Travel nursing is a fulfilling career path for individuals who want to help others and see the world as they change lives. But the issue that many travel nurses face is finding the right furnished accommodations to shelter them during their travel assignments. Are you a travel nurse looking for high-quality temporary housing options and having difficulty securing your own housing as you cant find a short stay rental on furnished finder or other sites? If so, let's dive into some of the finer details of travel nurse housing and how to find your own lodgings across the United States.

How do travel nurses typically find housing for their assignments?

Travel healthcare professionals, like most business professionals that travel for work, typically fall into one of two categories.

• They Use a Travel Nurse Agency to Find Furnished Housing: For those who are on their first assignment, a travel agency streamlines the furnished rental process by finding and booking furnished housing for you. Although choices may be limited, as agencies will focus on which furnished housing options are available or affordable (and you may end up with a roommate situation), they will make sure that you have all the utilities, amenities, and furnishing that you need during your lease. Landlords may also be more willing to work with agencies (or recruiters and HR professionals) and offer greater leniency should your assignment end sooner than expected. This is especially true if your agency works with property managers at corporate housing companies.

• They Receive a Stipend to Secure Housing on Their Own: Some nurses may prefer a housing stipend that they can use to secure their own housing on a furnished finder platform like Airbnb, HomeAway, or VRBO. Extended-stay hotels and vacation rentals tend to be the go-to for travel nurses because listings come equipped with utilities (WiFi, electricity, water) and furnishings. Additionally, they're much safer than looking for a short-term living situation on websites like Craigslist where scams abound using legitimate property listings and property owner contact information.

The hassle of trying to find rental properties in a new location can be too much for new travel nurses, but more experienced professionals may opt to receive a travel nurse housing stipend as they have more control over where they stay. This guide aims to help travel nurses select the best Furnished Rental home or apartment, ensuring comfort and convenience during their assignments.

1. Assess Your Specific Needs:

Nurses work notoriously long hours, and the last thing you want to do after a tiring shift is spend hours driving yourself back home. Whether you're looking for furnished apartments, condos, single-family homes, or even shared spaces, the first thing to focus on is finding a listing that's close to your employer. Proximity to the Hospital or Clinic: Look for furnished accommodations close to your workplace to minimize commute times and ensure easy access during shifts. Since travel nurses often work irregular hours, a quiet place for restful sleep is essential.

2. Flexible Lease Terms. Consider the length of your assignment before leasing a furnished home.

If your assignment will only last for a couple of weeks, your biggest focus is likely comfort. However, if your assignment is going to last months, you'll need affordable furnished housing that's functional as well as comfortable. This means having a fully-stocked kitchen, essential utilities like WiFi, and on-site or in-unit laundry facilities, just to name a few necessities. The length of your assignment is an important factor to consider when you're using your housing allowance to source your next short term lease apartment. Choose short term furnished lease apartments that offer flexible lease terms, aligning with the length of your assignment.

3. Take a closer look at the surrounding area to see if it offers what you need during your short stay.

When using any rental websites, it's important that you look at the location of your listings and what's offered in the surrounding area. For example, if you're taking on an assignment in San Francisco, ask yourself, does the neighborhood offer everything you're going to need while you're staying there? Even though your home is fully furnished you will want to take a closer look at shopping centers around your apartment or home to get a better idea of where you can shop for groceries, clothing, and other necessities. Nearby Amenities: Look for accommodations near grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential services. Transportation Options: Ensure easy access to public transportation, especially if you don't have a car.

4. Don't settle for the bare minimum if there are other options at your disposal.

Your stipend and pay package (along with factors like booking fees and other costs associated with your chosen furnished rental finder), will ultimately determine what you can afford. However, you shouldn't just settle for an Extended Stay America or a one-bed, one-bath apartment, regardless of whether you're receiving a total pay package or a per diem rate. Instead, ask yourself, what do I want? Look into the detailed information of your listing to ensure that it comes with all the amenities that you deem important. Opt for fully furnished apartments to avoid the hassle of moving and setting up furniture. Laundry Facilities: In-unit or on-site laundry facilities are crucial for convenience, given the demanding nature of nursing work. Some Furnished Rental communities offer opportunities to connect with other travel nurses or healthcare professionals.

Make HouseStay your go-to furnished finder for every travel nurse assignment!

For travel nurses, nursing may not be the most difficult part of the job. Developing a plan for travel and finding the right accommodation for your stay can be tough. Fortunately, it doesn't have to be. HouseStay leverages its 100 percent automated booking process to streamline your rental experience. Simply create an account, go through our detailed listings (which have been fully vetted to ensure that they're fully furnished, whole accommodations), contact the host and make your booking request. Furnished Housing Services for Travel Nurses: Consider using specialized furnished housing services that cater to travel nurses, as they can provide tailored accommodation options.