You’re on the way to your travel nurse assignment and have been on the road for two days. The only thing you can think about is getting to your apartment and taking a nap. Imagine your surprise when you open the door and see your new roommate smoking a cigarette and watching TV at theater level. And that’s only the roommate you can see. From the number of bug traps laid out, it seems there might be a few too many occupants here. And then you hear the sirens outside. All of the sudden, 13 weeks seems like eternity and your dream travel nurse job just turned into a nightmare.
Housing matters. Not only does it matter, your living arrangements will play a large role in the comfort and joy of your assignment. What should you expect? How do you avoid surprises? How do you make sure to get the living arrangements you need? This is one section where you won’t want to skip a word.
What type of housing do I receive?
First rule: Get as much information about your future living arrangements as possible! Where is it located? What are the amenities? What comes with the package? Every travel nurse agency is a little bit different. Some do shared housing, some private and many have different furnishing packages. By most standards, a traveler should receive a one bedroom, PRIVATE, furnished apartment, including basic utilities (Electric, water and gas) and it should be located as close to the hospital as possible with drive times of 30 minutes or less.
What furniture is included?
Does 'furnished' mean the 'whole nine yards' or a couple of milk crates and an oscillating fan? Well, again, by most standards you should expect the following:
- Living Room: Sofa, Chair/Loveseat, Cocktail Table, End Table, Lamp, TV Stand
- Dining Room: Dining Table, 4 Dining Chairs
- Bedroom: Queen Bed Complete, Dresser with Mirror, Nightstand, Lamp
- Appliances: Microwave, stove, refrigerator, washer, dryer
Can I bring family members?
If you can stand them for 13 weeks, you bet you can! Most agencies are very supportive of a traveler's desire to have their family with them. Keep in mind that there might be additional costs if you need a larger apartment and additional furniture. Your agency can look into other options for you and provide you with approximate costs to upgrade your apartment.
Can I bring my pet?
That depends on the pet. Most dogs and cats are OK! Your pet llama may not be so easy to accommodate. Most travel nurse agencies welcome pets with a few fairly standard restrictions. Among the most common that are not considered "travel friendly" are Pitt Bulls, Rottweilers (or any mixes of these breeds) and reptiles. Finding accommodations for larger pets can be difficult in some areas. Inquire with your agency to see if your pet will be a good fit for the areas that you are considering. The rule of thumb is: If your pet weighs more than 40lbs or you travel with two (2) or more pets your agency may have to do additional scouting to find a suitable location. In many cases, additional costs such as pet deposits and pet rent are the responsibility of the traveler. Be sure to ask.
Here is a link that might help you locate a pet-friendly apartment community if you are going to handle your own housing or if you just want to scout it out a little bit.
What if I don't need housing, or I take care of it myself?
Travelers may opt to provide their own housing. They may secure their own rental accommodations or stay with friends, or even an RV! In those cases you will receive a cash housing subsidy paid instead of agency provided housing. This can offer two advantages... You can control how your housing cash is spent.
And if you are also incurring living expenses at your home base, then the subsidy may be considered payment for living expenses and is not subject to income taxes. This raises your net take home compensation. Agencies commonly refer to the administration of travel per diems as "Tax Advantage". Your recruiter can help you determine if you qualify and explain in more detail how the program works.
It’s easy to see that housing has more variables than a calculus class. So be sure to share all of your needs with your recruiter and housing coordinator because this is one equation you don’t want to be stuck trying to solve all alone!
