Packing for travel nurse assignments can be overwhelming when you don’t feel completely prepared. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of tips for travel nurses when you have to pack for their next assignment. You’ll notice that packing is a lot easier and less stressful when you take our tips into consideration. After reading our blog, you’ll be packing like a pro in no time!
Travel light
It’s likely that we’ve all found ourselves in an overpacking situation before. It’s not fun, it makes unpacking take even longer, and it wastes your space and energy. We know it can be easy to overpack but try to limit the number of items that you bring on your assignment. Before putting a random item in your suitcase, try to determine if it’s absolutely essential. If it’s not, leave it at home – it’ll be there when you get back!
Don’t forget the essentials
Making a list is always a good idea when you’re packing for a trip. You’ll want to make sure your list includes clothes, shoes, toiletries, soaps, medications, paperwork and documents, nursing products, and anything else that you know will be specific to your needs. For example, contacts and glasses if you require them. You’ll also want to remember to bring a book, movies, crafts, games, or a speaker when you need to keep yourself busy on a travel assignment.
Be realistic with your packing
Being realistic when packing will help you to not overpack. Don’t bring three months’ worth of clothes if you’re only going for a couple of weeks. You’ll thank yourself later when you get home and have to unpack.
Pack for your destination’s climate
Before you start loading up your suitcase with random clothes you think you may or may not need, do your research on typical weather that your travel destination experiences. If you’re going to Florida, odds are you can leave your sweater and coat at home.
Consider what’s included in the place you’re staying at
Ensure that you aren’t bringing unnecessary items to your housing options by first checking to see what all is included. For instance, if the place you’re staying at has a coffee maker, don’t bring a coffee maker. Other items that your housing option might include are a hair dryer, laundry detergent, soaps, trash bags, an iron and ironing board, and so on. Overall, just be sure to see what all is provided so you can save yourself the hassle of bringing unnecessary items.
Bring items that reminds you of home
Odds are you might get a little homesick if you’re away on a long travel nurse assignment. Bring a piece of home with you on your travel assignment so that you can make the place you’re staying at your home away from home. Whether that be a special candle, a certain blanket, or your favorite snack, it will help with your feelings of being homesick.
Try to stay as organized as possible
As previously mentioned, lists will be a big help when packing. If you need to make multiple lists, do it! You can never be too organized when preparing to travel. A great way to stay organized when packing is to purchase some packing cubes or compression bags. Packing cubes help keep all of your different items of clothing together, so you don’t misplace anything. For example, one cube could contain all your scrubs, whereas another could contain socks.
If you need to pack a lot of clothes but only have a small suitcase or duffel bag, then compression bags will be a necessity. All you have to do is shove your clothes in the bag then suck the air out with a vacuum. This is a huge space saver for those who don’t have extra room for packing.
Don’t procrastinate
Get ahead of your packing so it doesn’t creep up on you when your travel nurse assignment rolls around. Even if you just pack a little bit at a time, this will help you from having to pack everything in a single day. Rushed packing not only leads you to forget important items, but it can also lead to overpacking. Save yourself from panicked packing and start ahead of time!
Avoid the stress of packing by following our tips on how to pack like a pro. Wherever your next travel nurse destination takes you, we hope these tips help you prepare for your assignment. In the meantime, search our open jobs if you’re looking for your next travel nurse assignment!
