Exploring the Benefits of Campervan
Living for Travel Nurses

Being a travel nurse is an incredible opportunity to explore new communities and enjoy freedom while still earning an income. Travel nurses spend an average of 3 months at their contracted location, which is the perfect amount of time to get to know a new place. You will build lasting friendships, explore new parks, trails, and restaurants, and when it’s time to go you can simply hop in and roll to your next spot. That is, if you have a campervan.

The van is the perfect solution for traveling healthcare professionals. No more random housing assignments with questionable beds, locations, and roommates. With a home on wheels, you can always have a quiet, comfortable place to decompress, no matter where you land! Today we are going to explore the ins and outs of RV living for travel nurses, including financial benefits, traveling with family or pets, connecting with nature, and the challenges of vanlife. We will also check out two stories from current travel nurses who are living the dream!

With an RV or campervan, you can bring compassionate healthcare to the world in comfort and safety with the freedom and permission to endlessly explore. Let’s get rolling!

Why Choose a Campervan as a Travel Nurse?

A campervan is the ideal form of transportation and housing for a travel nurse. Whereas motorhomes or big RVs can be inefficient, difficult to maneuver, and expensive to maintain, a campervan is compact and cozy, offering everything you need to thrive on the road. Noovo vans have a queen bed, shower and toilet, accessible fridge and well-equipped kitchen, and are also entirely off-grid. With everything at your fingertips, the freedom of a campervan is unparalleled.

Enhancing Work-Life Balance

Travel nursing, or any kind of mobile healthcare profession, offers a break from the daily grind. It gives you the freedom to explore new places and communities without the commitment of finding a home or settling down there. It is an amazing way to travel and get paid while doing so! The most prominent advantage of being a travel nurse with a van is improving your work-life balance.

You can travel anywhere you want and always have everything you need with you. You easily have more time to play and explore when you’re off the clock, as you’re not commuting or doing house chores (there will still be laundry days though…). You can hike new trails, drop into gyms or yoga classes, see local live music, and try new foods. Campervans offer a consistent, reliable living space regardless of location, providing stability while also allowing nurses to maintain their mental and physical health while on the road.

Embracing Flexibility and Freedom

Unlike conventional housing options, campervans provide the ultimate flexibility for travel nurses. Picture waking up in the quiet cedar forest and heading into town to work for the day. A few months later, you could be in a desertscape with sandstone canyons to explore on your days off. Vanlife enables you to explore new regions, cultures, and professional opportunities without being tied down by leases or property ownership. For nurses seeking adventure and autonomy, vanlife offers a lifestyle free from the norm and new opportunities around every corner.

Advantages of Living in a Campervan

There isn’t enough space here to share the endless advantages of living the van life! (In fact, here are the Top 10 Benefits of Vanlife if you need more convincing…). But for travel nurses and healthcare professionals, there are some specific pros to living life on wheels including financial benefits, bringing family or pets with you, and spending more time close to nature.

Financial Benefits: Saving More on Housing

One of the most significant benefits of RV and van living for nurses is the potential for substantial cost savings. By eliminating rent or mortgage payments, (not to mention the endless headache of trying to find housing every time you relocate, especially if doing so remotely,) nurses can allocate more income towards savings, debt repayment, or recreation activities. Throw an e-bike on the back and you can even bike to work, saving money on gas as well!

Additionally, campervan living minimizes other housing expenses like utilities, maintenance, and furniture, providing more financial freedom for healthcare professionals on the go. If you will only be traveling for part of the year, when your van is not in use, there are a number of easy ways to make passive income from your van!

Bringing Along Family and Pets

For travel nurses with families or pets, vanlife offers an amazing opportunity to build stronger relationships and a sense of togetherness while on the road. This aspect of vanlife for healthcare professionals cultivates deeper bonds and enriches the overall travel experience. There is nothing better than seeing your dog curled up on the bed or your partner smiling in the passenger seat. The Noovo Lite sleeps two adults plus a child, and the Noovo Pop can comfortably sleep a family of four. By integrating travel nursing with family and pets, nurses can keep close those who are most important, creating lifelong memories together.

