If you are a travel nurse, then you know that finding a short-term rental can be a daunting task. Not only do you have to worry about the location and size of the home, but you also need to make sure that it has all of the amenities that you will need while on assignment. When looking for a short-term rental, it’s important to consider the other necessities. For example, how close is the rental to the hospital? Is there a grocery store and other conveniences within walking distance? If you will be driving, is there parking available? These are all things that you will need to take into consideration when making your decision.
Short-term rental must-haves
Consider these options when you are looking into short-term home rentals. Everyone will have different needs, but use this list as a guide when you are about to take on a new assignment.
Close proximity to the hospital, restaurants, and grocery stores
When looking for a short-term rental, be sure to consider the location. If you’ll be working near a certain hospital or in a specific city, try to find a rental within close proximity. This will save you time during your commute and allow you to explore your new surroundings more easily. If you’re close to your hospital, you may be able to walk or bike there. If not, a short commute by car or public transportation will help to mitigate added stress. The closer your rental is to the hospital, the less time you will spend commuting. If you have to commute for more than 30 minutes, it’s going to add a lot of unnecessary stress to your already hectic schedule. Look for rentals that offer shuttle services or are located within walking distance of public transportation.
It’s no secret that travel nurses work long hours and often leave their shifts exhausted. Because of this, a short-term rental that is close to everything you want will make a huge difference in your overall mood. After your shift, you may be too tired to cook, so a grocery store with ready-made food can be a lifesaver. If you live close to restaurants, then delivery services like Instacart and DoorDash can deliver groceries or food to you most hours of the day. Close proximity to parks or other areas where you can enjoy fresh air and nature. Nursing is stressful by design, and it’s essential to be able to go outside and unwind after a long day (or week).
Washer, dryer, and other appliances
The life of a travel nurse is hectic. This means that everything in your rental should help to make your life as easy as possible. Look for short-term rentals that come with a washer and dryer. You’ll find that you probably won’t have the time or energy to go to a laundromat to wash your scrubs and other clothes. In addition, look for rentals that come with other appliances, like a microwave and dishwasher. This will help to cut down on the amount of time you spend cooking and cleaning. It’s easy for dishes to pile up, laundry to go unwashed, and unhealthy food to be eaten when you’re working long hours. Look for rentals that offer appliances that can help you keep up with your chores.
Home office
Most travelers are not off on solo adventures and need to consider home perks for their spouse and families. For many spouses, that means having a home office to conduct your business. In my experience, my significant other usually has an office to work in if we are traveling to most major cities (because he works for a large company), but it is always nice to have your own space. If you need to work from home occasionally, it’s helpful to have an office area in your rental. This way, you won’t have to set up and tear down a workspace every day.
Look for a rental that comes with solid WiFi services. It’s especially important to ensure that your data is protected if you are dealing with private matters related to your job. You’ll need to have competent malware protection to help with that. Other home office must-haves are a standing desk (so you’re not sitting for hours!), an aerodynamic keyboard to protect your wrists, hands, and fingers, and a large monitor to take some stress off of your eyes.
Pet-friendly accommodations
Many of us travel nurses have someplace that we leave our furry friends—from family to friends to significant others. For long assignments, it may seem impossible to be away from your pet for that long. Because of this, look for pet-friendly housing. Short-term rentals are already hard to come by but adding a space that allows for pets makes it even harder. Be prepared to pay an additional fee if you’re bringing Fido along for your assignment. Working long days may also leave you needing either a dog walker or doggy door to keep your dog entertained during the day. Bringing pets along can make your trips less lonely, but you’ll need to look for rentals that have fences or are in close proximity to a dog park or dog walkers.
Parking
If you have a car, make sure the rental has parking available. This is especially important if the rental is located in a city. You don’t want to hunt for a parking spot after pulling an all-nighter or move your car every 12 hours so that you don’t get a ticket. Easy parking should be a must when you are on your travel assignments.
Short-term rentals for nurses are becoming increasingly common.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the need for travel nurses has increased exponentially. It’s becoming easier to find short-term rentals that are meant for travel nurses due to supply and demand. Landlords also realize that travel nurses are less likely to cause any kind of issues due to their demanding work schedule.
It’s important to find a place that meets your needs so that you can have a successful and enjoyable experience while travel nursing. Do you want to live with roommates? Are you bringing your dog along on the adventure? What about a home office so that you can relax and take care of all of your administrative tasks? Use this list as a guide to know what to look for as you begin your search for the perfect house. Do you have any short-term home rental tips to add? Share them in the comments below. And be sure to check out our other blog posts for more information on travel nursing.
