Focus Staff provided this article.

Living in a van as a travel nurse is an unconventional lifestyle choice that offers a unique blend of freedom, flexibility, and adventure. Picture this – hitting the road, exploring new places, and having the freedom to create your own cozy nest on wheels. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of van life as a travel nurse, and we’ll even share some insights from a seasoned Focus Staff traveler who’s living the van life dream. So, grab your favorite flip-flops, and let’s roll!

The Pros

Ultimate Freedom and Flexibility:
Imagine never dealing with the headache of packing and moving all your stuff again. With van life, you’ve got the ultimate freedom to pick up and move wherever your heart desires. Say goodbye to long-term rentals and hello to endless possibilities. Your home-on-wheels becomes a ticket to adventure!

Cost Savings:
Living in a van can save you big bucks. Instead of shelling out your hard-earned cash on pricey accommodations, you’ll have more money to spend on epic experiences, delicious food, or stashing away for future goals. Who doesn’t love a little extra cash in their pockets?

Custom Crib on Wheels:
Personalization is the name of the game when it comes to van life. You get to design your own cozy sanctuary, complete with clever storage solutions and creative decor. Think of it as a tiny house with wheels – compact yet full of character. Make it uniquely you!

The Cons

Downsizing Dilemma:
Let’s be real – living in a van means embracing a more minimalist lifestyle. You’ll have to downsize and bid farewell to unnecessary stuff. But hey, less clutter means less stress, right? It’s all about prioritizing what truly brings you joy and leaving the excess baggage behind.

Where’s the Bathroom?:
Now, this is a valid concern. Vans don’t typically come equipped with built-in bathrooms and showers. But fear not! You’ve got options. Grab a gym membership for those refreshing showers, or rely on the kindness of your coworkers’ facilities. Remember, adaptability is key!

Insights From a Traveler Living the Van Life

We gained some knowledge from one of our very own travelers, Giuliano C, a van-dwelling travel Tele RN nurse, and here’s what he had to say about this nomadic lifestyle:

What is your favorite part about living the van life?
“My absolute favorite part is the freedom to pick up and move wherever I please. No more packing and unpacking all my belongings! I can even take mini vacations during my days off and hit the road to wherever my heart desires.”

What would you recommend to others looking to do the same?
“I would recommend this lifestyle to anybody, keeping in mind there’s a lot of downsizing that goes into it, but there are tons of options out there specific for whatever you’re looking for.”

What cons do you deal with?
“The cons would have to be not having a toilet or shower (I could install them), so relying on a gym membership or coworkers.”

Van Life as a Travel Nurse: Pros, Cons, and the Thrill of Freedom

And finally, why did you choose Focus Staff as your home?
“I chose Focus Staff for the great rates, a ton of job availability everywhere, and the coolest/best recruiter out there, Rhiannon Harpel.”

Living in a van as a travel nurse is like having a one-way ticket to freedom. It’s an opportunity to explore, grow, and experience the world in a unique way. Sure, there may be challenges like downsizing and figuring out bathroom arrangements, but with the right mindset, you’ll be ready to conquer it all. So, fellow road warriors, gear up, choose your van wisely, and embark on a thrilling journey that lets you live life on your own terms. Adventure awaits!

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. There, you can search for what you are looking for in housing.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

Congrats! You’ve signed the dotted line on your travel nurse contract, and you’re ready to secure housing for your gig. Travel nurse housing may seem daunting, but I’m here to help. I’ve been successful with housing as a travel nurse, even as I travel with my two furry companions, making logistics a bit more complicated.

I’m proud to say I have many tricks up my sleeve and have been able to point many nurses in the right direction. I am here to give you tips to help you understand your traveler housing options so you have a safe, comfortable place to lay your head after a long shift.

Finding Your Own Housing

If you want to take housing into your own hands for your assignment, let’s get you set up with the right resources for success.

