The Best Locations for Fall and Winter Travel Assignments
By Megan M. Krischke, contributor
The temperatures are still warm and school is not yet back in session--even so, travel nurse recruiters are already thinking about assignments for the fall and winter season. That means nurses should be putting their holiday wish list together for travel nursing destinations, as well.
“We are already receiving our winter travel nurse orders with start dates as late as January,” remarked Jenna Scaduto, recruitment manager with American Mobile Healthcare, an AMN Healthcare company. “We have exclusive contracts with several large health care systems so nurses have lots of options right now to choose where they want to work.”
First, consider your priorities
The best travel nursing destinations are not only great cities, but locations that match your particular goals. Travel nursing can allow you to decide just how you want to spend the coming season.
So what are your priorities when choosing a location?
• Do you want an assignment near family?
• Would you prefer to skip the winter weather this year by taking an assignment in a place like Texas, Arizona or Southern California?
• Have you always wanted to experience the glamour of Christmas in The Big Apple?
• Do you dream of spending your days off snowboarding in the mountains of Vermont?
• Do historic cities like Boston and the extravagant colors of a New England fall beckon to you?
“A lot of people are under the impression that travel nurses always have to work holidays, but it isn’t true. Just as for any nurse, nurse managers expect travelers to work some, but not all, of the winter holidays,” noted Scaduto. “When you plan your fall and winter travel now, you have more flexibility for planning time off between assignments and more assignment options in your top locations.”
Three travel nursing destinations worth considering
There are a number of great locations for nurses to consider for their next travel assignment. This season, American Mobile is highlighting top travel nursing destinations on each coast, but Scaduto emphasized that there are assignments available throughout the country.
So if you’re looking for ideas, here are three top travel nursing destinations:
1. New Haven, Connecticut
This city of 130,000 is home to Yale University, and offers a pedestrian-friendly town with a rich nightlife. New Haven also boasts its own style of pizza along with a vast array of dining options. Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of community bike rides, and the proximity to hiking and the beach, while skiers and snowboarders will enjoy hitting the slopes in Connecticut’s ski resorts, or trying the resorts in nearby Vermont and New Hampshire.
Nurses longing for the hustle and bustle of the big city will appreciate that Boston is just an hour and a half away, and New York City is two and a half hours away.
2. Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is one of the country’s top tourist destinations, hosting 16.3 million visitors, each year. For nurses seeking to experience the rich colors of a New England autumn, planning your travel assignment to include mid-October will yield the best fall foliage. Though fairly far north, Boston’s winter temperatures are moderated by the Atlantic Ocean, and December and January highs are typically above freezing.
Some events you won’t want to miss while in Boston are the Head of the Charles Regatta in October and the city’s New Year’s celebration. In the two-day Charles Regatta, 8,000 rowers from around world compete while 300,000 spectators cheer from the banks. And for those lucky enough to ring in 2015 in this historic city, Boston’s public New Year’s Eve party starts early in the day, including kid-friendly events and a variety of music, dance and poetry exhibitions. When the clock strikes midnight, a spectacular fireworks show begins over the waterfront.
Sports enthusiasts will also find plenty to cheer about, as Boston boasts professional baseball, hockey, soccer, football and basketball teams.
3. Sacramento, California
The Sacramento metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million and a fairly mild climate with winter highs in the 40s and 50s.
The city is considered warm and friendly with a slower pace than other large California cities. It is about an hour and a half from San Francisco and just over two hours from the beauty and winter sports of Lake Tahoe.
Sacramento offers travel nurses a vibrant nightlife, a popular mystery theater, and a 32-mile world-class bike trail to Folsom, Calif. The city is also home to the Sacramento Kings basketball team, the State Indian Museum and the Second Saturday Art Walk--when art galleries open for evening visitors and restaurants stay open late to host the crowd.
More lead time equals more choices in travel assignments
The three cities above represent just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to travel nursing destinations for the coming season.
“For the fall and winter season, we have a number of jobs in Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout Southern California,” said Scaduto, who recommends nurses apply now to have a better chance of getting their preferred travel nursing destinations.
“We can plan six to eight weeks in advance, giving our nurses an opportunity to consider a variety of openings and to make plans that benefit their personal and professional lives during this busy time of year.”
Adventure awaits on your journey as a travel nurse. TravelNursing.com helps you get connected with more jobs in more locations. Apply today!
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