travel nurse living in a van

A nurse working to fight the coronavirus in California lives in a 75-square-foot van with his wife and 2 cats

• Danny Rekart and Lindsey Graham live in a 75-square-foot van with their two cats, Mogley and Bagherra.
• They have been traveling since 2016, when Rekart started working as a travel nurse, and living in a self-converted van since 2019.
• When he's not camping or backpacking, Rekart works as an ICU nurse on the coronavirus floor of a Southern California hospital.
• Rekart and Graham love the van lifestyle, as it brings them closer to nature. It also means Rekart can avoid commuting, as the van is often parked on the hospital grounds.
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Danny Rekart, 34, is a traveling ICU nurse . Currently, he's working on the coronavirus floor of a South California hospital.

At the end of a long day fighting COVID-19, Rekart goes home to his wife, Lindsey Graham, 33, and two cats, Mogley and Bagherra.

Luckily, home is only a few feet away: It's a 75-square- foot self-converted van that's often parked on hospital grounds.

Keep scrolling to see what being a traveling nurse living van life to the fullest is like.

Danny Rekart has been a travel nurse since 2016.

Rekart and his wife, have been together for 13 years. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, they had never lived anywhere else until Rekart's first travel nurse contract in Los Angeles, California, in 2016.

Travel nurses are essentially free agents that step in when hospitals need experienced nurses to fill in for someone on maternity leave, because their population fluctuates by season, or because they require a certain skill set, among other reasons. The job, which usually consists of three-month contracts, was created in response to worldwide nurse shortages.

Formerly a chemist, Graham quit her job to travel the country with Rekart.

Rekart and his wife, Lindsey Graham, spent four years bouncing between temporary apartments before deciding to try living in a van.

"We were getting killed financially in month-to-month rent, nonrefundable deposits, moving fees, and general moving expenses," Graham said. "We knew something had to change so we could continue our traveling without breaking the bank."

Initially, they only planned to travel for Rekart's job for about a year. After four years, they decided to move into a van, inspired by Rekart's cousin who had an RV.

"We thought an RV could really help us out in our lifestyle because we're getting apartments in towns like Seattle and Denver and LA, where it's very expensive to rent, but most of the time we're out in nature doing things like camping, backpacking and such," Rekart said.

Graham said they were spending so much time in nature that their apartments basically became overpriced storage units.

"Van life brings both our lives together," she said. "We have a home life, and we have adventure time."

They settled on a van instead of an RV because Rekart's job keeps them in relatively urban places for at least three days a week. A huge RV would have been hard to navigate through cities, and difficult to park, as the two don't spend much time in RV parks, preferring instead to park in residential neighborhoods when they can.

Once they decided to give van life a go they made it happen within weeks.

Within a month of deciding to travel and live in a van, they bought "Bruce," a 21-foot Ram Promaster 3500. They found Bruce on Craigslist, lightly used for $33,000.

They converted the van entirely themselves, spending about five months on the build.

They said they spent six weeks living in the van with nothing but a mattress in the Seattle winter, while Rekart finished his contract there.

"We bought the van a little bit earlier than we anticipated because the price was so good. We literally moved our apartment into our empty shell van and lived there," Graham said. "It was good because we learned what you need and what you don't need. I was hell-bent on having an inside shower. After those six weeks, I understood that we didn't need it."

They renovated the van without any prior experience. They did research, watched YouTube tutorials, "and hoped for the best."

Their van features a queen-sized bed, a compostable toilet, a 65-liter fridge, a three-burner stove and oven, storage cabinets, a hanging closet, a "garage" under their bed that stores bikes, snowboards, and solar panels.

"The style that we went with was a wooden look, with cabinets and such — we wanted it to feel like a real home," Graham said.

They say that their priorities were a big kitchen and a comfortable bed.

"I really wanted a big kitchen, I really wanted a big sink, and I wanted a queen-size bed. And I had to have an oven because life without pizza just isn't a life," Graham said.

They're currently in Southern California, with Rekart working on the coronavirus floor of a local hospital.

The two have been in Southern California since November, and Rekart's contract goes through the end of July.

They were in Baja Mexico on vacation in February when the coronavirus situation really began getting serious in California. Things were pretty normal before they left.

"Right before we left, everything was normal," Rekart said. "And then my floor was the coronavirus unit, and there were like 12 patients with potential coronavirus. So I was thrown into it. It's a 10-bed ICU, and almost all the beds are coronavirus patients, almost every time."

He describes the early days of fighting the coronavirus as "scary" and "chaotic," saying that guidelines on protective gear (PPE) kept changing, fear of running out of PPE was rampant, and that knowledge of the virus was still slim.

"It's kind of settled itself out a bit," he said, but adds that he's still dealing with coronavirus patients "on a daily basis." 

Rekart worries about getting Graham sick, but they've figured out a few ways to minimize risks.

"We definitely were nervous, because if he's going to get it, he's going to give it to me, there's no doubt about it," Graham said. 

They say they're a little more relaxed now than they were initially because Rekart has been working with coronavirus patients for months now without any issues. However, they're strict about mask-wearing and handwashing, and Rekart, who showers at the hospital, leaves his shoes in a plastic bag outside the RV and all of his work clothes in a backpack in a closet.

They limit their grocery store runs to once a week, and usually "boondock."

"Boondocking" often refers to free camping in the RV community , where campers don't use the amenities and hookups RV parks typically provide. By doing that, they've been able to limit their interactions with others.

"We are never reliant on having to have water or electricity or anything like that," they said, though they added that they used to rely on a local Planet Fitness for their showers, which became a problem when gyms closed during the pandemic.

"I think 15 days was the longest I went without a shower," Graham said.

Lately, they've been stationed on the hospital parking lot to make things more convenient for Rekart.

"One thing that we learned with van life is that it opens up so much free time for you. You don't have to drive and commute as much to do certain things, so you find yourself with hours of more free time per week," he said.

Graham adds: "We spend our time the way we want to spend our time, and a lot of the time it's going to be in nature."

Graham says that they really only live on 75-square feet when they're in a city, and that van life has allowed them to spend more time outdoors.

