Travel nursing/healthcare in a camper.
We all know why people are leaving their staff jobs to travel. It’s honestly a no-brainer for some, esp. in this pandemic. Hospitals aren’t appreciating staff. They are more worried about the bottom line than the safety of the patients and staff. Don’t get me wrong, traveling nursing/healthcare is hard. Staffing is still short, days are long, and being away from family is tough.
But if you could do the same job and get paid double, sometimes triple, wouldn’t you?
Those are the facts. People are leaving their staff jobs to take the same positions but for the higher pay.
Is travel nursing/heathcare for you?
That’s a question for a different day and a separate post.
Say you are ready for that plunge, Or maybe you already took it. But now you are tired of apartment and hotel jumping… and tired of not sleeping in your own bed. So you think to yourself, “can I make this work traveling in a camper?”
What type of camper is right for me?
Now that’s a loaded question. And one that’s going to take a little more research on your part. Did you know some say there are 11 different types of campers? I listed them below:
- Teardrop Trailer
- Truck Camper
- Pop-up Camper
- Hybrid Trailer
- School Bus and Cargo Conversion
- Travel Trailer
- Class B RV
- Class C RV
- Fifth-Wheel Trailer
- Class A RV
- Park Model
What I can tell you is how to start that research.
Yep, Youtube. Everyone knows Youtube is such a valuable resource. So my advice is… use it. That’s right, head to youtube and search for different camper styles. Narrow down your search to the one you think you can stay in for an extended period. Remember, you’re not looking for a camper that you’re going to take out on weekends. You’re looking for one you can come home from work and unwind in.
Choose a Layout
Now that you have narrowed down the type of camper you want, next is finding the perfect layout. Most layouts are similar no matter the brand; each brand just adds its special touches to call it their own. So take a day or a weekend and go on a little adventure, head out to RV stores near you to do a walk-through. Get a better feel of which layouts are out there and which ones you can truly see yourself living in. The bonus of going to a showroom and seeing them in person is that it can make the experience of shopping more exciting and make living in a camper feel real. So get out there and find the layout for you.
Then once you have a list of layouts you love, take the search online. Don’t get me wrong; I am an impulse buyer. But don’t be afraid to do your homework. Take the virtual tours on the manufacturer’s websites, hop back to Youtube, and search for the model numbers you have narrowed down.
I know which camper I want, now what?
So you found it, the perfect camper type and layout. Now is the time to find one near you, sometimes you can get lucky and find one already on a lot, or you can order one or search the used camper websites. Whichever you choose, you won’t be wrong. My biggest advice is advice I have heard from many campers.. avoid Camping World. They might have locations all over the country, but that is probably the only thing in their pro category.
Where do we stay?
So you did it, you made your purchase, and you’re ready to find places to stay for your assignment. The good news is there are many types of campgrounds throughout the US, including RV resorts, over 50s clubs, KOAs, state parks, private lots, and everyday campgrounds. And searching for the right one isn’t always easy. But luckily, there are a lot of valuable resources to help narrow the search. One of my favorites is Campendium. It is a website and an app available on android and apple. It makes searching for campgrounds easier than using google. The Dyrt and iOverlandr are two other ones that I use as well.
A little tip about over 50s clubs:
If you’re traveling without kids in healthcare, many over 50s clubs will allow extended stay. Don’t be afraid to call and ask! It can never hurt. Most over 50 clubs are just looking to keep their campgrounds on the quieter side. Not the party every weekend kind of scene. And let’s be honest, after a week of work, most of us are looking just to come home and relax. Not party like we are still in our twenties.
And who doesn’t like a discount?
A lot of campgrounds are offering healthcare discounts. Don’t forget to mention that you are traveling for work. Many campgrounds will offer something. And even if it is small, it is still better than paying full price!
Logistics
When you’re looking into traveling nursing/healthcare in a camper, one of the things you will hear most is to find your campground before you accept the assignment. Yep, that’s right! You can interview and be ready to hit ‘buy now one click’ on an assignment. But before you fully commit, search for campgrounds in the area. It usually won’t take weeks. So call around, use the resources mentioned above. Secure your spot before you say yes. The last thing you want is to have an assignment but have nowhere to park your camper.
Don’t be afraid to use your phone.
When I say use your phone, I mean as Alexander Graham Bell intended… That’s right, pick up the phone and make the phone calls. I have found so much more success calling campgrounds and inquiring than I have booking online or via email. I get it. I am a millennial, and I still wish my mom could make my appointments. And leaving voicemails still causes anxiety to this day. But do yourself a favor and call these places. What I’ve learned is campground people are wonderful. Everyone is genuinely out to help each other. It is a fantastic community that I am proud to be a part of.
How close will I be to the hospital?
Know that your commute might not be the closest. The best is to go in with an open mind. Right now, my husband travels 45min to an hour each way. At the same time, I am only driving 10 -15 min. But having a spot that is ours to come home to and our bed to sleep in makes his long drive worth it.
There are also options out there to stay on the hospital property. Although not as common, some find it very rewarding to stay in the parking lot during their stretches of days. And go to a campground during their time off. Although for me and my husband, the less moving during an assignment, the better. But I can understand staying close for the working days and having extra adventures for the days off.
Time spent away from ‘home’.
Travel nursing/healthcare means spending time away from home. It’s a government requirement that all travel jobs must work away from your tax home and return home for a certain amount of time. (There is such thing as local travel, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.) So many travelers travel to their assignment, work their days on, then go home on their days off. To me, this makes a lot of sense but sounds exhausting. Now imagine traveling to a part of the country for 13 weeks (most healthcare contract lengths), staying there the entire time, and having your own personal apartment traveling with you. That, to me, sounds like the best of both worlds.
For more of the government requirements visit Home – TravelTax
They are a valuable resource that will answer all your questions to keep the IRS off your back. And they can even help you file your taxes at the end of the year. Let’s be honest. Our favorite motto is we don’t want to F*** with the IRS.
How do we do this with kids?
We don’t have human kids, so I can’t say much on the side of traveling with a family. Although I do know it can be done. And there are a lot of youtube families out there that do it- watch their stories to see if this is something you would be able to do. Now that virtual schooling has become more of a thing due to the pandemic. I know more families that are out exploring and living life in a camper. It seems like such a fun childhood to be able to travel around and learn about this beautiful country state by state, rather than page by page in a social studies class.
I remember nothing from my wrestling/football coach of a teacher teaching me about this great country. I mean that, seriously nothing. I have never been more interested in the national and state parks than I am now. Traveling in a camper and finding the most beautiful places to hike, even next to Washington DC. Yep, that’s right, who knew these gorgeous places existed right in our nation’s capital?
I’ll leave you with this…
Travel nursing/healthcare in a camper may seem like a crazy, unobtainable goal. But it can be done. So much so that there are Facebook groups with some who have 21.6k members who do it. Don’t be stuck in the rut of working just as hard and only being half appreciated. At least get out there and be half appreciated making 2 to 3 times the amount of money you are as staff. I get it money isn’t always everything. But being able to explore this beautiful country and work sometimes less than what you were, that to me sounds worth it.
