How To Avoid Travel Nurse Housing Horrors 

How to avoid travel nurse housing horrors

Most often, a travel nurse will have a smooth transition when it comes to travel nurse housing – moving into a clean, safe place to stay in a great location without a hitch. Of course, as with anything else, occasional bumps in the road can happen, but there are ways to make that less likely.

There are generally two different scenarios for travel nurse housing. Either you’ll receive a stipend and make your own housing arrangements, or the agency will arrange it for you, giving you one less thing to worry about. Generally, it’s best for a first time travel nurse to secure housing through the agency, if possible, as it can make the transition much less stressful and time consuming. Once you’ve become a seasoned nurse traveler, you’ll have a better idea of what works best for you.

Travel Nursing Agency Placed Housing

There are many benefits to agency placed housing. You won’t have to worry about getting the utilities turned on, paying deposits and so on. Your travel nursing agency is also likely to have more connections, which can make it easier in places where it’s harder to find housing. Oftentimes, the travel nursing company will get a better rate too, especially if there are other traveling nurses at the same property.

If you’ve chosen this option, to avoid issues, be sure to ask your travel nurse recruiter before you leave for your assignment what your accommodations will be like. In some cases, there may be a dedicated housing team to speak to. Either way, be sure that you know who to contact if any problems arise. If you have a pet and plan to take your furry friend with you on assignment, inform your travel nursing recruiter right from the start so that pet-friendly housing can be secured. It’s also important to make sure your expectations are aligned with the reality. Where you’re going can make all the difference. Say, you’d love to live in a high tech, high-rise apartment building, but you’re going to be on assignment at a facility in a small town in Nebraska – do your research before accepting a travel nursing assignment if that’s what your heart is set on, to learn what the most common type of nurse traveler housing is in the area.

Before you go, you may also want to Google directions from your housing to the facility where you’ll be working to get an idea of your commute, as well as check out places like restaurants, grocery stores, shops and attractions in the area. This will help you be much better prepared for what awaits when you arrive. When you do arrive, if there are any issues with your housing, missing amenities, problems getting something to work, safety concerns, or something else, reach out to your travel nurse agency contact right away so that he or she can make arrangements to get it corrected. While it goes without saying, if they aren’t aware, they won’t be able to fix it.

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Travel Nurse Housing Stipend

For an experienced travel nurse a housing stipend can be a good way to go, especially if they have an RV they travel in, or plan to live with friends or family in the area. Some nurse travelers simply just want to choose their own housing, and enjoy the flexibility of arriving earlier, getting more time to settle in. There are a number of downsides, however, the primary being it can be difficult to find a place to rent for just three months at a time, especially one that is furnished – and, if you have a pet, that can make things even more challenging. Short term leases often come at a higher cost, and you’ll probably have to pay an application fee and a deposit. In some cases, utilities require that too.

If you’ve decided to take the housing stipend, location is arguably the most important thing to consider for avoiding travel nurse housing horrors. Keep in mind that in areas with lots of traffic, a commute that seems short, perhaps 10 miles, could take 45 minutes because of traffic. On the other hand, travel nurse housing that’s very close to the facility may be in a neighborhood that isn’t all that safe, so perhaps venturing out just a few miles can be the sweet spot. Do a Google search and check out crime statistics, or, even better, get onto a site like Nextdoor.com – on this neighborhood social network you can ask questions of those who live there already. It’s also a great way to connect with others once you arrive.

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