L&D Travel Nurse Jobs in Tennessee

Nashville isn’t called the Healthcare Capital for nothing. Tennessee has one of the densest concentrations of major health systems in the country, and their L&D programs are always looking for experienced travelers. But it’s not just Nashville — Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Johnson City all have active OB programs with consistent demand for labor and delivery nurses who can show up ready to work. At Junxion Med Staffing, we match you with the contract that fits your clinical strengths and your life, not just the first opening on a spreadsheet. Our founder was a traveling surgical tech, so we built this agency around what clinicians actually need: honest communication, transparent pay, and a recruiter who answers their phone.

Tennessee’s a state where L&D travelers can build serious clinical experience while enjoying world-class music, food, and outdoor recreation on their days off. Take a look at our L&D travel nurse opportunities for the full national picture, or explore all travel healthcare jobs in Tennessee.

Why Tennessee for L&D Travel Nurse Jobs?

Tennessee’s healthcare industry is enormous relative to its population. Nashville alone is headquarters to several of the largest health systems in the nation, and those systems run maternity programs that handle thousands of deliveries a year. Memphis has a major academic medical center with one of the region’s top Level I NICUs. Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Johnson City each anchor their own healthcare markets in east Tennessee. All of this creates a steady flow of L&D travel contracts across the state.

Tennessee is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, which makes getting started easy. If you hold a compact multistate RN license, you can work in Tennessee without applying for a separate state license. That’s one less thing between you and your next paycheck.

The demand drivers here are real. Tennessee’s birth rate, combined with a chronic shortage of experienced permanent L&D nurses, means facilities are competing for travelers — and that competition shows up in the contracts. Pay is strong, especially in Nashville and Memphis, and even the smaller metros offer packages that look great once you factor in Tennessee’s lack of state income tax.

Where L&D Nurses Work in Tennessee

• Nashville — The Healthcare Capital lives up to its name. Multiple academic medical centers here run high-volume L&D units with Level I NICUs, MFM teams, and round-the-clock surgical OB coverage. You’ll see the full acuity spectrum — labor management, high-risk antepartum, emergent and scheduled C-sections, and postpartum complications. Nashville also happens to be one of the most fun cities in the South to live in, with live music everywhere and a food scene that keeps getting better.
• Memphis — Home to a major academic medical center with a nationally recognized NICU program. L&D units in Memphis handle high volumes and high acuity, including complicated pregnancies referred from across the tri-state area. If you want to work with maternal-fetal medicine specialists and sharpen your skills with the hardest cases, Memphis delivers that experience.
• Knoxville — East Tennessee’s largest city has a growing healthcare market with active OB programs. The L&D volume is solid, the facilities are well-equipped, and the Great Smoky Mountains are about 30 minutes from your front door. It’s one of those assignments where the work is strong and the days off are even better.
• Chattanooga — Sitting on the Tennessee River with the mountains in the background, Chattanooga has been investing heavily in its healthcare infrastructure. L&D units here serve a mix of urban and regional patients, and the city’s outdoor recreation scene — rock climbing, hiking, kayaking — is tough to match for active travelers.
• Johnson City — Part of the Tri-Cities region in the northeast corner of the state, Johnson City’s medical facilities serve a large rural catchment area. L&D nurses here build strong triage and labor management skills because patients often arrive further along in labor after traveling from rural communities. It’s a quieter assignment with meaningful clinical work.

Pay and Benefits

L&D travel nurses in Tennessee earn an average of $2,600 per week, with contracts ranging from $2,200 to $3,400+ depending on the facility, location, and urgency. Nashville and Memphis typically anchor the upper end of that range, while Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Johnson City offer competitive rates with a notably lower cost of living. And here’s the kicker — Tennessee has no state income tax, which means every dollar on your pay stub stays closer to your pocket.

With Junxion, your Tennessee L&D contract includes:

• Average weekly pay: $2,600/week (range: $2,200 to $3,400+)
• Housing stipend (you find your own place)
• Meals and incidentals stipend (tax-free M&IE)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Travel reimbursement
• 401(k) eligibility
• Not a call center. One person who knows L&D, knows the Tennessee market, and picks up when you call.

Nashville’s cost of living has crept up in recent years — it’s not the bargain it used to be. But Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Johnson City still offer affordable housing, and the no-income-tax advantage applies statewide. Your Junxion recruiter can walk you through the real take-home math for any Tennessee market so you’re comparing total value, not just bill rates.

Licensure and Requirements

Here’s what you’ll need for L&D travel nurse jobs in Tennessee:

• Compact RN license accepted (Tennessee is an NLC state — no separate license needed if your home state is also compact)
• BLS required (American Heart Association)
• NRP required (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
• C-EFM preferred (Certified Electronic Fetal Monitoring)
• ACLS sometimes required depending on the facility
• Minimum 2 years L&D experience — facilities want nurses who can independently manage high-risk deliveries, C-sections, and postpartum hemorrhage

Compact license holders can start working in Tennessee immediately — no additional application. If you’re from a non-compact state, you’ll need a Tennessee RN license through the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Your Junxion recruiter walks you through either path. Visit our employee resources page for documentation details or contact us and we’ll handle the logistics.

FAQs: L&D Travel Nurse Jobs in Tennessee

Can I use my compact license to work L&D in Tennessee?

Yes. Tennessee participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact. If your primary state of residence is also a compact state, your multistate license covers you here with no additional steps. If you’re from a non-compact state, you’ll need to apply for a Tennessee RN license — your Junxion recruiter can confirm your situation and get you moving in the right direction quickly.

What types of L&D units and deliveries will I work with in Tennessee?

Tennessee has a wide range. Nashville’s academic centers are high-volume, high-acuity — think complicated C-sections, postpartum hemorrhage management, antepartum patients on magnesium, and close collaboration with MFM and NICU teams. Memphis is similar with an emphasis on its nationally-ranked neonatal program. Knoxville and Chattanooga offer a balanced mix of routine and moderate-risk deliveries. Johnson City leans more toward routine births with regional transfers adding variety. Most facilities use LDRP or split L&D/postpartum floor models.

What are the float and call expectations for L&D travelers in Tennessee?

At Nashville and Memphis’s larger facilities, L&D travelers generally stay on the labor floor with occasional floats to postpartum or triage during slow periods. Smaller programs in Chattanooga or Johnson City may include limited call shifts in the contract, particularly on weekends or holidays. Junxion spells out every float and call detail before you sign. We’ve seen too many agencies leave that stuff vague — we don’t.

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Tennessee’s got the contracts, the culture, and the career growth. Talk to a Junxion recruiter and let’s find your next L&D assignment here.

Explore More

• L&D Travel Nurse Career Guide
• Travel Healthcare Jobs in Tennessee
• Travel L&D Nurse Salary Guide
• How to Become a Traveling Nurse
• Employee Resources

Know an L&D nurse who’d thrive on the road? Refer them to Junxion and earn a bonus when they complete their first assignment.