By Furnished Finder

April 25, 2024

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Travel Nurse Assignments Over the Summer–Popular Locations and Finding the Best Housing

Nurses are officially lining up their summer travel assignments, which means–it’s time to start looking for housing for the sunniest season of the year! 

One of the best parts of being a travel nurse is taking advantage of beautiful locations during specific times of the year. Summer is often the prime time to find the perfect location assignment while everyone waits for rates to pick back up in the fall. If you are going to live in a dream location during the dream season, you might as well find the dream housing to perfect the experience. 

Recently, we have been browsing Furnished Finder for housing and dreaming up the best places to stay this summer with the best amenities.

Here are a few of our favorite locations and housing listings:

housing

Anchorage, Alaska

Alaska is a bucket list location for many travel nurses, and summer is a great time to go. The weather is mild, and sunlight is abundant. Most travelers try to avoid going this far north in colder months and aim for May to September for their Alaskan assignment. 

An assignment in Anchorage promises abundant hiking, fishing, and outdoor adventures, ensuring a packed schedule. What better reward after a day of exploration than unwinding in your condo, basking in a stunning view?

Yes, that’s right–you can actually filter properties on Furnished Finder by amenities such as hot tubs and pools. Right now this Designer Downtown Condo with an amazing view looks like a great place to spend an Alaskan summer.  Explore more properties in Anchorage.

Los Angeles, California

If a rugged Alaskan adventure isn’t your style, consider spending your summer in a trendy city like LA, which has many things to do. 

We highly recommend using the “pool” filter for your summertime stay since you will want to take advantage of all the California sunshine. This listing at TenTen Wilshire comes with many luxury amenities, including a private gym and rooftop pool. 

Plus, by booking a space that caters to traveling professionals, you will have better luck making connections and building relationships during your assignment. Explore more properties in Los Angeles.

Coos Bay, Oregon

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Another place where it might be fun to live temporarily but not permanently is the Oregon coast. The cost of living can be a bit high, but taking a short assignment there for the experience is worth it. From fresh seafood to whale watching, there are many things you can only experience by staying in a coastal town for a while. 

This Waterfront Home has the perfect, dreamy deck to enjoy an oceanfront cup of coffee every day of your assignment. There is also an in-unit washer and dryer and an extra bedroom for guests to come visit. 

As a bonus, there is even an infrared sauna you can use during your stay. That’s something you definitely wouldn’t find on most hotel or homeshare websites! Explore more properties in Coos Bay.

Chicago, Illinois

If you want to spend the summer in the city without a ton of heat, Chicago is a great choice. Chicago winters can be brutal, so taking advantage of the nicer weather in this popular city is a great idea.

Chicago not only has great food, watersports galore on Lake Michigan, and amazing shopping spots but it is also known for luxury high rises. This Grand Plaza Condo has everything a travel nurse could dream of in a short-term unit. Why not spend the summer treating yourself and feeling on top of the world in one of the most fun cities in the US? Explore more properties in Chicago.

The Best Part

One of the most exciting things about travel nursing is the endless possibilities. From fun locations to bougie living spaces, you get to live a lot differently than if you were in a full-time job at home. Even if the location or job isn’t your favorite, it’s nice to get to experience different places and see what you enjoy or don’t enjoy. Spend this summer taking advantage of this opportunity–and splurge a little extra on a dreamy short-term rental as well. Start searching for your next rental on Furnished Finder today!

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

By Alex McCoy

February 6, 2024

2026 Views

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Summer Contracts Will Be Here Soon–What You Need to Know

Here is your official reminder that summer contracts will be coming up soon! Winter rates will be winding down before we know it, and it’s always good to have a plan to get through summertime as a travel nurse. Less flu and respiratory patients mean the census will drop, and job postings will inevitably decrease, but that does not mean you will be unemployed this summer. You can find the perfect summer contract with a little planning and preparation. Here are some tips to do just that. 

Summer contracts: what you need to know:

summer contract

1. Strategize Your Extensions

How are you feeling about your current contract? Is it doable for a little while longer? Even if it isn’t your favorite unit or location, if the pay is right and you have decent housing, it might be worth considering an extension. A lot of the time, units may keep current travelers even if they are not actively hiring additional travelers. Use that to your advantage!

2. Have Profiles on File With Multiple Agencies

Now is the time to make sure you have relationships with more than one agency. The more options you have for jobs, the better! Each agency will have different relationships with facilities, so you never know what one recruiter might have that’s different from your current recruiter. Not sure how to find a new company to work with? Check out our list of Top Travel Nurse Agencies for 2023

3. Save Money Now

While you are still making money on winter rates, make sure to save a little extra. As travel nurses, it’s always good to have an emergency fund, but it is especially important going into summer. Sometimes, if you can’t find a summer contract you’re interested in for the summer months, you might be able to take some time off instead. 

summer contract

4. Consider PRN Work

If you are having trouble finding a summer contract to work, you might see if you can sign on PRN for a hospital at your current location OR back home. Working PRN usually gets you a higher hourly rate but requires less commitment than a full-time job. Some agencies even do PRN staffing, so look into that as well. 

5. Work a Less Desirable Specialty

Have LTAC experience but prefer to work ICU? During the summer slow down, it might be time to bust out your other skills. Try broadening your search by looking into summer contracts in areas that you have experience with but don’t “love.” Of course, you can’t work as a traveler in an area you have zero experience in, so if you have only ever done one specialty, this isn’t a great option. And remember–you can do anything for 13 weeks!

6. Don’t. Panic. 

Every single year around springtime, the travel nursing pages are full of travelers complaining that the market is crashing, there are no more jobs, and the rates are plummeting. If you are an experienced traveler, you understand that this, too, shall pass. Stay calm, and remember that the travel nurse industry is one of supply and demand. Once fall rolls back around, respiratory admissions will go up, and the market will stabilize. It happens every year like clockwork! 

If your desire is to work full-time, year-round, as a travel nurse, it is completely doable. Summer might be a slower time, but if you plan ahead and communicate with your recruiters, you should be able to stay employed. Also, remember that flexibility is key in this industry. You might not get your perfect summer placement, but if your goal is to keep working, you might have to make some concessions in one area or another.

We hope you found this article on summer contracts and what you should know now to prepare for them. Do you have any tips for preparing for summer contracts? Comment them below.

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.