Travel nursing opens up a world of adventure, new places, fresh challenges, and experiences you won’t find in any other career. One of the most meaningful is the opportunity to work with military veterans.

As the largest integrated health care system in the U.S., the Veterans Health Administration has facilities nationwide that provide essential care to millions of veterans and rely on travel nurses like you for extra support.

Interested in a travel nursing assignment at a veterans’ hospital or facility? These are just some of the special benefits of working in veteran healthcare.

• Enhance your sense of purpose
• Build meaningful patient connections
• Broaden your healthcare skill set
• Work in a collaborative environment
• Become part of the community
• Contribute to positive change
• Increase resilience and empathy
• Make a lasting impact on veterans’ lives
• ✨BONUS ✨ Frequently asked questions

8 Unique Benefits of Working with Veterans as a Travel Nurse

Enhance your sense of purpose

Travel nurses and allied health professionals may already know how rewarding their careers are. But did you know that working with veterans could take that sense of purpose to a whole new level?

Caring for veterans can give you a rare chance to give back to those who have dedicated themselves to serving others. Working in veterans’ hospitals allows you to advocate for their needs, support their healing, and contribute to a meaningful community.

As you engage with veterans, your impact as a travel nurse may grow and deepen your commitment to service, as well as reinforce the importance of giving back to those who have given so much.

Build meaningful patient connections

The thing about working in VA hospitals or healthcare facilities is that when you’re there, you’re not just performing tasks; you’re forging meaningful relationships with your patients.

“Healthcare professionals hold a very important job of providing care to the ones who defended and continue to defend our freedoms," said Dylan Nielsen, Fusion Medical Staffing long-term care recruiter. "A lot of times, unfortunately, the battle isn't over when people retire or return home, which is why individuals in the healthcare field are so important in taking care of our nation's heroes!"

Many veterans come with incredible stories and experiences that shape their lives, and they often appreciate the opportunity to share them with others. Hearing their stories and seeing the impact of your care on their well-being can take you from caregiver to trusted ally, allowing you to better understand the person behind the patient.

Plus, these connections often lead to more positive patient outcomes and can not only enhance their experience but also enrich your own.

Broaden your healthcare skill set

With the chance to explore different healthcare settings, patient populations, and medical practices, growing your skill set is part of the travel nursing deal. Since veterans often have unique health needs — such as mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress, physical injuries, and exposure to hazardous materials — you could deepen and refine your nursing skills even further.

Additionally, veterans’ healthcare facilities are often at the forefront of implementing advanced medical equipment and creative health solutions like speech-recognition tools, virtual technologies, mobile devices, and more. As a registered nurse in this setting, you may have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge resources and techniques, enhancing your technical skills and boosting your confidence in using new technology.

Whether you’re learning to operate sophisticated diagnostic equipment or utilizing data analytics to improve patient outcomes, the experience you gain in veterans’ hospitals can elevate your nursing practice.

Work in a collaborative environment

When it comes to veterans’ healthcare, staff nurses, travel nurses, allied health professionals, and more all join forces, team up, and tackle complex patient needs together. This teamwork and fostered culture of shared expertise gives you the chance to learn from others while simultaneously contributing your own insights.

“I’m very happy with my job at the VA,” said another travel nurse. “I work with a literal dream of a team. We’re very close-knit and have a very supportive manager. I do really believe that if you get the opportunity to try working at one, you should give it a try!”

In this collaborative atmosphere, every day brings new opportunities to grow professionally and personally, making your time at a veteran’s hospital not just a job but a truly fulfilling experience.

Become part of the community

Being a travel nurse at a veteran’s hospital or healthcare facility takes you far beyond hospital walls and deep into an inclusive community of patients and fellow healthcare providers that value connection and camaraderie. This support system can offer you a network of people who understand and appreciate the work you do.

“I’ve worked at three different Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and have loved them all!” Said a different travel nurse. “Veterans are awesome.”

Feeling like a part of a special community can also help to relieve stress and contribute to better overall mental health and well-being.

Contribute to positive change

Serving over nine million veterans each year across 1,200+ healthcare facilities throughout the country, these hospitals often face a high demand for travel nurses. By stepping in to fill these gaps, you directly contribute to positive change by ensuring that veterans receive the quality care they deserve.

“While serving in the Marine Corps, I've experienced firsthand how essential nurses are to our soldiers’ health," said Michael Lennen, nursing recruiter at Fusion Medical Staffing. "Nurses play a crucial role in helping active duty and veterans recover from the physical demand and mental toll it takes to protect our country. They don't just provide medical expertise; they offer care, support and comfort to those in need. I’m grateful for the nurses, medics, and Corpsman who continue to go above and beyond in caring for our serviceman and women during and after their time of service."

