Many taxpayers are in for a big surprise when they file their returns this year. At the end of 2017, Congress passed one of the most dramatic reforms of the tax code since the 1980s. Which took effect in the 2018 tax year. Many travel nurses have not kept up with the changes or assume the changes will start in 2019.
Most Important Change
The most significant change for travel nurses is the suspension of job / employment expense deductions until 2026. This includes any work-related expense like CEUs, licenses, uniforms, transportation expenses in excess of travel pay, meals in excess of the meal allowance, and seminars. A handful of states will still allow the expenses to be deducted on the STATE return.
The travel nurses most affected by these changes are:
those working hospital based seasonal assignments
those working crisis assignments where the housing is provided without meal allowances
travelers with mortgages whose job expenses were additional deductions on top of the mortgage interest and real estate taxes
travelers with large, unreimbursed mileage in specialties like home care.
So, We Can Toss Receipts?
Wrong. With the job expense deductions gone, the IRS will be retooling the audit selection process. Travel nurses receiving any kind of tax-free reimbursement (per diems, allowances, stipends etc.) will want to be prepared to prove that they qualify to receive these reimbursements without having to report them as additional income on the tax return. Those receiving travel pay should keep a mileage log justifying all the transportation allowances. Likewise, those receiving lodging allowances should keep proof of a lodging expense at the assignment area for each day of the contract. At a minimum, a travel nurse should keep a lease agreement and proof of payment for the period of the assignment.
Keep Contract Copies and Have them Reviewed at Tax Time
Since healthcare staffing is a heavily audited industry, it is vital that each travel nurse keep their employment agreements that show their reimbursements and contact terms. Some agencies in the industry do not have the most compliant policies and a good tax preparer who understands the industry (and similar industries) can help ensure that any non-qualifying reimbursements, per diems or stipends are correctly reported.
Tax Home Rules Unchanged
Several travel nurses have heard rumors that per diems, stipends and allowances (reimbursements) would not longer be allowed on a tax-free basis or that tax home rules had changed. Neither of these rumors are true. A travel nurse must still have a qualifying tax home before receiving any per diems that are not reported as income. A tax advisor familiar with tax home rules can help keep the traveler compliant. It’s easy to get varying opinions on what qualifies from fellow travelers, recruiters and uninformed preparers.
Going Forward
Job expenses are not gone forever. They are only “suspended” until 2026 when they will return. However, here is the lowdown on tax law: it’s like a teenager’s bedroom. Once it is cleaned, it will be messy again by the end of the day. Already, during the last congress, a bill was introduced in the Senate and the House that would reinstate job expenses. Since the recent elections, the bills have not been introduced in the newly assembled Congress which is necessary for consideration. As we work through the tax returns this year, many affected taxpayers will undoubtedly be calling their congressional representatives asking to have the job expense deductions restored.
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Since you are a traveling nurse, you know how important it is to have a reliable and comfortable vehicle at your disposal. Additionally, you’re expected to arrive on time for your assignments, so having car problems is not an option. So, what do you need to consider when you are making purchasing decisions about your vehicle?
Below are some important points to consider when buying a vehicle as a traveling nurse:
Reliability:
Whether you are buying, leasing, or choosing a new or used car, it needs to be reliable above all else. New cars come with warranties and offer the most reliability, but used cars can also deliver years of reliable use. Make sure to run a VIN check on the used car you are considering to get the complete history. It will provide you with the vehicle’s history, such as the number of owners, and list any accidents it has been in.
Cost:
Considering the expense is a vital step. Consider how much you are comfortable paying down and how much of a monthly payment would be comfortable. Be sure to also take into account additional expenses such as excise tax and insurance. Explore the tax laws in your state and consult with your accountant to see under which terms you might be able to write off a portion of the car cost, such as depreciation. Consider how long you plan to continue working as a traveling nurse and whether you hope your newly purchased vehicle will last the entire time or even afterward.
Safety:
When purchasing a new vehicle, safety is the most important consideration. You can check safety ratings for all makes and models and years using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. Newer vehicles with one previous owner and no accident history will be safest among used options. New cars will have different safety ratings when compared side by side but will often offer better safety ratings overall than used cars.
