travel nurse housing Archives - Page 8 of 8

November 14, 2019

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Furnished Finder and The Gypsy Nurse Partner to Provide Affordable Housing Options to Travel Nurses

Posted on November 14, 2019January 26, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

The Gypsy Nurse team is pleased to announce that Furnished Finder, the largest monthly housing provider for stipend travel nurses, is the new exclusive housing partner of The Gypsy Nurse.

Travel Nurses Connect Directly with Hosts

Travel Nurses prefer to connect with hosts directly before they book and want to ensure that they can find a clean, safe, and affordable housing options while they’re on assignment. A family-run company founded in 2014, Furnished Finder is a short-term housing provider for travel nurses who need affordable monthly furnished housing. Property owners list their furnished rooms and apartments on Furnished Finder, where they must pass a background check and provide proof of ownership/management for traveler safety. All rents are set directly by the landlord and there are no mark-ups or booking fees, making furnished housing affordable for travel healthcare professionals across the US. Furnished Finder has over 25,000 listings and is used by over 100 medical staffing companies.

We’re very excited to work with Furnished Finders

“We’re very excited to work with Furnished Finder to make it easier for our travel nurse community to find great affordable housing options for their next assignment through TheGypsyNurse.com website,” said Steve Curtin, CEO of The Gypsy Nurse. “The Gypsy Nurse has always been about supporting travel nurses at every stage of their journey, and with housing and jobs so tightly connected, it makes sense to provide accurate and cost-effective housing choices early in the process so the stipend traveler can make the best decision possible.”

“Furnished Finder is thrilled to partner with The Gypsy Nurse as they are widely recognized as having the largest and most active travel nursing community in the industry. The Gypsy Nurse is synonymous with travel nursing,” said Brian Payne, CEO of Furnished Finder. “Travel nurses have long told us that affordability is a key component with travel nurse housing, which is why our hosts set their own rent and there are no booking fees for either party. Since there are no mark-ups or commissions, Furnished Finder is always the least expensive housing provider. Traveler safety is also extremely important to us, which is why every landlord is background screened and must provide an ID and proof of ownership or management.”

Furnished Finder is currently utilized by over 100,000 travelers annually.

The company started in Bakersfield, California in 2014 when co-founder and CEO Brian Payne was not only working with travel nurses in cardiac pacemaker and defibrillator surgeries but would also rent furnished properties to travel nurses coming into the Bakersfield area. Now headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Furnished Finder’s growing team of over 50 people have extensive backgrounds in healthcare, business, real estate, and information management. The leadership team at Furnished Finder is fully committed to supporting the travel nurse industry by constantly innovating and improving to make finding affordable, monthly furnished housing easier.

Furnished Finder users can search the location map and contact landlords directly or submit a housing request for a geographic area. Click here to check out Furnished Finder’s customized housing search experience for The Gypsy Nurse Community.

By AB Staffing Solutions

October 23, 2019

7147 Views

Great Housing Tips for Travel Nurses

Posted on October 23, 2019February 3, 2023 by AB Staffing Solutions

This article provided by: AB Staffing Solutions

Whether you’re living in a big city or in a rural area, you will want to be sure you have housing that fits your needs and the needs of your family and pets. Here are some housing tips for travel nurses from housing professionals on what to do when starting your travel nurse assignment.

Housing Tips for Travel Nurses

Research the area where you’ll be working.

As a travel nurse, you may be moving a few times a year. Before your next move, think about what you liked and didn’t like about your current area. Share that feedback with your recruiter and representative from the housing department.

Do you want to be in a more urban area? Do you need a grocery store nearby? Is there a gym near your workplace? Do you want hiking and other outdoor activities nearby? Will you need child and/or pet care? If the closest grocery or convenience store is 45 minutes away, you may need to do grocery and meal planning ahead of time. Knowing your preferences makes a difference to not only finding the right place for you, but for you to get to know your new area.

View your rental in-person before signing the lease.

Treat the move as you would any other. Our housing team does a great job identifying places for our travel medical professionals but ultimately, it is your responsibility to make sure the home is as-advertised. We encourage you to visit in-person prior to signing the lease to make sure you’re comfortable with the living space and location.

Pack smart.

