22 Packing Tips And Tools For Travel Nurses

Packing for a travel nursing job is unique relative to other types of packing. Sure, you’re traveling, but you’ll most likely be away for 3 months or more. Additionally, you’ll most likely be living in an apartment, house, or extended stay hotel. As a result, you’re sort of in limbo between traveler and permanent resident. The comforts of home would be ideal, but it’s unrealistic for you to pack everything you own every time you move. So, here are 22 packing tips for travel nurses!

Tips For Making Your Travel Nurse Packing List

In this article, we won’t create an actual packing list. That’s because needs vary from travel nurse to travel nurse. So, here are some tips and tools to customize your unique packing list for travel nursing.

1) Determine The Duration Of Your Travel Nursing Adventure Before Packing

Travel nursing assignments come in different durations. While 13 weeks is the most common duration, you might encounter 4, 6, 8, or 26-week options. Additionally, you might extend or transition to your next travel nursing assignment without returning home. Different travel times call for varied packing approaches. So, you should try to gauge the duration of your stay and build your travel nurse packing list accordingly.

2) Consider The Location Before Packing For Your Travel Nursing Job

Different assignment locations have varying climates and activities. For instance, you won’t need to pack your snow skis for a travel nursing assignment in Miami, but you’ll definitely want to pack your beach gear. Therefore, you should always consider the weather and available activities of your destination when you craft your packing list for a travel nursing assignment.

3) Consider What’s Included in Your Stay

Different housing services furnish their housing in different ways. Some provide fully furnished housing with housewares and cleaning supplies, while others furnish only the basics.

It’s crucial to clarify exactly what the housing includes when you’re creating your travel nurse packing list. Avoid relying on vague terms like “fully furnished” or “turn-key housing,” because these options may not include specific items you’d expect them to. For instance, “fully furnished” might not include a television. Once you know what your service offers and understand your assignment’s conditions, you’ll be able to craft a much better travel nurse packing list.

4) Make A List Of What You Do And Use Regularly

Our lifestyles and daily routines vary widely. For instance, some nurses love slow cookers for convenient post-shift meals, while others don’t use them at all. Exercise, reading, and other habits also differ among us.

To ensure you have what you need to maintain your unique lifestyle during a travel nursing assignment, it’s a good practice for you to create a list based on your activities and usage patterns over one to two weeks. This list should cover most if not all of the essentials you’ll need to maintain your habits and lifestyle while away.

5) Consider Second-Hand Goods, Thrift Stores And Discount Variety Stores

While crafting your travel nurse packing list, it might grow larger than you’d prefer. One way to trim it down is to consider purchasing items like cleaning supplies, dishware, and cooking utensils at second-hand, thrift, or discount stores upon arriving for your travel nursing assignment. After each assignment, you can decide whether to keep these items for the next job, donate them to local charities like Goodwill or Salvation Army, or even offer them for free on Craigslist.

6) There Are Apps To Help Travel Nurses Pack!

In today’s digital age, there’s an app for nearly everything, including packing. Packing apps can be incredibly handy for creating and fine-tuning your travel nurse packing list. You can easily save and organize packing lists for various situations and destinations. These apps often come with pre-populated lists of recommended items that you can then customize to meet your needs. They have the potential to save you significant time in the long term.

The most popular Packing App that I’m aware of is called PackPoint. It’s available for both iOS and Android:

PackPoint for iOS

PackPoint for Android

7) Try a Packing List Generator If You Don’t Like Apps

If you simply don’t want another App, then there are a few websites that generate packing lists for you. Enter a destination, weather conditions, duration of stay, accommodations and the sites develop a list based on the criteria you entered. They even include things like a list of loose ends to tie off before you leave. Here are a couple of options:

Packtor.com

CheckandPack.com

Packing Tips And Tools To Organize And Save Space For Travel Nurses

Most travel nurses will want to pack more than the average traveler. After all, you’ll most likely be away for at least 13 weeks. At the same time, you don’t want to break the bank shipping things all the time. You’ll also have a relatively limited amount of space to pack. Meanwhile, it’s good to keep everything organized and easy to repack considering that you might be going through the process frequently. With all that in mind, here are some packing tips and tools to help travel nurses organize and save space.

8) Ask Your Travel Nursing Company For More

If you’re taking company provided housing, then don’t be afraid to ask your travel nursing company for more when it comes to the housing package they offer. For example, if they don’t include cleaning supplies in the package, ask them if they can. The furnishing service we used when I was recruiting only charged $35 per month for their “cleaning package” and we would routinely throw it in for free if the traveler asked. A larger TV was only $25-$50 more per month. And a housewares package was only $125 more. The prices may have changed, but it never hurts to ask and it could save you tons of packing space if you’re successful.

9) Consider eBags Packing Cubes For Organization

The Packing Cubes made by eBags are a highly popular choice for efficient organization. They feature mesh tops that let you see what’s inside. They also come in various sizes and colors. This makes it easy to color-code your items for even better organization.

You can pack your belongings into these cubes and then place the cubes into your suitcase or storage container. This way, you won’t have to rummage through everything to find what you need; just locate the Packing Cube it’s in, and you’re all set.

10) Consider Compression Bags For Saving Space

If you’re eager to maximize space when packing clothes and fabric items, consider using compression bags, also known as “stuff sacks.” These bags allow you to fill them with clothing or related items and then compress them to save valuable space.

This type is typically used by backpackers for their sleeping bags, but works just as well for clothing.

