ACLS, CCRN, PALS, BLS
Emergency Room (ER) Nurse
Deliver fast, accurate care to patients with acute injuries or life-threatening conditions. ER nurses must triage patients quickly and remain composed in unpredictable, high-stress situations.
Key Skills: Rapid decision-making, crisis management, strong communication
Certifications: CEN, TCRN, ALS, BLS
Step-Down / Progressive Care Nurse
Care for patients transitioning out of the ICU who still require close observation. These nurses manage complex equipment and provide detailed monitoring as patients stabilize.
Key Skills: Advanced monitoring, clinical judgment, attention to detail
Certifications: PCCN, ALS, BLS
Pediatric (PEDS) Nurse
Treat infants, children, and adolescents in a variety of settings—from hospitals and outpatient clinics to schools and private practices. Pediatric nurses offer both medical care and emotional support to young patients and their families.
Key Skills: Patience, pediatric-specific communication, family-centered care
Certifications: CPN, PED-BC, BLS
Long-Term Care (LTC) Nurse
Support elderly or chronically ill patients in rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, or assisted living facilities. LTC nurses build strong relationships with their patients and often manage long-term treatment plans.
Key Skills: Compassion, consistency, geriatric care knowledge
Certifications: BLS, geriatric specialties
Ready to Start Your Travel Nurse Journey?
With so many specialties to choose from, your ideal travel nursing role is out there. Build your experience, earn certifications, and take your career on the road. Browse Current Travel Nursing Opportunities!