You’re likely going to be living in a furnished space so pack only the essentials. Look around your current home and decidewhat is most important for your next destination. If you’re in Minneapolis and heading to Phoenix, you may choose to put the winter clothes in storage and opt to bring warmer weather clothes only.

As far as important valuable items go, you should only bring documents and things that you absolutely need. Be sure to keep valuables and paperwork stored in a secure location and not out in the open for others to see.

Understand the terms of the lease.

Before signing the lease, read it. Ask questions. Make sure you understand all the terms. Are you allowed to bring pets? Are there size limitations for pets? Is the rental smoking or nonsmoking? Is there a deposit for pets? Is there a cleaning fee when you move out? Understand all of the terms so you’re not liable for extra costs at the end of your assignment.

Prepare for pets.

Think about what is best for you and your pet. Will the pet need to stay with a friend or family member while you’re on assignment? What accommodations will they need if they are traveling and staying with you? Be sure they’re up to date on vaccinations and that you have a travel certificate, if needed. If you need doggy daycare or pet boarding, research options prior to moving. The last thing you need is a call from your landlord that your dog has been barking all day and you don’t have a sitter who can check on them or a doggy daycare where they can stay when you’re working.

Connect with other nurses at the new facility.

If possible, reach out to the nurses at the new facility. Ask for their recommendations on neighborhoods, restaurants, traffic, activities, childcare, pet care, and more. It will give you an idea of what to expect and you can begin to plan your work day schedule and days off.

Be financially prepared.

As with any new job, you won’t start getting paid until you start working. Prior to your first day, you will need to make a deposit on housing and cover moving costs. Be sure you have enough saved to get you started and for any emergencies that may arise prior to the first paycheck.

If you’re a new traveling medical professional, ask seasoned professionals for their feedback. Ask your recruiter if you can be introduced to others so you can ask questions or learn more about housing tips and getting started in a new area. The more you ask and prepare ahead of time, the better the experience for you, your family, and pets.

We hope that you have found the housing tips for travel nurses helpful in your journey. If you are looking for more tips on finding housing the following have great information:

Do you have any housing tips for fellow travel nurses? Comment them below!

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!)

By Lidia Staron

August 28, 2019

6478 Views

RVing as a Travel Nurse

Posted on August 28, 2019December 18, 2023 by Lidia Staron

Travel nursing is a fun and rewarding career.

It allows you to serve others while exploring different places. But a major challenge that travel nurses face is finding temporary housing. Is RVing the solution to it? We find out.

Many people dream of becoming travel nurses. Why not? It’s a very interesting career. You get to work with different people and learn about different hospital policies while exploring new locations. If you a dynamic work environment and the ability to travel on the side, it’s the perfect job for you. What’s more, travel nursing is a lucrative profession too. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), travel nurses earn an average of $70,000 per year.

One major challenge of travel nursing, however, is finding temporary housing.

Most of the time, you will stay in one location for a few months. This means you need temporary housing all the time. Many travel nurses choose to rent an apartment or a house or stay in a hotel room while completing their assignment. Travel nurses are given housing stipend. However, in some states, housing is too expensive that the stipend may not be enough. Constantly relocating can be stressful as well. Packing, moving, and unpacking several times a year is not easy.

For these reasons, many travel nurses choose to invest in an RV rather than finding temporary housing.

RVing as a Travel Nurse: Pros and Cons

One of the major advantages of RVing as a travel nurse is that you get to save on housing costs. There are many options for RV financing, such as dealership financing, personal loans, and bank or credit union loans. Renting a house or apartment can be very costly especially in cities and highly populated areas. Once you have your RV up and running, you won’t have to deal with rents anymore.

Another perk of RVing is that you will have a living space that is always yours. You can enjoy a furnished space that feels like home. There’s no need to pack and unpack. You don’t have to spend a great deal of time and effort looking for a temporary house in advance each time. You can increase your travel memorabilia and stock up on your travel collections without worrying about moving them to and from.

More fun and Convenient

Furthermore, having your own mobile home makes traveling more fun and convenient. Having an RV brings you closer to the great outdoors. You can take a trip to campsites and parks or tour around the city during your rest days. You can even take your whole family and pets with you!

But RVing does have some downsides too. One is finding travel positions and parking areas. You must always consider your travel options depending on where you are assigned. In some places, you may need to live outside the downtown area and take a commute to work.