"For the most part, when we're in nature we always have our sliding door open," Graham said. "We always have our back doors open. So the outside becomes an additional space for us. It's our living room."

She added that van life "is a movement, it is a community of souls that believe in living simply and blissfully uncomfortable so that their main focus is on experience and not stuff."

"Van life was the answer to our problems, problems we didn't even know we had or realized were an issue," she said. "It gave us our lives back, and our time, to truly live our lives as we see fit."

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• Main content

Travel Nursing in an RV – Pros and Cons

By Mariam Yazdi, RN

My husband and I are both travel nurses and we started our journey in San Francisco. We got a taste for the real estate there when we found a studio apartment in the city for…wait for it…$2,600 a month. Yup, all 400 square feet of it. It was furnished, allowed dogs, and was leased to us for 3 months.

>> Click here to see available high-paying travel nurse opportunities!

After a few weeks into our assignment, we became inspired to buy a Volkswagen Westfalia Vanagon, one of those nostalgic buses that look super cute on Instagram (#vanlife.) We bought a big orange one and used it as a means to see the country. We’ve used it to take multi-week road trips, as a temporary apartment when on assignment, and as a daily commuter.

This little van gave us a taste of setting up a portable living situation when going travel nursing and while living in this 60 square foot space was definitely challenging, there are many travel nurses that are doing it right! If you are considering taking your RV, camper, or any other home on wheels to your next travel assignment, add the following pros and cons to your research!

It’s all about the money, honey.

Cost of renting an apartment can be steeply more expensive especially when renting apartments in highly populated areas. From deposits to pet fees to up-charges for short-term rentals, these costs all add up and don’t “go anywhere” in comparison to spending the same money investing in an RV or RV-like home. If you’re able to get your hands on a deal for a mobile living space - your savings have begun. Oh and that housing stipend? Straight to the bank, baby.  

The space is always yours.

No matter what happens, you always have a furnished space that feels like home. You know exactly where everything is. You know the intricacies and the idiosyncrasies of your space. And for all my healthcare germaphobes out there – you at least know that it’s only your cooties you’re dealing with, and not any previous unknowns. 

Paws and portable snuggles. 

We have always traveled with our two dogs, and from experience, transitions are the hardest on them. The quicker we get into a routine, the better for their digestive systems – and our sanity. When we’ve moved around in our VW van, however, our home stays familiar to them and they go through a more minimal period of acclimation. The tricky part is keeping the space cool, especially during times when we leave for the day or night.

You get to change your mind as easy as one, two, free. 

There are a lot more RV parks than you’d think! If you claim your stake somewhere and decide you’re not vibing with it after a few weeks, you have all the freedom to pick up and head out to the next park that has a café and a swimming pool. (Seriously, don’t underestimate RV parks. There are some pretty sweet ones out there.)

Greater connection with the outdoors. 

This comes naturally when living in a mobile space. It’s easy to get good sunlight and campsites typically have picnic tables and other outdoor amenities that draw people to enjoy the outer space. In contrast, it’s easy to get cooped up in an apartment, and there are way too many first-floor units out there that don’t get enough sunlight…even in the sunniest of cities.

You don’t get to move into a space that’s unique to that city.

Sometimes, I want to get a feel for the city, which to me means living in a space unique to that area, carving my place in the local community of permanent residents and transients alike. It makes me feel like I am truly “living” in the city, not just passing by.

You carry everything with you, like a turtle and its shell. 

There’s something kind of freeing about only packing your clothes, laptop, and yoga mat when you move somewhere for three months. Walking into furnished apartments and setting up life doesn’t take but maybe half a day, and when the assignment is all done, packing up and peacing-out is a breeze. Maybe you even board a plane and hit up your next destination without a second thought. 

What’s your bathroom situation?

You could have one of those sweet RVs that have a shower and toilet (and maybe even a tub). Or the camping site may have community showers and bathrooms. But if you’ve parked your VW Westy in the hospital parking lot like we did for a bit, you better get creative about how to stay hygienic and how to manage your waste. We have spent many weeks showering after work in the cath lab employee bathrooms, using a bucket and kitty litter when the going was inevitable, and stocking up on enough scrubs to make it through a couple weeks without needing to visit a laundry mat. Ideal? Not really. Adventurous? Arguable.  

Any breakdowns and it’s your issue. 

This is true of any renter vs owner situation. If you’re renting and the pipes freeze, your landlord better be high-tailing it over. But if you didn’t take proper precautions of your camper and find out the hard way about cold weather, now you’re shouldering that cost and labor, and it may not be pretty. Not to mention breakdowns that could happen in-transit; if you’re on deadline to make it to your first day, you may find yourself ditching your kombi - with half of your things in it - at a storage facility en route to your next assignment, coming back to save it later (been there, done that).

Storing the thing.

What do you do with this home on wheels when you’re done with it? If you’ve got a place to park it in between assignments, you’re set. But sometimes parents’ homes are already overcrowded with cars and a 5th wheel doesn’t do much to help. Also, if you take an extended break from using it, you must stay mindful of sun-damage, mold, and other unfortunate things that could happen when a space goes unoccupied for long. 

The Bottom Line

When you decide to go travel nursing, you must ultimately do what makes you happiest; this will get you through the toughest time of either option - and there will be tough times. Whether it’s fixing the AC on your home at a truck stop in 100-degree weather, or when you’re on your hands and knees scrubbing your apartment floor (after spending all day moving out) in order to avoid the $300 fee your complex will charge you if you’re unit is not “move-in ready.” Make the decision that best speaks to your soul (and your wallet) and those rough times will all be worth it!

Next Up: 20 Things Every Travel Nurse Needs To Own

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• Trailblazers

Melissa Hungerford: A Travel Nurse Living the Van Life

• April 27, 2023
• Roam Offgrid

Imagine waking up each morning to a new, breathtaking landscape just outside your window. For Melissa, a travel nurse living the van life, this dream has become a reality. As she crisscrosses the country in her converted Sprinter van, she balances work, adventure, and personal growth, all while staying connected with friends and family. In this exclusive Trailblazers interview, Melissa shares her experiences, insights, and advice for those who might be considering a similar journey.

