If you love your job as a nurse and you love the summertime, you might feel torn between the two during the warm summer months. Maybe you’re dreaming of a warm summer destination while you’re at work but you can’t stop thinking about your love for nursing while you’re on vacation.
We’ve got good news — there’s an easy way to tie the two together.
Taking a contract as a travel nurse during the summer might be the perfect job for you.
Here we explain the pros and cons of travel nursing during summer and preview some of the most desired summer vacation spots in the United States.
Table of Contents
- Can You Travel Nurse Just for the Summer?
- Travel Nursing During Summer: Pros and Cons
- 7 Popular Summer Destinations for Travel Nursing
- Start Planning Your Summer Travel Nursing Assignment: Create a Free Profile Today
Can You Travel Nurse Just for the Summer?
Travel nursing is often appealing because of the flexibility that the job offers.
You might be wondering, “Can you travel nurse just for the summer?”
Absolutely!
Contracts with travel nursing vary, but typically they are no more than 13 weeks at a time. This could be the perfect opportunity to work as a nurse just through the summer months.
Not interested in dedicating an entire summer to travel nursing? At Trusted Nurse Staffing, our recruiters work hard to find you flexible contracts, whether that’s 6-weeks, 8-weeks, or a full 13-weeks.
Travel Nursing During Summer: Pros and Cons
There is a lot to expect when starting work as a travel nurse, including some important pros and cons to the job.
If you’re considering working as a travel nurse, things like …
- Flexibility
- Ability to travel; and
- Higher salaries
… might pique your interest.
However, things like …
- Being far away from friends and family
- Risking canceled contracts; or
- Varying job requirements
… might hold you back from working as a travel nurse.
But maybe you’re just considering travel nursing during summer. A summer job as a travel nurse offers a different set of pros and cons to think over.
Pros
Do you enjoy warm weather, sightseeing, and adventure?
Taking a contract as a travel nurse during the summer might offer you the opportunity to enjoy all of these things, depending on the destination.
#1: Enjoy Warm Weather
If you’re someone who enjoys warm weather, finding a travel nursing job at a warm summer destination could be beneficial.
Not only can you be fulfilled while at work, but you can spend your time off soaking up the summer sun and exploring your temporary home in beautiful summer weather.
#2: Enjoy Sightseeing and Summer Tourist Events
In many big cities, tourism generally picks up during the summer months. With this comes more events and opportunities to sightsee and explore.
If you choose to work as a travel nurse during the summer, you might find that you’re able to act like a tourist by taking advantage of the different events happening around your city in your downtime.
#3: Create a Summer Adventure to Remember
Most people spend their summers traveling and checking things off of their bucket lists.
If you’re choosing to work as a travel nurse during the summer, how can you accomplish a vacation, too?
By finding a travel nurse contract for the summertime at a destination you’ve always wanted to visit, you can experience both living and exploring at the same time.
You never know — your short-term summer travel nurse contract could end up being an adventure you’ll never forget.
Cons
Maybe you enjoy a slower pace at the hospital.
Or maybe you don’t like dealing with summer traffic.
If this sounds like you, travel nursing during the summer months might not be the best fit for you.
#1: Hospitals Tend to Be More Busy in the Summer
Hospitals tend to see surges in patients during certain times of the year, like:
- Holidays
- Local-based events; or
- Summer months
At hospitals, summertime is known as “trauma season” — from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
Why?
People begin to emerge from home, especially in the northern states after a long winter, eager to experience the outdoors and warm weather.
During the summer, hospitals see accidents most commonly related to:
- Bicycles or motorcycles
- Pools
- Playgrounds
- Burns
- Heat
- Grills
- Trampolines
- Alcohol consumption; and
- Gunshot wounds
If you’re not looking to experience a large hospital rush during your travel nursing contract, you might choose to avoid travel nursing during summer months.
#2: You May Experience Traffic from Summer Tourism
If you’re someone who is easily bothered by traffic, summer travel nursing might not be for you.
Large cities tend to see heavy traffic regularly, but popular tourist spots around the country will see an increase in traffic during the summer months. As more tourists begin to flood a city, the roads and popular attractions will become more difficult to navigate.
