Congratulations, nurses! You have completed the paperwork and found a placement. Now, it’s time to embark on your travel journey. The next step is to think about what you are going to take with you. As a travel nurse, you face a unique situation. You aren’t entirely staying too long or too short in one city, making packing more complicated. But, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with packing tips and tricks to make your travel journey more manageable.
First step: Research
There are a few things you need to consider before you begin packing. So before you make your checklist, make sure you research, research, research. Did we mention research? It’s essential to find out how long you are staying, the location’s climate, what the housing accommodations look like, and what activities you will be doing in the area.
Second step: Stay organized
We recommend creating categories on your packing list to help you stay organized, such as essentials, home goods, clothing, toiletries, personal care, and electronics. Classifying your checklist will prepare you for success, so you don’t forget anything.
While we are on the topic of staying organized, we’ve found the best way to travel is with packing cubes. These are game-changers when it comes to traveling. You can choose how to manage your clothes – type, outfit, style. You won’t have to spend so much time unpacking, and more importantly, it keeps you from overpacking.
Toiletries and personal items should be stored away in a leak-proof pouch. And if you are flying, make sure that your liquids are in travel-sized containers.
Third step: Multi-functional Wardrobe
There are tricks to packing outfits that don’t require an excessive amount. One rule is to pack more shirts than pants. Shirts need less space and that way you can create lots of outfits! Another rule is to create a capsule wardrobe, a smaller wardrobe made up of versatile pieces. Stick to neutrals and clothes that you can easily mix and match. A capsule wardrobe results in less stress and more space, so you don’t end up taking your whole closet with you.
We all know shoes take up tons of space, and there’s no way around this. You will need outdoor/workout shoes, casual shoes, work shoes, dress shoes, and, depending on the weather, sandals or flip-flops. ALL THE SHOES! One way to save space is by storing socks inside your shoes. Or, if you are worried about your shoes getting damaged, the shoe storage travel bag is a great travel accessory that holds up to eight shoes.
Stability’s Travel Nursing Packing List:
Now that you have looked over our packing tips and tricks, it’s time to begin packing! We’ve created a packing list to put you at ease with five categories to help you stay organized.
Good luck on your travel nursing adventure! We hope that this packing guide will reduce any stressors about your upcoming work placement, so you can focus on enjoying your journey.
Ready to find your new placement and get packing? Check out our job page to see what placements are available and get the process started today!