Overcoming Fear and Embracing Adventure

Melissa had always felt the itch to explore the United States in a van, but fear had held her back. “I was always too scared to take the plunge,” she admitted. However, when the COVID pandemic hit and Melissa experienced burnout as a staff nurse, she realized that life was too short to keep putting her dreams on hold. That’s when she took a leap of faith and started looking into travel nursing positions, which led her to the life-changing decision to live in a van while working as a travel nurse.

“I became burnt out and realized that life was too short to say ‘one day.'”

Learning New Skills and Building a Home on Wheels

“The whole process of converting a Sprinter van into a home on wheels was hard, and it still is today!” Melissa said, laughing. “There are daily trips to Lowes and Home Depot. Things are going to break, and you just have to be able to roll with it and fix it. I learned so much about electrical, plumbing, and construction, and have to say that I love power tools! But overall, the experience is totally worth it.”

Melissa’s enthusiasm and never-ending sense of wanderlust serve as an inspiration for anyone who’s ever dreamed of packing up their life and hitting the open road. She shared that balancing work and travel while living on the road has its fair share of logistical challenges. “For example, I have to prioritize sleep and hygiene since I am going into a hospital. I have to set aside times to find a shower and plan that into my day,” she explained. However, despite the challenges, Melissa has found a way to make it work, emphasizing the importance of having a clean and organized space to unwind and recharge after long shifts.

Challenges on the Road

One of the biggest challenges of van life for Melissa has been being away from her loved ones. “While I love being alone in the van, there are days that I wish I had someone with me enjoying the experiences I am having,” she shared. But thanks to technology, Melissa is able to stay connected with friends and family through FaceTime and social media. “Social media plays a huge part in my van life journey. I hear from friends every day that they love seeing my travels and experiences that I post. I feel that it allows them to be a part of my journey, and I truly enjoy sharing that with them.”

Finding Beauty in Nature and New Destinations

When asked about her most memorable experience on the road, Melissa’s enthusiasm came through clearly in her response. “My favorite experience in the van thus far was at The Badlands in South Dakota. Being able to sleep between the beautiful landscape and see the stars is what living in a van is all about. There’s something about opening up the windows and doors and being in nature. There truly isn’t anything like it, and it really is my favorite part of living in a van.”

Finding new places to visit and explore while on the road is a mix of planning and spontaneity for Melissa. “I get recommendations from co-workers and hit the road. I find it exhilarating to go explore somewhere I have never been. Part of the adventure is figuring out where to park that night and what beautiful spot I get to wake up at,” she said.

Travel Nursing and Van Life

Her career as a travel nurse has enabled her to integrate her van life seamlessly. By working with a travel nurse agency called Host Healthcare, Melissa finds jobs on the road without the hassle of searching for housing in different locations. “Being a travel nurse and living in the van is exactly what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to have to worry about finding housing everywhere I went, and having the van has allowed me to take assignments in areas where finding traditional housing is a nightmare,” she explained.

Living the van life also offers Melissa plenty of opportunities to engage in her favorite outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, and being on the water. She makes it a priority to get outside and explore her surroundings whenever possible. “If it’s nice outside, I make it a priority to get out and do something. It’s easy to want to just cuddle up and stay in bed, but living a travel lifestyle is really about seeing the area you are in, so I make it a priority,” she emphasized.

“Being a travel nurse and living in the van is exactly what I wanted to do.”

Maximizing Comfort and Efficiency

In order to make her living space more comfortable and efficient, Melissa shared some of her van life hacks and DIY projects. “Initially, my van had a shower in it, and I found that I never used it, and when I did, it used way too much water. So I ripped that out and created a storage bench to house my toilet and fridge. I feel that this created a more open and living-friendly space. I also expanded my bed to make it huge!” she said, proudly.

“I feel that this created a more open and living-friendly space. I also expanded my bed to make it huge!”

Exploring the West Coast and Life Lessons

When it comes to future travel plans, Melissa is excited to explore more of the West Coast, including coastal Oregon, Northern California, and even Alaska. She plans her routes and destinations based on where she can find a travel contract, which adds an element of surprise and excitement to her adventures.

Living on the road has significantly changed Melissa’s perspective on life and the world around her. “I feel that many people live their lives with the mentality of ‘one day.’ We are not guaranteed tomorrow, and being on the road has shown me the importance of grabbing adventure by the horns and doing it! Don’t wait for someone else to start living your life,” she advised.

“Don’t wait for someone else to start living your life.”

Resources for Van Lifers and Advice for Aspiring Travelers

Melissa’s favorite resources for finding campsites and boondocking spots include apps like iOverlander, the Dyrt, Harvest Host, Vanly, and HipCamp. She also places great importance on staying safe and respecting the environment while camping.

For those considering the van life but feeling hesitant or overwhelmed, Melissa shared some words of wisdom. “The most important lesson that van life has taught me is to follow your heart and gut. I was scared to take the leap, but I knew that it was calling me. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t travel in my van,” she said, encouraging others to take the plunge and pursue their own adventures.

“The most important lesson that van life has taught me is to follow your heart and gut.”

Gratitude and Anticipation for What’s Ahead

As we wrapped up our conversation, Melissa reflected on the impact her journey has had on her life. “I’ve met so many amazing people on the road and had experiences I never would have had if I hadn’t taken the leap,” she said. “I’m grateful for every moment, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

“I’ve met so many amazing people on the road and had experiences I never would have had if I hadn’t taken the leap.”

Connect with MELISSA!

@melsvanlife

Mels Van Life

We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to speak with Melissa and gain insight into her extraordinary van life journey. We wish her the best of luck in her future explorations and look forward to following her ongoing adventures.

To our readers, we hope you enjoyed hearing Melissa’s inspiring story as much as we did. Don’t forget to follow her on social media to stay updated on her journey. Stay tuned for more exciting stories and experiences from remarkable people like Melissa in our Trailblazers series. If you or someone you know would make a perfect Trailblazer, please let us know! We would love to hear from you and feature your story next.

Here’s to embracing life’s adventures and exploring the unknown together!

