5 Winter Travel Destinations for Healthcare Workers

Nurses and healthcare workers who pick up PRN jobs or travel contracts often peruse winter travel destinations around this time of year. As a leading nurse staffing app, we want to help guide you toward five popular winter travel locations and ten of the highest-paying cities for winter jobs.

Everybody has different hobbies. Some can't wait to escape the cold winter months, and some can't wait to suit up in warm clothes and enjoy what the winter has to offer. Therefore, we've listed popular destinations for local travel, travel, and PRN or per diem nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs).

Consider What Suits You For The Upcoming Season As a Healthcare Worker:

When it comes to choosing a winter travel destination as a local travel or per diem healthcare worker, you might want to consider a few of the following questions:

Do you need benefits, or is PRN a better fit?
Do you have family or pets to consider?
How far do I want to be from home?
What kind of climate am I looking for?
What are the healthcare workers' salaries for specific destinations?

After assessing the type of jobs you're looking for, you can get a better idea if you want to pick up local PRN jobs during the fall and winter or even take on a travel nursing or CNA assignment. Whether you live in one of the following locations or plan to travel to one for work, here are five of the most popular winter travel destinations for per diem and contract healthcare workers:

1. San Diego, California:

Top of the list is San Diego, with great year-round weather and sandy beaches. If you want to stay active and enjoy miles of coastline during the winter, this is the place for you. San Diego has miles of coastline, bars, live entertainment, and restaurants serving the best cuisines. Also, you can sit back and enjoy an AMtrak cruise along the California coast. Enjoy the city without the mad rushes of cities like L.A. As a matter of fact, it's this appeal about San Diego that makes it one of the top choices for travel nurses wanting to escape the cold winter months.

2. Miami, Florida:

Many nurses seek out Miami to travel to spend the winter months. Why? With temperatures above 70 and miles of beaches, seemingly endless options for exciting nightlife, numerous clubs and bars, live music, and five-star cuisine - it's easy to see why this city is so famous as a winter destination. The architecture was inspired by the French yet built with an American touch, sure to leave you in awe. Furthermore, Miami is full of museums you can explore during the day and history through one of many exhibits you are sure to enjoy. You can go check out little Havana, explore some Cuban culture with Cuban cuisine, listen to music, peruse art galleries, and much more. Finally, with 35 miles of beaches and soft sand soaking up some rays and clear blue waters due to the Atlantic Ocean merging with the Caribbean, you're sure to have plenty of relaxation on days off work.

3. New Haven, Connecticut:

The City of New Haven, Connecticut, known for its renowned educational institutions, is also home to Yale University. It is the second-largest city in Connecticut and has no shortage of libraries, museums, art galleries, cafes, and bookstores. Additionally, this city will give you intellectual stimulation you may get nowhere else. Winter doesn't mean life outside comes to a halt; on the contrary, you'll find winter life is truly a dream come true in New Haven for those who enjoy activities such as snowboarding, skiing, cross-country skiing, and other outdoor winter adventures.

4. Boston, Massachusetts:

Boston is a top destination for tourists. You can expect around 16.3 million visitors a year. Autumn in Boston, a travel nurse can expect to see vibrant colors. Around October, you will see fall beauty to its fullest. The temperature of the winter months is moderate, with December and January staying above freezing. Bringing in the new year, the celebration starts early with children-friendly events such as music, dance, and poetry exhibitions. At midnight, you'll enjoy fireworks over the waterfront. Sports fans enjoy Boston's professional baseball, hockey, soccer, and basketball teams. Bostoners enjoy and boast of their sports teams.

5. Sacramento, California:

Sacramento is a city of over two million people, yet, it is much more relaxed than other cities in Cali, such as San Francisco, located about an hour and a half away. Plus, Sacramento has a relatively mild climate. As a matter of fact, in winter months, you can expect temperatures in the 40s and 50s. If you are into nightlife, you can feast upon options in Sacramento. Furthermore, there are many art galleries, including the State Indian Museum and the 2nd Saturday Art Walk. As a late-night city, you will find that restaurants even stay open late for visitors. Last but not least, if you're into biking, you can take a 32- mile bike ride to Folsom, California.

10 Of The Highest Paid Winter Travel Nursing Destinations

Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
San Jose CA
Stockton, CA
San Bernardino, CA
Washington DC
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Anchorage, AK
Milwaukee, WI

Some Other Popular Winter Destinations for Travel Nurses

There are jobs for PRN and travel nursing all over the country where a nurse can decide to spend up to three months making a contract that appeals to them. If you want some more travel nurse cities that are highly sought after, try checking out Seattle, Washington; Phoenix, Arizona; Tacoma, Washington; and Houston, Texas. These are just a few examples.

With the pandemic on the loose and a shortage of healthcare workers, staffing has made it more profitable to take on contracts nationwide. Additionally, the strain on the already short-staffed healthcare facilities has opened up travel and PRN jobs for many types of healthcare professionals. Registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and CNAs can pick up PRN jobs to supplement their income or full-time work. Want more information? Learn the differences between CMA vs CNA.