Advice for Settling Into Your New Home
By A. Moore, RN, contributor
Moving to a new place can be very stressful, even when you have carefully chosen your destination. Fortunately, though, there are a several things you can do to help make your move as hassle-free as possible and to make your new home feel like, well, for lack of better words—your new home—in no time.
First, know where you’re going before you get there. Nothing is worse than getting to a new assignment and not knowing what you’ve gotten yourself into. Make sure you scope out the apartment complex your company has chosen for you. Most apartments now have Web sites that offer photographs and floor plan layouts. This is a great way to get an idea of what you’re heading into before you get there.
I have found that registering on an apartment rating Web site helps to ease the mind as well. Try apartments.com or apartmentfinder.com, both of which provide useful feedback from actual tenants who live in these communities. Bear in mind though, that people who want to complain usually have the most to say. So take what people say with a “grain of salt” and make sure you do your research.
Next, make sure you know what you need to bring with you to your new home. Some places come equipped with pots, pans and silverware, and some don’t. Most likely you’ll need to bring the basics. Personally, I prefer getting my own linens and kitchen stuff. That way I know were it came from and where it has been. If you are a light packer like me, try your local Goodwill or thrift store for kitchen appliances that aren’t included with your rental unit. When you are ready to move to your next destination, you can donate the appliances to Goodwill for a nice tax write off at the end of the year. Chain stores like Wal-Mart and Target usually sell the basic kitchen needs, (pots, pans, dishes and glasses) at reasonable prices. At the least, make sure you ask your recruiter about what you need to pack before you hit the road. Surprises when you move in are tough and make life stressful. Write everything down and make a list of what you want to take with you and what you want to buy when you get there to make it less confusing.
Don’t hesitate to ask your recruiter to assist you. Recruiters have years of experience and can tell you what other travel nurses needed and what they didn’t need. Call ahead to the apartment complex and get phone numbers for phone, cable and Internet companies. Set these things up ahead of time. I got into the habit of setting them up the day I arrived so that I at least had Internet access to help me find the places I needed to go. Another wonderful thing that my staffing company, American Mobile Healthcare, has set up for its travel nurses is the White Fence program. It is a great way to set up Internet, phone, and TV. For those of you who don’t use the company housing, the White Fence program also provides help with setting up electricity, gas and water. Make sure you take advantage of the people and services that are available to you; it will make your move all that easier.
As I already mentioned, I like to make sure my Internet is hooked up right away. I do this so I have the locations of local places that I need from the day I arrive. First, you have to eat, so make sure you know were the closest grocery store is. Next, find out where the closest gas station is and be sure to have enough gas in your car to get you to work on your first day.. Lastly for those “things you need to bring” I always like to know were a Wal-mart or Target is. These stores can usually get you by on food and utensils until you can find another place. It’s easier and quicker to find what you need in a store that’s somewhat familiar. As my wife always points out, all Wal-marts are set up the same way from Baltimore to San Diego.
Lastly make your new home, YOUR HOME. In a strange place it is always nice to surround yourself with things like family pictures or some of your favorite paintings on the wall. I always take wall pictures with me on assignment and layer them between my clothes in the car to keep them from getting scratched or broken. Don’t have enough room for pictures? My wife always decorates our fridge with pictures and magnets from all the places we have been. At first, I it was a bit annoying, but after awhile I really loved going for a soda and seeing a picture of back home. Little things like that will help to make a strange apartment feel like home.
Traveling to a new place is awesome, with so much to see and do. Always remember, though, that your apartment is where you have to come home to at the end of a busy shift, so make sure your new home is comfortable and livable, and a place you want to be.
About the writer:
Aaron Moore, RN, has been a traveling nurse with leading staffing company American Mobile Healthcare for over four years, and an RN for seven years. Working in both the ICU and ER, Moore travels with his wife and dog and enjoys exploring every city he gets the chance to visit. Hailing from Iowa, he has had the opportunity to travel all over the U.S. as a nurse and enjoys writing, outdoor activities and discovering new adventures when he is not nursing.
© 2009. AMN Healthcare, Inc. All Rights Reserved.