-Roam Offgrid

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Getting paid for traveling: Nurses embracing van life bank up to $20,000 a month

After working a 12-hour shift as nurses at the hospital, married couple Meg and Ty DeWitt go home to their van, where they live full time. After a three-day workweek, Ty, 33, and Meg, 28, hit the road in their van to explore surrounding areas.

In the past, that's meant hiking in Glacier National Park in Montana, camping in Sedona, Arizona, or taking a road trip along the Oregon Coast. As travel nurses, the DeWitts, who are from South Carolina, work short-term contracts at hospitals with staffing shortages around the country.

More from Grow: How a teacher and a salesman paid off $52K in 18 months This millennial went from van life to financial independence by 32 I grew my net worth by $200K in 2.5 years: How I got started

"Getting to travel the country and see what every state has to offer as far as adventure goes, and getting paid to do it … is why I wanted to become a travel nurse," says Ty.

The DeWitts took up van life in 2019 to travel more efficiently and save as much money as possible to meet their long-term financial goals. Now the couple is able to put away up to about $20,000 per month.

Moving into a van

Meg and Ty met by chance, because of their jobs. In 2017, they were both working night shift as staff nurses at separate hospitals in Charleston, South Carolina. One day, they crossed paths at the beach after work. "There were two people on the beach wearing scrubs," Ty says. "You don't usually see that, at that time in the morning. So yeah, we just kind of hit it off."

The couple married in April 2020. They bond over their shared love of adventure. "Every free day, we would just plan mini-trips and even just traveling locally," says Meg.

That led the DeWitts to quit their staff jobs and become travel nurses in 2019. They have completed seven short-term contracts so far, each time working together at the same hospital.

"It's not uncommon for one unit to have two positions open," Meg says. "So we might have to wait a little bit longer and do a little bit more of a search to get two positions. But it is definitely possible."

After working two three-month contracts in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Auburn, Washington, the DeWitts felt burned out from moving around. They had only two weeks to find housing before starting a new assignment.

"Before we got the van, there were a couple of times where we were driving into the city still making calls to people, trying to find a place to stay," Ty says.  

Meg adds, "So then you have to move all your stuff into the hotel or the Airbnb until your permanent space is, you know, ready for you to move in."

Meg had been "in love with van life" for years, so she pitched the idea to Ty, who didn't need much convincing. The couple bought a former FedEx van in September 2019 for $26,000. They traded in their old Honda Civic, which got them about $2,000.

The van came completely empty. Aside from hiring someone to take care of its electricity needs, the pair renovated it themselves for about $4,000.

Travel nurses typically earn $2,000 to $5,000 a week

The van has allowed Meg and Ty to save a lot more of their travel nurse earnings. Travel nurses are generally paid more than staff nurses, as incentive for uprooting their lives and moving, temporarily, to  a new location .

As staff nurses, the DeWitts each earned about $700 per week. As travel nurses, they have each earned up to about $2,900 per week.

The DeWitts have avoided extremely high-paying crisis contracts, in order to preserve their mental health. "The most money that we've seen nurses making since the pandemic started was $10,000 a week, and we knew nurses personally, that did it," Meg says. "They said that it was pretty unsafe staffing conditions. They saw death every single day, all day."

Travel nurses typically earn anywhere from $2,000/week to more than $5,000/week, according to April Hansen, an executive vice president at travel nurse agency Aya Healthcare and former travel nurse.

That rate includes a tax-free stipend for food and housing. Average pay for registered nurses in the U.S. ranges from about $1,000/week to about $1,500/week, according to  ZipRecruiter data.

During the pandemic, soaring demand for travel nurses has pushed up wages. Demand for travel nurses jumped about 105% in 2021, according to data from Aya Healthcare, which attributes that rise to the pandemic, hospitals opening operating rooms, and workers retiring or leaving the workforce due to burnout.

'Saving a lot of money doing van life'

"We actually have been saving a lot of money doing van life," Ty says. "Comparatively, you're spending $400 a month on a car payment to the $1,400 a month you're spending on rent."

The DeWitts are able to save up to about $20,000 a month by living in their van, while each earning about $2,900 a week. A lot of that savings comes from reducing housing costs while working and traveling.   

The couple spends $430 per month paying off the loan they took out to purchase the van, which they say they've almost paid off. They spend $400 to $650 each month to rent a space to park the van, too, whether that's at a campsite or outside someone's home.

The DeWitts save money on hotel or Airbnb costs when traveling to a new assignment or on their days off. "Having the van, we're able to check apps on our phone and find free places to stay in the area," Meg says.

The couple spends less on food, now that they have a full kitchen with them at all times. Instead of eating out, "we're able to actually pull over anywhere on the side of the road and cook a full dinner, lunch," Meg says.

Monthly gas costs come out to about $200 to $400, depending on how much they're traveling. To make sure they have access to showers wherever they go, the couple pays $20 a month for a Planet Fitness membership.

The DeWitts pay $300 per month toward the loan for their second vehicle, which they drive alongside the van when they are traveling, in case of emergencies.

With the money they've saved, Ty has paid off his credit card debt, while Meg has nearly paid off her student loans. In the not-too-distant future, the DeWitts plan to invest more and eventually create more income streams.

"Our major financial goal that we're working towards is just banking as much money as possible, so that we can buy a large piece of land somewhere, and hopefully build maybe a tiny home or multiple tiny homes, and have passive income through Airbnb or campsites," Ty says.

"We even talk about doing classes for camping or outdoor adventure excursions — something along those lines, just to have a different source of income."

'I will forever be a better person because of this experience'

The DeWitts have had their fair share of unexpected challenges, navigating travel nursing and van life.

"Nothing's ever going to go as planned," Meg says. "As a travel nurse, your start date is going to get pushed back. You're always going to have an issue — you know, with the hospital or with your contract. Just, unexpected things happen. With van life, you're always having something break. You're always having to constantly learn new skills."

She adds, "Especially when we're traveling, we don't know where we're going to sleep that night. So you just kind of have to roll with the day and kind of take it as it comes. So I think I will forever be a better person because of this experience."

The article " Getting Paid for Traveling: Nurses Embracing Van Life Bank up to $20,000 a Month ″ was originally published on  Grow (CNBC + Acorns) .

