10 Signs That Travel Nursing is for You

* Blog originally published on 3/13/17 was updated on 2/4/21

Have you ever wondered if the life of a travel nurse would be the right fit for you? Maybe you’ve met a few travel nurses and heard their stories of exploring new sights every season of the year. They share their adventures soaking up the sun in Florida, climbing mountains in Colorado, eating at all of the best BBQ joints in Texas, and making new friends along the way.

Does it seem too good to be true? It’s not! If you’re an RN or LPN with a passion for travel and enjoy shaking yourself out of a routine, travel nursing could be just the thing for you. 

Interested in seeing what types of nurses thrive in travel nursing jobs? You’ve come to the right place! Here are 10 signs proving that you would be perfect for a travel nursing career!

Nurses certainly know the meaning of hard work, but there’s also a lot of room for fun when you’re a travel nurse! Just think, if you get a job in California, Hawaii, New York, or Maine, you’re not going to want to spend all your time inside! Part of the allure of travel nursing jobs is being able to take advantage of every aspect of every location. If you know how to work hard and play harder, you’ll fit right in as a travel nurse.

If you’re ready to ramp up your resume, you’re ready to become a travel nurse. Travel nursing jobs offer not only the opportunities to learn new things, but the opportunities to put those skills on your resume! By working with a recruiter, you can strategically plan placements in different levels of patient care and a range of facilities to increase your marketability.

Many facilities staff travel nurses to supplement their teams, and oftentimes there will already be a strong network of adventurous travelers where you’re placed. If you aren’t shy about jumping in the mix and making new friendships, travel nursing offers a great platform to do so.

A big part of being a traveling nurse is having the ability to adapt not only to new destinations, but to new facilities, policies, and procedures. Each location offers a new perspective on day-to-day operations, which can strengthen a range of nursing skills. You can even discover new specialization and certification interests. If you’re already flexible and ready to learn, you’ll be highly sought after as a travel nurse.

One of the best aspects of travel nursing is that you don’t necessarily need to go far or get a new license for a change of scenery. If you want to check out a different type of facility, or if you want to see what it’s like to work with a larger or smaller team, you can do it! As a travel nurse, you can move across the country in a grand road-trip adventure or make a small leap to a nearby city and still have completely new experiences.

If you’re hitting the road as a traveling nurse every 13 weeks, you’re not going to want to pack and un-pack a U-Haul each time. If you’re a bit of a minimalist, or are ready to become one, then you’re on the right path. Jumping around the U.S. every three months isn’t for everyone, but if you’re comfortable making a short-term residence into a home, you’ve got the right stuff to start travel nursing.

Many RNs and LPNS start looking at travel nursing as a possibility when their permanent positions become too much of a routine. One 13-week assignment is a small commitment to see what else is out there, especially if you’re not satisfied in your current role.

Nurses can enjoy flexible schedules, incredible destinations, along with a traveling nurse salary and benefits that can’t be beat. If you’re ready to see the sights but remain in a fully benefitted position with competitive pay, travel nursing is definitely a career path you should be considering. At CoreMedical, we offer an incentive program called Club CoreMed. Through working hours and referring prospective candidates, traveling nurses earn points toward tropical vacations!

If you become a travel nurse, you’ll have the whole United States at your fingertips! From Alaska to Florida, Maine to Hawaii, and everything in between. You’ll have access to see the top tourist attractions, the best scenic spots, and hidden gems in every location. Plus, if you’re licensed in the nursing compact states, you can easily swap destinations without having to worry about new certifications and licensing guidelines.

With every nursing career, there will be ups and downs, but with travel nursing, you can create more ups! If you’re seeking your dream nursing job, there’s no better way to test the waters than by spending time as a travel nurse. See what works and what doesn’t, find the destinations that make your heart sing, and learn exactly where you thrive before settling down in your dream job.

Do these characteristics describe you to a tee? Let us help you start your journey as a travel nurse. Check out our current job openings or join our talent community to talk with a recruiter today!