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The Life of a Travel Nurse: Challenges, Tips, & Rewards

August 19, 2025
by Voyage Healthcare


What Is a Travel Nurse?

A travel nurse is a registered nurse who takes temporary assignments at healthcare facilities across the country. These assignments typically last 8–13 weeks and can be anywhere from bustling cities to small-town hospitals. Travel nursing allows RNs to fill staffing shortages, gain experience in different specialties, and explore new places — all while earning competitive pay.

Moreover, it’s an opportunity to expand your skills while enjoying the freedom to choose where and when you work. And if you’re thinking, “You Belong With Me” — you’re not wrong. Travel nursing is about finding the right fit and discovering new places where you can shine.

Why Choose Travel Nursing?

There are countless reasons nurses pack their bags and hit the road, but the top benefits include:

  • High Pay Packages – Travel nurses often earn 20–50% more than staff nurses (that’s what we call “The Lucky One”).
  • Adventure & Exploration – See the country while advancing your career. Whether it’s a “Style” moment in NYC or a “Back to December” winter contract in the Midwest.
  • Flexibility – Choose assignments that fit your lifestyle, because sometimes you need to “Shake It Off” and start fresh.
  • Skill Development – Gain experience in various hospital settings and specialties — your own professional “Love Story.”

For example, you might spend one contract working in a small-town hospital and the next in a major urban medical center—each adding new skills to your toolkit.

Highest-Paying Travel Nurse Jobs

Certain specialties and markets can significantly boost your income as a travel nurse:

Top-Paying Specialties (2025)

  • Emergency Room (ER)
  • Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
  • Medical Surgical / Telemetry (MST)
  • Operating Room (OR)
  • Labor & Delivery (L&D)

High-Demand, High-Pay Locations (Weekly Rates):

  • Rochester, NY – Up to 3k/week
  • Hazel Crest, IL — Up to $3.5K/week
  • Pittsfield, MA  — Up to $3.5K/week
  • Norfolk, VA & Milwaukee, WI — Up to $3.4K/week

Typical Salary Range (U.S.):

  • Average: $2,218/week
  • Top specialties (MS, ICU, OR, ER) often around $2,500 – $3,000/week

🔥Hot Top-Paying Jobs 🔥

High paying travel contracts with Voyage Healthcare

However, keep in mind that pay often depends on demand, location, and your willingness to take assignments in less popular regions.

A Day in the Life of a Travel Nurse

Every day feels like a different track on your own album:

  • Morning Routine – Wake up in a new city, coffee in hand, feeling “Fearless.”
  • On the Job – Jump into patient care, proving you’re anything but “Delicate.”
  • After Work – Exploring your city, maybe dancing under the “Midnight Rain.”

Meanwhile, your social life shifts too—you may be making new friends in every city while keeping old connections alive from afar.

Housing for Travel Nurses

Housing is one of the biggest decisions in travel nursing. Options include:

  • Agency-Provided Housing – Fully furnished, move-in ready (no “All Too Well” stress about furniture).
  • Housing Stipends – Take the cash and pick your own place (because sometimes you want to be the “Mastermind” of your own space).
  • Shared Housing – Team up with fellow travelers (instant “New Romantics” friendships).

Challenges Travel Nurses Face

Meanwhile, even when life feels like “Enchanted,” challenges pop up:

  • Frequent Moves – The constant change can make you miss “The Archer.”
  • Licensing Requirements – Navigating state rules feels like a “Treacherous” process.
  • Being the “New Nurse” – Adjusting quickly, proving you belong, without feeling “Out of the Woods.”

In addition, adjusting to different hospital systems quickly can feel overwhelming until you find your rhythm.

Tips for Thriving as a Travel Nurse

  • First, Stay Organized – Keep docs ready (because losing them feels like “All You Had to Do Was Stay”).
  • Second, Network – Recruiters and travelers make up your “Squad.”
  • Third, Budget Wisely – Don’t let money slip away like “White Horse.”
  • Fourth, Stay Flexible – A resilient attitude keeps your journey “Evermore.”

As a result, travel nurses who plan ahead often find their assignments less stressful and more rewarding, both personally and professionally.

How Voyage Can Help You

At Voyage, we make sure your journey feels less “Exile” and more “Welcome to New York.” In other words, from securing high-paying contracts to handling housing and travel logistics, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

  • First, Personalized Job Matching  – Like your own “Mirrorball,” we reflect your goals and help you shine.
  • Next, Dedicated Recruiters – Always in your corner, through every “All Too Well” shift.
  • Finally, Competitive Pay & Benefits – So you can keep living your own “Wildest Dreams.”

Final Thoughts

Finally, the life of a travel nurse is a mix of “Gold Rush” opportunities, “Cardigan” comfort, and the occasional “Bad Blood” challenge. However, for many, the freedom, adventure, and growth far outweigh the struggles.

If you’re ready to turn the page and start your own new era, Voyage is here to make sure your travel nurse journey feels like “Begin Again.”

In fact, at Voyage Healthcare, our recruiters specialize in helping nurses like you find top-paying contracts that align with your lifestyle, specialty, and location preferences. Moreover, from ICU to Med-Surg, we’ve placed thousands of nurses nationwide.

👉 First, 🔗 Apply now with Voyage Healthcare Then, call us today (800-798-6035) and let’s find your next travel adventure — and paycheck.

In the mean time, read another blog post: Best & Worst States for Travel Nurse Pay in 2025

Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest news and information about travel nursing and healthcare.

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