Getting Creative with Your Travel Nurse Housing
By Melissa Wirkus Hagstrom, contributor
They say that home is where the heart is--and that goes for wherever you choose to hang your hat. Whether taking travel nurse housing that is provided by your staffing agency or using a stipend to find your own unique accommodations, there are many ways to get creative with your living space and create a home you can love.
Leverage the housing experts
The first step to figuring out your temporary housing starts with your recruiter, who will serve as a vital resource throughout the process.
Travel nurses typically have two housing options for their assignments:
(1) To take a fully-furnished apartment or condo that the travel nurse agency sets up and pays for; or,
(2) To handle their own arrangements and receive a monthly rent stipend, known as a housing subsidy. Each travel nurse agency’s housing benefits differ, so be sure to check with a recruiter.
Travelers who choose to take the staffing agency’s housing may also have the support of a housing specialist who will handle many of the details. If you decide to look outside the apartments and condos provided by your agency, your recruiter can offer suggestions and leads for some alternatives.
If you have pets or other special needs, make sure to discuss this with your recruiter from the start. Your recruiter can help find pet-friendly housing that fits your needs. For example, we know of one recruiter helping a traveler find housing that had land next door for the nurse’s horse!
Think outside the apartment
If you’ve opted to take the housing subsidy, you have full creative freedom in choosing your temporary housing. Travelers with contacts in their assignment destination have been known to save money by staying with friends and family. Or, if you are really looking to step outside the box, you may use your stipend to rent a vacation home or other long-term rental property.
Some of the best places to start your search for these types of accommodations include:
● vrbo.com
● HomeAway
● Airbnb
These sites offer high-quality photos, reviews and more to help you decide, as well as cancellation protection. If you are staying in a big city or beach community, chances are you’ll find some amazing places to rent--making your assignment that much more of an adventure. Accommodations and availability will vary by location and season, so if you have your eye on a specific contract, start looking at your options early.
Other creative alternatives for housing include subleasing or renting from an individual owner, or renting more unusual accommodations, like a modern-day treehouse (yes, they are out there and available to rent.)
Take-it-with-you housing
If you’d rather not pack up every time you change assignments, a tiny (portable) house might be for you. A recent episode of HGTV’s “Tiny House Hunters” show featured a travel nurse who was shopping for and eventually purchased one of these homes to take with her on assignments. Although it may not be feasible for every traveler, the network of tiny house enthusiasts seems to be growing. Check out Tiny House Community for information and facts on minimalist living; the site also features a list of parking sites for tiny mobile houses across the nation--which is perfect for travel nurses.
Another way to live in a smaller home that you can take with you is by driving a traditional RV. Steve Sawyer, RN, an ER travel nurse who works with Onward Healthcare, loves this option. He and his wife have driven their RV to a variety of assignments, making it easy to visit family and see a number of landmarks around the country. Read their story here. You can also pull a trailer or even a vintage Airstream that you can make uniquely yours.
Make it your own
Regardless of the type of travel nurse housing you choose, it is important to personalize your space. Items that bring inspiration and promote a sense of peace and creativity can help your “house” feel more like “home.” Even simple things like framed photos of loved ones, scented candles and souvenirs from your travel nursing adventures can help your temporary housing feel like the sanctuary it is meant to be.
No matter where you travel, TravelNursing.com can go with you. Sign up for job alerts or use our Mobile Apply option to be matched with you ideal travel assignment.
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