When is the best time to look for a travel nursing job?

Travel assignments are available year-round, but did you know that sometimes the choices are more abundant? Find out where and when to start your search.

How many times this winter have you shoveled snow from your driveway? Been late because you were waiting for your car to defrost? Sat bundled on your couch waiting to thaw after you dared to venture outside?

You don’t have to spend winter in the cold – unless you’re one of the 29% of Americans who prefers it that way. Instead, you could escape to Florida or another warm-weather location to do better than just wait out the winter months.

As a travel nurse, you have a unique ability to be in the most ideal climates and locales year-round. For example, you’re not alone in desiring to spend the winter months somewhere more temperate. People across the United States and Canada flock to warm-weather locations like Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona. These people, often colloquially called “snowbirds,” drive up hospital censuses in these areas for winter, creating a large number of travel nursing jobs and an ideal opportunity for you to spend your winter in paradise!

Seasonal Nursing Trends

While travel nurse jobs open and close around the country for a variety of unpredictable reasons year-round, some healthcare employers do count on seasonal staffing changes – and post nursing jobs accordingly.

Here are some identified seasonal travel nurse trends:

High Season - Winter Assignments

State with Increases in Job Postings - Typical Start Dates

Florida -- Most Hires: Nov to Mar ... Peak: January
Texas -- Most Hires: Nov to Mar ... Peak: January
Arizona -- Most Hires: Nov to Mar ... Peak: January
California -- Most Hires: Nov to Mar
Hawaii -- Most Hires: Nov to Jan
Colorado -- Most Hires: Nov to Mar

High Season - Summer Assignments

State with Increases in Job Postings - Typical Start Dates

Massachusetts -- Most Hires: May to Sept
Connecticut -- Most Hires: May to Sept
Maine -- Most Hires: May to Sept
New Hampshire -- Most Hires: May to Sept

Did you know? January tends to have more travel assignment start dates than any other month. This is partly due to employers coming into the start of the year with fresh budgets, along with the known tendency for patients to push doctors' visits and elective surgeries until after the holidays. Many hospitals also plan for flu season, which can increase patient census and decrease staffing counts.

What These Travel Job Trends Mean for You

You can plan ahead.

If you’re an experienced travel nurse, you are probably aware that the ability to plan ahead is a luxury. With seasonal needs, hospitals know that the area will experience a population increase during a certain time of year. They post jobs – and hire travel nurses! – earlier than with many other travel nursing jobs. You could have a travel nurse job in Florida secured as early as October for a January start date!

In order to capitalize on these seasonal nurse jobs, it’s important to take two steps:

Apply for nursing licenses early! Know that you want a Florida nursing job in January? With travel jobs posting as early as October with January start dates, apply for your Florida license in July. Want to escape on a traveling RN job in California? With an infamously slow license turnaround time (but with travel nurse pay that will more than make up for it!), consider applying for a California nursing license at least ten months before you want to start.
Talk to your recruiter early. Let them know what areas you’re interested in and why. Then they can jump on any assignments that open in your target area as soon as they post. You’ll be the first name the Nurse Manager sees!

You can explore each area of the country at its prime.

It’s no coincidence that the public flocks to California, Florida, and other southern states in the winter, and then to the Northeast and Alaska in summer. Who wouldn’t want to sip margaritas on the beach in San Diego in January? Or explore Boston at the end of summer and into fall, as the leaves begin to turn? Or maybe you’re an avid skier, and instead of fleeing the cold, you’ll head to travel nurse assignment in Colorado at the peak of skiing season. Wherever your paradise is, seasonal travel nursing jobs will help you get there.

Keep in mind that travel nursing assignments are constantly changing. It’s important to discuss your travel goals with your recruiter. Together, you can come up with a plan.