"The trick to travel nursing is how to save your budget while maintaining maximum comfort. I have figured my perfect option, I'm sure some others will think I'm crazy." Nurses Announcements Archive
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My name is Chris. I am a husband, father, and a registered nurse; originally from Florida but now out of Louisville. I want to talk to you today about a term I have come to homeless nursing. The trick to travel nursing is how to save your budget while maintaining maximum comfort. I have figured my perfect option, I'm sure some others will think I'm crazy for this.
When searching for your desired location the first step is finding the right hospital. I always look at the city I'm going to first. I review the hospital, determine if it is the right fit for my practice and experience. In my experience, Yelp reviews seem the perfect perfect determination over HCAHPS. If there are a lot of negative reviews about their ER, you can be sure that the docs and nurses don't pander. Angry people who bog down an ER with useless complaints are more likely to write their negative review over a toothache, than someones parent dying due to CHF or STEMI. I have never seen a nurse in any ER that was a jerk to someone with a "real" emergency.
Once you have found that location, start looking at crime maps. Research the surrounding area and look for activities that sound interesting to you (i.e. festivals, concerts, plays/Broadway) and compare the areas to your crime map. Unless you are going with someone that knows the area, stay away from the red zones (bad areas).
The next part of the plan is where I save money, and where others begin to think I'm insane. I don't bother looking for AirBnB or Craigslist room for rent ads. I live out of my car. I know, it sounds crazy. Before I became a RN, I worked doing finish carpentry as a side hobby. I have a 2013 Ford Explorer that functions as my home away from home. I started off by getting the internal measurements between the interior walls and between the driver seat (in my driving position) and the rear gate.
After measuring, I needed to decide how i wanted to build it. I chose to have a 12 inch space above the folded down seats for storage. This allows me to have access to everything I need during my extended time away from home. I use 1/2in plywood sheets and 2x4s with pocket hole screws to hold everything together in a platform style bed. EVA foam pads go under a memory foam mattress topper, put my sheets and blankets on and voila....instant hotel. I can drive as far as I want. I don't worry about hotels (sleeping in security available rest stops). It's lockable, secure with an alarm, has air conditioning when needed. The daytime AC gets a little cool, especially on my current assignment in Texas.
The stinky situation...How does one get clean without house or hotel? There are two options. Typically, hospitals have showers available for use by staff, either for mid shift grossness (abscess popped goo is in hair) or during a natural disaster that requires staff to stay for extended periods of time. I have found that most ER managers are pretty cool with me using the shower as long as i clean up. I typically choose another method. I use a nationally available gym chain locker room. I can go anywhere in the country that has this gym chain (I also do this in step one) and just wear shower shoes. I end up working out twice a day. I get into phenomenal shape while I'm away from home, have boundless energy for a 12 hour overnight, and take up some free time with cost efficient time spending.
I spend about 18-24 days away from home at a time, being able to spend some of the saved cash for flights. Laundromats equate to free charging station, people watching, and free wifi to download movies on Netflix. This is what I call balling on a budget! Now for monetary breakdown. AirBnB in nice location for 30 days at 25/night- $750. My method. Gym membership $20/mo + $30/mo laundry. Flights to and from here are about 270 in advance. I get to see my family every month, save the majority of my stipend, sleep in absolute comfort, all for $320 dollars per month! I hope you guys enjoyed my insight to cheap living on the road!