The ins and outs of travel nursing housing from an expert

Becoming a travel nurse means that you have the opportunity to travel the country, gain professional expertise and build your resume. This exciting career option means you will also require housing while you are on assignment. 

We recently spoke with Lori Wolf, the housing director of AurHomes, a sister company to healthcare staffing agency Aureus Medical Group and the agency's exclusive housing partner, to get a better idea of what travelers should know and expect when heading out on travel nursing assignments. AurHomes has connected travel nurses with housing accommodations for 15 years, according to Wolf. Much of her staff has been working for the company for more than 10 years, so Wolf and the AurHomes team are very in-tune with travel nursing housing across many parts of the country.

Housing information 101
When traveling with Aureus Medical, your rental costs will be covered by the staffing agency, which is a key benefit. Making your housing process as streamlined as possible is also important. After all, as a travel nurse, you have enough on your plate when it comes to your assignments and patients. Fortunately, through AurHomes, travel nurses have one point of contact before and during their assignments regarding housing: their account manager with Aureus Medical.

"The account manager [with Aureus Medical] … is their liaison who works with the AurHomes team to set up their arrangements," Wolf said. "So, [the travelers] only have one single point of contact."

Once travel nurses have their housing set up with the account manager, they can discuss the details of their travel package. Nurses can expect many of the amenities they enjoy in their own homes when out on assignments.

"It's going to be completely furnished." Wolf explained when asked about housing details. "Then it is also going include utilities … electric, gas, water, sewer [and] trash … that is pretty standard with everything. Some of them will include housewares depending on the package in the area you're going to."

What about renter's insurance?
Wolf pointed out that the refurbishments in the apartment will already be insured through AurHomes, but travel nurses will need to invest in a renter's insurance contract for their own personal property that they bring with them. While travel nurses can expect furniture and utilities during their assignments and the apartment itself will be insured, nurses will need to take steps on their own to protect personal property in the case of an emergency.

Communicating with your account manager
Both prior to and during an assignment, a travel nurse should make sure that the lines of communication are open between him or her and the account manager. This will be the day-to-day person to contact about living arrangements as well as general questions about housing.

"First of all … it's very important … that the account manager gets all of the pertinent information that we need from them," Wolf said. This can include "how many people are traveling, who they are traveling with, whether it be children, spouse, friend, mother … and … pets they're bringing."

As for pets, Wolf said it is very important that travelers include information about breed, weight and other particulars upfront so that appropriate accommodations can be found to best suit the situation.

Once travel nurses have their arrangements settled with the account manager, AurHomes will give travel nurses the information they need to get in touch with the apartment complex they will be staying at. Contacting the complex ahead of time will let travelers know the complex's business hours, where to pick up keys and other helpful information. 

What to expect from your housing arrangement during an assignment
AurHomes operates in all 50 states. Travel nurses need to know, according to Wolf, that their living arrangements will vary widely depending on the assignment's location. For instance, an urban metropolitan setting will be different from working in a rural facility, and there will also be different experiences during specific times of year, such as peak travel times in a resort area like Florida or California.

Travel nurses already know the importance of being flexible, and this includes their housing arrangements. Some places will be "fabulous," according to Wolf, but sometimes nurses will be assigned to places that only offer basic apartments. Travel nurses need to be realistic – but AurHomes does everything it can to offer the best and most affordable accommodations it can find according to the location.

Before a travel nurse heads out on his or her assignment, he or she will receive an email with move-in instructions, whether it's for a hotel or an apartment. If the nurse is staying at an apartment, it is in his or her best interest to fill out a checklist provided by AurHomes that indicates what condition the apartment was in upon arrival. It's best to get this checklist to AurHomes within three days of arrival.

Maintenance and concluding your assignment
When it comes to maintenance issues, such as a leaky faucet, travel nurses should contact the apartment complex first, according to Wolf. This way, the travel nurse is able to communicate the issue directly with the staff of the complex and likely receive a more timely response. If they are not getting what they need from the complex staff, then nurses should contact their account managers.

In the case of a contract extension, Wolf indicated AurHomes professionals will do everything they can to extend the travel nurse's current housing situation. But, depending on the location (and especially in areas with peak travel times) there is a possibility that they will have to move during their extended assignment. 

There are a few things that travel nurses will need to do before departing. Removing all trash and doing some basic clean-up is advised. If you are leaving a hotel, be sure to check out at the front desk. When leaving an apartment, you should leave your keys with the main office, either via a drop box or with apartment personnel. 

Travel nursing can take you to great locations across the country. Knowing ahead of time what is to be expected with regards to housing can allow you to relax, feel at home and focus on your patients and assignment.