11 Reasons to Become a Travel Nurse

There are many reasons to become a Travel Nurse. I was a Travel RN for 3 years, and I learned how awesome it can be. While there are pros and cons to everything, this post will go over the pros of travel nursing – how it can enhance your life and why you should consider trying it out if you are up for an adventure.

Travel Nursing means working as a contracted nurse in different places. Typically, contracts are 13 weeks, but they can vary. You work for an agency, who finds you a job according to your skills and preferences, and you move there to work for a few months.

To be totally transparent with you, I also wrote a post about the Cons of Travel Nursing. I think the Pros on this list outweigh the Cons, but you should be aware of both. I also wrote about general advice for Travel Nurses.

Note: I know other countries have travel nursing, but I don’t know all the ins and outs of everywhere. This post has to do with my experience travel nursing in the United States, but the awesome-ness can still apply to other places.

Extra Note: Covid has changed Travel Nursing for the moment. Speaking about the United States, we went through a period of crisis rates when Covid ravaged NYC. We opened a Covid only hospital here in MN and hired travelers. Then there was a lull. Because hospitals have less money due to cancelled elective procedures, hardly anyone was hiring Travel Nurses. Now, July, I’m seeing tons of contracts again. This will most likely change again. If you can be ready to go to a contract quickly and are super flexible, now might be an amazing time to try Travel Nursing.

#1 Money

Travel nurses get paid more than regular nurses, and you have the potential to make a crap ton. If a medical center is hiring a travel nurse, it means that they’re pretty desperate for a nurse. They need that position to be filled fast or they need someone short-term, and they’re willing to pay a nurse more to fill it. Therefore, if you’re a flexible travel nurse, you can significantly increase your salary.

#2 This Country at your Fingertips

The United States is a beautiful place. We have 50 states, 59 National Parks, more than 35,000 museums, and SO many places to explore. It’s easier to see all the United States has to offer if you move around and check out new towns and cities. Of all the reasons to become a Travel Nurse, this is my favorite.

Thanks to Travel Nursing, I learned that Cape Cod has the most beautiful sunsets.

#3 Taxes (Less of Them)

Because you are required to move a lot, travel nurse companies will pay you a housing stipend that is tax-free if you have a tax home. And isn’t no taxes everyone’s dream?

#4 Adventure

If you take an assignment in Denver, Colorado, you will see that city and more. Travel nurses are typically the adventurous type, so you and your new friends will have the opportunity to visit all the places around where your travel assignment is. This is especially true if you are only working 3 days a week.. you will have so much time to plan epic trips.

While travel nursing, I lost count of all the new places I experienced. I had the travel mindset, so I was constantly heading to new cities and parks. Whether it was a short flight to Phoenix from Denver, a road trip to Moab, or driving across 12 states, adventures were always available.

More on Travel Nursing : How to Adventure More as a Travel Nurse

Travel Nursing is also a great option if you want to do more travel abroad. You know when a contract is ending, so you can plan anything you want in between contracts. You are free to do what you want.

For advice on how to travel while working full-time, I guest-posted on Hippie in Heels (a fantastic travel blog you should check out) with 12 sensible ways to do this.

Did you know Moab, UT is only 4 hours from Denver, CO? I didn’t either until I was a travel nurse. And Moab is out of this world incredible.

#5 Professional Development and Experience

Working at different hospitals, with different people, with different protocols, and having to learn things quickly will make you a very adaptable nurse. You will pick up new skills and techniques every place you go, and you will keep that knowledge for the rest of your career. Everyone is all about “best practices;” you will know them.

Once you decide to stop travel nursing, managers will gladly hire you. If you have experience as a travel nurse, they know that you have certain skills. You will be adaptable, quick to learn, and personable. Travel Nurse looks great on a resume.

#6 All the Food

Another one of my favorite reasons to become a travel nurse was trying all the food in each new city that I was getting to know. I ate a bunch of barbecue in Texas, hot chicken in Nashville, seafood in Boston, and tons of ice cream in Cape Cod. I’m all about using the place I’m living as an excuse to eat what I want.

Why yes, I do consider breakfast tacos in Austin, TX as one of the reasons to be a Travel Nurse.

#7 New Friends

Like I said before, travel nurses are adventurous folks. Being a travel nurse is an adventure in itself, and that seems to permeate into every aspect of your life. Therefore, the people you meet will be fun-loving, try-anything types of people. Some of the best people. And then you will know friends in every corner of the country.

#8 No Drama

I have never worked on a nursing unit that did not have drama. Nursing is hard. Working is hard. So there always seems to be things that cause people to be unhappy. Luckily, none of the negativity matters for you! You can listen to the grumblings with a smile on your face because you know you will be moving on in a couple months.

Nashville was one of my favorite places to live.

#9 Personal Growth

Travel nursing taught me patience, compassion, gratitude, and more. Nursing on its own instills these characteristics in me everyday, but travel nursing allowed for extra growth.

I was often moving to new places alone, and a simple act of kindness from someone else always moved me. Not surprisingly, this has taught me to always be kind. You truly never know what someone is going through.

You learn to be really grateful for what you have. Not having a “home” can be hard, but it made me grateful for my family and close friends, who were there for me even when I was miles away. Finding housing is hard, so I was always grateful to have a bed to sleep on and a roof over my head. And when I would find my new favorite coffee shop close to home, I would feel such joy.

Travel nursing requires a lot of patience. Having to change jobs every few month seemed to always bring complications… like how many TB tests can you be required to get in a year? Or why is this person not emailing me back asap? Now, when things go wrong, I am able to laugh them off and roll with mishaps more easily. Mishaps happen.

Reasons to Become a Travel Nurse : See more mountaintops.

#10 Trust

I believe that everything always works out in the end, and being a traveler solidified this for me. There were occasions when I thought I wouldn’t find a job or that I’d be homeless in Nashville, but things worked out. Every. Single. Time. If you work hard towards what you want, the universe often leads you to just what you were hoping for. If you don’t have some trust, you will spend all of your time stressing about the little/big things.

#11 Forever Home

If you aren’t sure where you want to settle down, what better way to try places out than Travel Nursing? I used to be very anti-commitment, so 3 month contracts were fantastic. Spend some time getting to know a place and then decide if you want to stay or move on.

Happy Exploring!

These are 11 reasons to become a Travel Nurse, but each person finds their reasons to love or hate it. I loved my time as a travel nurse. I always felt so free and full of adventure. Drop a comment below if you were/are a travel nurse and you have some favorite things to add!

For Advice for Travel Nurses, read this. For the Cons of Travel Nursing, head here. If you’re struggling with rotating shifts or working night shift, I have tips for you here.

If you end up in Minnesota, be sure to check out the Ice Castles.  If you snag a job in Nashville, take some time to explore these 8 Waterfall Hikes.  Maybe you are extra adventurous and go to the Virgin Islands, see Water Island.

And please email me if you have any interest in Travel Nursing. I’d love to answer your questions and give recommendations on which company to use, where to go, etc.  [email protected]

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