The Best Travel Nurse Agency for ICU and ER Nurses Specialty Based Guide (2025). When choosing, nurses should compare recruitment agencies, contract details, salaries, and benefits to find the one that best suits their specific goals.
What is Best Travel Nurse Agency for ICU and ER Nurses Specialty Based Guide (2025)
The best travel nursing agencies for ICU and ER nurses in 2025 include Axis Medical Staffing, Host Healthcare, Advantis Medical Staffing, and Triage Staffing. All of them are highly rated or stand out for their excellent customer service, competitive salaries, and high demand for opportunities in specialties like intensive care.
Introduction
If you are an ICU or ER nurse interested in travel nursing, choosing the wrong agency could mean losing thousands of dollars through lost work pay, waiting longer for your licenses and being in unsafe staffing situations stuck on assignments. With more than 500 travel nurse agencies vying for your skills and money (each low paid agency gives back only 50 cents on every dollar collected in contractor fees), specialty nurses like you mandate much more than competitive pay.
You need your agency experienced in critical care assignments, quick credentialing for high-acute care units and crisis pay structures. In 2025, ICU and ER Nurses are commanding premium rates. If you decide to partner with an agency that specializes in your field of nursing, then those premiums can be yours too. This guide provides reviews of the 6 best travel nurse agencies for high acuity unit workers in your specialty.
Quick Snapshot: What ICU and ER Travel Nurses Need to Know
- The average weekly wage for ICU travel nurses is between $2,800 and $4,200, which includes payments.
- The average weekly salary for an ER Travel Nurse ranges from $2,600 to $4,000 (including stipends).
- California, New York, Texas, and Florida are the best reverse pay marketplaces for 2025.
- Typical Contract Duration: 13 weeks, with the possibility of increase it.
- Timeline for obtaining credentials: 2–6 weeks, depending on the state and the agency’s success
- Important Benefits to Compare: License Reimbursement, Health Insurance Start Date, CEU Credits, 401k Matching, and Housing Stipends
- The Most Popular Certifications: ACLS, BLS, PALS, TNCC, CEN, CCRN
What is a Travel Nurse Agency for ICU and ER Nurses?
A travel nurse agency serves as your job partner, matching you with short-term positions in hospitals and healthcare centers throughout the nation. Specialized agencies, in contrast to general staffing agencies, are aware of the particular requirements of vital care settings.
They understand that ICU nurses need environments that match their experience level, units with specific patient-to-nurse ratios, and access to limited equipment such as ECMO or CRRT. The unit may such as the pediatric intensive care unit, the neurological intensive care unit, the cardiac intensive care unit, the surgical intensive care unit, or the medical intensive care unit.
The correct agency for emergency room nurses understands the subtleties of trauma levels, patient volumes, and the differences between an urban Levels I trauma center. As well as a rural Level IV emergency department. These organizations don’t merely place employees; they pair your clinical skills with jobs that will help you advance in your career and increase your income. They are your career agent, negotiator, and support system all in one, managing everything from contract discussions to lodging options to state license applications.
Why Choosing the Right Agency Matters for Critical Care Nurses
The travel nursing agency you choose has a direct control on your career trajectory, financial stability, and level of job satisfaction. Nurses working in ICUs and emergency rooms experience unique challenges that involve tailored solutions. Support from the agency beyond what’s necessary for measure or medical-surgical travel. Assignments in critical care frequently include higher liability exposure, more complex patient scenarios, and the expectation from the facility that you will be able to start working with little training.
You may be put in an ICU by the incorrect organization where you are expected to operate ventilators that you have never used before, or in an ER where the promised “Level” is not what you would expect. A modest community hospital with rare cases requiring emergency care is what the “II trauma center” really is.
Financially, specialty nurses lose between fifteen and twenty-five thousand dollars a year on average due to bad agency selections due to lower base rates, hidden fees, and subpar benefit packages. Additionally, your agency regulates how quickly you may begin working due to their credentialing efficiency. The delay in credentialing results in breaks between contracts, which has a direct impact on your yearly income.
Aside from money, the correct agency offers career protection via complete malpractice insurance with occurrence-based coverage, as opposed to claims-made policies that expose you to risk after your contracts expire. If facilities misrepresent assignment details, they will support you and defend you.
They also provide clinical help when you come across unfamiliar procedures. For ICU and ER nurses, where every Life-and-death choice are made in shift work, so having an agency that genuinely understands your niche is not a luxury; it’s a professional requirement that safeguards both your license and your financial future.
