The winter holidays are fast approaching, and for many people that means traveling to visit family, friends, or a significant other. However, if you’re a travel nurse with a limited window of availability, the question becomes: where can you find the best winter travel nursing opportunities?
The answer is not as straightforward as one might think. Most nurses do not have unlimited availability during the months of November through February. Some enjoy these months so much they return annually; while others fear they will be stuck in an isolated cabin somewhere with no cell service for weeks on end. In order to get you started in your search for great winter travel nursing opportunities, we’ve put together this list of some of the most desirable destinations during this time of year.
Alaska
What better place to start the list than with the “Last Frontier”? Alaska is a place of extremes—both in climate and in people. Along with hosting some of the most breathtaking scenery on the planet, Alaska is also home to some of the most hospitable, friendly people you will ever meet.
You’ll find everything from fishing villages to cosmopolitan cities like Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. Anchorage is a great place to start your search for winter travel nursing assignments in Alaska. Not only is it a cosmopolitan city with endless entertainment options, but it’s also home to multiple hospitals and medical facilities. You can expect your time to be spent treating patients with a wide range of ailments.
Colorado Rockies
The Rocky Mountains are well known for their incredible skiing and hiking. The winter time scenary is quite breathtaking. Seeing the snow covered mountains in Colorado is one of best parts of visiting colorado in my opinion. There are many ski resorts in the area, and if you are lucky you can even find winter travel nursing opportunities at these resorts. You can also look for opportunities in nearby towns. The population in the area swells in the summer months, so finding available travel nursing positions in the winter isn’t always easy.
You’ll want to be prepared for the cold when visiting the Colorado Rockies during the winter. Temperatures typically hover around freezing, and it’s not uncommon for them to drop below zero during the coldest months of the year.
Hawaii
You might think of Hawaii as a tropical paradise, but winter is actually the off-season for tourism, so it’s a great time to visit the islands without the crowds. You can find great winter travel nursing opportunities on the Big Island, especially around Hilo, where there are a number of hospitals and medical facilities that hire travel nurses. Honoka’a, another town in Hawaii, is a great place for people who love the outdoors. Honoka’a is surrounded by forests, mountains, and is close to the Pacific Ocean, making it an ideal place to see wildlife such as dolphins and whales. If you love exploring new places and don’t mind the occasional bout of bad weather, Hawaii is a great place to find winter travel nursing assignments. The only thing you’ll have to keep in mind is that the islands are approximately 2,500 miles away from the mainland. That means that flying there is going to take a long time.
Tennessee
Knoxville and the surrounding area is a great place to find winter travel nursing assignments during the winter months. The biggest employers in the area are the University of Tennessee and a government-run hospital. You can find travel nursing opportunities in a variety of specialties, and the cost of living is far below the national average.
Chattanooga and Nashville are also nearby and offer additional winter travel nursing opportunities. You’ll want to make sure you’re prepared for the change in weather when visiting Tennessee in the winter months. While temperatures rarely drop below freezing, snowstorms aren’t unheard of, and they can occasionally be pretty heavy. You’ll want to make sure you have proper winter clothing, including a heavy coat, gloves, and a warm hat. You may also want to consider investing in some winter-rated footwear.
Montana
The winters in Montana are long, but they make up for it with incredibly low temperatures. The coldest months are typically December, January, and February, and it’s not uncommon for temperatures to drop below zero. However, the extremely low temperatures are the only thing that makes Montana feel like winter. The first snows typically fall sometime in October, but the ground doesn’t usually start to freeze until November or December.
The city of Butte, Montana, is home to two major hospitals as well as a few small medical facilities, so you can expect to find plenty of winter travel nursing jobs in the area. Butte is also a great place for outdoor lovers, as it’s surrounded by mountains and is close to the Rocky Mountains National Park.
Southern California
Southern California is a great place to find winter travel nursing assignments in the winter months, with the main hub being Los Angeles. In addition to LA, you can also find opportunities in San Diego and Orange County. Southern California is great for people who love the beach, as there is no shortage of nearby beaches. You can also find plenty of things to do around Los Angeles, including visiting various museums and theme parks.
Utah
If you’re looking for a remote winter travel nursing assignment, Utah may be the place for you. The state is well known for its ski resorts, but winter travel nursing jobs in Utah can be found in many other places as well. Salt Lake City is the largest city in the state and is a great place to find a winter travel nursing job. You can also find opportunities in nearby towns such as Provo and West Valley.
Conclusion
Winter is an incredible time of year to visit many different places in the United States, and it’s also a great time to find travel nursing jobs. We’ve given you a brief overview of some of the most desirable destinations during this time of year, and we hope it’s given you a place to start your search. Whether you’re looking to escape the cold weather or you’re just a winter enthusiast, any of these destinations should be a great place for you to find a winter travel nursing assignment.
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