Tuscaloosa is a lively University of Alabama college town that blends strong healthcare job opportunities with a walkable downtown of restaurants, breweries, live music and cultural events, plus easy outdoor time on the Black Warrior River and Lake Tuscaloosa — ideal for multi‑week placements where you want things to do after shifts.
Birmingham, with major hospitals, an international airport and a bigger arts and dining scene, is under 75 miles away, so you get relaxed small‑city living plus occasional big‑city amenities.