Top Travel Nurse Agencies for ICU and ER Specialists — Comparison Guide
Aya Healthcare is the biggest agency in the country, with the most essential care responsibilities. With often over two thousand active positions available at any one moment, their ICU and ER employment boards provide you a wide range of options in terms of location and facility type. The weekly compensation offered by Aya for ICU nurses ranges from $2,800 to $4,200, while the pay for ER nurses is between $2,600 and $4,000. Tax-free stipends for nurses. Health insurance is included in their benefits package from the first day of your contract, which is important because the majority of agencies require a thirty-day waiting period.
In addition to a referral incentive program that pays fifteen hundred dollars for each nurse you bring to the agency, they offer free CEU courses and license reimbursement for a maximum of three states. Their credentialing staff is highly efficient, and they may frequently handle the full procedure for basic applications in two to three weeks.
Since Flex Care Medical Staffing only focuses on emergency and critical care nursing, it is the ideal agency if you want one that genuinely knows your field. Their recruiters are frequently former ICU or ER nurses themselves, which helps them interact with you effectively when talking about patient ratios, unit culture, and facility expectations.
Flex Care’s pay packages are often a bit higher than the industry norm since they eliminate the intermediary tiers that larger agencies have. Their clear salary breakdowns, which clearly show the amount of taxable base versus non-taxable stipends, are well-known. Their crisis response staff can help you get into positions with a high salary and quick response time during staffing emergencies, often paying between five thousand and seven thousand dollars each week.
Malpractice insurance with a limit of two million dollars per incident and six million dollars overall, a variety of comprehensive health insurance options, and a specialized clinical contact accessible round-the-clock are among the advantages. Seven is when you face difficult circumstances while working.
Particularly for assisting new travel nurses making their initial foray into ICU or ER travel assignments, Travel Nurse across America (TNAA) has established a solid reputation. TNAA’s orientation program and recruitment support system can help make the switch if you’ve worked as an ER or ICU nurse for at least a year and are looking to experience travelling.
They provide guaranteed hours on the majority of contracts, which means that even if the institution cancels shifts due to a small census, you are still compensated. Their housing program is especially robust, offering choices for private housing allowances or agency-arranged lodgings that are genuinely livable, unlike some agencies that put you in dubious apartments. For ICU nurses, the pay ranges from $2,700 to $3,900 a week, while for ER nurses; it ranges from $2,500 to $3,700. Additionally, they provide complimentary ACLS and BLS recertification, which can save you about $300 a year.
By employing a tech platform that displays all available jobs along with clear pay rates before you ever speak with a recruiter, Trusted Health deviates from conventional agencies. This method gets rid of the unpleasant salary negotiation dance for ICU and ER nurses who value independence and openness. You may filter specifically for facility sizes, trauma levels, and ICU kinds that are similar to your experience.
Their platform provides authentic reviews from nurses who have worked at each facility, giving you insider knowledge about nurse-to-patient ratios, charge nurse assistance, and the orientation they advertise is really provided at the site. Trusted Health offers attractive compensation packages and charges facilities cheaper prices, which frequently results in higher compensation for nurses. Among their advantages is a contribution to health insurance that rises with each contract you finish, giving you a financial incentive to stay with them.
With decades of experience and connections to almost every major hospital network in the United States, American Mobile Healthcare is a pioneer in the industry. American Mobile’s established ties can open doors for ICU and ER nurses looking for jobs at prestigious institutions such as Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, or Johns Hopkins, which newer agencies cannot.
Ingenious Health’s Loyal2You rewards program, which provides cash bonuses, student loan repayment assistance, and retirement matching that increases with the number of contracts you finish, is offered by them. The clinical team consists of nurse consultants who specialize in specific areas and evaluate your abilities against assignment criteria to ensure a good match. Depending on the area and specialty, weekly pay might range from $2,600 to $4,000, with particularly high pay rates in the Northeast and California markets. They have the most agreements here.
Cross country Nurses often overlook community and rural hospital positions in favor of higher pay in larger cities, where they shine. You are an ICU nurse who enjoys the variety and independence of smaller emergency departments or an ER nurse who is at ease working in units with six to twelve beds. Cross Country regularly provides these assignments with surprisingly good compensation. In rural contracts, full housing coverage is common instead of stipends, which minimizes your financial exposure if lodging costs are higher than anticipated.
Their remuneration packages usually fall between $2,500 and $3,600 per week, and the cost may seem lower than that of metropolitan crisis contracts, but the reality is that it is often higher. Living in rural areas often results in higher net earnings. Additionally, they provide exceptional ongoing education assistance, including free access to CE courses that help you keep licenses like CEN and CCRN.
Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing Your ICU or ER Travel Nurse Agency
Start by assess your own priorities and career goals before give out to an agency. Write down all of your non-negotiable, including the weekly minimum you require, your choose location, the benefits you require, and the types of thorough care unit or emergency room environments that you prefer. Do you like the assemble environment of community emergency rooms, or are you a trauma ER nurse who develop in filled Level I centers? Do you work with patients who have had open heart surgery in the medical intensive care unit (ICU), which handles sepsis and respiratory failure, or in the critical care unit? By being specific about your skills and interests, you can locate agency that specialize in your field.
