October 10, 2025

Why OR Nurses Are Among the Most In-Demand Travel Nurses

Operating Room (OR) nurses are the backbone of surgical teams, bringing precision, calm, and expertise into some of the most critical moments in patient care. Right now, that skill set is in high demand across the country—especially in travel nursing.

If you’re an OR nurse considering travel, this is a great time to start your journey. With opportunities at several top-rated, traveler-friendly facilities across the nation, TNAA and TotalMed are ready to help you get started. Read on to learn more about OR travel nursing and why you should take the leap to travel. 

Why OR Travel Nurses Are in High Demand

The demand for experienced OR nurses isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Facilities across the country are looking for experienced OR nurses who can hit the ground running with confidence and skill. With the need for surgical procedures rising and a continued shortage of staff nurses, many facilities rely on travelers to fill staffing gaps and shortages. 

That’s where travel nurses make a huge impact. With their specialized training and ability to adapt quickly, OR travel nurses help surgeries stay on schedule and patients in safe hands—all while enjoying more flexibility and career opportunities of their own.

The Benefits of Being an OR Travel Nurse

A career in OR travel nursing is one of the most fulfilling and exciting ways to experience our career. Each assignment gives you the chance to expand your skills and explore new settings, all while supporting patients during critical procedures. Traveling offers perks and benefits you won’t find with permanent staff positions, too.

Here are just a few reasons you should become a travel nurse:

  • More Variety: Travel nurses can work in a variety of settings, from major teaching hospitals and busy trauma centers to rural, critical care facilities.
  • Expand Your Skills: As a travel nurse, you will expand your clinical skills, work with incredible surgical teams, and gain access to cutting-edge technologies, making you more versatile on the job. 
  • Flexibility & Freedom: Choose when and where you work—no more unit politics or rigid schedules. Plus, you can take breaks between assignments whenever you want. Your time is truly yours.
  • Less Burnout: With set hours and no mandatory overtime, you’ll have more energy for life outside the hospital.
  • Explore New Places: Experience new destinations as a resident—not a tourist.
  • Build Your Network and Form Lasting Friendships: As a traveler, you will meet new people on and off the job—many of our travelers have made lifelong friends on the road!

Find OR Travel Nurse Assignments With TNAA and TotalMed

At TNAA and TotalMed, we’re seeing a high demand for OR travelers at some of the nation’s most traveler-friendly hospitals, including exclusive contracts you won’t find anywhere else. When you travel with us, you’re traveling with a top-rated, award-winning travel nurse agency that has your back every step of the way. From best-in-class benefits to recruiters who listen and find you travel nurse jobs that fit your lifestyle, TNAA and TotalMed have the support you need to truly thrive as a travel nurse.

Ready to take your OR nurse career on the road? Check out our OR travel nurse jobs and apply today!