You must be well-rested and feel energized when starting a shift since your job requires you to always bring your A-game. For this reason, you need a clean, comfortable, and affordable place to call ‘home’ during your assignment.
Finding the right housing option is essential for your well-being, yet finding precisely what you want can be challenging, causing stress.
It is time to think outside the box. Renting an apartment doesn’t always work for two to three months and the cost of booking a regular hotel room adds up.
Extended stay hotels for travel nurses may be your best option.
Let’s look at how to successfully make the important housing decisions you face. Continue reading for advice on determining which option works best for you.
Table of Contents
- Why Your Choice in Extended Stay for Travel Nursing Matters to Your Health, Job, and Happiness
- 6 Factors To Consider When Choosing Extended Stay Hotels for Travel Nurses
- 9 Amenities the Best Extended Stay Hotels for Travel Nurses Should Have
- Alternative Travel Nurse Housing Options To Consider
- Trusted Nurse Staffing Can Help You Find the Perfect Housing Options
Why Your Choice in Extended Stay for Travel Nursing Matters to Your Health, Job, and Happiness
An extended stay hotel offers long term accommodations for guests and can be an excellent option for travel nurses on assignment.
Where you live directly affects your health, job, and happiness. You must show up at the hospital ready to help and support your patients, and this is almost impossible to do when you are not feeling your best.
If you don’t have a place to reenergize after a long day, it will be hard for you to relax and get a good night’s sleep.
Getting support to help you during this process is necessary for success. Once you find your dream travel nurse assignment using Pronto, the app we created to improve your life, Trusted Nursing Staff can help you with all your pressing issues related to your career.
Search jobs today on Pronto. Trusted Nursing Staff wants to make your life easier.
6 Factors To Consider When Choosing Extended Stay Hotels for Travel Nurses
The extended stay hotel market is projected to grow by 19.6% between 2022 to 2032 — there will continue to be more options available for you.
For some travel nurses, extended stay hotels offer everything they need during their assignments. Let’s review why you may want to consider this lodging option.
#1: Safety
As a nurse, you most likely agree that safety first is always a good life motto.
Moving to a new city is an adventure, and working as a travel nurse shows how bold, courageous, and adaptable you are. Yet, this lifestyle may sometimes cause anxiety, especially if you don’t feel safe.
When choosing a place to call your temporary home, there are many factors to consider so you can recharge your battery safely when on assignment.
Ask yourself the following questions to find the best home base when on assignment:
- What is the crime rate in the area?
- How loud or quiet is the neighborhood? Will you be able to sleep during the day if needed for your night shifts?
- What opportunities are there nearby to meet friends?
- Are there recreational activities available in the area?
- Is there 24/7 security, and is the parking lot and entrance well-light?
- Are other travel nurses guests?
Trusted Nurse Staffing can guide and help travel nurses decide on the best living arrangements, including extended-stay hotels for travel nurses. Trusted Nursing Staff can guide and assist you on your travel nursing journey.
Check out travel nursing jobs all over the country on our Pronto app.
#2: Convenience
Location is one of the most critical factors for many travel nurses on assignment when looking for lodging. Find an extended stay hotel that is convenient for you.
To make your life easier, consider finding lodging that is close to:
- Your job
- The grocery store
- Your bank
- Restaurants
- Shopping centers
#3: Affordability
An extended stay at a hotel offers excellent value; many offer a reduced rate for their long-term guests.
Before paying for your stay, consider contacting the facility’s manager to ask for the best deal they can offer you or if they offer any discounts for nurses.
Everyone loves to pay less and save money; extended stay for travel nursing may help you do both.
#4: Ratings
Use reviews to help you find the best extended stay hotels for travel nurses.
You can look for reviews on:
- Yelp
- Booking.com
- TripAdvisor
- Orbitz
- Expedia
- Hotels.com
You can also ask for recommendations from other travel nurses from your agency or on travel nursing forums. It is valuable to hear the opinions of others firsthand.
At Trusted Nurse Staffing, our recruiters can help you find lodging and connect you to other travel nurses in your area to ensure you’re making the best of your living arrangements.
#5: Cleaning Standards
Imagine not having to clean your bathroom or make your bed every morning.
Housework is a thing of the past at an extended stay hotel.
After working all day or night, how fabulous would it be to come home to a clean space?
You could relax as soon as you walk in the door; no more having to deal with changing the sheets, cleaning the kitchen, or scrubbing the bathtub and toilet.
You can now use all that time you have spent in the past cleaning to explore the city you are in or kick back and prepare for your next work day.
