By Brooke Alstrom, Executive Account Manager, Aureus Medical
Are you still torn about where you want to start your travels in 2022? Each year around October, I start talking with nurses about where they’d like to go for their first assignment in the new year. While some traveling nurses accept extension offers through the holiday season, other travelers prefer to take off time around the holidays and start the new working year somewhere fresh in January or February!
Although heading south towards a warm-weathered state sounds like a dream to many people, the truth is that those jobs can be limited, and there is often a lot of competition. States with warm winters, like Arizona, Texas, and Florida, receive piles of profiles for every job, while states like Maine, Wisconsin, and Idaho, struggle to find help when winter hits.
Here are the top reasons why you should consider trading in your sandals for snowshoes for your next winter assignment:
1. Winter Sports
Did you know Minnesota has ski resorts?! From Lusten to Mankato, there are at least 18 great skiing destinations that will transport you to a scenic winter adventureland. Or how cool would it be to see giant buffalo up close in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park from a snowmobile?
2. Snow Sculptures
Check out the International Snow Sculpture Championships in Breckenridge, Colorado! Walk past larger-than-life snow sculptures in beautiful Breckenridge and vote for your favorite.
3. Winter Festivals
New York City is home to the Valrhona Hot Chocolate Festival, a two-week celebration of all things cocoa. Sample creative hot chocolate recipes and then head over to any of the many outdoor ice rinks for some seasonal fun.
4. Better Pay!
While states like Texas and Florida have started dropping rates this winter, states in the north see a higher demand for winter travel nurses, and as a result, their rates stay high. If winter festivities and fun aren’t incentive enough, securing a high-paying assignment in a winter-weather state could make it all worth the trouble!
Going north doesn’t mean you have to spend your days off bingeing Netflix and sipping hot cocoa indoors. There’s so much more to explore this season! If you’re curious about what next travel nursing adventure is available to you this winter, check the Aureus Medical job postings or connect with your recruiter!