By trustaff

September 16, 2021

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Tips for Securing Housing in a College Town

This article was provided by trustaff.

With the return of in-person classes and fall college football season, many times, finding somewhere to stay for your assignment can be tough. We asked our trustaff housing pros for top tips to make sure you secure housing for those busy college town falls.

Housing in a college town:

Look and book EARLY!

Booking well ahead of time is key during the fall football seasons. In the big towns, rooms or houses book up for random weekends for games – meaning finding a full-length stay can be tricky. If your assignment is in a college town or at a university hospital, it is always a good idea to check housing as soon as you accept! When looking – make sure the room is available for the continuous amount of time!

Airbnb.com and FurnishedFinder.com

Most seasoned travelers know about these sites and if you’re new – make note! These options usually offer fully furnished rooms or even full apartments and houses for you to take advantage of. This is probably the most preferred site to find housing as it allows you to have the most “home-y” feel while on assignment. And like stated in tip #1 – find these early! They’re not likely to be available for long with the fall season and many other travelers trying to look. (Maybe even find a new traveler roomie to split with!)

Student Apartment/House Sublets!

A great option is to check out some sublet options on campus Facebook groups or sites. Many students get housing for the full year but possibly only need it for one semester. A sublet is when you take over part of a lease for when the original lessee isn’t using the space. As a traveler who may only be in an area for 3-6 months and a student who only needs half of a year’s worth of housing – this seems like the perfect match!  A few points to watch out for when subletting: you could also be responsible for utility costs, it may or may not come furnished, and timelines for when you need to be in or out.

Check with the Facility’s HR or Breakroom for housing lists

Many facilities are very travel-friendly, and it’s highly likely they have a listing somewhere of owners who rent to travelers, extended stays that offer discounts, or maybe staff nurses that offer rooms to rent. During your interview, it’s always a good idea to ask if this is something they have available or to offer. Even if they don’t have a list of this sort, maybe they have suggestions on housing in general. It never hurts to touch all of your bases when in your interview.

Like always, check when your company’s housing department as they usually have resources, suggestions, or options for you!  They’re there to assist you with any housing needs you may have to make sure your assignment goes as smooth as possible. While on assignment, make sure to take full advantage of living in a college town and enjoy the fall football season.

We hope you found these tips for securing housing in a college town helpful. Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. If you still need housing for your assignment click here to view our housing page.

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!)

By Matt Guenther

August 26, 2021

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Tips For Finding Short-Term Travel Nurse Furnished Housing

Travel nurses are real explorers and adventurers. This is why many see it as a special profession, as registered nurses get to take their skills on the road.

But, this has a few challenges on the way. After obtaining a position from a hospital, the next step is to find the right housing, and it can be very stressful.

So, if you are looking for some advice and tips, you have come to the right place!

About Travel Nurse Housing

Where do traveling nurses stay?

This is a question that many first-time and new travel nurses ask, especially after securing an assignment. While some companies provide lodging and accommodation for travel nurses, others offer stipends instead.

If you have a housing stipend, you will be the one to find and secure your housing. The good thing is there are several options available on the market. All you need to do, though, is to know the best ways to apply to locate the most appropriate housing for you.

Top Travel Housing Search Tips

Here are some tips that you may find helpful in your own search:

  • Make a List of Preferences

One of the first things you need to do is make a list of all your housing preferences. In doing so, you will streamline your options, enabling you to arrive at the most fitting selections for you.

You may also want to include in your list some of the things you are looking for within the community.

  • Utilize Online Platforms

While you must take a personal visit to your potential temporary homes and areas, you may want to start your search online.

Several online platforms intended for temporary and travel nurse housing are widely available on the internet. Take advantage of all the features and tools in these sites because some even have virtual tours, allowing you to see the spaces remotely.

  • Consider Vacation Rental Websites

As noted, there are numerous available online platforms for housing today. But, instead of prioritizing those popular and in-demand sites, you may want to check those that offer vacation rentals, too.

The reason being is that these options are usually more fitting and applicable to travel nurses. This is in consideration of the fact that the term of stay is only temporary.

  • Be Wary of Cons and Scams

Although the online world provides a lot of convenience and efficiency, cons and scams are also apparent. You may want to take extra precautions when you are dealing with potential landlords and homeowners virtually.

Ensure that you are in deals with credible individuals and housing selections. As much as possible, do not shell out any amount of cash if you have yet to prove the authenticity and credibility of the transaction.

