Travel Nursing: Housing, Travel, and Transportation

Travel Nursing: Housing, Travel, and Transportation

Travel Nursing: Housing, Travel, and Transportation

When you accept your travel nursing contract, you are going to need to establish travel nursing housing, transportation, and travel. If you decide to go with the option of finding your own housing, you are in for a project, but it will increase your income in the long run.

You’re going to need to devote some time to figuring out where you want to live, how you’ll get there, and what you will be doing there. 

Housing

When looking to find a home for your travel nursing assignment, there are many things to consider. 

a. Proximity to the job

 You are going to run into a lot of homes and condos that are available to rent or lease. The first question that arises is how long and far you are willing to drive.

If you wish to stay closer to the facility, you are going to limit yourself on what you can do for fun but that’s completely fine. Sacrifices have to be made.

b. Proximity to activities

If you accepted a travel nursing contract in a location you want to explore, this might be your deciding factor. If you are ok to drive to work for 30min+ this will expand your housing options. Did you accept the contract because you also wanted to have a mini-vacation?

Then you should be ok with driving to work for a greater period of time so that you can take full advantage of your time off, plus living further from your assignment expands your housing search.

Live by the beach if you want to try water activities or stay near a major city to enjoy its museums and nightlife. 

c. The cost

This will be the major factor in your decision on where to house. You need to do a cost-save analysis to make sure that the place you want to stay in also fits your budget.

Your goal as a travel nurse is to not only enjoy it but also make some money. Make sure you are still able to save and enjoy your hobbies. Remember to see if utilities are also covered by tinder the rent or lease agreement. 

Necessities

You also have to think about what are your necessities. What are the things you must have? For example when we took on a travel nursing contract we needed either a pool or a hot tub.

Maybe you want to be near a specific park, stadium,  pier, or beach. 

 

Travel

It’s fairly accurate to say that since you are taking on a travel nursing contract, you are either into traveling or want to make more money. For your travel nursing assignment, getting an idea of what you want to do or visit is always beneficial.

You may only be in that area for the length of the contract, and you may never return. You want to make the best of your travels.

The quickest way to learn about a city is to look it up and find out its most popular places. From there you can meet locals and learn what they enjoy doing in that city. A great resource on what to do during your travels is to talk to your coworkers.

They are going to know where everything is, the best places to get brunch, the trails with the highest points, where to see a waterfall, or even which parks are the best.

What we find helpful is devoting one day a week to an activity. You should also make a schedule for when to do activities as well as a list of activities you want to do.

 

Transportation

Now you need to consider how you’re going to get to the place you will be living at. There are a few options for you. 

a. You can drive your car

This is going to be the least costly method. You need to consider how long your drive will be and the amount of gas. You also need to consider if you want to add all the miles you will be putting in your car if you decide to travel far away.

The other key point is that you will not be able to pack as many things because you won’t have the option of extra luggage during a flight. This is a great choice for someone that packs light and enjoys road trips.

b. Ship your car and fly

This is a good idea when you don’t like being in a car for long periods. This is also going to cost a significant amount more than just driving. Shipping a car can cost over a thousand dollars, depending on the season.

We recommend looking at different transportation companies and comparing their rate. The plane ticket can also be expensive, and we recommend shopping around for a good price.

This is also the more comfortable route. When flying, you’re also going to be able to bring luggage with you but remember that costs too, plus you can pack up your car before it gets shipped. 

c. Fly and get a rental car

This is also a great method if you are traveling with a friend and can last in one car. You can fly to your destination and pick up a rental car which can cost about the same as shipping your car.

You are a little limited on the things you can bring because you won’t be able to stuff your car before it gets shipped. This is the most convenient method, but be sure to shop around for the best rental prices,

 

In Closing

As a traveling nurse, there are a lot of things to consider when it comes to travel nursing housing, travel, and transportation. Travel nursing takes a lot of preparation and planning.

Make sure to devote a lot of time to research and communication so you are satisfied with your decisions.   

 

Looking for more nursing and travel nursing information? Check out these helpful links!

Travel Nurse and Recruiter Relationship

Travel Nurse and Recruiter Relationship

Travel Nurse and Recruiter Relationship

Your travel nursing recruiter is the middleman between your facility and you. Creating a good nurse and recruiter relationship will make or break your travel nursing experience. Imagine having a recruiter that’s not on top of it or not picking up the phone.

This only creates frustration and stress on top of an already exhausting shift.   

Interviewing Your Recruiter

Yes, you will interview your recruiter! You have every right to choose who you work with. During this time, addressing any questions you have about the company or the recruiter is important.

If you’re organized, you want your recruiter to be just as accountable so you don’t run into any frustration.

Questions to Ask Your Travel Recruiter 

  • What’s the history of the company (how long in business, how many office locations)?
  • How long has the recruiter been with the company?
  • How many nurses do you typically work with at once?
  • Describe yourself and who you are
  • Name some cities where you have assignments. 
  • What assignments do you have that many travelers seem to like the most, and why?   
  • Do you submit nurses to assignments without permission? 

 

Things to Look for in a Recruiter

 

Honesty

    • Honesty is the best policy. You don’t want the recruiter to make false promises and be disappointed during your contract. It’s a good sign when your recruiter says, “I don’t have the answer for that, but let me find out and get back to you.” 
    • During your contract, if there are issues (no matter how small), be sure to touch base with the recruiter and inform them

Advocacy

    • If your travel nurse recruiter goes above and beyond for you, cherish them. An awesome recruiter will have your back, no matter what. They may be unable to fix everything, but they’ll try their best.

Respect for your time

    • A recruiter should respond to you in a timely manner. Some will provide their personal cell number for quicker access. You decide the relationship and what type of contract works best for you.
    • You shouldn’t have to wait for a response for longer than 48 hours. 

An interest in you 

    • Your travel nurse recruiter should get to know you as a person and understand your life. They should know your passions and vice versa. Those are the recruiters that truly care. It’s not all about business. 

Building and maintaining a solid relationship with your travel nurse recruiter is an important aspect of your professional career. Your travel nurse-recruiter relationship is key to your travel nursing experience.

Having someone who is a great communicator, honest, organized, and interested in your career will be key to your experience. 

 

Looking for more nursing and travel nursing information? Check out these helpful links!