Every year, travel nurses face the same post-holiday scramble: contracts expire, winter census rises, and suddenly every traveler in the country is fighting for the same handful of assignments. If you’ve been in the game long enough, you already know… January is one of the most competitive months in healthcare staffing.
Yet even with that pattern repeating itself annually, thousands of travelers still wait until after Christmas or New Year’s to look for their next assignment… and many end up frustrated, underpaid, or stuck with limited options.
Here’s why right now is the smartest time to get your next contract on the books and why booking early is one of the easiest ways to protect your income, your flexibility, and your stress levels!
1. January & February Are High-Demand, Low-Supply Months
Historically, the first 6–8 weeks of the year see some of the heaviest facility needs due to:
- Increased winter illness (flu, RSV, pneumonia spikes)
- Holiday burnout among staff
- PTO requests rolling over
- Seasonal traveler shortages
- Higher patient volumes in the Midwest, Northeast, and mountain states
But here’s the catch:
Hospitals post these needs early.
They want travelers locked in before the holiday chaos begins.
If you wait until January to start looking, you’re now competing with travelers who already submitted in November or December.
2. Early Birds Get the Higher Pay Packages
When needs are first released, pay packages are typically at their best:
- Less competition = higher rates
- More unfilled needs = more aggressive offers
- Greater facility urgency = faster onboarding
- First-come travelers get first pick
As assignments start to fill, many hospitals adjust rates downward because their urgency drops.
Travelers who book early often secure:
–Higher weekly pay
–Better locations
–Preferred specialties
–Nicer housing options
Waiting = settling.
3. Credentialing Goes Much Smoother When You Start Now
The holiday season slows everything down:
- HR teams
- Background check processors
- Compliance departments
- License boards
- Testing centers
If you wait until December 26th to start onboarding, you may not clear in time, even if you want a January 2nd start.
Booking your assignment now means you can get through:
- Credentialing
- Drug screens
- References
- EMR modules
…before the seasonal slowdown hits.
4. Waiting Until After the Holidays = Fewer Options
January is notorious for being the time of year when travelers have:
- Fewer specialties available
- Fewer shift options
- Fewer “bucket list” locations
- Fewer day-shift jobs
- Fewer flexible managers
- Fewer chances to extend
Because by January, many of the best postings have been snatched up.
Travel nurses who secure their assignment early have the full menu — not the leftovers.
5. Booking Early Means You Can Actually Enjoy the Holidays
Imagine this:
Your contract is signed.
Your start date is set.
Your badge photo is ready.
Your housing is secured.
Your first-day instructions are in your inbox.
Now imagine the alternative:
Scrolling job boards on Christmas Eve.
Submitting to 12 listings on December 27th.
Panicking when your license verification is delayed.
Begging HR to process your paperwork before Jan 1.
Booking early gives you peace of mind, and that peace of mind makes the holidays better for you and your family.
6. Winter Weather Travel is REAL, and It Delays Start Dates
If you’re taking an assignment in the Midwest, Northeast, Rockies, PNW, or upper Great Plains… you already know what winter can do to your travel schedule.
Booking now allows:
- Better route planning
- Buffer days for storms
- Earlier arrival windows
- Safer travel conditions
Facilities love travelers who show up prepared, not stuck in an airport.
7. Extensions Become Easier When You’re Strategic
If you get into a great facility in early January, you’re perfectly positioned for:
- A longer stay
- A possible extension
- A contract bump if needs increase
- Stability during spring’s unpredictable market
Starting late often means your contract ends at a time when hiring temporarily slows down (March/April), which leaves travelers scrambling again.
If you want the best pay, the widest range of locations, and the smoothest onboarding experience, booking your after-holiday assignment now is one of the smartest moves you can make.
You’re not just choosing a job.
You’re choosing your January peace of mind, your winter income, and your 2026 momentum.
A Small Note from an Agency That Gets It
At Titan Medical Group, we see this every year. Travelers who lock in their next assignment early tend to:
- Get the highest rates
- Land their ideal locations
- Have the easiest onboarding
- And enjoy their holidays without stress
If you need help strategizing your next assignment or just want a realistic look at what the market will look like after the holidays, any of our recruiters would be happy to walk you through it!
No pressure.
No hard sell.
Just honest guidance from people who want you to start 2026 strong.
Don’t wait—book your travel nurse assignment early to get the best pay, top locations, and stress-free onboarding. Explore openings now!
Written by Phoebe Lyman, for Titan Medical Group