You should also take note that RVing has its own costs too. Apart from the vehicle itself, other costs would be the fuel, parking fees, and maintenance. Nonetheless, if you compare the cost of RVing with that of temporary housing, you still get to save a significant amount of money on it.

If you decide to travel nursing with an RV, here are some tips for you:

Choose the RV that Suits You Best

Visit as many as RV shows as you can. Take time figuring out what you want from an RV. Consider renting one to have a sense of what you want and need.

Make Sure Your Tow Vehicle Suits Your RV

Choose an RV that you can tow at a 75-percent rate to be safe. That means if your truck can pull 10,000 pounds, the weight of your trailer should be no more than 7,500 pounds.

Know Your RV

You have to be familiar with your vehicle – it’s ups and downs, and the best way to maintain it. Yes, you should know how to fix your vehicle. Before each trip, make it a habit to check your brakes, tires, and everything else.

RVing is a great alternative to temporary housing when you are a travel nurse. While it requires a big investment, it is much more cost-effective in the long run. Just make sure to choose the right RV that suits your lifestyle and keep it well-maintained for a safe and enjoyable journey on the road.

What other temporary housing options have you gone with? Have you tried the RV route? Comment below.

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!)

By Host Healthcare

August 8, 2019

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10 Excellent Travel Nurse Housing Tips

Posted on August 8, 2019May 20, 2021 by Host Healthcare

This article provided by: Host Healthcare

Whether you are an experienced travel nurse or preparing for your first assignment, finding the right housing option is one of the biggest, stressful challenges. Do you find your own housing and take a stipend pay? Would you prefer your agency find housing for you? How do you find short-term housing? What about your pets? It can easily be overwhelming and stressful when dealing with housing. But don’t worry, we are here to help. Here are our 10 travel nurse housing tips.

10 Travel Nurse Housing Tips

Beware of Offers That Sound Too Good to Be True.

The old cliche is that if something sounds too good to be true it normally is. A lot of travel nurses who look to secure hosing on their own try Craigslist. While that is certainly a good option, our tip is to just be careful. Be sure you do your research.

Look at All Options

Check out Extended Stay Hotels.

Long term stays are 30 days or more and can be perfect options for travelers. There are certain tax breaks and lower nightly rates when you book an extended stay. If you are planning on securing your own housing, be sure to call the manager and negotiate the best deal for you.

Check Out Vacation Rental Websites.

Sites like VRBO and Airbnb are popular options for travel nurses. They offer a lot of options such as location, bedrooms, and square footage. As a travel nurse, you probably need something small; perhaps a one bedroom. You can then choose to live close to the facility or downtown.

Find A Roommate

Consider Living With Another Traveler.

A great way to keep costs down while having someone who understand your work is to live with another traveler. Talk with your recruiter for any recommendations or at work you can ask around.

Live With Friends or Family Member.

Many travel nurses look to take assignments in cities where family members or friends live. And while you might want to have your own place, staying with a friend or family member comes with great perks. You can save money and spend quality time with someone you know.

Room For Rent Options.

This is a popular option for travel nurses. Utilize your network by talking with your recruiter or other travelers to see what’s out there. You can also use Facebook groups like Travel Nurse Housing – The Gypsy Nurse to find information about places to rent while on assignment or to find roommates!

Do Your Homework

Understand the Benefits of Agency Placed Housing.

A lot of travel nurses utilize agency placed housing options while on assignment. There are several benefits when taking agency placed housing. It’s simpler, and there could be better prices. Also, depending on where your assignment is located, there might not be a lot of options so using agency placed housing could make your life easier.

Understand What Furnished Means.

Finding a place that is furnished is nice for travel nurses as most don’t bring a lot of furniture or housing necessities on assignment. However, be sure you understand what furnished means so if you need to buy or bring things you are prepared. While ever place is different, most furnished items mean a bedroom with a dresser, lamp, dining room table, and couch/chair is what you get. Microwaves and washers/dryers aren’t always included. Just understand what you are getting.

Do Your Homework.

There are great deals out there for housing options. You can find your ideal housing option; you should do some investigating. If you book your assignment early, start looking at housing options that are right for you. If you want that month to month apartment by the beach start looking now.

Traveling With Pets?

Be Upfront About Any Pets.

Many travel nurses travel with a pet. It’s important that if you are traveling with a pet you be upfront. If you are using agency placed housing, your recruiter can find right pet options. If you are going to find your own housing, be sure you make sure your home allows pets and doesn’t have any breed or weight restrictions.