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RV & Van Life Is The Best Travel Nurse Housing: 6 Reasons Why

Cross-country travel nursing jobs are an amazing way to make more money and see the country. However, travel nurse housing can be expensive and challenging to find.

Some clever healthcare professionals solved the travel nurse housing problem by moving into an RV or a van.

Nomad travel nurse Brandon Donnie ( @simplicity.ventures ) thinks RV travel nursing is ideal: “I literally get paid to travel the country, save lives, and take my home and family with me. The freedom this lifestyle has given us and the humbling experiences we have had along the way has truly been a dream come true.”

Five nomad travel nurses share why travel nursing with an RV is the best way to get the most from your job and travel. These nurses will convince you to leap into RV or van life too.

What is a Travel Nurse?

You can choose a travel nurse contract over a staff position if you are an RN.

“A travel nurse is essentially a contracted nurse who assists hospitals all over the nation when they are low on staffing,” says Lindsey Graham ( @LindseyandDannyVanlife ). Her husband, Danny, has been a travel nurse for five years. “The contracts are generally 13 weeks long and can be extended out a maximum of a year.”

Travel nursing appeals to those who love travel, adventure, new experiences, or seek temporary opportunities to increase their salaries.

How to Find a Travel Nursing Job

Giving up a comfortable permanent home can be intimidating, but it’s easy to find a travel nursing job.

“There are numerous Travel Nurse Agencies that can assist you in your endeavors to find these temporary assignments and they act as a middleman to draw up the contracts, negotiate pay on your behalf, and some even provide benefits,” advises Lindsey Graham.

There are many travel nurse agencies, but she recommends checking out American Mobile Nursing (AMN), Nurse Choice, and American Traveler.

Why an RV or Van is the Best Choice For Travel Nurse Housing

Travel nurses receive a housing stipend with their compensation. Short-term stay apartments are the most popular travel nurse housing option, but some travel nurses prefer to live in an RV or van.

Five experienced RV travel nurses share why they chose RV or van life for their travel nurse housing:

Make and Save More Money As a Travel Nurse

Income boosts are a significant travel nursing perk.

For example, Chase & Lindsay doubled their income and paid off their remaining $60,000 student loan debt.

Lindsey Graham agrees that in her experience, her husband Danny makes way more pay as a travel nurse vs. his previous staff nurse position.

However, travel nurse housing can cut into that extra revenue. Month-to-month rent, required for three-month travel nurse contracts, is often much more expensive than annual leases and requires multiple non-refundable deposits.

“We began to notice year after year we were getting killed financially on travel nurse housing,” remembers Lindsey Graham.

Travel nurse companies provide travel nurse housing services, but the requirement to opt out of the tax-free living stipend makes this option a drawback.

Instead, it’s possible to pocket the housing stipend and save significantly on travel nurse housing costs by staying in less expensive RV parks. “We get to save and invest the housing stipends, minus rent and utilities,” says travel nurse Brandon Donnie.

Extra pay plus savings on travel nurse housing results in big profits for RV travel nurses.

RV Travel Nurses Maximize Time Off

Many travel nurses enjoy exploring their temporary homes on days off. Living in a van enables travel nurse Megan Ty ( @we.the.wanderers ) to take local trips when she’s not working.

“As nurses, we only work three days a week, which means our four days off are spent exploring the area we are in,” she explains. “We used to spend so much time packing and finding lodging for our mini getaways during the week. Now we have everything we need in our van, so we can just take off after work and pull into a free campsite.”

“Travel nursing allows both financial freedom and the freedom to take time off traveling around the U.S. and abroad,” says Chase and Lindsay. The travel nurse couple now only works half the year and spends time between contracts traveling. So far, they have visited 13 countries.

RV Parks Are A Pet-Friendly Travel Nurse Housing Option

Four-legged family members are part of many travel nurses’ families. However, finding short-term travel nurse housing that is also pet-friendly can be a challenge. Fortunately, almost all RV parks allow dogs and cats.

RV life provides a safe environment for Chase and Lindsey’s cat while they’re at work.

Travel nurse Abby Fiore ( @abbylerioux ) says her dogs love living in the RV park. “With two little dogs along for the ride, we invested in an outdoor gate that we situate around the front door so they can come in and out as they please. This has allowed them to have an easy transition from a big yard to tiny living.”

Travel Nurses Love Relaxing At Their Campsite

While living in an RV or van may not seem initially appealing, these travel nurses enjoy their travel nurse housing when they return from a long work day.

Chase and Lindsey prefer travel nurse housing at RV resorts with full hookups (utilities). “It’s reassuring to know that we have everything we need,” Lindsey explains. “Everywhere we’ve stayed has also had fitness facilities as well as a swimming pool and hot tub for relaxing on days off.”

Abby Fiore and her wife have fully embraced living in the outdoors. “The last two years in our RV have sparked a love for the open road and nature that we didn’t realize we had.” As night shift nurses, campsites that allow them to soak in the sun are their favorites!

Eliminate The Search For Travel Nurse Housing

Searching for a new home on short notice every few months is inconvenient, expensive, and cuts into valuable time off. RV and van travel nurses simply hop behind the wheel and drive to their next assignment.

Brandon doesn’t miss the travel nurse housing process. “We don’t ever have to look for housing, never pay ridiculous rent prices or utilities, and our home is always with us!”

Having your bed and belongings in every assignment location is also convenient. “Life between contracts is no longer stressful because we are home no matter where we go,” says Lindsey. “We no longer live out of boxes.”

Travel Nurses Get Paid to Travel the Country

Exploring the country is one of the best parts of travel nursing. There are many exciting travel nurse destinations, whether you want to check out a new state, become immersed in a city, or try living on a mountain, beach, or desert.

Meg and Ty hope to use an assignment to check a major item off their bucket list. “Alaska is very high on our list for a travel assignment…Our goal is to make our Alaska dream come true next summer!”

Travel Nursing With an RV

Are you convinced to try van or RV travel nursing? 

“Our advice would be to give this lifestyle a test drive (no pun intended),” recommend Meg and Ty. “There are several companies that allow you to rent vans and RVs for extended periods of time. If you are considering whether this is a good choice for you, renting a home on wheels for a week will give you the insight to make your decision.”