Maintenance:
When selecting a vehicle, you must consider what it will need in terms of maintenance. All vehicles have standard maintenance, such as oil change needs and tire and break maintenance. Checking costs for specific makes and models you are considering will be helpful in knowing what you can expect to spend on maintenance. It is also important to consider how accessible it will be to find the right services for your vehicle. Certain foreign models can only be serviced by certified mechanics, so you will want to make sure you can find the right auto service places in your area.
Features:
There are a lot of considerations when you contemplate the features of your new vehicle. Gas mileage is a big one – if you drive a lot, you will likely want to prioritize fuel-efficient options. If you live and work in a four-season climate, you will want to also think about features like heated seats and automated starters, as well as how well your vehicle needs to perform in rough weather, like snow. You also might have strong personal preferences, such as wanting leather seats for easier cleanup. Stereo options and Bluetooth features can also make your vehicle more comfortable and enjoyable as you drive from patient to patient.
The process of deciding which car to buy or lease can be a stressful one, but it is also an exciting path to your next vehicle that better fits your lifestyle and your professional needs. Make sure to take your time, do your research, and test-drive multiple models. Explore costs from multiple sources to help achieve peace of mind. Talking to owners of cars similar to those you are considering can also be a big help. As they may speak to points you would not have otherwise considered. Considering this decision from all sides. Doing so in a well-paced and logical manner will help you make a confident decision.
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We recently asked our Facebook group where the best places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day are. After all, as travel nurses they have been all over the country and some even out of the country on assignment! The following 5 were the most popular places mentioned on the post (they are in no particular order).
If music is what you are into there is also the Dropkick Murphy’s annual concert at House of Blues. There are also other Irish pubs that you can visit if music isn’t what you are looking for.
Irish Heritage Trail walking tours – Explore 300 years of Irish history in Boston on these fascinating walking tours along the Irish Heritage Trail in Boston Common, Beacon Hill, and Downtown. If you are trying to find something family friendly, this could be a good option. These take place on March 17th and 18th
March is the month for all things Irish, and this 4-day Boston Irish Film Festival will make you think you’re back in the Emerald Isle. Films focus on Ireland and Irish culture, and what it means to be Irish in the 21st century. More than 3,000 fans attend this popular film series. While this doesn’t take place on St. Patrick’s Day it is family friendly. The film festival runs from March 22nd-25th.
If running is something you enjoy doing there is also the St. Patrick’s Day 5K Race in Southie. The 5k takes place a few hours before the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Southie on St. Patrick’s Day.
These are just a few of the events that take place on or around St. Patrick’s Day. If you visit The Boston Discovery Guide you can find even more to do in Boston!
Dublin, Ireland
Where better to spend St. Patrick’s Day but Ireland? Ireland offers many of the same types of celebrations as the United States including; parades, festivals and music events. Green attire and shamrocks are worn.
Dublin offers many pubs to visit. One of which is The Brazen Head. The Brazen Head is Dublin’s oldest pub. The Pub dates back to 1178. It is a popular tourist attraction. It is listed as one pubs to visit on Expedia’s 17 Great Pubs in Ireland to Celebrate in this St. Patrick’s Day Weekend. It is a great place to have a Guinness while in Ireland!
The parades include marching bands from all over Ireland, England and the United States. 8 of the 11 marching bands are from the United States this year.
They do offer grandstand seats for purchase if you don’t want to have to fight the crowds. The route of the parade can be seen here.
There are many more options to do in Dublin these are just a couple of the most popular!
Savannah, GA
Savannah was the most popular city in our post! There are a lot of things to do in Savannah to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and the fun doesn’t start or stop on St. Patrick’s Day they celebrate all month long.
photo provided by: Diane Brown Frawley
Savannah also dyes their fountains green. This takes place on March 8th at 12pm. They begin this tradition at the Forsyth Fountain.
St.Patrick’s Day Festival
There is the St. Patrick’s Day festival that runs March 15th & 16th it runs from 10am to midnight! According to Savannah.com “Out of all of the festivals and events on River Street and in City Market, none is bigger, better or greener than their St. Patrick’s Day Festival. Vendors line the street with gifts and goodies and bands perform live music on stages all over downtown Savannah. These two hot spots are where the real St. Paddy’s Day party is. Guests can hit up City Market for a good time with great jams or grab a drink and enjoy the fun by the Savannah River.”
Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day parade will take place on March 16th, it will run from 10:15 am to 2:30pm.
