If there’s anything more stressful than actually finding a travel nursing assignment, it’s undoubtedly finding housing. There are several factors that go into determining where you should stay, what kind of housing you should find, and when you should actually start searching. Our essential guide to travel nurse housing will break down everything you need to know!
Travel Nurse Housing: Where to Find it
With the help of new websites and the power of social media, house hunting for travel nurses has gotten easier in recent years. Here are a few of our recommendations:
Furnished Finder
Furnished finder is catered towards travel nurse housing. You can choose from over 150,000 homes, apartments and condos nationwide. On their platform you are able to book directly with no fees and communicate with landlords about your needs throughout your stay. If you happen to be traveling with pets, furnished finder is great for finding pet friendly options.
Airbnb
While Airbnb is known for their plethora of short term rentals, you can find plenty of longer term travel nurse housing options. There is more to choose from on this platform for larger cities, however, the downside to using Airbnb is that you can incur lots of fees with your stay. Always make sure you are communicating with your host to prevent any unforeseen costs.
Extended Stays
Extended stays offer the flexibility of a hotel with the amenities of a furnished apartment. You can make payments on a weekly or monthly basis, and you can finish your stay when you need to. You can find extended stays in nearly every part of the country and they are considered a more affordable option. Especially if you don’t want to spend a large portion of your stipend on housing every month.
PRO TIP: If you can, avoid using Facebook marketplace or craigslist to find housing. Oftentimes there is little to no moderation and it can be full of scams. Don’t be taken advantage of – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. However, there are several moderated travel nurse housing groups on Facebook you can join. These groups are great resources for travel nurses to connect, share their experiences and advice they have learned along the way.
Travel Nurse Housing: Tips and Tricks
Don’t Book Too Far in Advance
The market for travel nursing can be volatile sometimes. This means your contract can get canceled before it begins or your start date gets pushed back because of an issue with compliance. Or, maybe you start your assignment and decide it’s not for you. Make sure you don’t book too far in advance in case something with your assignment doesn’t end up going as planned.
Stay in a Hotel for the first Two Weeks
Following up from our last tip, you should plan to stay in a hotel for the first week or two of your assignment. Finding travel nurse housing in certain cities can be challenging, so if you know you plan on staying for a while, don’t rush into booking something right away. Staying in a hotel at first can save you a potential headache and hole in your wallet.
Take Advantage of Discounts for Travel Nurse Housing
Most hotel and extended stay chains offer discounts for travel nurses. You can find these on their websites. Some agencies also offer discounts for housing, make sure you ask your recruiter for more details. The more money you can save, the better!
