According to data from Medical Solutions, a prominent healthcare staffing firm, the states with the highest number of open travel nurse positions as of the week ended Dec. 23 are California and Texas. The top 10 states in terms of demand for travel nurses during that week were California, Texas, Ohio, Massachusetts, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and Arizona. California's large size and mandated nursing ratios contribute to driving demand, with Texas sometimes overtaking California as the top state for travel nurse demand. Texas is experiencing a significant influx of people, including many from California, which contributes to its high demand for travel nurses. The Houston, Austin, and Dallas areas in Texas are particularly fast-growing.
Arizona is also a state with a considerable demand for travel nurses, albeit ranking lower on the list at No. 10. The demand in Arizona tends to be seasonal, and the state may already have a high number of travel nurses working there, making the full demand not fully represented just by looking at job openings.