Finding housing can be the most stressful part of new assignments, we hope that with these tips it is a little less stressful. If you are looking for more tips try these 5 Tips for Finding Short Term Travel Nurse Furnished Housing.

If you are a travel nurse looking for housing for your next assignment, check out our Housing Page!

By Amanda Evers

June 17, 2019

52857 Views

Buying a House as a Travel Nurse

Posted on June 17, 2019April 29, 2024 by Amanda Evers

Tips for the travel nurse buying a house:

To your healthcare colleagues, you are paid! They are ready for you to foot the bill at lunch. Your friends and family know you started this journey with the intention of making more than you did as staff. You yourself know you are doing awesome (or at least better!) financially. Buuuut your lender? They see that taxable income, and they think you are doing awful. “You only made WHAT last year? And you’re a nurse..? Do you only work for 13 weeks at a time?? And you want to be approved for HOW much?” This is very common for a travel nurse buying a house or trying to buy a house.

At this point, your bank or lender thinks you’re crazy and almost immediately denies you. But can you blame them, though? Think of how many times you had to read your own contract and pay to break it down to really understand it or how scary (but somewhat exciting) to know at the end of 13 weeks. You may be in a totally new state and facility or not working at all. With time and experience, we began to see how advantageous tax-free earnings are and that we are constantly being offered extensions or bombarded with new opportunities! And your lender can too.

House buying process

Whether looking to buy a new house and keep traveling, adding to your portfolio, or found a place in your travels you are ready to call home, you may at some point experience this travel nurse nightmare. Having to prove your worthiness beyond your credit score and nominal tax return and prove the reliability and permanency of your employment can be frustrating and time-consuming, especially when doing it remotely while traveling!

I’ve been a traveler for 2.5 years, and after 1 year, I decided I wanted to utilize a home equity line of credit for some repairs on my permanent residence. I had doubled my income that year and the house was paid off, so I thought it would be a simple process. But simply turned into 5 months of frustration, demands, negotiations, and denials. After months of trying to prove myself, I realized I never really explained myself. How we work as travelers is complex and can be confusing! In my research, I found that a pro tip when trying to get a mortgage or loan is to include a letter with your offer. So I wrote a very, very detailed letter of explanation. The next day, I was approved!! My underwriter told me they were honestly just confused and didn’t understand travel nursing.

Research

I did some research to see if other travelers were ever in this situation. I found an old forum from 2011 on a real estate website, where multiple nurses stated they were denied mortgages and had to change their plans based on the same issues and confusion I faced. I commented to see if travelers were still struggling with this, and even though the original post was from 2011, I immediately got a lot of responses. Travelers who were struggling similarly and even real estate agents whose clients were traveling professionals being denied loans reached out to ask what I incorporated in the explanation letter. I even connected with a nurse who went to staff to try and prove her employment reliability and still got denied by 6 lenders until she submitted an explanation letter! The work we do is awesome, and we deserve as much recognition and credibility as anyone else.

In a concise but detailed page or less, the key points to explain are:

1- The “contract”

No bank or anyone removed from healthcare is going to understand this. They see 13-week employment and see temporary, not consistent income. We see the opportunity to make bank on a beach in Cali or in a cabin in the Midwest, but your lender does not. Explain the concept of extensions and how often nurses stay in one place for up to a year if they choose or how we proactively secure the next contract before our current contract is up. Discuss the nursing shortage in your specialty and how there are jobs in every state. At the end of your 13-week “contract,” you will be employed somewhere! Reinforce that you keep your license in your state where you keep your IRS-mandated permanent residence so if you ever wanted to return home to permanent staff, you easily could without lapse in employment.

No bank is going to understand this

2- The income

We know our tax returns do not directly reflect the actual amount of money we make a year. Explain to your prospective lender the stipend and the GSA, and be prepared to provide pay stubs or forms of proof. Explain that there are sign-on bonuses, extension bonuses, travel reimbursement, overtime rates, increased pay in certain destinations, strike contracts, guaranteed hours, etc. Highlight every possible way you have made money and found travel nursing lucrative!