Types of Short-Term Housing Options For Travel Nurses

As a travel nurse, here are the most common available housing options for you:

  • Furnished Apartments

As the name states, it is a housing option wherein the place already features everything you will need in a home. Usually, such homes for travel nurses entail monthly terms.

  • Co-living Spaces

Co-living spaces are a cost-effective housing option. You will, most likely, get to live with another travel nurse and share all expenses.

  • Extended-Stay Hotels

Extended-stay hotels are very popular among travel nurses. This is because of the amenities available in hotels, like housekeeping, breakfast, and fitness centers.

Top 5 Housing Sites for Travel Nurses

Searching for the right housing can be overwhelming. This is especially true if this is your first time doing it.

Worry not, though, as there are now various online tools and platforms that may help you. Sites like Cash For Homes, and other realty-related pages, are great avenues to check.

But, for a more tried-and-tested option, these are the top five housing sites that every travel nurse may utilize:

  • Airbnb
  • Apartments.com
  • VBRO
  • FurnishedFinder.com
  • Tripping.com

There are a lot more, too, if you widen your search vicinity. But, checking these given sites will already do.

Find Yours Today

All in all, searching and securing housing for your next travel nurse duties can be, indeed, challenging and overwhelming. But, with the right steps and guidance, you will arrive at the best options.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Already have the assignment but need help finding housing? Click here to view our housing page.

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!)

By Furnished Finder

August 24, 2021

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Ways to Get Creative When Looking for Travel Nurse Housing

Right now, rates for travel nursing are at an all-time high. However, the cost of real estate has also swelled over the course of the pandemic, and more nurses than ever are leaving permanent jobs to chase crisis rates. All of these factors combined have led to increased costs for short-term renters and may make finding travel nurse housing that much more stressful. 

Keep in mind that this is why Furnished Finder is a great resource right now–since you don’t have to pay things like booking or cleaning fees through the site, you will automatically save a chunk of money by using them to find housing. In addition to using Furnished Finder, here are a few other ways you can find housing that fits your budget during this hectic time in healthcare.

creative housing

Creative Housing Tips for Travel Nursing

Option One: Consider a roommate.

If you are a stickler about your housing budget and are struggling to find the right fit in a private space, look into rooming-in at someone’s house or find another travel nurse who will be living in the same area who is willing to split a place. One huge positive of the influx of traveling healthcare professionals is that you will almost always be able to find a handful of people starting at the same facility in the same timeframe. Be sure to reach out to travel nurse housing groups to try and connect with other travelers who might be willing to share a space with you!

Option Two: Look into hotels.

Did you know Furnished Finder actually has a whole page dedicated to hotels that cater to long-term occupants? These types of hotels are often overlooked by travel nurses because they assume the cost will be too high, but you might be surprised by how affordable they can be.

Don’t forget to ask about how taxes work in your assignment’s area as well, because you may be entitled to a refund on taxes after a stay of at least 30 days. This, combined with the fact that you get cleaning services, linens, and items like toilet paper provided, can really make a hotel stay make sense.

Option Three: Splurge a little. 

While you may not want to spend more money on housing just because you are offered a crisis rate, keep in mind that those rates are high for a reason. Not only is the hospital desperate for help, but they know resources in the area are stretched thin across the board.

Look at it this way: you are likely going to work the hardest you ever have in some of these hard-hit areas. You will also be making 3-4 times more than your typical travel rates and most likely coming off far ahead of any normal assignment. Consider taking a little stress off your plate and opting for one of the nicer or larger homes over on the Furnished Finder housing database, and giving yourself a nice relaxing place to come home to after working your hardest. 

It can seem like an overwhelming time to be in healthcare, but remember that these rent prices (and these rates!) won’t last forever. Eventually, the crisis rates will die back down, more nurses will go back to permanent jobs, and the availability of short-term rentals will go back to normal. Until then, take a deep breath, make sure you are choosing a safe, clean place to stay, and don’t forget to remind yourself how awesome it is to have a lifestyle that can adjust with whatever craziness is going on in the world.

We hope you found these creative housing tips helpful. Do you have any creative housing tips to share with fellow travel nurses? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Need to secure housing for your assignment? Click here to view our housing page.

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!)

By TNAA- Travel Nurse Across America

August 19, 2021

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Picking an Agency that Supports You on Your Nationwide Travels

This article was provided by TNAA.

