If you’ve been thinking about your next assignment (or just casually daydreaming about where your next paycheck and adventure might take you), we’ve got you covered. The demand for travel nurses continues to shift with the seasons, patient volume, and nationwide staffing needs—but certain specialties are especially hot right now.
Whether you’re ready to chase the sun or just looking for the best opportunity to grow your skills, here are the top 5 most in-demand specialties right now—and where they’re needed most:
1. Medical-Surgical (Med-Surg) Nurses
Why it’s in demand: Med-Surg is always a solid bet, but with increased patient admissions and staff turnover, these nurses are essential across the board.
Hot spots:
- New York – high patient volume, diverse cases, and ongoing need for skilled nurses in both urban and upstate hospitals.
- Illinois – mix of busy urban hospitals and rural facilities, both facing staffing shortages and offering a wide range of patient care experiences.
- Oklahoma – high demand in rural hospitals, growing healthcare systems, and the need for experienced nurses to support underserved communities.
2. Telemetry Nurses
Why it’s in demand: As patient acuity increases, so does the need for nurses who can monitor cardiac and telemetry patients. Hospitals are leaning hard on these specialists to manage step-down units.
Hot spots:
- Georgia – expanding hospital networks, high rates of chronic conditions, and ongoing demand for specialized cardiac care across both urban and rural areas.
- Illinois – strong demand across its major hospital systems and rural facilities—especially as the need for cardiac monitoring continues to rise statewide.
- Iowa – consistent demand in community hospitals and rural health systems where specialized cardiac care is essential but staffing is often limited.
3. ICU Nurses
Why it’s in demand: With respiratory illnesses starting to pick up (yes, already), critical care units are staffing up ahead of schedule.
Hot spots:
- Wisconsin – high demand across both large healthcare systems and rural hospitals that rely on travel nurses to provide critical care coverage and support.
- Arizona – booming population, busy trauma centers, and ongoing need for critical care support—especially during peak travel seasons.
- Pennsylvania – strong demand across its large hospital networks, teaching facilities, and rural hospitals that depend on travel nurses to fill critical care gaps.
4. Labor & Delivery Nurses
Why it’s in demand: Baby booms don’t slow down for summer. L&D nurses are key to ensuring safe, supported deliveries, especially in facilities experiencing staff turnover.
Hot spots:
- North Dakota – consistent demand in rural hospitals where access to maternal care is limited and skilled travel nurses play a vital role in supporting growing families.
- Washington – steady demand across both busy urban hospitals and remote areas where travel nurses help bridge critical gaps in maternal care.
- Colorado – offering high demand in both fast-paced city hospitals and rural mountain communities that rely on travel nurses for essential maternal care.
5. ER RN
Why it’s in demand: With a growing national focus on mental health, ER RNs are essential for handling high-acuity patients, trauma cases, and unpredictable emergencies in fast-paced environments.
Hot spots:
- Georgia – high demand across its growing metro areas and rural hospitals—both needing experienced nurses who can handle fast-paced, high-acuity environments.
- North Carolina – strong demand in both its expanding urban hospital systems and underserved rural areas where quick-thinking, experienced nurses are essential.
- Arizona – constant demand driven by its growing population, influx of seasonal residents, and busy hospitals that count on travel nurses to keep up with high patient volume.
Ready to Pack Your Bags?
Whether you’re looking for your next high-paying contract or hoping to check a new state off your bucket list, now’s the time to explore your options. These in-demand specialties won’t stay on the market for long—and we’re here to help you find the right fit.
Reach out to your recruiter today or check our job board to see what assignments are calling your name.