Next, critically examine online assessment of each agency’s standing. Check a number of additional sources, such as Facebook travel nurse communities, in addition to Indeed reviews and niche websites like The Gypsy Nurse. Look for patterns in the complaints rather than direct on specific incidents. While not every agency will receive only positive reviews, persistent offence regarding poor communication from detective, late payments, or bait-and-switch contract terms are red flags that should not be dismiss.
Don’t only apply to one agency at a time; rather, submit your application to three to five agencies at once. Your assignment options and negotiating leverage increase significantly when you have many agencies working for you. Agencies are more inclined to offer their best pay plans and most appealing jobs when they are aware that you are weighing other possibilities.
Ask recruiters direct questions about their expertise in the ICU and emergency room during the first phone conversation. Request samples of recent placements that resemble the one you’re seeking. The layout of the unit, the typical patient load, the nurse-to-patient ratio, and whether the facility uses specialized equipment that you are familiar with are all things that a skilled recruiter should be able to tell you.
Before accepting any task, go over the whole pay package breakdown in writing. Ask for transparency regarding the taxable base pay as opposed to non-taxable stipends, overtime pay, holiday pay, and whether or not quoted rates include housing costs. The entire payment should be compared, not just the weekly rate that appears in the news. It could be that a business that offers thirty-two hundred dollars a week with license payback and health insurance starting on day one is really preferable to one that offers thirty-five hundred dollars with a thirty-day waiting period for insurance and no help with licensing.
At the start of the process, confirm all licensing and approved requirements. Ask your detective what specific paperwork you will require and how long the licensed process in your target state typically takes. If you have not yet obtained a dense nursing license, you should do so immediately because it will greatly expand your employment options in the 39 states that have joined the small. To avoid delays, gather your professional references, licenses, and immunization records advance to submitting applications.
In conclusion, negotiate with assurance based on the worth of your specialization. In 2025, there is the greatest demand for nurses in the ER and ICU among all travel specialties’. You have a lot of negotiating leverage if you have experience with trauma, specialized certifications like CCRN or CEN, or knowledge of high-acuity communities.
Before accepting the first deal, inquire about the rate’s flexibility. Anticipating that experienced nurses will counter, several companies incorporate negotiation space into their first proposals. Given my CCRN certification and five years of Level I trauma experience, a simple “Is there any flexibility in that rate?” may frequently elicit a positive response. An additional hundred to three hundred dollars every week.
Expert Tip Box: Nurse Educator’s Insight
The majority of ICU and ER travel nurses fail to understand until their second or third contract that the amount of work that your recruiter has will have a direct impact on your experience. When problems arise during an assignment, recruiters who are in charge of more than 30 active travelers are unable to give you the care you need. Ask your recruiter how many active travelers they are now assisting during your first contact.
Fifteen to twenty-five is the best amount. Less than fifteen can mean that a new recruiter is still learning the ropes; more than thirty means that you’ll have trouble getting timely answers when facilities change. Issues with your lodging, your timetable, or the need for assistance with credentialing delays. Before accepting an assignment, it is perfectly acceptable to ask for a different recruiter if your assigned recruiter seems overburdened.
Since your recruiter is your lifeline during contracts, this connection is more important than the agency’s brand name. Before giving notice at your current position, be sure to have the specifics of the assignment in writing. Verbal assurances about pay rates, unit type, or shift schedules are worthless unless they are included in your signed contract.
Conclusion: Securing the Best Travel Experience as an ICU or ER Nurse
The cornerstone of a well-paying and fulfilling career in critical care travel nursing is selecting the appropriate agency. ICU and emergency room nurses In twenty twenty-five, there are exceptional prospects for earning top wages while getting varied clinical expertise from working with different hospital systems and patient groups. The companies featured in this handbook have established track records of providing specialized nurses with excellent assignments, transparent pay scales, and dependable benefits packages that safeguard your license and financial well-being.
Keep in mind that your connection with your agency and recruiter is a collaboration. Agencies need you as much as hospitals need your valuable critical care skills. Never accept inferior communication, ambiguous contract terms, or compensation rates that are less than your market worth. Before accepting your first travel assignment, take the time to properly vet agencies, ask specific questions, and compare whole compensation packages.
The correct choice, regardless of whether you’re seeking a travel nursing job to pay off student debts more quickly, discover new places, or just get out of the monotony of a permanent staff position, is to look for the right one. The key factor is cooperation between agencies. Start by applying to two or three of the agencies on this list, discuss your particular ICU or ER experience with their recruiters, and get started. Comparing actual job alternatives to determine which agency actually comprehends your needs as a specialty nurse.