Every travel nurse has a preference on where and how far they want to travel. Some nurses prefer to travel locally, some prefer to stay in the same U.S. region, and others fill a tiny SUV with all their belongings and drive thousands of miles to their next assignment. No matter which traveler you see yourself as you’ll always want to be backed by agency support when you take your life on the road. Here are a few benefits to look for when picking an agency.

Travel Reimbursement

A multi-state trek can be costly. It doesn’t matter if you choose to fly and have your belongings picked up by a professional moving service or you decide to haul your belongings by yourself; the price for traveling adds up quickly. Ask your travel nurse agency if they offer to cover part or all of the bill. Some travel nurse agencies will pay a hefty sum of the moving costs, but others might not reimburse you at all. For those agencies that do cover your travel expenses, ask when you can expect your reimbursement. Some agencies might put it on your first check, but others may wait.

Just be sure to keep your receipts, and if you’re driving, document your mileage at the start and the end of your cross-country trek. This documentation will likely be needed before your agency can send your travel reimbursement.

Traveler Perks

Say you’re trucking along to your next assignment, you’ve put miles on your tires, and suddenly, one goes flat. A vehicle issue is the last thing you have time for before starting your new healthcare job. It would be great if you could fall back on agency support when life’s roadblocks get in the way. See if your agency offers traveler perks, like discounts for rental cars or roadside assistance, so that you know help is available even when you’re in the middle of nowhere.

Housing Assistance

The housing market is tight right now, and last-minute scrambling for housing isn’t going to cut it. When you have everything lined up for your assignment except for a place to stay, you’ll want to see how your agency can help take the guesswork out of travel nurse housing.

You might opt for agency-provided housing or see if your agency has other resources for traveler-friendly housing. If you want to find a place to stay on your own, connect with your agency to see if they offer a housing stipend. Some travel nurse agencies even have a Payment Assistance Program to help with up-front costs, like a security deposit or the first month’s rent.

As a travel nurse, you have a helper’s heart. You’ve signed up to travel miles from home to aid others who need your care. Make sure you choose a travel nurse agency that simplifies the process and makes your job as a healthcare traveler as easy as possible.

We hope you found these tips for picking an agency that supports you on your nationwide travels helpful. Are there any tips you would share with fellow travel nurses when it comes to picking an agency? Comment them below.

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

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!)

By Furnished Finder

August 10, 2021

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Tips for Surviving the Travel Nursing Housing Crunch

There is currently a housing crunch for travel nurses.  Lack of available housing inventory and high prices have made finding housing difficult for many travel RNs across the US. The problem is expected to continue for the next several months.  In this Gypsy Nurse Live session, we interview two travel nurse housing experts, Ashley Graham, Director of Housing for Travel Nurse Across America, and Brian Payne, CEO of Furnished Finder, to not only find out what is causing the crunch but, more importantly how to survive it in your next travel nursing assignment. In addition, this short video will provide tips that travel nurses can use when working with their agencies to find housing or seeking housing on their own

Tips for Surviving the Travel Nursing Housing Crunch

About TNAA:

Travel Nurse Across America Setting the Standard in Service! At Travel Nurse Across America, we take pride in doing things differently. We place our nurses on high-paying jobs in exciting locations across the country, but it’s our service before, during, and after your assignment that sets us apart. Our dedicated, supportive staff understands how stressful preparing for a travel nursing job can be, and that’s why we put our experience to work for you to remove the headaches and send you smoothly on your way. Across our recruiting, clinical, quality assurance, payroll, and housing teams, we promise to go out of our way to offer you an exceptional customer service experience. Let Us Show You the Difference Our Service Can Make!

About Furnished Finder:

Furnished Finder is a short-term housing provider for travel nurses and other business travelers who need furnished housing. We boast a 92-day average stay and are major data providers for corporate housing coordinators and medical staffing companies across the US. Additionally, property owners list their available short-term apartments on Furnished Finder, as healthcare travelers command a consistent appetite for traditional corporate housing and alternative housing types alike.

By Furnished Finder

August 8, 2021

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It’s Time to Research Housing: Where do I Start?

(Including a list of the best housing resources for travel nurses) 

Working as a travel nurse can be a rewarding and enriching experience, but it does come with a certain amount of stress. Moving to a new city and starting a new position can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. One of the best ways to reduce stress and set yourself up for success is by finding the right housing that fits all your needs and supports your lifestyle. 

