Packing tips for travel nursing...

Specialties Travel

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Specializes in ICU.

I suggest packing your vehicle 3-4 weeks prior with what you imagine you will need for your assignment/s and attempt to use what only you pack....This will either greatly reduce what you think you need or you might even add or swap items out.

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Specializes in ICU.

An item I never regretted was my printer.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I am the veteran of only one travel assignment, but I've learned a lot about packing and bringing only what I absolutely need when we moved aboard our sailboat. We have a travel printer -- about the size of a shoe box. It can print 500 pages from battery and can be used wirelessly. When I have to print something, I just take it out of it's plastic box (boat=wet sometimes) and turn it on. I also have a scanner -- about 1/3 the size of the printer, and I've never regretted bringing that, either. Since we "live" in Florida (our legal address) and the boat is currently in North Carolina, we sometimes have paperwork that can only be done by scanning or printing. Or scanning and printing. Neither device takes up much room, and they're pretty valuable.

If you cook, you might be tempted to bring all of your pots and pans. Don't. Take everything out of your kitchen cabinets and put it in a box in your basement or attic or your mother's house. Every time you need to use something, go and get it. After a few weeks, you'll have very little in your kitchen . . . that's the stuff you need to take with you. Yes, the furnished houses will have pots and pans -- but not your favorite cast iron skillet that makes everything turn out perfect!

You really don't need to bring as many clothes as you think you do. I've whittled the contents of one large dresser and three closets down to what can fit into two boat bags, and as soon as this winter is over, I'm ditching most of the winter clothes. I rarely have occaision to use the three dresses I brought along, so they'll be going, too. And shoes -- I have hiking boots, Keen sandals and one pair of dressy sandals. But I didn't throw out my UGG boots, even though I was sure I wouldn't need them . . . they are great, cozy slippers for hanging out on the boat watching "TV" on our laptop. If I need to check out a strange noise on deck, I can walk outside in them. And in winter, I wear them all the time. Unless you're one of those people who can walk around barefoot all the time, keep your slippers or UGG boots with you.

I used to love purses and had a closet full of them. Now I rarely take mine off the boat. It's a great place to keep my money, credit cards, glasses and a week's worth of prescriptions plus all of those loyalty cards for every grocery store we've ever patronized. But most times when I leave the boat I tuck my phone in one pocket, wallet in another and a chapstick and I'm good to go. (No house, no car, no keys. That's a liberating thought!) I can't quite ditch the purse for good, because it's red and it's pretty -- and, as my husband says, I know I can grab it and go -- but maybe with a land-based life, you'll still use yours.

People don't need nearly as much stuff as they accumulate, and you certainly don't need to take it with you for 13 weeks. And maybe use those 13 weeks to wean yourself away from collecting so much stuff!

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One thing I have never had to use in twenty years of traveling is a printer. I will admit to a couple times a year to emailing myself a document and printing it at work but right now, I couldn't even give an example. Virtually everything can be handled on your laptop, including making a multipage pdf document and signing it, then emailing or faxing (I use an online based system and email those too) where it needs to go. Printing is so 1970's!

The one A/D device I am addicted to is my scanner. Paper documents from lab tests to timesheets to references have to be digitized. I use a Canoscan, a flatbed scanner about the size of a laptop that is powered from the USB connection to your laptop - no power bricks. You can get smaller ones that feed paper through (not so good for books you are excerpting), but the results are not as good. Most people will find smartphone scanning apps do a "good enough" job, but I only use them in an emergency.

Every important and semi-important document from the last twenty five years is on my laptop, organized and ready to refer to, or create a document to email or fax. Backed up of course.

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Specializes in ICU.

^ LOL. My printer is multi functional. If you are between assignments have a multi functional printer it is just convenient. I scan documents and upload them to my computer. Looks better than taking a picture from a camera phone. Actually I got an email from some agency last week stating they would not accept pictures taken from smartphones to report hours via text. States like WA & MA require you to print the RN license application and mail it in. California license verification is not done online you have to print and mail it to them. One cannot simply do that if the assignment has ended. Library or Kinkos trip every time you need to print...no thanks. Travel printer have compact size if you can afford it.

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Library, Kinkos, hotel, apartment complex, truck stop, and most any business you walk into will print something for you. I only have occasion to print once or twice a year (and I'm usually either at an assignment or home), and an all in one is way too much to lug around the country. You would get more use out of a large screen TV and that too would be kind of dumb to haul around. But to each their own.

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Specializes in ICU.
NedRN said:
Library, Kinkos, hotel, apartment complex, truck stop, and most any business you walk into will print something for you. I only have occasion to print once or twice a year (and I'm usually either at an assignment or home), and an all in one is way too much to lug around the country. You would get more use out of a large screen TV and that too would be kind of dumb to haul around. But to each their own.

Portable printer fits in the palm of your hand, you should Google it.A tv is foolish. Projector would be a big space saver.Plenty of white walls available to use as the screen.

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Dude, you said you carry an all in one. Portable printers are certainly compact (for something I don't need) but cost about 8 to 10 times more than a standard printer and break easily. And cannot scan. You carry a projector tv?

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Specializes in ICU.
NedRN said:
Dude, you said you carry an all in one. Portable printers are certainly compact (for something I don't need) but cost about 8 to 10 times more than a standard printer and break easily. And cannot scan. You carry a projector tv?

Portable Printers have multi functional capabilities.I mentioned if you can afford it in a previous post it would be beneficial. No, I do not carry projector, just a suggestion as a space saver and TV alternative..I have a multifunctional printer not too heavy but, it works for me..

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Specializes in Renal Dialysis.

There is an app called CS Scanner that allows you to take a photo of a paper and it turns it into a PFD file. It's great! There's also a website you can fax computer files from for free - Fax zero dot com. I haven't used it in years but it really helped when I needed it back in college.

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s. Multifunction for portable printers simply mean they handle more kinds of printable media. Still print only. Again, these devices cost many more times than standard printers - for something you don't need! But to each their own.

Perhaps a plurality of travelers I've met recently only carry a cell phone, no laptop, maybe a tablet, and no printer or scanner. At least we agree about the scanner, but most do fine without that too.

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Specializes in ICU.
NedRN said:
Multifunction for portable printers simply mean they handle more kinds of printable media. Still print only. Again, these devices cost many more times than standard printers - for something you don't need! But to each their own.

Perhaps a plurality of travelers I've met recently only carry a cell phone, no laptop, maybe a tablet, and no printer or scanner. At least we agree about the scanner, but most do fine without that too.

I never regretted bringing a printer. I did not recommend anything. Having a printer works for me. It does not work for you fine. Others might be along the fence about bringing a printer. I "never regretted it" is not a recommendation but, "bring a printer it is a must pack" is a recommendation.

For those concerned about size and weight there are options that are pricey but might be worth it to them. If you can afford it can be great item to have.

See link printer fits in hand. 2.6 lbs. Prints scans copies.

Amazon.com: Primera Trio Portable All-in-One Printer with Scanner and Copier 311: Electronics

I value time and privacy. Printing at work privacy issue. Going to the library between certain hours is not ideal for me. To each his or her own.

CFrancine said:
There is an app called CS Scanner that allows you to take a photo of a paper and it turns it into a PFD file. It's great! There's also a website you can fax computer files from for free - Fax zero dot com. I haven't used it in years but it really helped when I needed it back in college.

I use faxzero. Never heard of the app. having a printer for me has been great. might not be the same for others.

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