Make and Stick to a Housing Budget

First and foremost, you need to research the area and write out a budget that includes your travel nurse housing. Ideally, we all want to find reasonable housing with all of the amenities, but you want to be realistic with what you need, what you want, and your budget. Make a list of must-haves, and try to stick to the basics. A safe, clean, furnished place within a reasonable distance of the hospital is a great start.

I recommend doing your due diligence and researching areas you want to stay in and places you want to avoid. You will want to make sure your accommodations are as comfortable as possible. Some travelers like the perks that hotels provide, like breakfast, housekeeping services, and fitness centers. Plus, many hotels offer a corporate, long-term rate – just make sure to ask. I need to have a private place to take my dogs out to the restroom, and for walks, so I try to avoid hotels. However, it is a good option for many other travelers.

Mentor tip: When finding your own housing, get a list of included amenities to know what to pack. I try to find furnished places with a kitchen with pots and pans. I always bring my bed linens and towels. Also, a lesson I learned the hard way was getting to housing that did not have an air conditioner. Being a Texas native, I assumed everyone had air conditioning, but it is relatively common for many mountain townhomes not to have AC. In that case, you might want to bring a fan! Also, be sure you understand what utilities are included in your rent payment and whether or not you have parking or a garage.

Housing Referrals

I have had the best luck finding housing through referrals. Use your network of co-workers, friends, and peers to your advantage. I go to the travel nurse housing groups on Facebook and see who others have used for traveler housing. (If you would like me to add you to these groups, please send me a direct message on Facebook.) I will search and make a post in these groups. Within that post, I communicate my needs, dates, and budget. I will also request to join local Facebook groups, such as buy, sell, trade, or rental groups specific to that town.

I’ll also search through Airbnb, VRBO, Furnished Finders, and Craigslist for housing. Pay very close attention to offers that seem too good to be true because, unfortunately, they usually are. You want to avoid being scammed, so never send money until you do all your homework. Ask the landlord for references and ask them to do a FaceTime call to show you the property. If that is not an option, consider finding a friend or fellow traveler in the area to scope out the housing for you. Many travel nurses will even stay in a hotel for a couple of weeks once they get to their assignment to look at housing options in person and get a better feel for the area.

When you find a place you want to stay, ask for a short-term contract lease that includes your rental dates, deposit info, whether or not it is refundable, monthly rental rates, and what utilities and amenities are included. You can even ask for a month-to-month lease. A condition form should be included so that if there is any previous damage, you can point it out on this form and not be blamed for it later. Securing this contract protects both parties, but please know that you will likely still be responsible for paying the rent owed within the lease term if your contract is canceled early. If necessary, seek legal advice before signing the contract. I am a nurse, not a lawyer, and I never want to steer you wrong. You can always ask for a month-to-month lease.

Housing as a travel nurse is often one of the most significant pain points of the career. You have many options for your accommodations during each assignment, and each comes with benefits and risks. Be upfront about your housing concerns with your company and recruiter so they can assist you. Do your due diligence in the planning stages, read property reviews, research your new city, and ask questions. Happy travels!

Travel Agency Offered Housing Support

The best advice I can give you is to find an agency with a housing team with the skills and market knowledge to supply you with the best housing options. As a new traveler, this is something I initially overlooked when picking agencies. I quickly learned the hard way (once again) how beneficial it is to have this support and benefit.

Look over all the housing options your agency offers. They may offer a payment assistance program, a unique option designed to assist you with those costly initial move-in expenses. They might have additional benefits that ease the financial burden of moving, such as help paying deposits and fees and prorated rent. There may also not have to abide by certain restrictions and be able to give you a more comprehensive range of housing options, such as a room for rent, RV park, campground, cabin, and short-term hotel. If you use Travelers Haven, your company may be able to put the housing in their name, which means you can avoid credit checks.

Here’s another perk of having your company secure your housing – if the hospital cancels your contract due to low census, your travel nurse agency will likely help you find a solution to leaving your lodging early. However, be aware that if you leave your travel assignment early on your terms, you could have to repay the housing fees that your company encountered on your behalf.