Follow these tips to find the best housing options for your next travel nurse assignment.

Make a List of Your Priorities

The first step is making sure that you get everything you want in a housing situation is to make a list of your priorities. What factors do you need to take into consideration when choosing? While you will need to consider practical factors like cost, location, transportation, don’t forget about the things that are currently a part of your daily routine as well. Here are some things to think about if you’re a stipend travel nurse looking for housing:

  • Do you need a private unit, or are you willing to save money by renting a shared space?
  • Will you be bringing a pet, or can you travel without your furry friend?
  • Do you have to be in the city, or are you ok with commuting in?
  • Are you taking a car? If so, what is the parking situation like?
  • Do you need to be near a gym so that you can continue your workouts?
  • Are you a day or night-sleeper? 
  • What are your regular hobbies and what do you need to continue to enjoy these?
  • Do you cook most of your meals after you get home or do weekly food prep? 
  • How often can you afford to eat out?

Also, take a moment to reflect on what you are most looking forward to when it comes to your next travel experience. Foodies use the opportunity to try new cuisine and visit local restaurants. Others are planning on doing some sightseeing or meeting new people. These goals can be taken into account when considering different housing locations. 

Once you create a list, go back and decide which of these factors are essential and which you are willing to make adjustments for. It is important to establish your ”must-haves” so that you are setting yourself up for a happy living situation. Creating a list will help you identify and articulate your needs so that you can begin narrowing down your choices and eliminating any properties that won’t support your lifestyle and your travel goals.

Consider Practical Factors

Once you have figured out what you want from your housing, you can begin to make a list of practical considerations that will also factor into your decision. 

  • Will my stipend cover the cost of rent? In some cases, you may actually be able to make money by choosing a more affordable housing option. That money can go towards enjoying restaurants and activities in your new city, or it can go toward your mortgage back home.
  • What is the cancellation policy? Hospitals can certainly cancel a contract mid-term which can be problematic if you have already put down a deposit on housing. That is why it is always a good idea to partner with landlords who are used to renting to travel nurses. Typically, they offer more attractive terms that limit your exposure should your assignment get canceled early such as lower deposits and monthly leases.

  • How far are you willing to commute to your assignment?  How close do you need to be to the grocery store and other essential destinations? Of course, travelers want to be close to their assignment, especially those that are on-call, but it’s important to find a location that gives you rent that you can afford, that is also within an acceptable radius of the places you’ll be going.

  • Are utilities, cable and internet included in the rental amount? Before you sign any agreements, make sure that you are clear about any additional costs. 

Where Most Travelers Start

Whether you’re comparing jobs side by side and need to know which assignment has more affordable housing options, or you’ve already signed your contract and know where you’re going, Furnished Finder is where most travelers and staffing companies seem to start. They have over 30,000 listings from hosts all over the nation who are looking for travel nurse tenants. It’s actually pretty unique to find a housing platform without the booking fees like vacation rental sites and mark-ups like corporate housing.  You can view all of the Furnished Finder properties on their site, or right on The Gypsy Nurse housing resource page.

Stipend Calculator

If you’re researching jobs in different cities and looking to see where your stipend will stretch the furthest, you can use the new Travel Nurse Stipend Calculator tool. There you’ll be able to get average housing costs, find out the top nursing specialties and staffing agencies, and compare key metrics to see which area may be the best for you. 

Contribute

One of the best things about being part of a community is that you can receive and share helpful information with one another. Chances are that you’ve already worked in a city or assignment where another traveler is currently considering, so why not help out the next nurse and share your experience?  Here, you can rate your previous facility, and give your fellow travelers tips about the best neighborhoods, areas to avoid, favorite restaurants, traffic patterns, and other best practices that you’ve learned while on assignment in a city. To become a contributor and help a fellow traveler, you can do that here

More Resources

Both Furnished Finder and The Gypsy Nurse have Facebook groups dedicated to housing as well. There you can connect with your peers, ask questions, and learn about their experiences. Don’t underestimate groups like these as they can be excellent resources…just realize that with over 120,000 members combined, you may have to sift through a few rants to get to the content that you’re interested in. You can also use the search filter to search by topics, hospitals, staffing companies and cities that interest you.  

Recommended Facebook Groups:

Travel Nurse Housing – Furnished Finder 

Travel Nurse Housing – The Gypsy Nurse

If you want to dig into housing even more, you can visit these popular blogs and resource pages.