3- Briefly explain nursing

As part of your introduction, highlight what you do, your specialty, and how your schedule works. Lenders like 9-5, 5-day-a-week employee applicants because they know and identify with these applicants and view their employment as secure. Be as detailed as you want with this part. I included I worked in psych, and my lender viewed this as favorable due to her own personal experience.

The house-buying process as a travel nurse can be hard. We hope with these tips. The process will be a little easier.

If you are a travel nurse looking for housing for your next assignment, check out our Housing Page!

By Titan Medical

May 10, 2019

7950 Views

How Agencies Scope out Housing for Travel Nurses

Posted on May 10, 2019May 20, 2021 by Titan Medical

This article provided by: Titan Medical Group

After accepting a traveling healthcare assignment, travelers typically have the option to let their agency assist in finding temporary housing for them. So, how do agencies find quality housing for their travelers? Here is a list of housing sites and options allowing agencies to agencies find travel nurse housing for travel nurses to stay temporarily:

Housing for Travel Nurses:

Hotels

Hotels usually offer special rates for facilities with contracted employees or even offer a deal on extended staying guests. Staying in hotels makes for a convenient option.

There are typically a variety of locations you can select from when narrowing down options. Additionally, you can generally earn ‘points’ and accumulate free stays. Unfortunately, hotels can become limited when looking at rural areas. Sometimes travelers might need to commute from nearby towns that have the space to accommodate them.

Traveler can benefit from sites like HotelEngine for quick overnight stays.

AirBNB / VRBO

AirBNB and VRBO are both up-and-coming ways of travel. These are sites that allow homeowners to rent their entire homes, rooms, or shared spaces. Perfect for adventurous travelers looking for a unique place to stay for a weekend or an extended amount of time away from home. The main difference between the two sites is that VRBO focuses more on renting out entire homes and apartments and AirBNB has more variety regarding room-renting options. There are a lot of fun housing opportunities that can be found across both sites adding to the traveling experience of our healthcare professionals.

Craigslist

Craigslist is an option that allows agencies to search for specific housing types, widening the selection of available spaces for travelers to stay. When searching for homes or apartments on Craigslist, there is a chance you can also find them fully furnished. Furnished apartments are most convenient for travelers bringing minimal items on their adventure. If the apartment or home is unfurnished, there are local companies that can bring in basic furnishings that would be necessary for the travelers stay. If you’re using Craigslist, protect yourself from possible scams.

Zillow / Apartment Finder

Zillow and Apartment finder are websites that give updates on available housing for rent. This is a great way to search specific locations and find available properties. If a home or apartment is available for rent, agencies will reach out to the property manager and request information on temporary stay rates.

The BEST Travel Nurse Housing

We hope you found this article on how agencies scope out housing for travel nurses helpful. Agencies look in a variety of places when securing travel nurse housing. Where do you search for your travel nurse housing? Have tips? Please post them in the comments!

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!)

By The Gypsy Nurse

January 20, 2019

60920 Views

On the Move: Essential Rental Tips for Traveling Nurses with Furnished Finder Insights

Posted on January 20, 2019December 19, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

Chances are you became a travel nurse because you wanted a job where you could help people in need and see the country (or the world). But along with the rewards of traveling comes the responsibility of securing travel nurse housing and hotels. Travel Nurse housing can get expensive. Figuring out where and how to save money on hotels and housing while traveling is always a challenge.

5 Tips to Save Money on Travel Nurse Housing:

1. Use a hotel booking site for Healthcare Travelers like Hotel Engine

Hotel Engine offers rates that frequently beat Kayak. As one of the first members-only hotel booking platforms, they can offer lower rates than leading travel sites. And you’ll be pleased to know that membership is free.

2. Search for apartments for long-term stays

You could go with the accommodations provided by your travel nursing agency, or you can select housing on your own. And if you can find a rate lower than the stipend you are being offered, that means extra money in your pocket!

Furnished Finder is a great option for your travel nursing housing needs.

3. Choose an Extended-Stay Hotel

Extended-stay hotels feel a little bit more like home than regular hotels, but they often have amenities that more apartment-style accommodations don’t. For example, many Residence Inns by Marriott provides free hot breakfast every day as well as light dinners (with beer and wine included) a couple of nights each week. For long assignments, many travel nurses find that extended-stay hotels strike a nice balance between the comforts of home (e.g., a kitchen so you can cook for yourself) and the conveniences of a hotel (someone still cleans your room every day). You can book extended stays via plenty of sites like Priceline, Hotel Engine, or Kayak.

