If you’re hitting the road as a traveling nurse, you have a million and one things on your mind.
- Choosing where you will go for your next assignment.
- Figuring out your travel arrangements.
- And of course, there is always the question of where you will live.
Finding housing as a travel nurse can be intimidating and down-right overwhelming.
But it doesn’t have to be.
In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about travel nurse housing and finding the perfect place to stay.
Table of Contents
- How Do Traveling Nurses Find Housing?
- How Much Do Traveling Nurses Get For Housing?
- How Much Do Traveling Nurses Pay For Housing?
- 4 Travel Nursing Places To Stay
- Nurse Housing Option #1: Travel Nurse Housing Sites
- Nurse Housing Option #2: Travel Nursing Agency Housing Department
- Nurse Housing Option #3: Temporary Furnished Housing: Travel Nurse
- Nurse Housing Option #4: Staying With Friends or Family
- How Trusted Nurse Staffing Can Help You Secure Travel Nurse Housing
How Do Traveling Nurses Find Housing?
Traveling nurses can find housing in a number of ways, including:
- Utilizing a travel nurse housing website
- Choosing to live in travel nurse agency housing
- Getting temporary, furnished housing such as an Airbnb or extended-stay hotel, or
- Staying with friends or family.
How Much Do Traveling Nurses Get For Housing?
There is no set stipend amount for travel nurse lodging.
While housing stipends differ between agencies, each agency must work within limits set by the Government Services Administration (GSA).
Additionally, the amount allotted for travel nurse housing is dependent upon:
- The location of the assignment
- The time of year
How Much Do Traveling Nurses Pay For Housing?
The amount a travel nurse will pay for housing will depend on several factors:
- The location of their assignment: Assignments in some parts of the country pay more in stipends due to the elevated cost of living in the area. For example, the costs to live in a larger city such as New York City or Los Angeles are likely to be higher than the living expenses in a small town in Missouri or Iowa. Therefore, the GSA stipend limit is most likely going to be higher in those areas.
- The time of year: Let’s say you have dreamed of taking a winter assignment in Florida. Due to the increased winter population in the state, the GSA may raise the stipend limit for the winter months in order to accommodate the increase in the cost of living and the scarcity of available housing during that time of the year.
- The type of housing they select. Of course, a travel nurse staying in a two-bedroom apartment is going to pay considerably more for monthly housing than a nurse who chooses to reside in a studio Airbnb.
4 Travel Nursing Places To Stay
As a traveling nurse, your options for housing are endless.
Here are a few of the more common options you can consider when determining how to find housing as a travel nurse.
Nurse Housing Option #1: Travel Nurse Housing Sites
Did you know that there are websites solely devoted to finding lodging for travel nurses?
They know just what you are looking for:
- Fully furnished
- Close to hospitals
- Short-term leasing options
Some traveling nurse housing sites even have a stipend calculator, so you can easily compare the housing costs in any city you may be considering for relocation.
You simply enter a city and state and the calculator provides you with a breakdown of the average rental prices for all the available housing options in your chosen area.
You will be able to view comparisons of the differences between a whole unit vs. a private room, and can easily find which accommodations offer additional perks, such as being pet-friendly or including the cost of utilities in the monthly rental price.
Just type a quick search for “furnished housing travel nurse” to start your housing search on a travel nurse housing site.
Nurse Housing Option #2: Travel Nursing Agency Housing Department
Some travel nursing agencies have an internal housing department specifically dedicated to helping its clients secure travel nurse housing.
The travel nursing agency housing department will be able to assist you in finding travel nurse apartments or homes that offer a short-term lease.
These agencies may also be able to assist by:
- Renting a furniture package,
- Paying your utilities, or even
- Helping you acquire necessary housewares, such as dishes and linens.
If you are a first-time travel nurse, you may want to consider going with agency-placed nurse housing for your first travel nursing assignment.
Allowing the agency to secure your housing on your first go-around will give you one less thing to think about as you adjust to your new lifestyle.
Once you are in the swing of travel nursing, you will have a better idea of exactly what you are looking for when it comes to travel nurse lodging.
Nurse Housing Option #3: Temporary Furnished Housing: Travel Nurse
Some travel nurses may find it is easiest to secure furnished nurse housing.
While this may look a bit different from agency to agency, typically, “furnished” means that you will be provided with the following:
- Bedroom – queen size bed, dresser, nightstand, and lamp
- Dining room – kitchen table and four chairs
- Living room – sofa, end table, coffee table, chair or love seat, lamp, TV stand.
You may also select extras, such as:
- A television,
- Dishes,
- Linens,
- Bedding,
- A vacuum cleaner,
- A washer and dryer, and
- A microwave may be provided for an additional cost.
If you decide to opt for the furnished housing route, here are some of the options you can choose from.
Airbnb
Airbnb (Air Bed and Breakfast) is an online marketplace whose purpose is to connect people who want to rent their homes (or a part of their homes) with people who need to find accommodations in that area.
Airbnbs can be found in more than 81,000 cities and over 191 countries around the world and can be the ideal option for travel nurse housing.
And with such a wide variety of Airbnb housing options, you are sure to find accommodations that are perfect for you.
Since Airbnbs are typically rented on a per-night basis, many homeowners are thrilled to rent to a professional who is willing to commit to a three-month contract, so be sure to ask for a discounted rate for your stay.
Extended-Stay Hotels
You may not have considered an extended-stay hotel, but they can be a great choice for travel nurse housing.
And since they are hotels, you will frequently have the opportunity to enjoy some pretty sweet amenities, such as:
- A free continental breakfast,
- Free Wi-Fi,
- Fully-equipped kitchens or kitchenettes,
- Bed and kitchen linens,
- A swimming pool and hot tub,
- Workout facilities, and even
- Fun, scheduled activities for guests.
Be sure to check in with your nursing recruiter to see if they have a list of hotels in the area that offer discounts to traveling nurses.
Furnished Finder
Furnished Finder is a website created exclusively for finding furnished lodging for traveling healthcare professionals.
All of their properties, which number about 40,000 rentals, rent by the month, which of course is just perfect for the traveling nurse.
Property owners who list accommodations on Furnished Finder cater specifically to traveling healthcare workers, so they have a good grasp of the needs and demands of the job.
Plus, you will be able to sleep soundly at night knowing that every Furnished Finder host is required to pass a background check before their listing is live on the Furnished Finder housing platform.
Nurse Housing Option #4: Staying With Friends or Family
And finally, there is always the option of staying with friends or family during your travel nursing assignment.
- Would you like to spend time with that favorite niece or nephew?
- What about staying with your favorite college roommate who just moved to that city you have always wanted to explore?
- Or maybe your parents just retired to a luxury condo on a sparkling Florida beach.
Spending your assignment in the home of your family or friends may be the perfect choice for you.
How Trusted Nurse Staffing Can Help You Secure Travel Nurse Housing
At Trusted Nurse Staffing, our goal is to help you have the best travel nursing experience imaginable.
And that includes doing whatever we can to help you find the perfect travel nurse housing for your assignments.
With Trusted Nurse Staffing you will have access to your recruiter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach out anytime.
Whether you are in search of:
- A studio downtown,
- A quaint little bungalow,
- A bare-bones hotel room, or
- A basement apartment,
Trusted Nurse Staffing has you covered.
Take the stress and confusion out of your travel nurse housing search and get in touch with us today.
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