Don’t let inexperience hold you back. “There is a whole world out there to explore, and while the fear of the unknown is real, the world that will be discovered makes it worthwhile,” says Abby Fiore. “If two city-raised women who never knew what an RV was can do it, then I believe anyone can!”

An RV is the best travel nurse housing option for Brandon Donnie. “Take the leap! If this is your dream, there is no time like the present. The rewards outweigh the risks and pay off bountifully!”

Learn More From Our RV Travel Nursing Experts

Are you a travel nurse curious about RV life? Subscribe to Rootless Living to learn more about work, travel, and nomadic living. Read the full articles from our RV travel nursing experts:

Chase & Lindsey

Featured in Rootless Living’s January/February 2021 issue

Follow on Instagram: @WereOutNAbout

Lindsey & Danny Graham

Follow on Instagram: @LindseyandDannyVanlife

Featured in Rootless Living’s July/August 2022 issue

Follow on Instagram: @abbylerioux

Megan and Ty DeWitt

Follow on Instagram @we.the.wanderers

Brandon and Donnie Gibson

Follow on Instagram: @simplicity.ventures

Subscribe to Rootless Living Magazine

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How Van Life Made Travel Nursing Easier for Meg & Ty

The ‘travel’ part of a traveling healthcare career looks different for each person. Some travelers embark on the journey solo – no family and no kids. Others pack family and pets into an RV to tour the country.

Meg and Ty , the PCU travel nursing couple behind We the Wanderers , have arguably gone to the next level. They live full-time in a renovated van. While some might assume #vanlife is cramped, Meg & Ty’s weekly adventures show this lifestyle doesn’t hold them back. Keep reading to find out why van life was the best decision these two made.

How the Travel Nurse Van Life Started

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Travel Nurse Across America (@travelnurseacrossamerica)

Meg and Ty started travel nursing as a couple in 2019 and soon felt that finding housing and packing and unpacking for their travel nurse assignments and off-day adventures was tedious and costly. The solution to their problems? Pick up the travel nurse van life.

“Before the van, we were spending all of our time on our off days trying to find places to stay,” Meg says. “We thought, ‘If we had a van, we’d have it much easier going on little trips.’”

So, they went after the dream, researched what they would need, found an empty old FedEx van, and renovated it during a contract in North Carolina. Then, they were ready to experience how to live in a van full-time.

“Finding a new place to stay is completely cut out with the van,” Ty states. “There’s no stress with that, so we can just focus on having fun.”

Adjusting to Van Life

Living in a van full-time does come with adjustments. “It’s a very simple life,” Ty states. “That’s something that needs to be understood before hopping into it.” 

But if you can see yourself living minimally, making these adjustments can lead to worthwhile experiences. Here are a few ways the couple prepared for life on the road.

Preparing for Mechanical Issues on the Road

Mechanical issues are bound to pop up at some point. Meg and Ty follow a few safety measures to avoid roadside problems and get quick help when they experience a bump in the road.

First, they stay on top of vehicle maintenance by getting regular oil changes and tire rotations. Then, when they do experience an issue, they use AAA’s roadside assistance to get them to a mechanic.

When road-tripping, the travel nurse couple informs their families of where they go as a safety measure. Then, in case of emergency, they have a GPS/satellite phone they can use to contact help.

Organizing and Downsizing Belongings

Determining what you’ll bring on the road and what you’ll leave behind is an important step to starting van life.

“It’s all about space. Every inch matters here, so we try to pack down and only bring the things we know we will be using,” Ty says.

When packing for a new assignment, they consider the time of year and climate where they are going. Packing cubes help them compact items and slim down space. Then, any clothes that are necessary to bring that they don’t want to be wrinkled go on curtain rods.

Meg & Ty’s Van Life Essentials

Even though Meg and Ty had to carefully plan what they would bring into their home on wheels, these are some essentials they can’t do without having.

• Burner stove – A burner stove allows them to cook and meal prep for work, which helps them save money by not eating out at restaurants.
• Portable power station – This allows them to charge phones or use laptops on cloudy days when they don’t want to use all their solar energy.
• WiFi – Meg and Ty have a wireless router that acts as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, giving them access to the internet as long as they have cell service.
• Toilet – No explanation needed.
• Fridge – For drinks and food (especially Ty’s ice cream).
• Espresso machine – Meg’s must-have to wake up in the morning.

What Makes Travel Nursing in a Van Better?

You might wonder, “Why live in a van instead of travel nursing in a camper?” Both have perks and disadvantages, so if you’re considering it, think about what would fit your lifestyle best.

With the van, Meg & Ty can park in more places and drive through national parks and forests without maneuvering a camper in tight quarters. Additionally, the van’s solar panels keep them from relying on electric hookups at campsites.

“Not having to worry about packing up everything or worrying about finding a spot at a campground has saved us a lot of time and energy,” Meg explains.

Still, there are stressful situations you must consider when living in a van. You have to take extra precautions for safety, whether that’s determining what you’d do if someone breaks into your space, having contingency plans during weather emergencies, or preparing for potential breakdowns on the road.

“It’s not all you see on social media all the time,” Meg reminds us. “Make sure you’re okay with being flexible and can go with the flow.”

But with that mindset, van life works well for Meg and Ty. They have the consistency of always having home close by, and taking adventures on their cross-country treks is effortless. The van has been with them on assignments in Washington, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Arizona, and there’s no sign of them stopping.

Are you interested in learning more about van life? Head over to the @We.the.Wanderers Instagram page , and keep reading TNAA’s blog to see how you can be a healthcare traveler at any stage of life.

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Your traveling partner

Considering van life as a traveling healthcare professional

Lots of people are intrigued by the nomadic aesthetic of van life and become interested in giving it a try themselves. Van life has grown in popularity recently, as living in a van gives you freedom unlike anything else. You’re able to travel freely, be in nature, live more simply, unplug from social media and even save money .

As a traveling healthcare professional, you’re always on the go traveling from one state to another. With all of your healthcare traveler jobs , you’re constantly finding new housing options, temporarily changing your mailing address and adjusting bills. Travel nurse van life might be something you consider when you’re in a new place after every 13-week contract.