Search for Housing:

Submit a Housing Request:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/housing-request

Stipend Calculator: 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Travel-Nurse-Stipend-calculator

Blog Pages:  

Avoiding Scams:

Landlord Verification Report:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/travelers

Housing plays an important role in your travel nurse housing experience where the right living situation will allow you to maintain a work/life balance that helps you thrive. Hopefully, these tips and tools will help to ensure your housing supports your lifestyle wherever you go. 

Furnished Finder  is the largest online housing marketplace for travel nurses who take temporary positions across the US. With over 30,000 monthly furnished rental properties to choose from, they continue to expand their inventory and make housing easier and more affordable for traveling healthcare professionals nationwide. 

*If you’re a landlord looking to offer housing on Furnished Finder and The Gypsy Nurse, go here

By The Gypsy Nurse

August 4, 2021

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Tips for Small Space Living

So, you’ve decided you want to take the plunge and decrease the square footage of your home; that’s what we did anyway. We renovated a 1971 Airstream trailer to our liking, got rid of a LARGE amount of our items, made space for the dog and the cat, and hit the road. It has been a life-changing, eye-opening event in our lives. For the most part, it has been extremely rewarding, but there were a lot of sacrifices that this lifestyle requires too. Here are our tips on how to make the most of tiny space living, especially with your furry friends in tow.

Plan Ahead-

This one is BIG. This started as soon as we decided we were going to renovate the Airstream. Our layout was meticulously thought out to maximize space and storage. Our bed flips up so that much of our larger items can be stowed underneath. For you pet owners, especially cat owners, you’ll want to think of where their things will go (i.e., the litter box). In anticipation of living in a tiny space, we actually decided to toilet train our cat. Lucky for us, she loves a good food-driven bribe and was willing to do anything for some tuna. If that’s not your cat’s style, you’ll want to find a good storage area for the litter box to slip into and help keep the smell to a minimum.

We had some friends that kept it behind its own cute curtain, which was genius for keeping it out of sight and the smell contained! We also recommend trying to plan your meals ahead of time. If you go with a trailer, the fridges tend to be tiny. We have found that we can cut down on wasted space and food by planning out our meals a couple of days in advance so that we only have what we really need.

Purging-

If you’ve decided you want to take the leap into the world of small homes, this is another big one. It’s also hard! We had to take a good look at all of our items, Marie Condo style. We went with the system of “If it hasn’t been used or worn in over a year, then it’s out.” I’m a total sucker for “it’ll be back in style eventually” and therefore always love to hold on to clothes longer than necessary. However, for the sake of our tiny space, I got rid of soooooo many garbage bags full of clothing. It was heartbreaking but totally worth it when I saw just how neatly all of my clothing now fits into place.

We also did this for kitchen items too, we were very guilty of having far too many drinking glasses and coffee mugs. We had to be realistic and realize we weren’t going to have 10 people over for breakfast in a tiny space, therefore limiting ourselves to our 4 favorite mugs on the road. To this day, two years in, we’ve only ever needed 4 at a time. So go make some money on eBay, and sell that stuff, baby!

Small Space with Pets-

If you’re like me, your pets are your children. Therefore, the tiny space must incorporate them as well. How much space can a cat actually take up? Your dog doesn’t need too much, right? These were both things I had thought prior to making the move, but boy, was I surprised. For one, now that we are in a smaller space, our cat likes to make her presence known. She’s everywhere I want to sit. In my bed, on the toilet (remember that toilet training thing?), yelling at me to feed her.

I adore her, but it can be a lot. It definitely helped when we gave her a designated space. We made space by the window, put her food nearby and one of her toys, and now she gravitates toward that area. I still find her everywhere I need to be because, ya know, cats… but she mostly hangs out in “her” space now. Combined, our cat and dog have their own cabinet in the trailer of just items for pet use. Food, brushes, shampoo, flea and tick treatments, a colorful collection of bandanas. It definitely helps to have all of their items in their own location so that they aren’t mixed in with ours.

We also keep their vet records on hand in their own files. If you’re planning on traveling in your tiny space, this will be especially important as many parks require this information to be readily available. If you are like me and have an allurement toward fluffy pets, you’ll want to keep a lint roller on hand. I can never seem to walk out of the house without a fresh layer of fur on my own clothing, no matter how many times a day we brush them. Keeping a lint roller handy has been truly lifesaving.

