Nov 19, 2025

New Study Finds Travel Nurses Feel Just as Supported as Staff Nurses

For years, a common assumption in healthcare has been that travel nurses feel less supported, less included, and less valued than their staff nurse counterparts. But new research highlighted in an SIA Global Daily News article challenges that belief, and the findings offer important insights for healthcare leaders striving to build stronger, healthier teams.

A recent study published in The Journal of Nursing Administration, surveyed nearly 2,400 nurses across six U.S. health systems. The results? Travel nurses reported a workplace culture nearly identical to that of staff nurses.

Findings showed that the common belief that travel nurses feel less welcomed, less supported, or treated differently by staff simply wasn’t reflected in the results. This validation is significant, not only for travel nurses, but also for the healthcare organizations that rely on them.

Travel Nurses Are Thriving in Their Work Environments

Despite frequent transitions and the need to quickly acclimate to new clinical settings, travel nurses in the study reported:

●       Comparable levels of respect and feeling valued

●       Similar perceptions of workload fairness

●       Nearly equal satisfaction with workplace culture as staff nurses

The findings reinforce something Aequor has long known: travel nurses bring exceptional adaptability, skill, and professionalism to every assignment. When facilities foster supportive cultures, both travel and staff nurses thrive.

Leadership Is the Key to a Healthy Work Environment

One of the study’s strongest conclusions: nurse leaders play a pivotal role in creating ethical, supportive environments, for staff and travel nurses alike.

Other key takeaways from the study include:

●       Adequate staffing received the lowest ratings from nurses overall.

●       Communication ranked as the strongest contributor to a healthy work environment.

●       Ethical leadership grounded in fairness, respect, and teamwork strongly correlated with positive workplace perceptions.

How Aequor Helps Strengthen Healthcare Teams

At Aequor, we’ve always believed that travel nurses deserve to feel supported, respected, and integrated into every healthcare team they join. This study confirms that when facilities cultivate inclusive, well-led environments, travel nurses feel just as connected, and contribute just as meaningfully, as their staff peers.

1. Aequor partners with healthcare organizations nationwide to:
2. Provide highly skilled travel nurses ready to support teams during shortages
3. Reduce burnout by stabilizing staffing ratios
4. Match facilities with candidates who thrive in diverse clinical environments
5. Support positive workplace cultures through collaboration and communication

We’re committed to helping hospitals and health systems build the sustainable, ethical work environments this study highlights as essential.

Aequor: Supporting Healthier Workplaces for All Nurses

The SIA article offers an encouraging message: travel nurses are not outsiders, when teams foster a supportive culture, travel nurses feel just as valued as permanent staff and play a meaningful role in strengthening the workplace environment.

As hospitals and healthcare facilities continue navigating post-pandemic workforce challenges, partnering with Aequor can help ensure the staffing stability needed to reduce burnout, boost morale, and create a healthier, more collaborative culture for all nurses.

If your facility is ready to build a stronger, more reliable nursing workforce, Aequor’s healthcare staffing experts are here to support you. Contact us today to learn how we can help you meet your staffing needs with highly qualified clinicians.

For nurses looking for their next opportunity, Aequor’s nationwide job board is full of travel and local roles designed to fit your career goals.

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