#6: Flexibility
Because you can stay at an assignment for a few weeks or months, extended stay hotels offer the flexibility you may not find in other short-term rental options.
If you decide to lengthen your contract, you can easily stay longer at an extended stay hotel without committing to a lease. You can always check out when needed without facing expensive consequences like losing your deposit.
9 Amenities the Best Extended Stay Hotels for Travel Nurses Should Have
Extended stay hotels offer various amenities to help you feel rested and prepare you to be the best nurse possible.
#1: Free Wi-Fi
Whether you are taking classes online, need to check your assignment schedule, plan your next adventure, or just want to stay in touch with friends and family back home, free Wi-Fi at an extended stay hotel is a must for all travel nurses.
You can’t live without an internet connection these days; everyone relies on it.
#2: All (or Most) Utilities Included
Most of the time, you don’t have to pay utility bills when staying at an extended stay hotel.
Most of the following utilities are included in your room rates:
- Cable, including premium channels
- Electricity
- Water
- Internet
When deciding on if an extended stay hotel is right for you, you’ll want to calculate the costs of these amenities. What might seem expensive initially could be more efficient in the long run.
#3: Full Kitchens
Surviving on takeout may seem easy and a huge time saver, but health and budget-wise, it is not the best option.
Find your favorite recipes and enjoy home-cooked meals in your full kitchen at an extended-stay hotel. Meal prep can be fun, healthy, and help you feel good.
#4: On-Site DIY Laundry
As a travel nurse, you are busy at work. No one has time to haul their dirty clothes off-site for cleaning.
Instead, opt for an extended stay hotel with washers and dryers or on-site laundry services. Some facilities may charge an additional fee to use their washer and dryers, while others may include it in your stay; having washers and dryers at the extended-stay hotel is a must.
#5: Reliable Transportation Options
Being close to public transportation services is a must for travel nurses, especially those without their own vehicles.
When deciding where to stay, check out where the nearest bus, train, subway, or tram stations are.
If you’re planning to use a Taxi or Uber to work, check to see the average cost of traveling to and from work during the hours you’ll be working.
#6: Pet-Friendly Rooms
Some extended stay hotels allow pets; these are an excellent option if you can’t handle leaving your furry best friend behind. When looking into different hotels, be sure to ask about their pet policies and if there are additional fees for bringing your pet along.
Isn’t life always better when you have your pet to snuggle with after a long shift?
#7: Recreation Options
Staying at an extended stay hotel has perks. You can use all of its amenities and don’t have to leave the comfort of ‘your home.’
Many extended stay hotels include the following recreational options:
- Gym
- Pool
- Hot tub
- Sauna
- Dog park
Don’t neglect yourself because you are always helping others. When feeling overwhelmed or overworked, exercising and resting are game changes.
#8: Breakfast Options
How does waking up to freshly brewed coffee, cut fruit, and a hot breakfast of eggs or pancakes sound? Pretty fabulous, right?
Many extended stay hotels have breakfast included in the price.
Every day, you can decide if you have time to sit down and enjoy breakfast or if you need to grab something quickly on the go. The most important thing is that you fuel your body so it can get you through your shift.
#9: Business Center With a Printer
Maybe you need to print something out for work. Maybe you just need to get a copy of an expense printed, but you don’t have time to get it printed somewhere.
Since you probably won’t pack your printer, having a business center with a printer is the next best option.
Extended stay hotels with business centers make it easy for nurses to:
- Print necessary paperwork
- Hop on calls with co-workers
- Use their computers as necessary
Alternative Travel Nurse Housing Options To Consider
You may be searching for something other than an extended stay hotel. No matter what you desire, Trusted Nurse Staffing can help you find the perfect housing for your situation.
Maybe you prefer to consider the following options:
- A downtown studio
- An RV
- A vacation rental
- A basement apartment
- A small bungalow
Many websites can help you choose the best housing options.
You always want to research your options to make sure you find the best housing for your unique needs and preferences.
Trusted Nurse Staffing Can Help You Find the Perfect Housing Options
As a travel nurse, an extended stay hotel may be the perfect fit for you while on assignments — or you might be looking for a place to stay that feels more like “home”. Trusted Nurse Staffing can assist you no matter what type of lodging you desire.
As a nurse, no matter how challenging your day is, you must be ready to give 100%.
And travel nursing can get complicated. You are expected to:
- Search for housing options.
- Keep all your compliance documents organized and up to date.
- Decide which cities are best for travel nursing.
But don’t fret; Travel Nurse Staffing provides the support you need to succeed.
Whether you’re a seasoned travel nurse or new to the field, we’re here to help you find your dream job. Contact us today.