Titan Medical Group provided this article.

As a travel nurse, you need to make sure you pack your essentials. But what are those? We have put together a list of the top essentials for travel nurses. Find out what they are below.

Top Essentials for Travel Nurses

Good Shoes

Good shoes are crucial for nurses who travel because of the long hours on their feet, often walking or standing throughout shifts. Comfortable and supportive footwear can help prevent foot and leg fatigue, reducing the risk of chronic pain and injury. Proper shoes can also enhance stability and balance, especially when navigating unfamiliar hospital environments or patient rooms. Lastly, durable and well-fitting shoes ensure that traveling nurses can focus on patient care and their duties without the distraction of uncomfortable or inadequate footwear. Hoka and Clove shoes are great for nurses, and Hoka offers discounts for healthcare workers! Below are the links to their websites.

Hoka: https://www.hoka.com
Clove: https://goclove.com/

Earphones

A good pair of earphones is essential for traveling nurses as they can provide a vital source of privacy and concentration in noisy hospital environments. Healthcare professionals often need to review patient records, communicate with colleagues, or attend virtual meetings, and noise-canceling earphones can help maintain confidentiality and improve communication. Furthermore, music or calming sounds can be used to reduce stress during breaks, promoting mental well-being. Lastly, a comfortable and durable pair of earphones ensures that you can enjoy your downtime and stay connected with loved ones, which is crucial for maintaining work-life balance while on the go. Below are links to highly-rated brands with exceptional earbuds and headphones!

Soundcore Space A40: https://us.soundcore.com/
JBL Reflect Aero TWS: https://www.jbl.com/
Airpods Max: https://www.apple.com/

Packing cubes

Packing cubes are indispensable for traveling nurses as they help keep work attire organized and easily accessible within luggage. With varying shifts and unpredictable work situations, travel nurses often need quick access to their uniforms, scrubs, and medical gear, and packing cubes make it effortless to locate specific items. Additionally, these cubes help maintain cleanliness and hygiene by keeping dirty or contaminated clothing separated from clean ones, ensuring infection control protocols are met. Lastly, packing cubes maximize the limited storage space available, allowing efficiency while packing more essentials and maintaining a streamlined travel experience during assignments. Cal Pack and Eagle Creek are both extremely popular packing websites that carry even better packing cubes. Below are the links!

CalPak: https://www.calpaktravel.com/
Eagle Creek: https://www.eaglecreek.com/

Speaker

A portable speaker can be a valuable companion for traveling nurses as it enables them to unwind and relax during downtime by playing their favorite music or podcasts. It offers a sense of comfort and familiarity, especially during long and challenging shifts away from home. Moreover, a speaker can enhance communication by you participating in virtual meetings or conferences, ensuring they stay updated with the latest medical advancements and hospital protocols. It can also serve as an emergency alert system, providing a loud and clear notification in case of important calls or messages, ensuring you do not miss critical updates while on the move. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 speaker is highly rated by the New York Times, and the JBL Clip 3 speaker is immensely popular. Below are the links to their websites!

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3: https://us.ultimateears.com/
JBL Clip 3: https://www.jbl.com/

The Basics

Packing basic clothing items that can be dressed up or down is essential for traveling nurses because it enables you to adapt to various work environments and dress codes. This versatility allows them to seamlessly transition from a formal hospital setting to a more casual or relaxed attire when off-duty. It makes it easier and more lightweight when packing when you have options for all styles of outfits. Basics make it easy to dress up with a cardigan and some jewelry, or dress down with comfortable pants and shoes! It also minimizes the need for an extensive wardrobe, making packing and maintaining luggage more manageable during assignments. This approach ensures that traveling nurses are always prepared for any professional or personal situation they may encounter while on the road. Many stores have affordable and excellent quality basics, but Abercrombie & Fitch, Old Navy, and Lululemon are some of the most talked about stores when it comes to basics! Below are the links.

Abercrombie & Fitch: https://www.abercrombie.com/shop/us
Old Navy: https://oldnavy.gap.com/
Lululemon: https://shop.lululemon.com/

Water bottles

A high-quality water bottle is vital for travel nurses as it ensures staying well-hydrated throughout demanding shifts. Proper hydration is crucial for maintaining energy levels and concentration while providing patient care. Additionally, having a reliable water bottle allows avoiding disposable plastic bottles, contributing to environmental sustainability. It is also a convenient and cost-effective way to access clean drinking water, especially when working in various healthcare facilities with varying access to water sources. Below are three links to amazing websites with wonderful water bottles for travel nurses! Specifically, Cuptify is custom nurse water bottles!