Where do most traveling nurses stay? And how do you fit all the things you'll need?

[Inlocd454]

So one of my recruiters recently told me that of about 200 nurses traveling for his agency, only 2 use the agency housing, and this was mostly because they had bad credit he said. Since this will be my first assignment I was initially planning on using company housing and just bringing clothing/basics. Now, I'm not so sure.

My question is do most travel nurses choose company or craigslist/padmapper housing? If using craigslist/padmapper, how do you bring all the things you'll need IE mattress? I must be missing something, because ideally I'd like to live alone in a place that has at least a mattress! Even rented rooms off Craigslist don't come with them, right? At this point all I can envision is an extended stay, and that doesnt entice me too much.

Any help?

[scrubnurselife]

Fixing to start my first assignment. I looked at Craigslist, but airbnb came recommended by other travelers. I ended up googling furnished apartments. Found 3 complexes that will basically rent the furniture you want and have it set up for you, and tack it onto the rent. Went with flat rate utilities. Total with furniture, utilities, and rent was right under 1300. The lady I spoke with at the complex said they've been getting a lot of calls lately from travel nurses, so I told her if another called needing the same time frame, to see if they'd be willing to share. Received a call back within hours, and now I have a roomie for 3 months, and paying 800/month for a furnished with utilities 2 bdrm, vs the 1300 for a 1 bdrm. My stipend is 2000/month. And, yes my roomie and I have spoken at length on the phone and through emails. Now another assignment I almost took somewhere else, I found a furnished condo, within my budget, and walking distance to the hospital, through airbnb. Just takes a bit of research and phone calls, but it's worth it I think.

[shana0786]

Hi NursRies! Do you mind me asking what travel agency you're with? These length of assignments sound similar to what I am looking for....Thx :)

[LadyTiger44]

In the past when I traveled, I took their housing. This time though, I decided to find my own. Didn't even start looking until I was driving from Naples, FL to Tucson, AZ. It was actually easier than I thought to find housing. We ended up finding a corporate apartment with a garage, fully furnished, and set up with wifi and cable. The next assignment I am looking to make more $ and find somewhere cheaper hopefully. If you are trying to make extra $ I would suggest finding your own. Even if it was unfurnished you could rent furniture. A couple of places I have been submitted for my next assignment the stipend is about $2200, and rent in the area is anywhere from 1100-1600, so we will be able to bank more $. Good luck!