4. Join Loyalty Programs

With the myriad choices available today, hotels are competing hard for repeat customers, and even budget hotels are getting into the loyalty rewards game. But most of the really excellent perks don’t kick in until you become an elite member. As a travel nurse who spends many nights per year in a hotel room, you can reach the elite levels very quickly, which means discounts, upgrades, freebies, and more. Many hotel loyalty programs also let you redeem your points for other types of travel, shopping, and dining. You name it.

When it comes to rewards programs, we recommend a nice mixture of the best cards, the best hotels, and the best booking site.

5. Call the Hotel Directly

With the amazing convenience of online booking, most people never even think to call the hotel directly. But many hotels are able to offer deals to individual customers over the phone that they could never offer publicly online. So, if you are looking for a place to stay for several weeks and don’t see a price you like, try calling directly. Anecdotal reports from traveling nurses around the Web suggest you can save up to about $7 a day this way.

The trick to saving on hotels during your travel assignments is to book smart. These tips will help you find a great rate on a great room, meaning you have extra money to enjoy exploring wherever you are! Do you have tips for finding great deals on Hotels & Housing? Please share them in the comments below.

By The Gypsy Nurse

February 19, 2018

12314 Views

How to Make Temporary Travel Nurse Housing Feel More Like “Home”

Posted on February 19, 2018January 3, 2024 by The Gypsy Nurse

Hey Gypsies! So you found yourself a new travel nurse assignment, and you just arrived at your new “home”! Congratulations! Now, try and make it feel a little cozier and more comfortable since it’s where you will be coming “home” to after every shift.

Making your new travel nurse temporary housing feel welcoming is an essential part of your health and happiness while on assignment. Below are a couple of examples of easy and inexpensive tips to help guide you through decorating temporary housing (without breaking the bank!) and making it feel more like home.

Candles and Diffusers:

The scent is known to trigger memories and feelings. Whether that smell takes you to a place or reminds you of a person, we’ve all had that experience. If you burn certain candles at home, bring that scent to your new temporary home. Different smells have different effects, and certain oils or incense can help make your home more inviting and calming!

Photographs:

Bring some pictures of loved ones, animals, and family with you and put them up in your bedroom, on the refrigerator, or buy some frames and hang them on the wall! Nothing beats the comfort of a reminder you feel when looking at pictures of people you care about or places you have been!

Art:

Not many things are more depressing than dull, generic walls. Grab some inexpensive artwork from discount stores like TJ Maxx or Marshall’s to spruce up the walls a bit. Wall decals are an awesome (and cheap) way to decorate as well, and the best part is that they easily peel off when you’re done with them.

Add some color:

Whether these colors are homelike themes or you want to go with a bright palette you’ve never tried before, color is a lively way of helping you forget that this home is temporary. If your housing is completely furnished, try buying a vibrant throw blanket to dress up the couch or substituting the comforter with a crazy quilt. Making your home away from home colorful will help it feel much less boring and bland.

Plants and Flowers:

Flowers are an attractive and fun addition to your temporary home furnishings. Grab low-cost flowers from the grocery or some easy-to-care-for green plants. Plants and flowers can brighten any room!

We hope these tips help you enjoy your 13 weeks (or more!) stay at your new assignment. Have other tips on how to make your temporary travel nurse housing feel more “homie” you would like to share with fellow gypsies? Please leave your decorating tips here in “comments.”

FIND TRAVEL NURSE HOUSING

By The Gypsy Nurse

July 8, 2017

19172 Views

Travel Nurse Housing: How to Choose the Right RV

Posted on July 8, 2017April 29, 2024 by The Gypsy Nurse

Karen Bell has provided the following information.

Karen is a solo female traveler and has been a Travel Nurse since 2000. She has worked approximately 24 assignments in WA, OR, CA, NV, and NM. Karen has traveled exclusively via RV since 2005. Karen works in L&D and NICU II.

Travel Nurse Housing: Choosing the right RV for your travels can be a daunting undertaking. I, fortunately, had been “camping” for many years, so I was aware of many of the positives and negatives of each type of RV.

Some of your choices will be dictated by finances, family, security, personal preferences, and many other variables unique to each of us. I will attempt to explain some of the differences, but I have not had the pleasure of having every type of RV.

