National Nurses Week 2025: I’m a Travel Nurse, What’s Your Superpower?
At Epic Travel Staffing, we work with some of the most dedicated and adaptable clinicians in healthcare – travel nurses. These professionals not only fill vital roles across the country, but they do so with grit, compassion, and a sense of adventure. In honor of Nurses Week, we asked some of our recruiters to share what makes a travel nurse so extraordinary. Their reflections offer a powerful look at the impact travel nurses make every day.
A Travel Nurse Goes Where They’re Needed Most
When hospitals are stretched thin and permanent staff are overwhelmed, travel nurses step in as vital reinforcements. From rural clinics lacking specialists to urban hospitals dealing with patient surges, these clinicians bring not just relief but also resilience. They ease the pressure on core teams, ensure patient care doesn’t miss a beat, and keep units open that might otherwise have to close their doors.
What makes their contribution even more remarkable is the depth of knowledge they bring. Having worked in a wide range of facilities – from Level I trauma centers to small community hospitals – travel nurses quickly adapt, share best practices, and bring fresh energy to every assignment.
As recruiter Chad Davis puts it, “They bring years of knowledge and expertise that they’ve gained by working at all these different types of facilities. They teach other nurses clinically and culturally how to make the unit better.”
Heather Fortman echoed this sentiment: “They help keep some units open when the local staff is short. They provide additional relief for nurses who are overworked due to these shortages.”
Travel Nurses Take on the Toughest Assignments with Focus and Purpose
Aside from going where they’re needed most, travel nurses are also often stepping into the most demanding roles a facility has to offer. Their assignments may include the highest acuity patients, short-staffed units, or cases others hesitate to take on. As recruiter Karen Le shared, “Healthcare travelers take on some of the toughest assignments. If you walk through a facility, and you see a travel nurse – you might not realize it, but they’re the ones that take up the hardest cases.”
What sets travel nurses apart isn’t just their willingness to take on these roles, but the mindset they bring to the work. Free from the day-to-day politics and internal dynamics that can weigh down permanent staff, travel nurses often bring a refreshing sense of clarity and purpose to their assignments. “They get to focus on patient care instead of getting hung up on the politics and drama that permanent staff typically deal with on a daily basis,” Karen said.
Adaptability Is a Travel Nurse’s Superpower
Adaptability is the hallmark of every successful travel nurse. With minimal orientation, they must quickly master new hospital systems, blend into established teams, and adjust to unfamiliar policies – all while ensuring top-tier patient care.
“Sometimes, it’s hard for travel nurses to blend in because core staff can be pretty tight-knit,” Heather said. “So it takes a really special person to be able to jump into those different roles.”
Travel nurses are often asked to float between departments or step outside their usual specialties. They not only accept the challenge – they excel in it.
As recruiter Alexis Dunbar explains, “Travel nurses have the ability to roll with the punches and venture into the unknown. They navigate these challenges with ease, adapting to different personalities and new environments. It takes that much stronger of a nurse to be able to conquer travel nursing.”
Jamie Fell adds, “They have to be able to pivot in emergent situations… to different departments or areas that may be a little out of their comfort zone, but they always put their best foot forward.”
A Travel Nurse Leads with Compassion
Beyond their clinical expertise, travel nurses bring empathy, dedication, and an undeniable presence to every assignment. Their ability to forge meaningful connections often extends well beyond the duration of their contracts.
“So many of my travelers get asked to extend,” said Chad. “Sometimes, they’re asked by the facility to return after they’ve been gone for over a year. I think that just speaks to how they impact the culture of their assigned facilities.”
Alexis shared the story of a nurse who went above and beyond for her facility: “I have a nurse who has extended and taken up a 4-day-a-week contract instead of 3 because she knows how needy they are with their staffing crisis. Her seeing that and being willing to jump in and do more is just invaluable to the facility.”
Lauren Vause also shared a powerful story about a travel nurse who made a lasting impact on her facility. “I had a travel nurse who made a big impact in her facility by being the greatest asset that she can be. She’s received three Daisy Awards – and that’s a big deal. It shows how deeply she cares about her position and the patients she serves.”
Why We Love Working with Travel Nurses
For many recruiters, the most rewarding part of their job isn’t just placing travel nurses on assignments – it’s building meaningful, lasting partnerships. These relationships are grounded in trust, mutual respect, and open communication. Recruiters don’t just check in; they become a consistent source of support, encouragement, and connection throughout the nurse’s journey.
Jamie highlighted one of the most rewarding aspects: the long-term connections she builds with her nurses. “The relationship that I build with them over time and the connection I make with them personally is my favorite part. A few of my nurses have traveled with me for over 20 years.”
Lauren also echoed the importance of strong relationships, saying, “I love the relationships that we build together. We are a partnership. What that means to me is that we work hand in hand. We’re able to talk openly about anything. They can come to me for advice, and I can go to them just to check in and see how they’re doing each week.”
A Heartfelt Thank You to All Our Travel Nurses
During Nurses Week, we take a moment to honor the dedication and resilience of travel nurses. You go above and beyond, showing compassion and expertise in some of the most demanding environments. You provide much-needed relief to overworked teams and help patients heal.
From all of us at Epic Travel Staffing, we want to express our deepest gratitude for the work you do. You inspire us with your strength, your kindness, and your unwavering commitment. We’re proud to support you and celebrate you – not just this week, but every week. Happy Nurses Week!
Ready to start your next adventure? At Epic Travel Staffing, we believe in supporting your unique “why” – your personal reasons for traveling and making a difference. Connect with us today and let’s explore how we can help you live out your adventure with the right opportunity.