Go With the Flow-

I know this may seem contradictory to my first tip of “planning ahead,” but what this life has taught me is you truly cannot plan for everything. There are going to be wrenches thrown into your days. The best thing you can do is, take a deep breath, smile, and try something new. We’ve had countless times where things have gone wrong. Most recently, our two-year-old water heater abruptly stopped working. As frustrating as that was, we ended up getting a gym membership so that we could shower and now find ourselves working out at the gym on a daily basis. That was never the intention, but it was a welcomed change in our life. We’ve become true believers that everything happens for a reason. If you’re finding yourself craving living in a tiny space, well, there’s probably a reason for that too, so I say go for it!

We hope you found these tips for small space living helpful. Are you currently living in a small space or RV? Do you have any tips to share with fellow travel nurses? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board.

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!)

By Jackson Nurse Professionals

August 2, 2021

4379 Views

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3 Quick Strategies for Making Your Rental Your Home

This article was provided by Jackson Nurse Professionals.

As you move from assignment to assignment, not having your things around you can increase occasional feelings of loneliness and even mental fatigue. Adding your own personalized touches to your temporary housing can make you feel more comfortable, and most importantly, at home.
Whether you’re in an Airbnb, renting a room, or renting an entire pad, these are quick, cheap, and easy ways to bring home to wherever you are.


Try removable wall decals!


When it comes to decorating your rental, the idea of doing an accent wall with removable wallpaper sounds great… until you realize how long it takes to do. Instead, use removable wall decals as a quick and easy fix so that you’re not surrounded by plain, gloomy, off-white walls. There are so many options out there now for sticky wall decals; you’re bound to find one that fits your personal style perfectly! Adding a fun accent wall is an excellent way to brighten up your space, add some color, and make it feel more like your space. Not only does it install and remove easily without damaging the walls or leaving them sticky, but you can also reuse the decals in your next rental. Carefully peel the decal from the top corner and pull downwards towards the floor to prevent stretching and misshaping. You can either keep the original paper backing or use wax paper to keep it fresh for your next home!


Add Light Acrylic Frames & a Wall Mosaic to your suitcase


Staying in a rental or an Airbnb, it’s not the best idea to cover the walls in thumbtack or nail holes from hanging up all your favorite photos. But that doesn’t mean you can’t bring your family photos with you! Utilizing light, portable, floating acrylic frames allows you to display as many photos as you want while not destroying the walls, weighing down your moving boxes, or needing to worry about breaking glass when it’s time to pack up. You can even purchase prints or print larger photos to split between multiple frames, making a creative and edgy large piece of art. Add more color or personal touches to the house using burlap, patterned cardstock, or Con-Tact paper as a background for a smaller photo! You can also use a portable wall mosaic, so you can display 50 photos without needing to put 50 holes in the wall. Keeping photos of your loved ones around will help you feel more relaxed and at home.


Invest in compression storage bags to bring blankets & pillows


We know that you need to pack lightly so you can easily pack up and move to your next assignment location. But, using a vacuum compression storage bag can allow you to bring some of your favorite home comfort items with you. You don’t’ even need a vacuum; many now come with a handheld vacuum sealing pump, perfect for travelers. Utilize these bags to bring your own decorative pillows or some throw blankets for your rental! These small touches will help your space feel more comfortable and homier during your short stay. You can also pack a duvet cover that can easily be slipped over a comforter to add a personal touch to your bedroom without having to sacrifice the space for a huge blanket in your suitcase.


Don’t just store your things, display them!

It’s the little details in your space that make it feel like a home! Utilize the space that you have to display some of your personal items rather than store them away. Command hooks are a cheap and easy way to hang necklaces and bracelets without destroying the walls. Get creative with your jewelry displays by using simple mesh bookends to easily organize your earrings and add some color and personal touches to the room! You can also use a modern but easy to breakdown and transport clothing rack to display some of your favorite clothing items while also freeing up space in the closet.


When you’re not at work or exploring your new city, these decorative touches will help you feel comfortable in your temporary home. Create your own sanctuary that feels like home to you, leaving you feeling refreshed and relaxed after a long day at work.

By Medely

July 30, 2021

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How to Maximize Your Housing Stipend as a Travel Nurse

This article was provided by Medely.