Your contributions as a travel nurse in a VA facility go further than filling staffing shortages — they directly impact patient outcomes and the overall experience of veterans in these healthcare settings. Your presence strengthens the healthcare system for those who have served, creating a ripple effect of positive change that leaves a long-lasting difference in both your life and the lives of the veterans you treat.

Increase resilience and empathy

It’s no secret that veterans have been through a lot. As a travel nurse, helping veterans through their health journey teaches you to hold space for their stories, to listen without judgment, and to offer support with compassion. Witnessing someone else’s resilience, especially that of a veteran, may inspire you and offer fresh perspectives.

Over time, your work with veterans can strengthen your own resilience and empathy, and as a result, enrich both your personal and professional life, allowing you to become a resilient, compassionate caregiver.

Make a lasting impact on veterans’ lives

Your travel nursing assignment may be short-term but the positive impact you make in the lives of veterans is everlasting. From assisting patients through recovery to guiding them in managing long-term health issues to simply being there to share a laugh, you provide far more than top-notch medical care.

You exude compassion that makes your patients feel seen and valued, especially during difficult moments, and your unwavering support not only aids in recovery but also reminds veterans they’re not alone.

Frequently asked questions

Tell me more about the positive difference travel nurses have on veteran healthcare.

The TLDR is that travel nurses make a profound impact on veteran healthcare by providing compassionate, empathetic support that helps veterans feel valued and understood.

“Having worked in the Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) for 26 years, it wasn’t unusual for the military healthcare staff to be gone for months at a time," said Dan Wolfe, compliance specialist team lead at Fusion Medical Staffing. "Looking back, I realize that we relied heavily on contract and civilian nurses to be the only continuity during these long absences and ensured seamless care for a unique patient population in a constantly changing environment.”

With a holistic approach, travel nurses address physical, mental, and emotional well-being to empower veterans to live healthier and happier lives.

Will working in a veteran’s healthcare facility help me grow my nursing career?

It's likely! VA hospitals are part of the largest integrated healthcare system in the country, offering exposure to a wide range of complex cases and diverse patient needs that build valuable skills.

Nurses in VA settings may work with veterans facing PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and chronic pain, potentially allowing you to gain expertise in mental health, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Plus, the collaborative environment in VA hospitals foster teamwork with doctors, therapists, and allied health professionals.

Overall, accepting a travel nursing assignment in a VA hospital can broaden your skill set, deepen your understanding of veteran-specific healthcare, and set you on a path for a fulfilling and impactful nursing career.

How does Fusion Medical Staffing support veteran healthcare?

We proudly support veteran healthcare at Fusion Medical Staffing by partnering with VA hospitals and facilities nationwide and matching them with skilled travel nurses like yourself to help bridge the critical staffing gap.

With VA hospitals serving over nine million veterans annually, there’s a high demand for compassionate, high-quality caregivers. That’s where we step in!

By placing travel nurses and allied professionals in veterans’ hospitals, we help create a sustainable healthcare environment for veterans and bring skilled travel nurses to the frontlines to make a positive, lasting difference.

“I served eight years in the Air Force as a medic in multiple areas and at multiple levels,” said Fusion Medical Staffing Candidate Engagement Team Lead Holly Fenn. “I cannot even begin to tell you how important nurses are to the care of our retired and active-duty military! We need a healthy military, and our veterans need care. I am extremely honored and proud to still have a connection to our fighting and retired forces by helping provide good quality health care providers for their medical needs.”

As a Fusion Medical Staffing traveler, you can feel good and take comfort in knowing that you’re part of an ecosystem of positive change. And as a bonus, you can enjoy competitive pay packages, comprehensive benefits options, exclusive travel discounts, licensure and education reimbursements, a special birthday gift, scholarships and awards, and more!

Related: 12 Must-Know Perks and Programs for Fusion Travelers

With us, you’re not just part of a travel nursing agency; you’re part of a team that values your expertise, invests in your growth, and recognizes the impact you make.

Travel nursing offers countless adventures and unmatched experiences, and one of those could be working with military veterans. At VA hospitals, travel nurses like you provide essential care that directly supports the health and well-being of those who have served.

By joining this vital healthcare network, you become part of a nationwide team dedicated to honoring veterans through high-quality care. The skills you gain, the connections you build, and the purpose you find in these roles are one-of-a-kind.

Embrace the opportunity to make a real difference in veterans’ lives and create lasting memories with each assignment. Your journey in veteran healthcare could be the most impactful chapter of your travel nursing career — only one way to find out.