Connecting with Nature and Disconnecting from Stress

Campervan living immerses travel nurses into the natural beauty of their surroundings. Each morning you can open the van door to a serene lake or towering forest, and enjoy breakfast in the quiet, natural world. Or if you are working in a more urban area, you can find nice parks or cozy campgrounds to make home base. Vanlife provides endless access to outdoor adventures and spectacular landscapes.

By living closely to the earth and breathing in fresh air, your mental and physical health will dramatically improve. It is important to disconnect from the stress of life and work. When you step into your van at the end of a long day and see the stars twinkling above or hear the frogs croaking, your brain and body will truly be able to rest and reset.

Challenges of Campervan Living

Although the pros of vanlife significantly outweigh the cons, there are still certain challenges to consider as you plan your adventure. It will give you peace of mind to determine ahead of time where you are going to park, know the costs and legalities in each location, and of course keeping up-to-date with basic van maintenance.

Navigating Overnight Van Parking and Campgrounds

While RV and campervan living offers freedom and flexibility, finding suitable parking and campground facilities can pose challenges. Travel nurses must navigate campground or RV park availability, reservation policies, and parking regulations to ensure a safe and comfortable living environment. As the number of vanlifers and RVers increases every year, never assume there will be availability when you arrive! It’s always good to book your location ahead of time and know how long you are allowed to stay.

There are a number of apps that can help you find places to park and camp. For travel nurses, it can be helpful to ask your employers about parking options. Sometimes they have other local connections for free places to park your van! Always make sure to know the local ordinances about sleeping in a vehicle overnight, as the rules vary from place to place.

Managing Maintenance and Unexpected Weather

Just like any vehicle or home, maintaining a campervan requires regular upkeep to ensure optimal performance and comfort. Travel nurses must be prepared to address mechanical issues, appliance malfunctions, and weather-related concerns while on the road. Having a roadside assistance plan is certainly a great idea! Noovo offers service in all 50 states, making it easy to connect with a certified mechanic if you’re not a maintenance pro. Other aspects to consider include proper insulation (like Noovo’s window covers), ventilation and moisture control, as well as always checking fluid levels and tire pressure.

Always check traffic and weather reports prior to travel in order to be prepared! Winter travel can be amazing, but make sure you have proper tires, an emergency kit, and extra layers and food in case of unexpected delays.

Accessibility to Laundry and Other Amenities

While campervans offer a self-contained living space, you will still need access to amenities such as laundry facilities and grocery stores. With Noovo’s full bathroom, you won’t have to take showers at the rec center or gas station showers (hallelujah!). Most mobile healthcare professionals are placed in locations with plenty of accessible amenities. You will also want to consider connectivity in your van, and perhaps look into the benefits of Starlink satellite internet so you can stay in touch with family and stream your favorite shows.

Real-Life Stories from Travel Nurses in RVs

Travel nurses across the globe have embraced vanlife as a means of enriching their personal and professional lives. From inspiring adventures to practical RV living tips, their stories offer valuable insights and inspiration for fellow healthcare professionals. By sharing their experiences, nurses foster a supportive community and empower others to pursue their dreams of vanlife as healthcare professionals.

Preparing for RV Life as a Travel Nurse

Resources, Tools, and Challenges

As a healthcare professional, you know that it’s critical to be prepared for anything. This remains true for vanlife! Make sure your van has all the right features and amenities for your comfort and safety, a sufficient power supply and adequate water storage, navigation tools, and emergency supplies. You will learn as you go the best storage options, how to purchase and use food efficiently, and keep your space organized and clean.

As is true for all of life, challenges will occasionally arise that will require flexibility and resourcefulness. From mechanical breakdowns to unforeseen emergencies, you will have to initiate your adaptability and problem-solving skills while on the road. But we already know you nurses are resilient!

If you’re a travel nurse or mobile healthcare professional ready to explore and serve your communities, vanlife is the way to go! It will open doors to more adventure, more time in nature, and a rejuvenating, simple life.