Anyone worked as a nurse without a home?

[Cats&Tea&Climbing]

I am wondering if anyone has lived out of a camper van, RV, or just a regular van, while working as a travel nurse- how did it go? What were the challenges, and unexpected perks?

If not, when assigned to a hospital as a travel nurse, do you have the option of choosing a hospital with staff showers? Can these be utilized whenever?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

You may find this thread helpful.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Thread moved to Travel Nursing forum.

[NedRN]

Start with the thread Rose_Queen linked. You can do a search on AN for more such threads. There are lots of even better threads on RV forums such as Escapees, iRV2, and RV dot net. Look for subforums titled working on the road or fulltimers.

Do not follow advice on those forums about taxes, that will be where you want to look for tax home posts on AN, or articles on PanTravelers or TravelTax. There are also at least two books you can find on Amazon about travel nursing that feature the author using RVs. It sounds like you are really motivated to travel with low expenses, but you need to be aware that you will maximize your take home pay if you maintain a permanent residence if you can keep the costs below around $20,000 a year.

Also be aware that like travel nursing, living in an RV is a lifestyle choice first. It is not about saving money and the overall costs will be similar to regular housing with everything considered. Living in a car on the other hand...

By the way, the term for living in a car or RV and not paying for a site is called boondocking. Park wherever it is safe and otherwise satisfactory with regards to upsetting local residents, light, noise, and traffic. It is legal in most jurisdictions, but a complaint will have the police waking you up and asking you to move after checking your arrest record. Walmart welcomes overnight RVs but boy, they keep their parking lots bright. Travelers can also utilize municipal parking lots on the road - I've been advised a couple times by police to use them - also invariably very bright lights.

So you know there is a whole class of working people who are homeless and living in their vehicles. Plus all the RV fulltimers, through hikers, and bicycle tourists, and homeless sleeping on the street or woods in tents. So of course it can be done. I've done over a month living in a car several times (because I'm frugal, not poor). I even selected my current car for that purpose. Plus a couple of bicycle trips that lasted 6 months. So it can certainly be done.

Showers can be obtained in a wide variety of ways. Yup, some staff washrooms have showers, typically OR and ED. Many offices are often former patient rooms with working showers. I've ducked into unused patient rooms for a shower in hospitals I know from prior work. A good many hospitals have gyms for staff that are free and have showers. Truck stops have showers, and many camping and even some RV parks have unlocked showers. Beaches usually have outdoor showers (you don't have to get naked to get very clean in a swim suit). I've ducked into motel rooms after the guests have checked out leaving the door open - well just once - spotted it midmorning while driving. Youth hostels have showers. You can also get very clean with a "sponge bath". My favorite place for that is often grocery stores with single private bathrooms (makes a bit of initial mess of the floor, but I leave it cleaner than I found it and dry).

I often cross the country so have a need to clean up and I loathe staying in a motel. I can think of lots better ways to sleep badly and save $40 to $100 plus at the same time.

So that may sound nutty to most readers here, but perhaps not to you. I would question whether boondocking really saves you enough money versus the hit on quality of life compared with say the low cost of sharing a house in most places. I've certainly never worked an assignment living out of my car other than perhaps a few days at the beginning and end of an assignment.

[Argo]

I started travelling locally in CO with a slide in truck camper that I got for free off of craigslist, everything worked, I cleaned it up inside and made it look a little better, I used it for 8 months while working in Denver and in Oregon. I never paid for a spot. It had a queen sized memory foam mattress that was super comfrortable, full kitchen, dinette and bathroom.

I upgraded to a travel trailer now and have some campsite memberships that allows me to camp for free or $5/night. It is very nice inside. If I was able to stay at my last hospital for free in their oversized parking lot and just run everything on solar/battery. I still have not paid for a spot.

If I was boon docking in SF I would get a $200/month parking spot that has 24/hr access(I just got one to park in when I am at work there). I would use a "sportsmobile" type van or converted a dodge/mercedes sprinter, ford transit, nissan NV cargo or something like that. Solar is mandatory with a good battery pack. A toilet/bathroom is also mandatory(some places that allow overnight parking for free will actually inspect for a working bathroom/kitchen). There are companies that allow free parking regularly..... I stayed in a Cabellas lot for 2 months(couple nights a week across from hospital), Bass Pro Shops, Walmart, Lowes, rest stops, camping world, BLM/Forrest Service Land is always free as long as you stay off the service road and certain distance from highway/creeks.....

look on facebook for "adventures is RV travel nursing".

[Argo]

My RV payment is $350/month, truck is paid for. I got a free membership to some RV parks all over the country with my purchase so I stay in parks for free or cheap. With that, my costs are way lower than finding housing. If i had a truck payment of $600/month plus $600 for a spot to park then it would be a wash or I would be paying more to say in my RV.... I do prefer my own place though as I dont have to move every few months, just hook up and drive off.

I must add that I have a home base where my wife and son live. I travel back regularly and take extended time off to vacation and stay home for months at a time. I travel so I can make more money quicker and have alot of free time.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

Also check out a site called van dwellers. It is not geared towards nurses or RV's exclusively but those people have so many hacks for living free/cheap it is unbelievable. If you don't want the feeling of "sneaking in" places you may not belong for showers I would suggest a youfit membership in your city of choice. It's 10 bucks a month and you have nice showers that often have shampoo and body wash dispensers in them. They also have a nice bank of outlets where you can use a blow dryer if needed and charge up your phone/tablet etc. all at the same time. Hope it works out for you.

[guest769224]

I've done over a month living in a car several times (because I'm frugal, not poor)

What did you do for cooking in these situations without a refrigerator, freezer, microwave or stovetop?

[NedRN]

Fast food, and grocery store deli. That does cost more, but far less than a hotel. Still ahead. I do prefer to prepare my own food, but there are many people even with stoves who don't do it.

[Surfandnurse]

We've lived in a van for 12+ months over seas and in the states and it's no problem, and we have a 2 year old!

but while I'm in a travel contract I pamper myself with an inexpensive VRBO /AIRBNB or rental house, worth it because we live in a van while not working and spend $0 on rent. FRUGAL is the way !

[guest769224]

worth it because we live in a van while not working and spend $0 on rent. FRUGAL is the way !

Please elaborate on details of how this is possible. Food, hygiene, temperature comfort, safety, etc.?

[Argo]

First off you dont live in the van, you sleep in the van. You live life in the world outside of your habitation. We did it last summer with mountain biking and seeing the PNW coast. Mountain bike or hike all day, hit up the river or lake in the afternoon for a swim and we had an outdoor shower to clean up the messy parts. Vans are fully equiped so it isnt like they or you would be sleeping in your backseat on your McDonalds wrappers(unless you want to). You dont have to have AC or heat if your live in a temperate climate but most of the vehicles these days do. You can also get a gym membership if your sticking around for a while(pay a day rate if not), go to a climbing gym if you climb, public pools, camp grounds..... they all have showers. I personally shower before and after each work shift, at work. OR locker rooms are required to have showers.

Really all the van lifestyle requires is to pop your head out of the bubble most americans(and modern humans) live in and do something different.

A more modern van tour.