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Finding housing as a medical traveler can often be a challenge. Once you finally find a place to stay during your assignment, the hassle of packing, loading, transporting, unloading and repacking again after every contract can dissuade some from wanting to do this long-term.
Many choose to buy an RV to help alleviate all this commotion. RV living has grown in popularity amongst medical contractors for this reason. There are many benefits to a life on the road with your RV.
Save on housing
One assumed advantage to living in an RV is that it will reduce your living expenses while on an assignment. This is possible, considering RV resort rent is usually less expensive than renting a room or a house. Generally speaking RV spots in rural areas can cost anywhere from 300-700/month while larger city locations, like San Diego, can be as much as 1500/month. The cost of a quality RV is substantial, not to mention the additional maintenance and insurance required to keep up with the vehicle. With that being said, it is nice to use your housing stipends to pay for your rig. By paying off your RV with the stipends, you can lock in some equity instead of losing 100% of your stipend to rent.
More flexibility
In addition to investing into something you'll own and saving money, RVs provide a greater sense of freedom. You have the ability to move from one assignment to the next without really needing to constantly pack and unpack. The ease of moving relieves a lot of the stress involved with traveling. Many campers can load up and be on the road within an hour. Also, most RVs have extra storage that allow you to easily pack away your stuff and hit the road without any additional thought.
You also have more choices when it comes to housing in rural locations. Oftentimes, high-paying contracts outside of the city means that housing might be difficult to find nearby. With an RV or van, you should be able to find a place to park with ease. If an RV park isn't nearby, you still have many options including state parks, Bureau of Land Management, and even the hospital's facility in some places. If you aren't satisfied with where you first stay, just pack and cruise on to the next spot. Home is where you park it.
Having an RV can allow greater flexibility when you're extending a contract. If you wanted to extend for another week or two at your facility, it might be an issue if you are renting a room monthly. This may require you to rent a hotel for a short duration. However, most RV accommodations are happy to let you stay for any additional days or weeks you may need without much hassle.
Sleep better
Another huge benefit to traveling in your RV, is having your own bed to come home to, no matter where you are in the country. For many people, this small extra comfort can be a game changer. We all know the importance of getting a good night's sleep. This is especially critical while training and learning new policies at your new facility. Whether you have a custom van or RV, a mattress from Mattress Insider will lull you into a deep sleep no matter where your home is parked for the night. With the ability to customize to nearly any shape, size or material you're guaranteed to find your new favorite bed. Right now, you can get $100 off your mattress by following This Link*.
Learning curve
Outside the Instagram glamor of #vanlife, sometimes RV living can be challenging. There is definitely a learning curve to the operation and function of your rig. Understanding how the different water inlets, tanks and outlets may be daunting at first, but there are several helpful resources online to guide you in your journey. Knowing some basic plumbing, electrical, mechanical and construction principles will go a long way as an RV owner. There will be times that something leaks or a fuse blows. It is nice to have some DIY capabilities when these little nuisances occur.
Adventure
Overall, staying in an RV adds to the adventure of being a traveling medical professional. While it is possible to save some money this way, you should do a thorough cost-analysis before buying a rig. Many of the benefits to the RV life far exceed some of the disadvantages. If you are serious about jumping into RV ownership, I highly recommend you rent one through Outdoorsy before you commit. After a week of camping, you should have a good idea if traveling in an RV is right for you.
*As a partnered affiliate, we earn when you shop through this link. Thank you for supporting our website!
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