Consider avoiding popular vacation destinations or prepare yourself to deal with an increase in tourism traffic during your summer travel nurse contract.
7 Popular Summer Destinations for Travel Nursing
You’ve been convinced that travel nursing during summer could be the perfect job for you. Now it’s time to decide which popular summer destination spot would make the perfect summer nursing travel assignment.
Many states are great options for travel nursing, but some specific United States cities have major appeal for the summer months.
#1: Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii is a popular vacation spot any time of the year because it rarely sees temperatures below 70℉, but the state sees an increase in tourism during the summer months.
Not only is Honolulu Hawaii’s largest city and state capital, but it is a major hub for:
- International business
- Military defense
- Hospitality; and
- Finance
Add in summer tourism, and you can only imagine the hustle and bustle of Honolulu during these popular months.
Honolulu’s summer temperatures range from the mid-high 80’s, making the state a perfect summer destination spot.
Even more, there’s plenty to do during your off-time in Honolulu, including:
- Boat tours
- Beaches
- Water excursions
- Visiting Pearl Harbor
- Hiking
- Exploring the city
- And much more
#2: Miami, Florida
Miami offers a great mix of city life and a summer beach vacation. While there is plenty to explore throughout the city, like …
- Restaurants
- Museums
- Shopping
- And more
… there are also relaxing beaches and exciting nightlife opportunities.
During popular summer months, Miami’s temperatures hang around the high 80’s and offer many sunny days.
#3: Anchorage, Alaska
Maybe you’re not interested in the typical warm weather or beach vacation during the summertime.
Anchorage, Alaska experiences temperatures from the mid-high 60’s from June through August, making it a great place to escape the summer heat while still enjoying a fun summer vacation.
While in Anchorage, you could experience:
- Glaciers
- Whitewater rafting
- Wildlife including grizzly bears, moose, bison, and more
- Fishing
- And more
#4: San Diego, California
California is an ideal summer destination spot because the temperatures rarely get too hot. Between June and August, temperatures in San Diego typically hang in the 70’s — a perfect summer day.
During your downtime in San Diego, you could enjoy things like:
- Whale watching
- Riding the trolley throughout the city
- Boat cruises
- The San Diego Zoo
- Culinary tours
- And more
#5: Denver, Colorado
Most people don’t think of venturing to Colorado for a summer vacation, but Colorado experiences warm and sunny days throughout the summer months reaching close to 90.
Although you may not be close to the beach, the city of Denver has plenty to offer, including:
- Downtown’s historic district
- Shopping
- Museums
- The Denver Zoo
- Denver Botanic Gardens; and
- Sports attractions
#6: Portland, Oregon
Another city that experiences more mild summers is Portland, Oregon.
With temperatures ranging from low-mid 70’s to low 80’s, Portland could be the perfect destination for a summer nursing assignment.
While in Portland you could:
- Visit Mt. Hood
- Take a day trip to the Oregon coast
- Explore downtown Portland
- Tour waterfalls
- Experience local cuisine
- And more
#7: Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles is known as one of the world’s most famous cities, specifically for being home to many of the rich and famous. If you’re hoping to spot your favorite celebrities on the street or at a local restaurant, this is where you want to be.
When you’re not working your travel nursing job, you could:
- Surf at Venice Beach
- Visit the Hollywood sign
- Try some iconic Los Angeles dishes
- Go to Universal Studios Hollywood or The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Visit the Getty Center or Griffith Observatory
- Explore the Battleship USS Iowa Museum
- Tour Warner Bros. Studio
- Take a segway tour through Beverly Hills
- And much more
Start Planning Your Summer Travel Nursing Assignment: Create a Free Profile Today
Are you a nurse looking for summer work?
Maybe you want to enjoy making good money while experiencing a little summer vacation.
Travel nursing during summer might be the dream job for you.
At Trusted Nurse Staffing, our recruiters work hard to find you the contracts that you’re looking for. By simply creating a free travel nursing profile, you can easily view current available contracts and get started on finding a travel nursing job in the perfect summer destination spot.
Start searching for your dream job today.