The great thing about beingtraveling nurse boils down to one key component – it’s abouttravel! For those of us who love moving around and seeingworld, travel nursing isprofession of our dreams. There are many travel destinations available, based on weather, activities, cost of living, and salary. Therefore, I have gatheredlist of my “Top Ten” destinations that nurses choose, based onnumber of travelers who inquire about each location every month. Are youtravel RN scoutingnew assignment? Then I’d like to suggestfollowing ten “Hot Spots”:
HAWAII – It’s no shock that Hawaii generates over fivezerozero travel nursing inquiries per month. The wide range of outdoor activities from snow-capped mountains to snow-white sandy beaches elevates Hawaii to one of those meccas where you can buildsnowman orsand castle all in one day. Nurses tell me that you’ll discover virtually every type of outdoor activity imaginable—hiking trails that wind through erupting volcanoes, secret beaches, and lush green ranchlands. Many travelers also hunt, mountain bike, go rafting, and golf on some ofworld’s most extravagant courses.
ALASKA – Travel nurses are intrigued bypossibilities of Alaska’s rugged mystery. Alaska ishuge wilderness with beautiful scenery, and travel nursing assignments offer plenty of time to see and do everything you want, whether in winter’s darkness under northern lights, orglorious spring and summer where it’s light most oftime. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy Alaska for its’ wildlife, spectacular natural landscape, and fishing expeditions wherefish really are as big asstories about which they’re told. Countless day cruises and sightseeing expeditions abound, as well as opportunities to hike, kayak, canoe, ski… Need we say more?
MONTANA – Whether photographer, adventurer, or both, Montana is trulystate that beckons with open arms. River trips, fishing and camping, history, snowy mountain ranges, and waterfalls are what you’ll encounter, along with plenty of open space to explore. Assignments in Montana appeal to those travel nurses who just need some time to break away from their city grind to enjoy marching tobeat ofentirely different drummer. The Big Sky Country boasts some of America’s most famous mountains, canyons, river valleys, forests, grassy plains, badlands, and caverns, and many travelers find it just irresistible enough to keep coming back.
MAINE – Maine’s splendor has inspired artists like Georgia O’Keefe and three generations ofWyeth family, sincemid-nineteenth century. Travel nurses can’t resist at least one adventure in this charming getaway. Whether you embark on outdoor adventures like skiing and snowmobiling, or if you prefercozy ambience of antiquing through charming villages or just strolling or riding horseback on miles of sandy beaches insmell of salt air, Maine is legendary and offers some wonderful travel nursing experiences. Its’ unique culture is outdoorsy and quaint, and of course you get to enjoy lobster aslocals do—fresh fromocean!
CALIFORNIA – Warm weather and world-famous beaches make Californiafavorite choice for traveling nurses. Nine-hundred miles of coastline gives nurses in all locationschance to spend many hours nearwaves; and for nature lovers, California is home to many wildlife parks, remote wilderness areas, and safe-havens for endangered animals. If you’reexcitement junkie, you can scout outwide selection of theme parks; and no matter what your taste in music, concerts abound in every type of venue. Historic sites and museums invite, as do five-star restaurants and clubs in which to see and be seen. The shopping is unparalleled, whether it’s trendy Melrose Place, La Jolla, orstrand in Venice Beach; and of course it’s home to Hollywood, and, yes, movie stars. Whether northern, southern, or coastal locations, traveling nurses return to California time and again.
WASHINGTON – The Evergreen State boastsgorgeous Pacific Ocean,Cascade Mountains, desert experiences, rain forests, towering volcanoes, glaciers, and lush wine country. Washington State rates high onlist of many nurse travelers. Must-sees areSpace Needle and Coulee Dam. The culture here is incredibly diverse; sophisticated, outdoorsy, and loaded with resorts, history, parks, museums, and botanical gardens. Whether touring downtown Seattle for cozy antique and book stores, exploring ancient Indian grounds, or hiking and biking mountains or trails, Washington holdsstrong allure for many nurse travelers.
SOUTH CAROLINA – Endless adventure, excitement, fun and exploration represent why South Carolina is alwaysfavorite destination for travel nurses. America’s oldest landscaped gardens frame mansions rife with historical heritage, in addition to pristine beaches and legendary marshy wetlands. For all you golfers, with over threethreezero golf courses, there’s alwaysnew place to swing your clubs. But what fascinates many traveling nurses isrich heritage in which South Carolina has pavedroads of culture, art, and folklore in our past. You can visit several historical areas and discovery centers of American history, includingAmerican Revolution andCivil War.
COLORADO – World-class winter skiing and summer music festivals inmountains are just two reasons that nurses love traveling to Colorado. Boasting four spectacular seasons, Colorado is where travel nurses get to explorestate’s oneeight million acres of state and national parks, forests, and monuments for biking, hiking, fishing, mountain climbing, and kayaking, to namefew. Colorado has many cultural treasures, including ancient Native American sites and dinosaur fossil exhibits, historic ghost towns, and even award-winning vineyards in Grand Junction. And for those who enjoy city life, amid all this natural beauty lie wonderful metropolitan areas like Denver and Boulder, full of shopping, performing arts, and professional sports.
TENNESSEE – From energetic nights of blues on Beale Street, to gorgeous rolling acres of Tennessee Walker horse country, to peaceful Smoky Mountain sunsets, Tennessee isvacation that offers many world-renowned attractions. Nurse travelers who visit Tennessee will find that they’re withinday’s drive of sevenfive-percent ofU.S. population via quality interstates and highways. Attractions in Tennessee includeJack Daniels’ distillery, Elvis’s Graceland,Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and lots of southern hospitality. And don’t forgetcrown jewel ofsouthern Appalachians,Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
ARIZONA – If you adoreoutdoors, thenGrand Canyon State might just be for you. The nurses who go there just rave about Arizona’s landscape which takes in tall mountain ranges, swift rivers, grasslands, sand dunes, and cactus forests all set againstbeautiful sky that glows pink insunset. The traveler nurses who enjoy history will find plenty of it here, including Old West reformations, Native American nations, and Spanish-influenced areas all in one state. Arizona is also home tonation’s greatest golf courses, resorts, spas, cabins, and ranches.
As you can see, limitless possibilities exist for those nurses who want travel, fun, and adventure to be part of their daily lives. If you’renurse who travels and it's time for you to move on tonew location, try one of these top travel nursing destinations and see what new experiences lie ahead.
About The Author
Janet Fikany is"Placement Diva" for HealthCare Staffing Network. For travel nursing advice, please visit HSN online at http://www.hcstaffingnetwork.com, or call Janet toll free at one-eightsevenseven-threeeightfive-threezeronineseven.
nat@hcstaffingnetwork.com
