Tired of living paycheck to paycheck and feeling stuck in the same facility? If you’re ready to explore beyond the same four walls, travel nursing is your next move. Whether you specialize in the ICU, NICU, ER, or OR, there’s a high-demand role waiting for you. Let’s look at how your specialty can take you further.

What makes a good travel nurse?

A travel nurse is a registered nurse who takes temporary assignments, typically a few weeks to several months, to fill healthcare staffing gaps across the country. To become one, you must obtain a degree in nursing, pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), and then secure your state-required license for your upcoming assignment. No need to sweat because we are here to help you. Aside from education and nursing experience, possessing certain skills such as adaptability, quick learning, and strong communication can help you succeed in this career path.

Most popular travel nursing specialties

Below are the most in-demand specialties where nurses are finding the most opportunities today:

• Medical-Surgical Travel Nurses - This a broad field that encompasses a range of specialties. These versatile and adaptable nurses are among the most in-demand nurses with plenty of opportunities waiting.
• Emergency Room (ER) Travel Nurses - Another specialty that is high in demand is emergency room nursing. This fast-paced role is vital for maintaining hospital operations during crisis events and seasonal peaks.
• Operating Room (OR) Travel Nurses - With rising surgical volumes and specialized training requirements, these nurses are among the most in-demand in the industry.
• Critical Care Travel Nurses - They are often among the highest-paid specialties because of their expertise in handling life-threatening conditions.
• Psychiatry Travel Nurses - The need for psychiatry travel nurses has also risen because of the growing awareness of mental health concerns.
• Labor and Delivery (L&D) Travel Nurses - Nomad’s "Weekly Gross Compensation" November 2025 data proves that L&D is the top-paying RN specialty. If your primary goal is boosting your paycheck, this is where you need to be.
• Telemetry Travel Nurses - As hospitals increase their cardiac monitoring capabilities, these travel nurses remain a staple in modern healthcare staffing.
• Long Term Care Travel Nurses - With the increasing number of elderly patients requiring skilled nursing, this type of travel nurses also has a high demand.

Here is a list of other travel nursing specialties that Nomad Health has open jobs for:

• Critical Care
• Emergency Room
• Labor & Delivery
• Long Term Care
• Medical Surgical
• Medical Surgical - Telemetry
• Neuro ICU
• Operating Room
• Operating Room - Circulating
• Operating Room - First Assist
• Operating Room - Scrub
• Psychiatry
• Surgical ICU (SICU)
• Medical ICU (MICU)
• Neonatal ICU (NICU)
• Case Management
• Step-Down
• Outpatient Clinic
• Home Health
• Intermediate Care
• Dialysis
• Pediatrics
• Cardiac Care Unit
• Postpartum
• Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
• Orthopaedics
• Hospice & Palliative Care
• Behavioral
• Telemetry
• Rehabilitation
• Endoscopy
• Nursery
• Long Term Acute Care
• Pediatric ICU (PICU)
• Pediatric ER
• Oncology
• Urgent Care
• Cath Lab
• Trauma ICU
• Pre-Op
• Interventional Radiology
• Infusion Therapy
• Cardiovascular OR
• Wound Care
• Mother/Baby
• IV Therapy
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Bone Marrow Transplantation
• RN First Assistant
• Occupational Health
• Chemotherapy
• Allergy and Immunology
• Cardiovascular OR
• HIV/AIDS
• Urology
• Transitional Care Unit
• Special Care Unit
• Radiology

Where to go as a travel nurse

Based on Nomad’s 2025 data, the states with the highest number of job openings include New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Washington, and Pennsylvania. If you are looking for the most opportunities, Texas is the state to go!

Our tip is to focus on locations where your specialty is high in demand and earnings are comparative. States such as California, Arizona, and Washington are great choices for Labor & Delivery travel nurses seeking to maximize their earnings. Texas, on the other hand, is the place to go for the highest number of job openings for general experience. Illinois and North Carolina have high competition but also a high volume of job opportunities for Telemetry travel nurses. 

Working with Nomad as a travel nurse

Finding your place among the many types of travel nurses shouldn't be a headache. Nomad simplifies your journey by letting you explore opportunities based on what matters most to you: location, career flexibility, and competitive pay.

When you join Nomad, you benefit from:

• Upfront Pay Packages: We believe in transparency. You’ll see exactly what you’ll earn before you even hit "Apply."
• Clinician-First Technology: Skip the back-and-forth. Search, compare, and manage your applications all in one place, 24/7.
• Dedicated Navigators: From the first credentialing document to your final shift, our Nomad Navigators provide the support you need to succeed in the field.
• Support from Clinical Excellence Team: Nomad provides access to Clinical Navigators. These experienced clinicians offer one-on-one coaching and support for any clinical or professional hurdles you encounter while on assignment.