Is Travel Nursing Still Worth It in 2025? A Veteran Recruiter’s Honest Take

“Is travel nursing even worth it anymore?”

As a travel nurse recruiter for over 17 years, I’ve helped hundreds of RNs navigate the ups and downs of the travel nursing industry. If you’re wondering is Travel Nursing still worth it in 2025, this post is for you.

Truth #1: Travel Nursing Is Still Worth It? Yes, for the Right Reasons.

One of the first questions I ask my potential travel nursing candidates is, “Why do you want to start traveling?” The answers vary, of course, but often include:

• “I want more flexibility with my schedule. I want to take time off without worrying about being scrutinized or punished for it.”
• “I’m tired of the politics and drama at my staff job.”
• “I want to be paid appropriately for the hard work I put in.”
• “I want freedom – to explore the country, to take breaks when I need them, to have more choices in where I work and for whom.”

If I’m checking any (or all) of your boxes here, then chances are, traveling is still a great fit for you. For those of you who are already traveling, you can relate, and you know that going back to a staff job will likely mean returning to some of the headaches that drove you to travel in the first place.

Truth #2: Travel Nursing Might Not Be Worth It… For Now.

Many nurses were lured by the appealing rates during COVID. The volume of jobs was the highest I had ever seen, and competition was extremely low. It was the easiest time to be a recruiter because if you had a candidate with a laundry list of “must haves” for their assignment, chances were, you had that job. And, that job was paying at least twice as much as what it was paying pre-pandemic.

In today’s reality, while rates are still higher than pre-COVID levels, they’ve dropped significantly since the peak and competition has surged. For those who got into traveling primarily for the pay, this is understandably a frustrating time. Many of those travelers have gone back to staff or local contracts in the hopes that the market will once again swing in their favor.

Questions to Ask Before Starting a Travel Nursing Job.

Before taking the leap (or deciding to stay in it), ask yourself these questions to see if travel nursing aligns with your current goals:

• What is my main reason for wanting to travel?
• What do I value more right now? Variety, freedom and/or stability?
• Am I willing to adapt to the uncertainties of travel nursing? This includes changes in supply and demand, rate fluctuations, floating, etc.
• Is my experience aligned with the demand of the current travel nursing job market? (P.S. a great recruiter will give you honest feedback, as well as tips to make yourself more marketable in a highly competitive market)

It’s worth noting that even staff jobs aren’t quite the “safe and reliable” fallback option that they used to be (hospital and unit closures, budget restraints, layoffs, etc.) Here are some additional questions that you can ask when visiting with your recruiter!

Finding Your “Why” in Travel Nursing

Purpose-driven travel nurses are the ones who tend to stick with it (and succeed!) even when the market isn’t in their favor. Long-term, it can also open a lot more doors for you than you might think.

More experience within your specialty, more opportunities to serve in leadership roles, acquiring new skills, adding new certifications can all help solidify your path to grad school or advanced career opportunities. Travel nursing also strengthens your soft skills like adaptability, flexibility, teamwork, resilience, and much more.

Not Now Does NOT Equal Never.

If travel nursing doesn’t feel right for you right now, that’s completely okay. It’s not going anywhere and there will always be a demand for travelers. There’s nothing wrong with choosing a little predictability for a while. It’s a complex decision with a lot of factors to consider (especially if you have family or other loved ones involved).

If you’re reading this and still have some uncertainties on whether or not traveling makes sense for you right now, drop a comment or message me directly. Sometimes talking through the pros and cons will help you make the right decision, even if that decision is “not yet.”

I’m here to help!

Apply with Axis Medical Today!