Travel Nursing in an RV - Terrific or Too Tiny?
Many travel nurses lean into the freedom and flexibility of the travel nursing lifestyle and opt to take their homes on the road with them as they travel. They pack their RVs (or fifth wheelers, travel trailers, VW buses, schoolies, tiny homes - there’s a flavor for everyone!) and explore the country.
Considering this oh-so-mobile lifestyle for your next travel nurse job? We’ve compiled a list of pros and cons to taking your home on the road to help you plan!
Pros to Travel Nursing in an RV
- Keep More Money in Your Pocket
- Less Upheaval
- Increased Independence
In most situations, the cost of the upkeep of your RV or other mobile home plus the cost of a campsite or other arrangement is less than the cost of a short-term lease on an apartment. In fact, depending on your situation and needs, there are places around the country that will let you park for free! This means you can keep more of that housing subsidy for exploring your travel nurse destination - or paying off mortgages or student loans. Whatever floats your boat.
Bringing your home with you means that you’ll always have a familiar place to come home to at night (or in the morning - looking at you, night shift nurses). Which can be great if you're traveling with a partner or with kids. You’ll know where the utensils are in the kitchen, where the extra toilet paper is, and the quirky combination that gets the door to open when it jams.
When your home comes with you, you have options. Settle into an RV park and not feeling the vibe? Try another. Have a neighbor at the next campsite over who never stops yelling at his radio? Roll out. Without a lease to tie you to a location, you call the shots.
Cons to Travel Nursing in an RV
- Tight Quarters
- Potentially Less Exposure to Your New Location
- You’re the Boss
In most situations, any RV or other home-on-the-road is going to be smaller than a standard apartment. Before you invest in a fifth wheel, consider if it’s going to bother you that you can reach your stove from your toilet.
Because you brought your home with you, you might feel like you’re getting less of the local experience. You won't be living in an apartment surrounded by locals. It doesn't mean you'll miss out - you just might have to be a little more intentional about getting out there.
All of the freedom and independence that comes with your mobile home is great - until it’s not. When you get a flat tire in the middle of the desert with no cell service, or can’t find a sewage hookup, or change plans last minute in the middle of summer and can’t find an RV park, there’s no building manager or landlord to call. You have to be prepared to deal with the inevitable hiccups of life on the road.
One of the great things about travel nursing is that you can tailor your career to fit your personality and lifestyle. Whether you decide to hit the road in your tiny home, find more typical accommodations on your own, or stay in 50 States-provided housing, travel nursing will give you the freedom and means to explore the country.