Choosing the Right RV: My routine

I have a 35 ft Class A Motorhome.

I chose this specifically because of the ease of setup, safety, and enough room so I don’t feel confined. I have it set up to tow my AWD SUV. I did not want to drive a large truck as my only vehicle. Once on assignment, I love to go exploring and take many side trips, so a vehicle with a little better fuel economy was my choice. My Motorhome is not easy on gas, but at least once I get where I am going, I can remain parked and drive my SUV. My travel money helps defray the cost of travel. I don’t usually take assignments across the country as the cost would be astronomical for just a 3-month assignment.

Safety was another concern for me. People are unable to tell if I have a house full of people with me or if I am alone. When I stop somewhere for lunch or a restroom break, I don’t have to get out of my rig. And if I do, they don’t know who is left behind.

Once I arrive at the RV park, setting up is easy.

Level, plug in the electricity, hook up the water and cable, and attach the sewer hoses. I am done!! Class C Motorhomes are the same for setting up. I think the dreaded sewer hoses are the thing most of my friends think is SO hard. In reality, it is very simple. Attach to the outlet (usually just swivels and locks into place) of the Motorhome, and place the other end in the campgrounds septic outlet (I have a sandbag I put on top just so there are no issues of it coming out of the outlet). Open the valve on the Motorhome.

Choosing the Right RV: Types of RVs

Travel Trailers

Travel Trailer towing I know very little about but have watched many a person set them up. Seems the basics are the same for setting up. However, towing seems a little daunting to me as they talk about weight distribution hitches, sway bars, brake controllers, and jacks. You need the right-sized truck designed to be able to tow the chosen trailer. Salesmen will sell you anything and tell you, “Your truck can do it,” but that is not true in many instances. Do your research.

Fifth Wheels

Fifth wheels seem to me to be the biggest “bang for your buck”. They tow very well, are very roomy, and come in all sizes and prices. Again, you need the right size truck for the RV. I have watched people set these up, and they seem very labor-intensive. If I did not travel alone and had a spouse, this would probably be my preferred choice. I just don’t have some of the physical strength required to deal with the hitch and jacks, etc. Although I understand many of them to have electric jacks, which makes that easier.

My best suggestion is to go to RV shows, Sales lots, internet, and look at all the different types of RV’s. When you think you have found “the one”, then research the manufacturer, reviews, complaints, and customer service.

No one manufacturer is perfect. Some are just better than others. Hope to see you on the road.

Do you use an RV for your travel nurse housing? Have you found any tips for choosing the right RV? Comment them and any other RV travel nurse tips below.

More Travel Nurse RV Resources:
Katy Blythe is another Travel Nurse traveling full-time in an RV. Katy writes at Blogspot about her experiences: http://rnrvfulltime.blogspot.com/

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

START HERE

Travel Nurses Connect Directly with Hosts

We’re very excited to work with Furnished Finders

Furnished Finder is currently utilized by over 100,000 travelers annually.

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Housing Tips for Travel Nurses

Research the area where you’ll be working.

View your rental in-person before signing the lease.

Pack smart.

Understand the terms of the lease.

Prepare for pets.

Connect with other nurses at the new facility.

Be financially prepared.

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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Travel nursing is a fun and rewarding career.

One major challenge of travel nursing, however, is finding temporary housing.

RVing as a Travel Nurse: Pros and Cons

More fun and Convenient

Choose the RV that Suits You Best

Make Sure Your Tow Vehicle Suits Your RV

Know Your RV

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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10 Travel Nurse Housing Tips

Beware of Offers That Sound Too Good to Be True.

Look at All Options

Check out Extended Stay Hotels.

Check Out Vacation Rental Websites.

Find A Roommate

Consider Living With Another Traveler.

Live With Friends or Family Member.

Room For Rent Options.

Do Your Homework

Understand the Benefits of Agency Placed Housing.

Understand What Furnished Means.

Do Your Homework.

Traveling With Pets?

Be Upfront About Any Pets.

If you are a travel nurse looking for housing for your next assignment, check out our Housing Page!

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House buying process

Research

In a concise but detailed page or less, the key points to explain are:

1- The “contract”

No bank is going to understand this

2- The income

3- Briefly explain nursing

If you are a travel nurse looking for housing for your next assignment, check out our Housing Page!

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