Housing tips for travel nurses
Over the past couple years, travel nursing has skyrocketed. The pandemic, and building issues in nursing, has created mass amounts of positions that need to be filled quickly. With such urgency, more and more nurses are opting for this path!
So you decide to become a travel nurse. You find the right agency, the right hospital, and the right amount of pay. Now what?
As a travel nurse, finalizing all the details can be overwhelming. One major detail nurses need to decide is where to live. Nurses may be traveling to nearby cities or across the country. Finding a place to live will always be on the top of the list.
Luckily, there are tons of ways to find housing! When finding the right spot, there are a few things to consider.
How much will it cost?
How far is it from the hospital?
Does it come furnished?
What are the leasing options?
Is it in a safe place?
Does it allow pets?
Once you narrow down the specifics that are important to you, it’s time to start looking. Here are a few different options available to find housing as a travel nurse.
1. Travel Agency housing
The travel agency you are working with can find you housing. The agency can assist you with finding the right place that works best for you. They will find you an apartment with the appropriate lease agreements.
These options may not always come furnished so always double check with your recruiter before booking. As a first time traveler, this may be the best option. Allowing the agency to work on housing will eliminate some stress during your first contract.
2. Extended-stay hotels
An extended-stay hotel would be perfect for some travel nurses. It has all the benefits of a regular hotel but also some extra amenities that make it great temporary housing.
Some amenities include:
Free continental breakfast
Kitchenettes
Swimming pools/gym
Free Wifi
Fresh linen and kitchen utensils
Most travel agencies will have a list of extended-stay hotels near each hospital. Some extended-stays may have discounted rates for healthcare workers so always double check before booking!
3. Housing websites
Luckily, life is made easier with technology and computers. There are specific housing websites that can be used when trying to find the perfect spot. The benefit of using this option is that the place will come furnished and you can read reviews from past renters.
The first site is Airbnb. This site allows you to put in your exact dates and parameters to find the perfect housing. Airbnb offers a variety of housing like single room rentals.
Travel nurses have the ability to rent a room, a guest house, or an entire apartment/house for themselves. Having these options lets each nurse choose what works best for them and their finances.
Another similar site is VRBO. Nurses have the option for short or long term-rentals. If traveling with a pet, VRBO and Airbnb make it easy to find the right housing.
An awesome website that is dedicated for traveling nurses and other professionals is FurnishedFinder. This site makes it easy to find the right spot perfect for your budget. It also has the ability to search for hotels and provides other housing resources.
The stress of finalizing all the details can be overwhelming. Deciding on where to stay is important. Starting at a new hospital in a new city is a lot and you want to make sure you're comfortable. Make sure to do your research and work with your recruiter to find the best possible housing!