Travel nursing first gained national attention in the 1980s when the practice became more common in response to a nationwide nursing shortage. However, the explosion in demand for travel nurses has truly taken off as of late. According to Healthaffairs.org, the demand for travel nurses grew 35% in 2020 and is expected to grow an additional 40% in future. These kinds of eye-catching statistics are exactly why many in the profession (and those considering entering it) are looking at travel nursing as a potential option for themselves. Job security is certainly an intriguing factor, but you shouldn’t forget that you will need to figure out how you intend to address your housing needs if you take on the role of travel nurse. Today, we will take a look at some of the travel nurse housing options that are frequently offered.
Agency-Provided Travel Nurse Housing
Not all agencies offer travel nurse housing options directly through themselves, but this is something that we are proud to offer. We look for furnished housing near the facility where you will be working.
There are a few advantages to letting us choose your housing option for you, including:
- You aren’t on the hook for the lease if your assignment gets cancelled (though rare, it does happen)
- You don’t have to put in extra effort looking for your own housing
- The space will always be reasonably near the facility where you will work
Those who choose this option can rest easy knowing that their travel nurse housing selection will be taken care of for them. It is one less thing to think about when working out where you will live.
Apartments
It is not often the case that a travel nurse is able to find an apartment that will rent to them on a short-term basis, even with the travel nurse salary that they are able to command. This is because the typical travel nurse contract lasts only 13 weeks, and most apartments want tenants to sign up for at least a year.
It is even rarer that a travel nurse can find an apartment that is furnished and willing to work with them on this short-term basis. Thus, if one does find such a deal, it is best to jump on the opportunity while it lasts.
Apartments can be a great option for some travel nurses because they provide greater levels of privacy and personalization than you might expect from other living arrangements. Additionally, you gain more flexibility with exactly where you live and how close you are to certain things you might care about (such as stores you like). Among travel nurse housing options, apartments are great if you can get them.
Renting a Room
Homeowners with a spare room may look at that room as a money-making opportunity for themselves. They can potentially rent out the spare room to a travel nurse to make some extra cash.
It is often economical for a travel nurse to give this a shot as well. After all, they are only going to need a certain amount of space to keep themselves housed. Renting a room is less costly than renting a whole apartment, and that extra money can be used to pump up the nurse’s take home pay.
The upside to renting a room from someone is that you can save a considerable amount of money. The downside is that you are taking a gamble that you will be able to get along with the person that you rent from. Make sure you keep that in the back of your mind.
Extended Stay Hotel
There are a number of advantages to using an extended stay hotel as a travel nurse housing option. Those advantages include:
- Flexible Rental Terms – Negotiating with the property manager at an apartment complex is a challenge, but the manager at an extended stay hotel can help you with no problem. That makes things much easier for you to work with as a travel nurse.
- Amenities May be Available – Depending on the specific extended stay hotel that you stay at, you might find that certain amenities are available that you come to appreciate. These may include things such as gyms, high-speed free internet, and even laundry services for hire.
- Easy to Move to the Next Location – It is reasonably easy to move from one extended stay to the next, and travel nurses often appreciate this since they are on the go by the very nature of their job.
All of these are upsides for travel nurses because they need flexibility when it comes to where they stay. That always provides them with greater flexibility as far as where they work as well. They can choose another assignment somewhere else more easily if they can relocate from their current living arrangement on demand.
Vacation Rentals
In a pinch, a vacation rental option might work for some travel nurses. This is not the most ideal choice for many because they tend to be considerably more expensive than other options on this list.
Companies like Airbnb, VRBO, and others offer rental homes, apartments, and even rooms almost anywhere that you need to go. Again, you will likely pay considerably more to rent from a company like this in the long-term, but you might find yourself faced with few alternative options if you wait until the last minute to book your room. If that is the case for you, then consider these as a potential choice.
While it might be more expensive to use a vacation rental as your primary living space, the number of options is always appealing. If your number one concern for your travel nurse housing is a customized space to enjoy, then there is no question that vacation rentals are the way to go.
Staying With Family or Friends
If you can find a travel nurse job near family or friends, it is certainly most affordable to stay with people who are not going to charge you any rent at all. You might get to spend some extra time with family members that you haven’t had the chance to see in some time. Also, you can work on building stronger bonds with your loved ones than what you had before.
Just keep in mind that there can sometimes be conflicts in these situations as well. You need to try to keep all lines of communication open with those that you stay with to make sure any potential issues are smoothed out.
RVs
For some time, RVs were all the rage with many people, including travel nurses. There are now some signs that the craze might be ending.
That said, RVs are still a worthwhile travel nurse housing option to consider if you can get your hands on one. They are so popular now that there is a lot of competition for this type of space.
People like them because they offer flexibility to move about the country wherever you need to go. Also, as far as a travel nurse housing option is concerned, it is more affordable to purchase an RV outright than to try to buy a home on your own. Therefore, they are still a choice worth looking into.
AHS NurseStat Puts the Power in Your Hands
At AHS NurseStat, we understand the desire to select your own housing, and we also see the appeal of allowing us to do it for you. This is why we offer both options for nurses who sign up to work with us. We can either select a housing option near your facility for you, or we can provide you with a housing stipend so you can select your own travel nurse housing option.
Our team is always on standby to help you with any questions or concerns that you might have regarding your choices. We want to help you get the help that you need so you are positioned in the living space that meets your needs and expectations while you explore this unique career opportunity.
We have the top travel nursing jobs in the country available for you today. Get in touch with our recruiters or browse our job board now.
