5 High-Demand Nursing Specialties Every Travel Nurse Should Consider
Are you ready to expand your horizons and boost your earning potential? These in-demand specialties offer travel nurses exciting opportunities, competitive pay, and the chance to make a real difference in patient care.
As a travel nurse, you have the unique opportunity to explore different specialties while building a diverse skill set that makes you invaluable in today's healthcare landscape. Whether you're just starting your travel nursing journey or looking to branch out into a new area, certain specialties consistently offer higher demand, better pay, and more assignment opportunities.
At Geaux Care Staffing, we've seen firsthand which specialties hospitals across the country need most. Here are five high-demand nursing specialties that could transform your travel nursing career.
1. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nursing
Why It's in High Demand: ICU nurses are among the most sought-after professionals in healthcare. With an aging population and increased complexity of medical conditions, hospitals nationwide face critical shortages of qualified ICU nurses.
What You'll Do:
Provide critical care to patients with life-threatening conditions
Monitor advanced life support equipment
Work closely with multidisciplinary teams in fast-paced environments
Manage complex medication protocols and treatments
Average Travel Nurse Salary Range: $2,800 - $4,500+ per week
Career Benefits:
Develops advanced clinical skills quickly
Opens doors to specialized ICU units (cardiac, surgical, neuro)
High earning potential with crisis rates often available
Excellent foundation for advanced practice roles
Getting Started: Most facilities require 1-2 years of recent ICU experience, current BLS and ACLS certifications.
2. Emergency Department (ED) Nursing
Why It's in High Demand: Emergency departments serve as the front line of healthcare, and staffing shortages have reached critical levels nationwide. Travel ED nurses are essential for maintaining quality patient care during peak times and staff shortages.
What You'll Do:
Triage patients and prioritize care based on acuity
Handle a wide variety of medical conditions and trauma cases
Work in high-energy, unpredictable environments
Collaborate with physicians, specialists, and support staff
Average Travel Nurse Salary Range: $2,500 - $4,200+ per week
Career Benefits:
Builds exceptional assessment and critical thinking skills
Experience with diverse patient populations and conditions
Flexible scheduling options (many EDs offer 12-hour shifts)
Valuable preparation for flight nursing or other emergency specialties
Getting Started: Typically requires 1+ years of ED experience, BLS, ACLS, and sometimes PALS certifications.
3. Operating Room (OR) Nursing
Why It's in High Demand: Surgical procedures continue to increase, while experienced OR nurses are retiring faster than new ones are entering the field. This creates exceptional opportunities for travel nurses with surgical experience.
What You'll Do:
Assist surgeons during procedures as a scrub or circulating nurse
Prepare operating rooms and ensure sterile environments
Manage surgical instruments and equipment
Provide patient advocacy and safety oversight
Average Travel Nurse Salary Range: $2,600 - $4,000+ per week
Career Benefits:
Highly specialized skill set with excellent job security
Opportunity to work with cutting-edge surgical technology
Regular schedules (typically Monday-Friday with some call)
Path to specializing in specific surgical services
Getting Started: Requires OR experience (usually 1-2 years), with some facilities accepting OR fellowship graduates.
4. Labor & Delivery (L&D) Nursing
Why It's in High Demand: Birth rates may fluctuate, but the need for skilled L&D nurses remains consistently high. Many facilities struggle to maintain adequate staffing for this specialized area that requires 24/7 coverage.
What You'll Do:
Support women through labor, delivery, and immediate postpartum period
Monitor fetal heart rates and maternal vital signs
Assist with cesarean sections and other obstetric procedures
Provide emotional support and patient education
Average Travel Nurse Salary Range: $2,400 - $3,800+ per week
Career Benefits:
Emotionally rewarding work with positive outcomes
Specialized skills that transfer well between facilities
Generally planned scheduling with predictable patient loads
Opportunity to work in high-acuity settings like Level III/IV NICUs
Getting Started: Requires L&D experience (typically 1+ years), BLS, and often fetal monitoring certification.
5. Medical-Surgical (Med-Surg) Nursing
Why It's in High Demand: Med-surg units form the backbone of hospital care, and they consistently have the highest volume of travel nursing positions available. This specialty offers the most flexibility in assignment locations and start dates.
What You'll Do:
Care for adult patients with various medical and surgical conditions
Manage multiple patients with different acuity levels
Coordinate care with physicians, therapists, and other healthcare professionals
Provide patient education and discharge planning
Average Travel Nurse Salary Range: $2,200 - $3,600+ per week
Career Benefits:
Broadest range of available assignments
Develops strong foundational nursing skills
Easier transition between different facilities and patient populations
Gateway to other specialties
Getting Started: Most accessible specialty for new travel nurses, typically requiring 1+ years of med-surg or similar experience.
Making the Transition: Tips for Success
Before You Leap:
Research certification requirements for your target specialty
Consider shadowing or taking continuing education courses
Build relationships with mentors in your desired field
Ensure your current experience translates well to travel assignments
Partnering with the Right Agency: At Geaux Care Staffing, we understand that exploring new specialties can feel overwhelming. That's why we:
Match you with assignments that align with your experience level
Provide transparency about facility expectations and support systems
Offer guidance on certifications and continuing education
Connect you with other nurses who've made similar transitions
The Bottom Line: Specializing in high-demand areas doesn't just boost your paycheck—it makes you a more versatile, confident nurse. Whether you're drawn to the adrenaline of the ED, the precision of the OR, or the joy of L&D, there's a specialty that can take your travel nursing career to the next level.
Ready to Explore New Specialties?
Don't let uncertainty hold you back from discovering your nursing passion. At Geaux Care Staffing, we're committed to helping you find assignments that not only match your current skills but also help you grow into the specialty areas that excite you most.
Contact us today to discuss specialty opportunities that align with your career goals. Your next adventure in nursing starts with a conversation.
Have questions about transitioning to a new specialty? Drop us a line—we're here to help you navigate your journey with confidence.