Forging a career as a travel nurse is not for the faint of heart. Many individuals seek out a travel assignment only to discover it is much harder than they expected and they seek out a regular position once their assignment ends. Travel nursing requires a certain attitude and type of personality. Those that have those qualities are likely to not only succeed, but actually enjoy their new careers.

Travel nurses work on short-term assignments, much as other temporary workers. The difference is that they are expected to move to a new city for each assignment. A spirit of adventure and a desire to travel are needed for someone to even consider becoming a travel nurse. They have to be able to quickly adapt not just to a new working environment, but to a new living environment. This means being adaptable to different climates, modes of living, and regional cultures .

Most successful travel nurses are outgoing and friendly. They have to be able to easily fit in to new social situations and to be assertive in seeking out new people and building friendships. They should be able to navigate through both urban and rural settings and be willing to live away from their established family and friends. Those that enjoy experiencing new places and that thrive on exploration will be perfectly adapted for the variety of assignments they receive.