Travel Nursing requires a hands-on and versatile approach to your nursing practice, but even more so, your entire life. To maximize earning potential, you can use your non-taxable stipends to help you make more take-home cash. Chief among these is the housing stipend, meant to help find lodging when traveling and working at a facility away from home.

And, there are several ways to save cash and maximize your housing stipend as a Travel Nurse or Allied Healthcare Professional.

What is a housing stipend?

So what is a housing stipend, and how does it work? Travel Nurses typically have two options when it comes to housing. They can either accept agency-provided housing, if available or a housing stipend and find accommodation independently.

When looking at the housing stipend, there are a few different ways to get paid.

  • Monthly rate
    • If you’re offered a monthly rate, your housing stipend is allotted each week based on the length of your assignment. The only concern with monthly rates is when you’re paying rent for longer than an assignment lasts. For example, if you have a two-week job, you will only be paid for those two weeks, which may not cover the entire month’s worth of rent.
  • Stipends paid out in bi-weekly paychecks
    • It’s essential to have enough money out of pocket to start living through a stipend. Because your stipend is typically paid out bi-weekly, you may be expected to cover the initial deposit and first month of rent before receiving your first paycheck.
  • Tax-free housing allocation
    • One of the most significant ways you can save big on your housing stipend is that it will be entirely tax-free if you have a valid tax home and are far away enough from that tax home when traveling.
  • Amounts vary
    • Stipend amounts vary, and it’s essential to look at the fine print on many of these contracts. Some agencies will pay very high stipends but offer lower hourly rates for your work, and prices will vary, of course, depending on where you’re living and the local housing markets in those regions.

On top of these crucial points, you should look out for perks like included utilities or fully furnished accommodations when assessing a contract.

Tips to maximize your Travel Nursing stipend

There are many different ways to maximize your Travel Nursing housing stipend. Below are several tips to help bolster your earnings and make your nursing housing stipend go the distance.

  • Short-term housing, utilities included and furnished
    • It’s important to remember that some assignments may be as short as a few weeks and as long as three months or more. With this in mind, life will be that much easier if you find fully furnished housing that includes utilities in the rent and doesn’t have exorbitant premiums on short-term leasing.
  • Rentals/sublets
    • If your nursing assignment is for more than six months, you will likely find traditional rentals through apartments, condos, townhomes, and so on. If you have a shorter contract, however, things like Airbnb, HomeAway, and VRBO, among others, have made it easier to find short-term housing.
  • Extended hotel stays
    • Extended hotel stays can be a good option if space isn’t a priority for you. Depending on the area you’re in, finding fully-furnished housing that includes utilities might be challenging. An extended hotel stay could make things a lot easier. Be sure to keep an eye out for hotels that offer special deals for extended stays.
  • RVs
    • While these might not be for everyone, RVs are a very convenient and cheap solution that can be a lot of fun! RV parks and campsites are a lot cheaper than monthly rent, and the convenience of being able to pack and move on at a moment’s notice is a massive appeal to the RV route.
  • Roommates
    • Finding a roommate as you go from place to place is a great way to mitigate many of the challenges that come with travel nursing. Aside from your bedroom, the apartment will already be fully furnished, and utilities will be included in your rent. Living with a roommate is also typically much cheaper than living alone, so you will save costs on that end as well.
  • Friends/family
    • Reach out to your friends and family members across the country. Living with a friend or family member for a short period is a great way to reunite with loved ones and save costs at the same time.
  • House sitting
    • House sitting almost sounds too good to be true. To live and watch over someone’s house and possibly their pets and plants, you may not have to pay a single dime and may even earn a little cash for your efforts. TrustedHousesitters, HouseSittersAmerica, MindMyHouse are just a few options for house sitting apps you could utilize.

Whichever option you choose, know that there are a plethora of ways to maximize your stipend and save on housing costs. While it might require a little bit of research and effort, you could make significant earnings on your housing stipend over time and create your travel nursing experiences as cost-effective as they are liberating.

Medely

With Medely, your next nursing job is only a tap away. Travel nursing opportunities are brought directly to your phone, so you have the control to create your schedule based on your travel needs.

Medley delivers premium pay, maxed out travel stipends, and the ability to book per diem shifts while on an assignment so you can maximize your earnings.

Freedom, flexibility, and support come standard. Be where you want to be when you want to be there with Medely today.

Are you a travel nurse looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you have your next assignment secured but need housing? Click here to view our housing page.

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!)