Next: To optimize your take-home income, read our comprehensive guide on “Travel Nurse Tax Deductions You’re Probably Missing — Keep More of Your Stipends,” or If you intend to travel across state borders, see “How to Maintain Your RN License in Multiple States — Compact License Guide 2025.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Travel Nursing for ICU and ER Nurses
How much experience do I need before becoming an ICU or ER travel nurse?
Before you are considered for travel jobs, the majority of hospitals and agencies need at least one to two years of current experience in your field. ER nurses must be skilled at triage, quick evaluation, and caring for several critically ill patients at once. ICU nurses need a strong background in ventilator management, vasoactive drips, and hemodynamic monitoring.
If you have a strong reference and specialized credentials like CCRN or CEN, some employers may consider nurses with 18 months of experience. If you’re less than two years old, concentrate on developing your skills in your current role, earning specialized qualifications, and establishing connections with travel nurse recruiters who can help you find a job. Can advise you on when you will be eligible for assignments.
Is the malpractice insurance coverage for travel nurses the same as that for permanent nurses?
Yes, but you should confirm the limits and kind of coverage. Professional liability insurance, often with coverage limits of one million dollars per incident and three, is included in your employment package with respectable travel businesses. A million dollars total, or two million for each incident, or six million overall for better rules. The most important thing is whether your insurance is claims-made or occurrence-based.
Because claims-made insurance only covers occurrences reported while you are still working for that agency, you are at risk if a lawsuit arises after your contract expires. Regardless of when an occurrence is recorded, an occurrence-based policy will pay for any event that occurs during your coverage period. Always buy your own tail coverage or ask for occurrence-based coverage to safeguard yourself after contracts expire. This protection is crucial for your career stability when dealing with high-acuity patients as an ICU or emergency room nurse.
Can I negotiate my travel nurse pay rate or is it fixed?
Definitely yes, and as an ICU or ER nurse with marketable abilities, you should definitely bargain. Agencies typically begin with pay that includes built-in room for negotiation when they make job offers. You have more leverage to ask for greater pay because of your specialized certifications, years of expertise, and unique talents. If you have certifications like CCRN or CEN, ECMO or CRRT training, or trauma experience, make sure to state this clearly during discussions.
Even without specific training, you can ask “Is there any flexibility in this rate?” or “Can you check if the facility has budget for a higher” to find out if there’s room for negotiation. My five years of ICU experience are worth what? is a common question that results in a weekly supplement of between $100 and $300. At the very least, they can say no, and agencies anticipate seasoned nurses to bargain. Before you agree, make sure that all negotiated rates are put in writing in your agreement.
What if the hospital misrepresents the unit or the working conditions when I arrive at an assignment?
Know your contract rights, record everything in writing, and get in touch with your recruiter right away. If the facility promised a one-to-two ratio but continuously puts you in the medical ICU, or assured you’d be in the surgical ICU but placed you there, or this is a significant breach of contract in the range of one to three. The quality agencies will represent you at the facility, where they will have the power to change things or place you in a different position. Include the time, date, and details of any instances of misleading conditions or dangerous staffing ratios. Photograph your assignment confirmations displaying the promised details.
Most agencies allow you to cancel your contract without penalty if facilities misrepresent tasks, provided the circumstances are unsafe or substantially different from what your contract specifies. But because terminating a contract might have an impact on your chances of landing future jobs with that facility or organization, you should first attempt to address any problems with your recruiter. This demonstrates that your agency’s priorities are not in line with your own, and you should think about whether or not it is ignoring your worries about hazardous situations or refusing to provide assistance. Changing agencies once this contract is finished or properly terminated.
Do travel nurse agencies help with housing costs in expensive cities or do I have to find my own housing?
The majority of agencies provide two housing options: a tax-free housing allowance that you handle yourself, or agency-provided housing where they directly arrange and pay for your accommodations. Depending on where you are assigned, housing stipends usually run from fifteen hundred to three thousand dollars per month, and this money is tax-free if you keep a tax home elsewhere.
You can request higher stipends or switch if they don’t pay real housing expenses in costly locations like New York City or San Francisco. to agency-provided housing where the agency pays for any cost overruns. Because stipends allow them to have greater control over the quality and location of their lodging, many ICU and ER travelers choose them, frequently choosing roommate arrangements or extended-stay hotels that are less expensive.
This allowed them to keep the difference tax-free, exceeding the stipend amount. Use Furnished Finder, Airbnb, or extended-stay hotel rates to conduct research on the real cost of housing in the city before taking an assignment to make sure the stipend is fair. If it’s not, discuss with your agency before signing the agreement.
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