Pros and Cons of Travel Nursing: Is It Worth It?

Curious to know if is travel nurse worth it? Travel nursing lets you be a nurse, see the country and earn good money, but it is not without its difficulties. If you’ve thought about giving it a try, knowing the good and the bad of travel nursing may make your decision easier.

From the traveling nurse lifestyle to the downsides of being a travel nurse in an easy to understand guide.

We’ll also touch on specialties like labor and delivery to give you a clear picture. Let’s get started!

What Is Travel Nursing?

Travel nursing is the practice of nurses taking assignments in hospitals or clinics in every part of the USA for short stints, typically 13 weeks. You may be a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN) or certified nursing assistant (CNA) who travels around to care for other people where and when nurses are needed.

It’s a career hot job in 2025 because hospitals need more nurses, and the pay rules.

Plus, you get to explore new cities. But before you sign up, let’s check out the pros and cons of being a travel nurse to see if it’s right for you.

Pros of Travel Nursing

Travel nursing has some awesome perks. Here’s why it’s so appealing, with details on the advantages of travel nursing:

• Big Paychecks: You can earn $2,000-$3,200 a week, more than most regular nurse jobs, says Vivian Health. You also get extra money for housing and food that’s tax-free. For example, labor and delivery nurses in places like California can make up to $3,500 a week.

• Pick Where You Go: Choose your job’s location, length, and type. Want to work in sunny Florida or snowy Colorado? You decide. This lets you visit family or try new places while working.

• Travel for Fun: Live in cool places… Visit warm places like Hawaii’s beaches or cool places such as Texas’s big cities. You spend days off taking hikes, visiting local hot spots or sampling new cuisine, so every job feels like a vacation.

• Learn New Skills: Work in all kinds of hospitals, from big city ERs to small town clinics. You’ll pick up new ways to nurse, which looks great on your resume. Labor and delivery nurses learn different ways to help moms and babies, making them stronger nurses.

• Nice Benefits: Many agencies give you health insurance, a 401(k) plan, and bonuses, like $500-$2,000 for starting or finishing a job. Some even pay for training, like ACLS classes.

• Make Friends: Meet nurses and doctors in every state. These connections can help you find more jobs later. For instance, a labor and delivery nurse might meet a great doctor who recommends them for another role.

• Try New Roles: Not sure if you love your specialty? Test out different ones, like switching from labor and delivery to ICU, without being stuck long-term.

These benefits of being a traveling nurse make travel nursing exciting if you like change and rewards.

Cons of Travel Nursing

Travel nursing isn’t all fun. Here are the tough parts, with details on the disadvantages of being a travel nurse:

• Moving All the Time: Packing up every 13 weeks gets old fast. Finding a new place to live and settling in can be a hassle. For labor and delivery nurses, moving often feels extra hard because their job is so emotional, and they leave behind patients they care about.

• No Job Guarantees: When one job ends, you might not know where the next one is. This can be stressful, especially in specialties like labor and delivery where jobs are competitive.

• Learning on the Fly: Every hospital has its own rules, computer systems, and teams. You have to catch up quick, which can be tough. Labor and delivery nurses need to gel with new teams fast to handle births safely.

• Weaker Benefits: Some agencies give less vacation time or skip things like 401(k)s compared to regular nurse jobs. You might also lose insurance between jobs.

• License Issues: States such as California, that are not member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), require you to obtain a new license. And it can take 2 to 3 months and cost $100 to $400, slowing you down.

• Home Sickness: One can feel alone when you are away from family or friends, especially in a small town or holidays. It may hit labor and delivery nurses even more after the hard shifts where they don’t have family about.

• Tough Shifts: As a travel nurse, you could be the one left with a night shift or tougher assignment because regular staff members get first dibs. True, this can seem to imply unfairness, especially in high-stress jobs, such as labor and delivery.

• Housing Issues: It’s not easy to find a good, cheap place to live for 13 weeks, especially in an expensive city like New York. Even with housing money, a lousy apartment can make your job less fun.

These cons of travel nursing mean you need to be ready for some challenges.

Is Being a Travel Nurse Worth It?

So, is being a travel nurse worth it? It depends on what you want. Here’s how to think about the pros and cons of being a travel nurse:

• Love New Places? Great pay, travel, and learning new skills are awesome if you’re okay with moving. Labor and delivery nurses can earn big and work in top hospitals.

• Want to Stay Put? Moving a lot and not knowing your next job might be too much if you like staying in one spot.

• Where You’re At: New nurses get tons of experience, while longtime nurses can save money or try new specialties.

Think about what’s most important, cash, adventure, or being near home. Lots of nurses say the advantages of travel nursing beat the disadvantages of being a travel nurse if you’re ready for the lifestyle.

Conclusion: Should You Try Travel Nursing?

The pros and cons of travel nursing show it’s a job with big rewards and some tough spots. You get good money, the chance to travel, and new skills, but you’ll deal with moving, learning new rules, and missing home. 

For labor and delivery nurses, the pay and experience are great, but the emotional side needs extra care. If you’re up for adventure and can handle change, travel nursing might be perfect. Want to give it a shot? Visit BlueSpace Healthcare to find travel nursing jobs or talk to a recruiter to see if it’s your thing!

FAQs

1. What are the benefits of being a traveling nurse?

Travel nurses enjoy high pay ($2,000-$3,200/week), flexible job choices, and travel to exciting places like California. You gain new skills in varied hospitals and get benefits like insurance, 401(k)s, and bonuses, making it rewarding 

2. What are the disadvantages of being a travel nurse?

Frequent moves every 13 weeks, job uncertainty, and quick adaptation to new hospital rules can be tough. Being away from family, especially in remote areas, feels lonely, and licensing for non-NLC states adds hassle 

3. Do traveling nurses get benefits?

Yes, most agencies offer health insurance, 401(k) plans, and bonuses like $500-$2,000 for completing contracts. However, benefits may be weaker than staff jobs, with gaps in coverage between assignments, depending on the agency 

4. Is being a travel nurse worth it?

It’s worth it if you love travel, high pay, and new experiences. Challenges like moving often can be managed with agency support, making the pros and cons of travel nursing balance out for adventure-seekers

5. Is becoming a travel nurse hard?

You need 1-2 years of hospital experience and flexibility to adapt to new settings. Agencies like BlueSpace Healthcare simplify licensing and job searches, making it easier despite the effort required 

6. What are the labor and delivery nurse pros and cons in travel nursing?

Labor and delivery nurse pros and cons include high pay and learning diverse birthing methods, but frequent moves and quick team adjustments can be emotionally tough in this high-stakes specialty.