Mentor tip: You will likely need to be cleared to start your assignment before your travel nursing company makes any payments or arrangements for housing on your behalf. Do your due diligence and get through the QA process quickly so your agency can assist you with accommodations and set you up for success.

As a first-time traveler, I cannot recommend having your company help you navigate this process enough. It takes a lot of added stress right off of your plate!

We hope you found this article on housing tips for travel nurses helpful.

Do you have travel nurse housing tips or recommendations? Please share them in the comments below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming travel nurse assignment? Click here to search our travel nurse housing page.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

This article is provided by Travel Nurse Across America®

Ready to start your first travel nursing adventure and not sure where to start? There are a lot of travel nursing agencies and options available, and it can be confusing to know which one to pick. Here are the top five things you should consider when choosing a travel nursing agency to partner with.

1.) Agency Reputation

There are a lot of travel nursing agencies out there. Make sure to research the companies on industry-relevant sites such as The Gypsy Nurse Agency List. You can even get a good grasp on other sites such as Facebook or Google. Be sure to start a relationship that will benefit your career most by picking an established, experienced agency that will be around for the long run. The number of jobs an agency has listed can sometimes be deceiving, but you definitely want to make sure they offer wide availability within your specialty and desired travel destination(s).

2.) The Total Package

Travel agencies offer a myriad of benefit options that can be difficult to navigate. Look for agencies that offer transparent benefit information right on their website. Be careful not to pick the first agency that offers the highest pay rate or salary. There are so many other benefits to consider that could end up making the total package worth much more.

When beginning your assignment, will you have a gap in insurance coverage? Look for an agency that is also looking out for your best interests. Day one benefits and assistance to help you get to your assignment are game-changers when getting started. Once you’re on your assignment, what happens if you keep getting sent home due to low census? Most companies advertise guaranteed pay, but what does it really cover? Make sure you’re protected when sent home due to low census, so your paycheck doesn’t suffer from something you had no control over.

Other benefits to look for are weekly pay, medical, dental, and vision insurance, sick pay, free continuing education, and referral bonuses. You should also ask about other incentives and bonuses (such as extension bonuses or incentives for working extra shifts) that are offered and might be important to you – the best agencies will reward their loyal travelers. Some travel agencies even offer pet insurance, which can be a real advantage if you travel with your pets!

3.) Your Recruiter

Your recruiter is your advocate, and your relationship with your recruiter is crucial regardless of the agency you choose to travel with. Once you begin your travel assignment, your recruiter should be with you every step of the way. Sometimes, you’ll need to get additional certifications or licenses for a new assignment, and your recruiter should help you do get them, and the agency should be willing to pay for them. The best recruiters will provide a checklist, and call you to check-in after you start your assignment to make sure things are going smoothly. Be sure to tell your recruiter how you like to be contacted, and how often you prefer them to check-in.

4.) Housing Options

One of the top questions you might ask yourself before you consider a travel nursing job is, “Where will I live?!” The best agencies will make moving to your travel destination as easy as possible and offer multiple options. Great agencies have a housing department dedicated to helping you find housing and offer to find high-quality, fully furnished private housing with 100% utilities paid, which is one less thing for you to do. Additionally, some agencies also offer an “Easy Stay” program that allows you to choose your own housing with a housing subsidy.

5.) Expert Specialists

Many highly-rated agencies have specialized departments that will help you get ready for your assignment and support you while you are traveling. Your recruiter should be your main contact, though the best agencies will have various departments that provide specialists to guide you before and during your travel nursing journey. The support offered by your travel nurse agency, as well as how much experience the person you’re speaking with has can be a factor in how smoothly your assignment goes. A travel nurse is expected to have a certain number of years’ experience before traveling, so wouldn’t you want your recruiter to be experienced as well? Look for a travel nurse agency that invests in hiring recruiters with enough experience to answer any question you have, before you even have to ask.

Housing Options

Van Life as a Travel Nurse: Pros, Cons, and the Thrill of Freedom

The Pros

The Cons

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

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Housing Tips: Understanding Travel Nurse Housing Options