How van life can work for your career

If you decide to take on living in a van, you’ll likely need to downsize and begin living a more minimalist lifestyle. It’s a big decision, but a major benefit is that your entire life and house will be with you for every assignment. As a healthcare traveler, you’re already diving into new places and building new friendships. In the same way, travel nurse van life will open up a plethora of opportunities for you.

Even if you have pets that you consider a part of your family, it’s possible to take them along on this wild ride with you. You and your pet will both have to adjust, but getting to explore the new sights together will be worth the while. It takes a bit of work upfront to convert a van into a home that can be lived in, but many find the benefits far outweigh the cons.

Pros and cons of van life as a healthcare traveler

The pros of van life include flexibility, fewer expenses, taking part in a minimalist lifestyle, enjoying nature right up front and in person,and less time spent scrolling meaninglessly through your phone. If you have a love for adventure and a traveling career, it can be a great way to let go of some of the things aren’t necessary and live a more free and open-minded life.

With all of the pros, come some cons as well. One thing about van life is that everything is smaller. Maybe you’ve lived in a studio apartment before, but van life can be even more confining than that. You will have to consider the amount of time you’ll be cleaning, using dump stations and public bathrooms a lot more than you do right now. You also need to find a safe site every time you park overnight. The final negative is that cell service and Wi-Fi can be hard to find sometimes.

Begin your traveling adventure with RTG Medical

Maybe you’re already comfortable in your traveling career and you’ve begun thinking about van life, or maybe the first step for you is to find your traveling partner and start searching for healthcare traveler jobs. RTG Medical has helped many nurses, therapists, physicians, lab techs and more find their perfect niche in the world of traveling healthcare. If you’re interested in working with us, reach out today to begin your adventure!

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Why This DIY ProMaster is Perfect For a Travel Nurse Living in a Van

Jonnie is a travel nurse living in a van. Her DIY ProMaster camper conversion has inspired her to become a van conversion professional who now helps others to pursue van life.

Everything in Jonnie’s van is built to her specifications. She has a deep sink in the kitchen so she can shampoo her hair or take a sink bath, which is important to her because water preservation makes everyday showers impossible, but especially as a nurse, she needs to be able to clean herself up quickly and regularly. The sink is also equipped with a swivel nozzle for outdoor use.

The kitchen countertops are made from big sheets of butcher’s block that Jonnie found. She uses a small hanging basket above the counter to store small items, like hand sanitizer. Jonnie stores cleaning supplies, tea, coffee, and a gallon of fresh water under the sink; the under-sink storage is closed off by a curtain and illuminated by LED lights.

The key to the kitchen is the fridge, which is an Isotherm Cruise. It has a massive amount of freezer and fridge space, and is a marine fridge, which means that it doesn’t have to be at ground level and will keep working as long as there is an angle of less than 30 degrees. That’s very important to Jonnie because she doesn’t like grocery shopping a lot.

Jonnie's van has a raised bed with drawers that act as steps to the bed, and another, custom-made bedroom set of drawers made by a friend. These drawers are tall enough to be the right height for her to use the top as a getting-ready surface when putting on her makeup.

These are just two examples of the way that every detail is made with Jonnie’s individual needs in mind, which has trained her to become a professional who helps other people build vans that are tailored to their unique needs, as well.

In this video, Jonnie goes through the technical details of her DIY ProMaster van conversion and explains how she started building van conversions for customers, professionally:

Travel nurse living in a van

Jonnie also offers useful advice for those considering starting out on a van life adventure. First, she took some short trips to make sure she was comfortable living in a small space and sleeping at rest stops.

Then, when she took her first job as a travel nurse living in a van, she booked two weeks at a camping ground where she knew she’d feel safe.

Only after she’d had that experience did she start going on longer adventures on the open road, and she’s enjoying every minute of it.

For more van life stories, discover this inspiring military truck-turned-camper and this DIY ambulance camper conversion .

To see more videos, check out the Tiny Home Tours YouTube channel.

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Wow! But would this be in the same state or is she licensed in multiple states?

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Travel nursing across america … in a van.

Visiting new places and meeting new people is a natural part of being a travel nurse, but ICU nurse Bob Goldnetz takes that to the next level. From hiking Machu Picchu  to snowboarding the slopes of Oregon and exploring Utah’s slot canyons, travel nursing has allowed him to go just about anywhere he wants. And soon, he’s headed to Ecuador for a medical mission! Here’s how Bob Goldnetz balances nursing with his love of travel.

Becoming a travel nurse

Bob started off as a physical therapy tech, which he enjoyed, but he didn’t feel like he ever got to connect with patients. His mom is a rehab nurse, and she would get letters from patients from decades earlier, while he would completely lose contact with patients once they recovered. Bob realized he wanted a job where he could make a difference, and nursing was a natural fit. With his adventurous lifestyle, travel nursing created the perfect mix of helping others while getting to explore. So, Bob started travel nursing three years ago.

Mastering work/life balance

So far, travel nursing has taken Bob to Salt Lake City, Boise, Portland and southern Oregon, and Denver. Traveling between assignments, he drove Highway 101 all the way down the west coast. During these assignments, Bob mastered the art of work/life balance. He would snowboard, surf, and mountain bike on his days off, and when he had multiple days off, he went backpacking. Then, in-between assignments, he took breaks like a month-long break for snowboarding and another month off for traveling in South America in Ecuador and Colombia.

Travel nursing in a van

“I’d much rather pull over to the side of the road where no one is and make an egg burrito and wake up to the sound of the waves and not the hotel,” says Bob. After taking the van on bumpy roads, which resulted in blown out struts and ripping off the bottom of the van, he decided he needed something that had four-wheel drive and clearance. He found an Astro van, which fit his lifestyle perfectly. Now, he goes through canyons with a couple of feet of snow with no issues.

Helping across the world

This August, Bob will get to combine his love of traveling with nursing for a medical mission. He’s heading back to Ecuador, after his recruiter, Sam, encouraged him to apply for the trip funded by a grant from the Making a Difference Foundation .

