How to Feel at Home in Your Travel Nurse Housing
By Jennifer Larson, contributor
Corporate temporary housing offers lots of benefits: it’s efficient, safe, and clean. And when it’s offered as a benefit for a travel nursing assignment, it is usually provided at no cost to you, arranged by your travel nurse agency’s housing team, and conveniently located near your assignment facility.
But there is a downside. Most people wouldn’t use the words “cozy” or “inviting” to describe their travel nurse housing. Hotels and furnished corporate apartments can be a little, well, sterile or bland.
Meanwhile, if you opt instead to use Airbnb, VRBO, or another short-term rental with your agency’s housing stipend, you may have the opposite problem--you may find the décor to be…well, not to your taste.
If you’re the kind of person who literally only sleeps in your housing because you use every free minute to explore your new surroundings, the décor may not matter. But most nurse travelers like to make their home-away-from-home feel a little homier and more welcoming.
How to spruce up your temporary housing
Whether you’re away from home for a travel assignment that lasts four weeks or 13 weeks, here are a few things to help you feel more at home in your temporary digs:
1. Photos of your family and friends. Nothing makes a travel nurse housing set-up seem friendlier than pictures of the people you love. You can bring along a few framed pictures to scatter around your apartment or house, print out a couple of favorite shots to put on the fridge, or bring along a digital photo frame.
2. Favorite pillow or blanket. Having your favorite pillow or snuggly quilt can make it much easier to sleep in an unfamiliar bed. Some travelers even bring along extra for the sofa.
3. Kitchen equipment or supplies to prepare the foods you love after a long day at the hospital or clinic. Many houses, apartments and hotel suites will stock basic items, but if you need your Instant Pot or French press coffee maker, you’ll want to bring it along. “If you like to cook, bring along your favorite spices,” suggested Lisa Garrett, an engineer who travels frequently and writes the travel blog Waves and Cobblestones. “Even Airbnb locations with full kitchens rarely boast a well-stocked set of spices. Spices are expensive but don’t take up much room, so you can pack several little jars within a larger plastic container to keep them organized.”
4. Favorite knickknack or memento. Considering your clothing and all the basics you’ll need on assignment, you won’t have room to bring along a lot of extra stuff, but having a favorite item can bring a smile to your face when you’re feeling a little lonely. It might be a coffee mug, a special gift from a loved one, or even a stuffed animal you’ve had since childhood.
5. Window coverings. Some temporary housing will feature blinds or curtains on the windows, but if they don’t--or they’re too flimsy--you might want to stop by the closest big box store. You can easily rig up some curtains with lightweight tension rods to give yourself some extra privacy.
6. Plants. Plants and flowers can really brighten up an otherwise basic living space. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on them, either. Just give them the right amount of sun and remember to water them!
7. Other gear to make your life easier. A charging station for your phone and other devices, your best hair-dryer, a reading lamp by your bed, and a weather radio are just a few examples of gear that might make your life a little easier when you’re living away from home.
8. Fragrances. Diffusing an essential oil or burning a scented candle can make your home-away-from-home feel friendlier (and smell better!). But be very careful about open flames. And you may want to avoid strong scents, so you don’t leave lingering odors for the next tenant.
What not to do
Of course, when you’re making yourself at home in temporary housing during your travel nursing assignment, it’s important not to damage anything if you can possibly avoid it.
Carlos Abisambra, CEO of Travelers Haven, which provides workforce housing-on-demand, suggests checking with the property manager to verify the rules and policies. For example, find out if you’re allowed to hang pictures on the wall before you get out the hammer and nails.
If you’re hoping to bring along your pet, mention that in advance to the housing specialists at your agency, who can find some pet-friendly accommodations. If you’re booking your own space, ask the property manager directly. Even places that allow pets might require special pet deposits. And if candles or strong scents are a no-go, you’ll want to respect that, too.
But don’t panic if something does go awry.
“Accidents happen, so if they have an incident like spilling on the carpet or breaking a glass, be sure to report that to their rental partner to help recover the security deposit,” Abisambra said.
Related:
The Essential Packing Guide for Travel Nurses
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