Ever wondered how you could level up your healthcare career while checking destinations off your bucket list? Or maybe you’re thinking about working in your PJs from home?

Travel nursing and remote healthcare work aren’t just trendy ways to escape the daily grind – they’re legitimate career-boosting options if you play your cards right.

I’ve done the homework and rounded up 12 killer programs and strategies for nurses and health pros looking to build serious career cred while either hopping between assignments or working remotely in 2025.

Let’s dive in!

12 Top Travel Nurse & Remote Health Programs to Supercharge Your Career in 2025

1. Aya Healthcare: The Heavy Hitter

Aya isn’t just big – it’s the largest digital platform connecting travel nurses with hospitals nationwide.

What makes them stand out:

• User-friendly website that doesn’t make you want to throw your phone across the room
• Transparent pay packages (no surprises!)
• Recruiters who actually call you back (shocking, I know)
• Thousands of jobs you can browse from your couch

Their reputation for solid support makes them a top pick if you’re serious about growing your career without the headaches of sketchy agencies. Check out Aya’s platform here.

2. TNAA & TotalMed: Education Champions

These recently-merged agencies are basically paying you to get smarter while you travel. No joke:

• BSN tuition reimbursement (hello, career advancement!)
• Up to $400 for RN specialty exam fees
• $2,500 scholarship toward BSN degrees (offered twice yearly)
• Partnership with Aspen University for discounted programs

Plus all the usual perks like referral bonuses and travel discounts. If you’re trying to level-up your credentials while seeing the country, these guys should be on your radar.

3. Advantis Medical: The Gold Standard Support

Based in Dallas but staffing everywhere, Advantis is known for what they call their “Gold Standard” support system.

Their standout features:

• Day one benefits (medical/dental/vision)
• Weekly pay (who doesn’t love that?)
• PTO accrual (rare in travel nursing!)
• Help with those annoying licensure processes
• Housing stipends that actually cover decent places

They cover pretty much every nursing and allied health specialty, making them perfect if you want to build experience in different areas.

4. AHS Staffing: People-First Approach

AHS doesn’t just talk about transparency – they actually deliver it. Their approach includes:

• 24/7 support (for when you have that 2AM crisis)
• Day-one insurance (no waiting around)
• Malpractice coverage (sleep better at night!)
• PTO (because burnout is real)
• Competitive pay packages (you know, to pay those bills)

Their recruiters get consistently high ratings, which is honestly rare in this industry where ghosting seems to be the norm.

5. Hot Specialties That Will Make You Bank in 2025

Want to be in demand AND make more money? Focus on these specialties:

• Operating Room (OR) nursing (especially with CNOR certification)
• Cardiac nursing
• ICU nursing

Other strong contenders include NICU, PICU, telemetry, and yes, even med/surg.

Picking a high-demand specialty is like putting your career on the express lane – more opportunities, better pay, and the luxury of being choosy about assignments.

6. Best Locations to Target in 2025

Location matters both for your resume and your Instagram feed. Top spots include:

Austin, Texas

• Vibrant culture
• Great hospitals
• Live music when you’re off duty

Seattle, Washington

• Renowned medical centers
• Stunning outdoor adventures nearby
• Decent public transport

Kansas City, MO and Phoenix, AZ are also heating up with affordable living and growing demand for nurses.

The right location can add prestige to your resume while giving you the lifestyle perks you crave.

7. Summer 2025 Contract Goldmine with Medical Talent

Summer = staff vacations = hospitals desperate for travelers.

Medical Talent specializes in high-paying summer contracts in specialties like:

• Med Surg (always in demand)
• Telemetry (cha-ching!)
• Stepdown nursing

This is perfect if you’re planning your 2025 calendar and want to maximize earnings during peak season. Find summer opportunities with Medical Talent here.

8. Amergis (formerly Maxim): Reliability Factor

Sometimes boring and reliable beats exciting and flaky. Amergis offers:

• Smooth onboarding (less paperwork headaches)
• Benefits from month one
• Weekly pay (no waiting for that direct deposit!)
• Joint Commission accreditation (they’ve got standards)

They support tons of specialties nationwide and don’t have the reputation for bait-and-switch tactics that some agencies do.

9. Rating Platforms: Your BS Detector

Don’t trust agency marketing. Trust other nurses instead by using:

• Travel Nursing Central
• The Gypsy Nurse
• Trusted Health

These sites give you the real scoop on which agencies actually deliver on promises about housing, benefits, and recruiter responsiveness.

Trusted Health even uses tech to match you with jobs algorithmically while providing nurse advocates to help navigate offers. Check out Trusted Health’s approach here.

10. Remote Work & Allied Health Opportunities

Not everyone wants to live out of a suitcase. Agencies like Aya and Amergis increasingly offer:

• Telehealth positions
• Per diem work
• Float pool options
• Allied health placements

This flexibility lets you build a career that adapts to your changing life circumstances rather than the other way around.

11. Getting Smarter While Getting Paid

The best programs invest in your brain. Look for:

• Scholarships for advanced degrees
• Certification reimbursements
• Continuing education allowances

TNAA & TotalMed particularly shine here with their BSN support. Remember: better credentials = better assignments = better pay in a beautiful upward spiral.

12. Picking Your Perfect Program

Finding your ideal match depends on what matters most to you. Consider:

• Benefits package – Is health insurance comprehensive or barely-there?
• Pay structure – Weekly? Biweekly? Transparent or mysterious?
• Licensure support – Will they help with those annoying state applications?
• Housing options – Stipend vs. agency-provided accommodations
• Education perks – CEUs, tuition help, certification support
• Company reputation – What do other nurses REALLY say?

Do your homework by combining info from top agencies with real user reviews. BluePipes offers great comparison tools for this research.

Travel nursing and remote health work aren’t just ways to see new places or work in pajamas – they’re legitimate career accelerators if you approach them strategically.

Whether you want to bounce between exciting cities or enjoy the flexibility of telehealth, these 12 programs and strategies give you a roadmap to build a career that’s both professionally rewarding and personally satisfying.

And remember – sometimes the best career moves happen outside your comfort zone!