Is Travel Nursing Dead?

Ever find yourself wondering if travel nursing is dead?

Is it still worth it to pick up and move every thirteen weeks?

Is the money still there? Are there still travel nursing jobs?

I mean, let’s be real – the world of healthcare has been on a rollercoaster lately, and I’ve had a front-row seat – scrubs, demeaning doctors, rude patients, and all.

Picture this: I’m sipping my first cup of coffee, waiting for my anxiety to kick in, scrolling through job listings, and there it hits me. Travel nursing – the career that promised adventure, good pay, and a chance to see every corner of the country – seems to be playing a high-stakes game of hide and seek with my mental health.

But here’s the kicker: I’m already a travel nurse.

And lately, it’s felt more like I better keep extending my current contract than to go off searching for greener pastures.

So, let’s dive into this together. Join me on a journey as I discuss 3 reasons why travel nursing isn’t dead. Buckle up; it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Pre-Pandemic Travel Nursing To Now: From A calm Meadow To The Rocky Mountains

Full disclosure – I didn’t start travel nursing until the pandemic so I can’t say as to what it was like back then.

But I have spoken with many other travelers about what pre-pandemic work was like.

Before March 2020, I knew that I wanted to be a travel nurse as my main motivator was to make butt-loads of money.

After March of 2020, I really knew that I wanted to be a traveler as the pay rates were through the roof.

Pre-pandemic, travel nurses were making about $1500-$1800 per week. During covid, they were making between $5K and $10K a week. Yes, you read that right. $5-$10K per week. Needless to say, I really wanted to start traveling after I learned about those rates.

Squadmedstaff

You might have heard about what happened during the pandemic with nurses though.

Number one, 100,000 staff nurses left the profession¹, mostly due to burnout.

Number 2, my current recruiter tells me that the amount of total travel nurses in the country went up by two-thirds.

Read, everyone and their dog wanted that COVID pay. This also meant that there were a lot fewer jobs than there were applicants.

Reason 1: There Is Still Plenty Of Demand For Travel Nurses

Personally, I have always been able to land the job I want, where I want, and with the pay that I asked for.

I have a number that is the lowest amount that I am willing to be paid weekly for a job, and I have not had to go below it.

Am I some amazing nurse with years and years of trauma level I experience? Nope and nope.

Are there some travelers out there who struggle to find jobs and have gone back to being staff because there “aren’t any jobs”?

Yep. 

Why these people aren’t able to find jobs probably has to do with them narrowing their search too much, wanting to stay close to home rather than being willing to go a little further away.

Besides my personal experience and the experiences of my colleagues, there is still a giant nursing shortage in this country.

Sure, nursing schools are spitting out newly graduated RNs, but they have no experience!

It takes a minimum of one solid year of work to really get the hang of the job and to learn all of the necessary skills and critical thinking involved in the job.

And when there are no local nurses who are qualified for the job, travel nurses (who are required to have experience) fill the gaps.

There are other reasons why the demand is still high such as staff nurses leaving to go travel and make better money, and then one million RNs are set to retire by 2030 — which is a staggering number.

AACN Nursing

Reason 2: Travel Nurse Pay Is Still Very Much Worth It

Here’s where it gets interesting.

The landscape of travel nursing has morphed more than a chameleon at a color-changing contest.

Post-pandemic, we’re looking at a whole new ballgame.

Travel nurse salaries aren’t quite hitting those astronomical pandemic peaks anymore, but they’re still nothing to sneeze at.

We’re not talking pocket change here; the pay is still good, just not “buying a yacht and sailing around the world” good. 

Also, keep in mind the number of staff nurses who are leaving their jobs to travel tells you that the pay is definitely still there.

Getting the pay you want means balancing your desire for that perfect location with the reality of where the demand (pay) is.

Take my current job for example. I knew I wanted to work in California (where some of the highest-paying jobs are), and ideally somewhere on the coast.

Did I land a job on the beach?

No.

But I am only about 2 hours inland and with a pay rate that is actually much higher than I was expecting.

So to me, accepting the compromise was totally worth it.

Don’t forget that we travel nurses get paid weekly. So that number that you see advertised?

Yeah, that is per week. Not to mention overtime, holiday pay, bonuses, etc.

What About The Competition?

There is also the competition.

Remember those two-thirds of new travel nurses who joined the fray?

They’re still here, and they’re all vying for the same gigs.

It’s a bit like a Black Friday sale – everyone’s rushing for the best deals, and sometimes you’ve got to elbow your way through (metaphorically…I guess). 

My best advice for landing your desired job is to first decide on where you want to work, search for jobs with a quick Google search, find a couple that you like, and then contact a recruiter for the travel nurse agency that is advertising the job.

Pick your destination first, then pick your agency. You are in control here, not your recruiter, and not the agency. 

I also recommend searching for jobs as often as you can – especially early in the mornings Monday – Friday.

When I am job searching, I am constantly scanning the travel nurse job boards that I know and trust.

Also, with the amount of competition that’s out there right now, it really is about applying for the job early.

Hospitals used to rely on the travel nurse picking them, but now the turn-tables (Office reference) and it’s the hospital picking the best nurse for the job.

That, or whoever applied first. 

Reason 3: You Get To Live A Nomad Lifestyle

As we navigate the evolving landscape of travel nursing, it’s important to recognize something profound about our chosen path: we, as travel nurses, are the epitome of modern nomads.

Our profession doesn’t just represent a job; it’s a lifestyle and one that I hope to explore and help my fellow nomads navigate.

In this new era, where the traditional boundaries of work and life blur, travel nurses are at the forefront, embodying the essence of a modern, domestic nomadic lifestyle.

And don’t mistake this with the digital nomads who work solely from a computer. We are not them.

We move from physical place to place, not just for income, but for experiences, travel, and some really awesome Instagram pics.

We learn to build homes wherever we go, connect deeply with communities for brief periods, and carry those connections with us as we journey onward.

What This Blog Is All About

Through my blog, “The Modern Nomad Nursepreneur,” I aim to dive deeper into what some may call an “unconventional” lifestyle.

I’ll explore not just the practicalities and challenges of being a travel nurse, but also the broader implications of living as a modern nomad.

From tips on traveling to your new location, finding temporary housing, traveling with pets, and my personal venture into online entrepreneurship through this blog.

Conclusion: The Evolution, Not the End, of Travel Nursing

It’s clear that the pulse of travel nursing is still strong, albeit maybe it’s more of an a-fib than sinus rhythm (aren’t I hilarious!).

It’s not about mourning the ‘good old days’ but embracing the new normal, which is the Modern Nomad way. 

Travel nursing isn’t dead; it’s just grown up, faced some hard truths, and come out stronger on the other side.

For those of us who can adapt, who can find joy in the unpredictability and satisfaction in the challenges, the opportunities are still rich and rewarding.

So, stay tuned as we embark on this adventure together, learning how to thrive not just as travel nurses, but as pioneers of a new way of living – one that embraces change, cherishes freedom, and always keeps moving forward.

1. NIH ↩︎