5 Reasons to Make Minnesota Your Next Travel Nursing Destination
Beyond the snowy winters, Minnesota has a lot to offer
You might think Minnesota is this frozen tundra that is practically Canada. While does get very cold in the northern half of the state, the Minnesota Nice will melt even the coldest of hearts, and beyond the snowy winters, Minnesota has a lot of character. After all, it is the land of Prince, Bob Dylan, Judy Garland, Paul Bunyan, North America’s largest shopping mall, and those 10,000 lakes. Here are 5 reasons travel nurses should put Minnesota on their map of states to visit for work and play.
It’s the land of opportunity
Minnesota is more than the mighty Mayo -- it has over 150 hospitals, which means a ton of opportunity for you. Not only that, but Minnesota is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live, and high pay makes it pretty much the perfect spot for your next assignment:
- Gross take home weekly: $1,541.00 - $1,839.00
- Net take home weekly: $1,355.00 - $1,608.00
It’s Twins Territory
All of Minnesota’s major sports franchises play out of the Minneapolis/St. Paul, also known as the Twin Cities. Minnesota has NBA, WNBA, NFL, and NHL teams, but no other sport gets fans more excited than Minnesota Twins baseball. Lead by hometown hero (and heartthrob) Joe Mauer, the Twins have diehard fans. Because where else would you play baseball in the snow?
For those not so much into team sports, nurses can bet their luck at Canterbury Park, where normally there are horse races, but sometimes you can see camels, zebras, or ostriches racing on the track.
It has hotdish and everything on a stick
Hotdish is the quintessential Minnesota meal. You won’t meet a MN nurse who didn’t grow up on it. Hotdish is a casserole that can be almost anything — as long as it’s made with cream of mushroom soup and topped with tater tots.
The Minnesota State Fair is the largest event of the year. Dubbed “The Great Minnesota Get-Together,” the fairgrounds in St. Paul are where food vendors will serve the most creative (and sometimes strange) carnival food concoctions and put them on a stick. Because then you can eat it while you’re waiting in line for some of Sweet Martha’s cookies. Some memorable portables include the traditional corn dog, cheese on a stick, and yes, even hotdish on a stick.
And if you’re not there during the fair or even Ren Fest, there are still plenty of places to eat.
Nurses with a sweet tooth must hit up Betty’s Pies, Cafe Latté, and eat one of the best donuts in Minnesota. Grab a Juicy Lucy at Matt’s Bar, pick up hummus and falafel at Holy Land Deli, and sip tropical drinks at tiki biker bar Psycho Suzi’s. For the best Italian food in the state, go to Cossetta, a restaurant and Italian market that has been run by the same family for four generations. To satisfy your pizza cravings, go to Pizza Lucé, or if you’re in the Twin Cities, have a superhero deliver a pie to your house in an electric car.
It’s the place to enjoy the great outdoors every season
If you love hanging out on the water, Minnesota in the summertime will not disappoint, especially if you find a friend with a boat. Take a boat ride on Lake Harriet or Lake Minnetonka, or rent a canoe and brave the Boundary Waters. The east side of the state is flanked by the mighty Mississippi, and people flock to Duluth and Grand Marais to enjoy the beauty of Lake Superior.
If you liken yourself to a polar bear, Minnesota has all the winter sports you could ask for, like ice skating, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and of course, hockey. If your idea of winter sports is strolling through the park and making snow angels, be sure to take in the St. Paul Winter Carnival.
It is the land of 10,000 things to see and do
Minnesota should really be known as the Land of 10,000 things to do. Uptown Minneapolis hot spot Bryant Lake Bowl has everything you need for a night out: bar food, bowling, and live theatre. If your nursing shifts leave you a little drained, get your blood pumping again on the thrill rides at Valleyfair. Or, there are plenty of museums to wander and shows to see. When you and your friends need some retail therapy, there is no better place to fill that Rx than the largest shopping mall in the U.S.
Minnesota is full of curiosities, statues, and sculptures. Minneapolis is known for its sculpture garden, but there are many installations to see all over the state, including Paul Bunyan, the Jolly Green Giant, and the largest manmade ball of twine. And most famous of all are the Peanuts statues, which are mostly localized in St. Paul (hometown of creator Charles Schulz) but can be seen all over the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.
If you have a bad shift, head to downtown Minneapolis and visit the Mary Tyler Moore statue. Her iconic TV show took place there, and her likeness is immortalized on the spot where she tossed her hat into the air. Always remember, no matter the weather or how challenging the day, you’re going to make it after all.