This type is commonly used to save space when packing suitcases.

11) Consider An Electronic Accessories Travel Organizer

Packing electronic gadgets can be tricky due to their small, awkward shapes. This can lead to inefficient use of space and difficulty accessing them when needed. That’s where an accessories travel bag designed for electronics proves invaluable. These bags help save space and ensures easier access to your gadgets.

12) Consider A Cosmetic and Grooming Travel Bag

Toiletries are often small and oddly shaped, which can lead to inefficient packing and access issues. Utilizing a bag designed for carrying toiletries can help save space and significantly enhance accessibility.

13) Try A Tackle Box

Many of the travel nurses I worked with loved tackle boxes as a way to store smaller items and stay organized. They’re a great option for smaller items that tend to get lost in the shuffle. They’re also great for things like jewelry, cosmetics and small tools. They come in tons of shapes and sizes so you should be able to find one that meets any specific need you have.

14) Consider Storage Containers Instead Of Luggage

If you’re traveling by car, as most travel nurses do, consider using storage containers. They’re sturdier than regular packing boxes and, if you opt for clear containers, you can easily see what’s inside. Rubbermaid containers are a reliable choice. Plus, they come in various sizes and shapes, so be sure to explore your options to find the best fit for your specific vehicle.

15) Consider Pack-Towels To Save Space

Good bath towels are thick, fluffy, and cotton. They are certainly a highly desirable comfort of home. However, bath towels take up tons of space! No matter how you pack them, bath towels are massive. And if you decide not to pack them, you might find yourself in a bind while on the road.

Consider PackTowls as a replacement alternative while traveling from place to place. These are the towels that backpackers use to save weight and space on long treks. They’re highly absorbent and quick drying. These microfiber towels are another great option.

16) Consider EXOFFICIO Clothing Products

Exofficio is a clothing company dedicated to the needs of travelers. How is this possible? Well, they use some really amazing materials. Depending on what you purchase, the garments might be wrinkle-free, antimicrobial, bug repellent, moisture wicking, stain resistant, quick drying, and/or offer sun protection.

One of the main selling points of their products is that they let you pack less. They say you can travel the world with just two pair of underwear! Whether or not you’re up for that, reviewers rave about the comfort of their underwear for long road-trips.

17) Tips For Packing Shoes As A Travel Nurse

Shoes are notorious space hogs when it comes to packing, and it’s a challenge to avoid that without leaving your shoes behind. However, as a travel nurse, you’ll typically need to bring your work shoes, dress shoes, workout/walking shoes, casual shoes, and sandals or flip-flops. If you’re unsure about which shoes to pack, consider these tips fromTravelFashionGirl.com.

To maximize space, try stuffing your socks inside your shoes. This not only saves room but also protects your shoes from getting crushed or damaged during the move. For added protection and organization, consider packing them in shoe bags. Additionally, using a shoe storage bag like this one can be a space-saving solution.

18) “Interfold” Your Clothes to Save Space

The “Interfolding” technique is a highly effective way to save space when you pack. Instead of describing it here, we’ve provided a link to a LifeHacker article with explanatory photos. Additionally, there’s a video below that demonstrates the method. It’s worth noting that “Interfolding” can make it challenging to access your clothing, so reserve this approach for items you won’t need until you’re settled in.

How To Interfold From LifeHacker.com

Interfolding Video:

19) Consolidate Electronics If Possible

Electronic devices often have overlapping functions but excel in different situations. It’s hard to go without them. However, if you’re aiming to save space and manage fewer items, consider these consolidation tips.

1. Leave The Camera Behind: Many mobile phones now boast impressive cameras with features comparable to moderately priced standalone cameras. Unless you have a high-end camera, using your mobile phone is likely just as good.
2. Leave The eReader Behind: Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Google Play all have apps for iPhones and Android devices. You can download your books to your phone just as easily as you can with an eReader.
3. Leave The Desktop Behind: If you have a desktop and a laptop, there is no need to bring both. Opt for the laptop.

20) Consider A Wireless Speaker

For travel nursing assignments, there’s no need to lug around a bunch of stereo equipment unless you’re a DJ or musician on the side. But that doesn’t mean you have to go without a quality sound system for enjoying music and podcasts.

Wireless speakers that are compatible with your mobile device are practical and often comparable solutions. You can find cost-effective options that work well, or invest in higher-end ones like my personal favorite from Bose for premium sound quality. Just ensure that the wireless speaker is Bluetooth-compatible with your devices.

 

21) Consider Mini Containers To Save Space

Mini containers are a great space-saving solution for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s inefficient to pack partially filled containers since because the unused space is a waste. Secondly, finding travel-sized versions of your preferred grooming and cosmetic products can be challenging or even impossible. Given the duration of your stay, having your favorite products is essential.

Mini containers can solve these problems. You can go to Amazon and search for “small containers”. You can also find small containers at outdoor supply stores like REI.

22) Consider A Leatherman

As a travel nurse, you might think about bringing a small set of tools in case of emergencies. However, tools can take up a lot of space. Instead, consider packing a Leatherman or a similar multitool. These versatile devices can replace anywhere from 15 to 50 different tools and are compact in comparison.

Packing It Up

There are certainly many other angles for you to consider when packing up for your travel nursing assignment. For example, the road-trip has its own unique set of needs. There are also loose ends that need to be tied off before leaving home. And of course, an actual list of items would be nice too! We’ll work on blog posts for those topics in the near future!!

In the mean time, we hope you found this list of tips and tools helpful!