“Ecuador was a place I really wanted to go back to — the mountains, the volcanoes, the countryside, the people, the food — it’s just a great culture and so much to see,” Bob says. So he applied.

Sam called him a few weeks later. Usually, Bob and Sam catch up about their lives as well as work, so Bob started to tell Sam about his struggles working on the van. “I’m working on it and I was kind of frustrated,” he says. “I’m like, ‘I’m good, I’m good. Just working on the damn van. It’s being a pain in the ass.’” When Sam told Bob that she was with RNnetwork’s vice president, Bob thought he was in trouble. When he realized the vice president was on the phone to congratulate him on winning the trip to Ecuador, Bob says, “They told me, and I actually teared up a little bit. I was just amazed. It’s such a great opportunity, and I’m really excited to get back there.”

Making friends on assignments

With such an interesting lifestyle, Bob never has a hard time making friends, whether he’s on a plane, hiking on a trail, or working an assignment. He has bonded with other travel nurses because they didn’t know anyone in the area. On an assignment in Denver, he found six other travel nurses who didn’t know anyone, and he organized things for the seven of them to do, from hiking and climbing to seeing new things in Denver. Though he would often hang out with other travel nurses only a few times before they left for other assignments, he became close friends with lots of them.

Working with teams

Bob also gets along well with staff nurses. He explained that he has heard horror stories about staff nurses treating travel nurses badly, but that’s never been his experience. He found that if he was reliable and flexible, the staff nurses were grateful for his help. He said even if he gets holiday assignments or bad shifts, he understands, because his job as a travel nurse is to give the staff nurses a break.

Future plans

Bob is currently on a per diem assignment in Alaska, after driving forty hours from Salt Lake in his trusty van. His plan is to work travel nursing in Alaska until August, then head to Ecuador for his medical mission, and link that trip with visiting Chile and Bolivia. After that, he might go back to Alaska  or he’ll head to Hawaii — with travel nursing, he certainly has lots of options.

Let us help you find your next travel nursing adventure! Give us a call at 800.866.0407 or view today’s travel nurse job opportunities .

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Kathleen Stone is a writer for RNnetwork from Salt Lake City, Utah. In her spare time, she loves going to the desert, trying new foods and being with family.

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Many travel nurses opt for temporary assignments because of the autonomy and opportunities − not just the big boost in pay

Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, University of Houston-Downtown

Disclosure statement

Ivan Gan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Travel nurses take short-term contracts that can require long commutes or temporarily living away from home. Time and again, they have to get used to new co-workers, new protocols and new workplaces.

So why would staff nurses quit their stable jobs to become travel nurses?

Well, for one, they get bigger paychecks . But U.S. nurses have other rationales besides making more money, according to a study I conducted .

To do this research, I interviewed 27 registered nurses based in different places.

Many of the people I interviewed disclosed that they left permanent positions to combat burnout. Although they welcomed the bump in pay, travel nursing also gave them the autonomy to decide when and where to work. That autonomy allowed them to pursue personal and professional interests that were meaningful to them, and it made some of the other hassles, such as long commutes, worth it.

On top of earning more money, travel nursing “gives you an opportunity to explore different areas,” said a nurse I’ll call Cynthia, because research rules require anonymity. “When you actually live there for three months, it gives you a chance to really immerse yourself in the area and really get to know not just the touristy stuff, but really hang out with the locals and really be exposed to that area.”

Other study participants said they enjoyed the novelty and educational opportunities.

“You don’t get bored or stuck in a routine,” Michelle said. “You’re always trying to learn new policies at the new hospital that you’re in, learning about the new doctors, nursing staff, new ways of doing things, where things are located. That helps keep me from feeling burned out so quickly.”

Said Patricia: “I want to see how other operating rooms across the country do things and how they do things differently. I do learn a lot of things going from place to place.”

Why it matters

A growing number of U.S. nurses were obtaining temporary assignments before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

But travel nursing became much more widespread in 2020, when hospitals were scrambling to keep their staffing levels high enough as millions of Americans were becoming infected with the coronavirus, straining capacity in many communities.

While compensation varies widely, the median pay of registered nurses in 2022 was US$81,220 , about 35% less than the $110,000 that registered nurses who traveled earned .

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel nurses could earn an even bigger premium . Many were paid twice as much as staff nurses.

Once the number of Americans with severe symptoms fell, that premium declined too . But there are still over 1.7 million travel nurses in the U.S. Hiring them is one of the main ways that hospitals cope with a long-term shortage of nurses .

But nurses with permanent jobs can get aggravated by this arrangement when they learn how much more travel nurses earn for doing the same work, as I found through another research project .

What other research is being done

Research supports a widely reported trend: More Americans have temporary jobs and freelance employment than in the past.

While travel nurses can help hospitals, nursing homes and doctors’ offices meet staffing needs, there are signs that patients don’t always fare as well with their care.

And a Canadian study found that when hospitals let staff nurses work part time and offer other alternative arrangements, their retention rates may rise .

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

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School resource officers help homeless student by fixing broken van he lived in

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV/Gray News) - Two school resource officers in Tennessee made a major difference by helping a high school student living in a broken van to repair the vehicle and get to a shelter, WSMV reports .

La Vergne High School SROs Cody Didier and Jeremy Gregory helped a homeless 17-year-old student get parts to fix the broken van he lived in. The pair also helped with the repairs and filled his van up with gas, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office .

The coordinator for the high school’s ATLAS program, which provides services for families in transition, learned the student was living out of the van in January. She found a shelter for him, but he couldn’t drive there because his van was broken.

That’s when Didier and Gregory stepped in to help the teen repair his van. The SROs got him a new alternator from AutoZone, which was donated by the store’s manager after hearing about the student’s situation.

The SROs worked with the high school’s students to install the alternator before the pair noticed the van was out of gas. They then used their own money to fill up the tank, according to the sheriff’s office.

SRO Sgt. John Acton commended Didier and Gregory for going above and beyond to help the 17-year-old.

“Their types of actions represent the true definition of what it is to be a school resource officer in the Rutherford County Sheriff’s SRO Division,” he said in a Facebook post.

Copyright 2024 WSMV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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