What to bring? And how do you get it there?

oahugirl · Dec 26, 2010

Please read https://allnurses.com/travel-nursing/helpful-tips-nurse-238992.html for packing advice. As far as "How you get there" depends on how far you are traveling to get there and how long you will be there. If you can drive it, I suggest you drive. Renting cars is expensive. If you take an assignment in Hawaii and live on the mainland I suggest you just fly and buy a "island beater" for the duration of your contract. I got a beater for $700 that ended up lasting me over a year. When I decided to stay another year, I had my car shipped over.

EmergencyNrse · Dec 28, 2010

What you need depends on what your company is providing.

Linen, Cookware, Flatware, TV?

My 1st assignment I "needed" a shower curtain... funny.

Made a God-awful mess until I got one. (It's the little things)

You will really get a feel for what you "need" and what you can live without by traveling. I say really you need about $1000.00 in the bank to take with you to be comfortable. Ikea and Big Lots are your friends. Have fun.

LadyTiger44 · Dec 28, 2010

Thanks! I scaled down some things I am bringing, but I do have a shower curtain-lol! We decided to have it shipped through fed-ex and it will be a little cheaper than renting a uhaul.

EmergencyNrse · Dec 30, 2010

I forgot a vacuum. Unless you have maid service you'll notice

things getting icky after about a week.

1 word- Craigslist.

Get a capable vacuum for about $10.00-25.00

(Sell it back on Craigslist when you're done)

flnursemichelle · Dec 31, 2010

I wanted to tell you of my differing experiences. My first assignment, my apartment was completely bare except for furniature. No TV, no dishes, no linens. you get the picture. So I didn't think of things like the shower curtain and rings, the toilet paper holder, the dishdrainer for hand washables. I went to the dollar tree and dollar general (cheap stores here in florida) and bought some. The shower curtain and rings, I bought at dollar tree and I got 5 sets. It is easier to leave a shower curtain than try to pack it back up small and neat. So my current place, I could have literally walked in with just my clothes and I would have been fine. In fact, my dishes and pots/pans are still in my trunk. I figure when I need them for the next assignment they will be ready.

You dont think about little things, like dishsoap and mustard and ketchup but if you have to keep buying them they can get expensive. I have a box of bathroom things (shower curtain/rings, soap dishes and towels etc.) a box of kitchen things (silverware, dishsoap and sponges, some odd utensiles like can opener and pizza cutter, wooden spoons etc) and then the box for my cats (they have lots of toys and a tower that comes apart to pack easier). I use space bags for my pillows and comfortor but sheets and clothes they don't do much good for. The trick with them is to use them for the "fluffy" things that can be shrunk down. You can't suck much air out of a set of sheets. I have a small tv that I am hoping to upgrade to a flat screen soon so that will help. I also have a tv/vcr combo machine. All my movies are in a carry case, not the original cases. I have also found that although I want to bring ALL of my clothes, I can get away with 2 suitcases worth. One for work and sleep and one for play. I have 1 dressy pants set, a dressy dress, church skirts and tops that I can mix and match with my shorts/pants and church skirts. I am more worried about the things I pick up along the way. I hope that this time I am not going to be as bad at it but the last time, I had to send a very large package back home before I left... :)

Also, if you think that you won't have enough room, consider getting a soft sided luggage carrier for the top of your vehichle. They have them at camping stores and they hold lots of good things if you need the space. Just remember to put boxes in the middle and make sure that clothes or flexable things are around the edges so it doesn't tear on the trip.

Good luck and I wish you happy packing!

PS I found that I need my computer printer/scanner too. I pack it in it's original box and put the paper and cords etc in the box with it. It is very helpful to be able to scan my timesheets and then email them because it is a pain in the neck to have to find a fax every time I need to fax something. It does several things that is why it gets to come too.

LadyTiger44 · Dec 31, 2010

flnurse-thanks for the tips! I am sure that after my first assignment the things I take will be cut down. Lol, I am probably taking too many clothes but oh, well! That is a good idea about the DVDs in the carry case. Where are you in FL?

nursinadream · Dec 31, 2010

Great posts, thanks all. My previous housing was a vacation apartment, so had everything, like

like FLnursemichelle. It would be good to know before you arrived what to expect.