Your specialized skills belong in the nation’s top-tier hospitals. Nomad Health connects highly capable step-down registered nurses with exceptional travel assignments across the country. Sign up today to launch your next adventure, or browse our extensive list of Step-Down travel RN jobs below.
We believe in fully supporting our traveling clinicians. That’s why every Nomad step-down assignment includes a comprehensive benefits package—featuring medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with malpractice insurance and a 401(k) match. We also handle the essentials, offering housing and meal stipends, up to $750 for travel reimbursements, and coverage for your scrubs, state licenses, and certifications. Getting started is simple: build your Nomad profile once and apply in just a few clicks.
Taking on a step-down travel nursing job allows you to elevate your clinical skills, earn exceptional financial compensation, and enjoy the unparalleled freedom of traveling. Often referred to as progressive care (PCU), intermediate care (IMC), or transitional care (TCU), this high-demand specialty empowers you to care for patients who require close monitoring without the full intensity of an ICU. It offers the chance to work in fast-paced environments with diverse interdisciplinary teams nationwide.
Competitive Pay – Step-down travel nurses frequently command much higher pay than permanent staff nurses. Your earning potential grows with your experience and advanced credentials. Step-down travel nurses working with Nomad make an average of $2,400 per week, with top-tier assignments reaching up to $3,800 per week.*
Continuous Learning and Skill Mastery – Traveling fast-tracks your clinical expertise. Because step-down patients straddle the line between critical care and general medical-surgical floors, you will master managing complex medical equipment like BiPAP machines, hi-flow nasal cannulas, and advanced cardiac monitors. You will frequently titrate vasoactive drips (like amiodarone or heparin), interpret ECGs, and hone your ability to recognize patient decompensation early.
Location Freedom – You have the ultimate say in where your career takes you, right down to the specific city and facility type. Accepting assignments in new locations—from advanced metropolitan hospitals to rural centers—allows you to experience patient populations and protocols you might not encounter in a standard staff role, putting you in complete control of your contract lengths, shift preferences, and lifestyle.
*Average pay of Nomad Health step-down travel nurse job postings on March 13, 2023.
To launch your career as a step-down travel nurse, the process begins by earning an accredited nursing degree, such as an ADN or BSN, and passing the NCLEX-RN to obtain your state license. Following licensure, aspiring travel nurses must acquire hands-on clinical experience in a step-down, PCU, or telemetry unit. This bedside experience is vital for mastering core competencies like continuous patient monitoring, rapid response to medical emergencies, and managing respiratory equipment.
To stand out to hiring managers and boost earning potential, many nurses pursue specialized credentials like the Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) or Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification. Once you have built a foundation of experience—typically a minimum of 12 to 24 months in a progressive care setting—you can partner with a digital travel agency like Nomad Health to discover assignments tailored to your professional goals.
Learn more about traveling as an intermediate care nurse in Nomad's Step-Down Unit Travel Nurse Career Guide.