The city expects there to be about 300,000 people to visit and enjoy the parade and festivities. Savannah prides itself on having the largest parade outside of New York.
One of the biggest draws for many is that Savannah does not have an open container laws. To be able to take your green beer into the festival area you must purchase a wristband. The cost for a wrist band is $10. While the city is a great place to celebrate one of our Gypsy nurses warned that it is VERY crowded throughout the city. Also, after last year’s visit by Vice President Pence there are now some rules and regulations that you need to be aware of if you plan to visit.
photo provided by: Diane Brown Frawley
There are other activities that take place in Savannah for St. Patrick’s Day, this is just a small glimpse into the activities that are offered through out the month!
Chicago, IL
Chicago offers many options for those wanting to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in The Windy City. The Chicago River is dyed green on St. Patrick’s Day. Chicago also offers; parades, festivals, restaurants with St. Patrick’s Day themed menus, beer crawls, numerous bars and pubs, and if you would like to learn more about the Irish-American history you can visit The Irish American Heritage Museum.
The Chicago River is dyed at 9 a.m. and the dye lasts for about 5 hours. This tradition happened by accident when the river was being checked for pollution. It has since become one of Chicago’s best-known St. Patrick’s Day traditions.
The city also offers 3 parades. The South Side Parade is the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade outside of Dublin. They also offer The Downtown Parade and The Northwest Side Parade. So, if you are looking for great St. Patrick’s Day Parades Chicago is your city to celebrate in.
Chicago really offers a great variety of things to do to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
New Orleans, LA
Like many of the other cities on our list New Orleans celebrates St. Patrick’s days for many day’s before March 17th.
For instance, Thursday March 14th the celebrations are kicked off with a block party. The Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club block party goes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is Irish music, food and drinks available at the party. There is also Parasol’s Block Party Celebration located at 3rd and Constance Street. This is an all day block party and goes from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. They offer green beer and roast beef po-boy.
photo provided by: @t.phocus
Parades:
There are numerous parades during the week. They are offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday. GONOLA has more information on their site.
Of course, there are plenty of pubs to visit throughout the city. Pat O’Brien’s opens at 10 a.m. for St. Patrick’s Day and they have specials offered all day long.
photo provided by: @t.phocus
New Orleans offers fun every day of the year, so it makes sense that it was voted as one of the top places to visit for St. Patrick’s Day on our Facebook group. There is fun to be had by all!
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“Since just recently joining The Gypsy Nurse, I have had so many questions answered about the world of travel nursing. This has been an excellent resource!”
This article is the second in a series of articles we’re calling “Truth in Travel Nursing.” Designed to provide reliable information to travel nurses, we hope these articles help clear up what we feel are some common misconceptions in the travel nursing profession today.
Tips to determine your best Travel Nursing Pay options:
Hey Gypsies! We’re here to help shed light on some more myths and misunderstandings about your travel nursing pay options as part of our ongoing “Truth in Travel Nursing” series. As we covered in Part 1, there’s many components that make up a solid travel nurse pay package. It is important that travel nurses consider the full picture when comparing compensation packages. This means uncovering the full scope of benefits and pay options. So, as part of our effort to better equip you, we’ve compiled these important tips designed to help you make the best choices for your financial well-being and the Gypsy Life!
Licenses and Certifications
We all know we need a nursing license for each state where we work. This includes permanent, new or renewal licenses, and temporary nursing licenses as offered by some states.
You may also get hit with certification costs for BLS, ACLS, PALS, and NRP and any other advance certifications required by the facility. Since certifications are nationally recognized you won’t have to obtain new certifications for every state where you work, but these certifications typically expire every two years and fees must be paid for renewal.
Unfortunately, licenses and certifications can easily add up to over $1,000 – yikes! Gypsy nurses will have to comply with the specific requirements of each assignment to begin work. Be sure to check if your agency offers reimbursements for these expenses and how those benefits are paid out. This is an often-overlooked benefit when you are comparing packages; it’s not in the travel nurse pay rate but it is a part of the package!
It’s best to know in advance if you have a license or certification that’s going to expire during your next contract so the terms of reimbursement can be discussed upfront. And while some agencies will pay these fees directly, it’s best to stay organized and save all of your receipts.
Medical Records
Travel nurses are also required to provide medical records as part of the travel nurse portfolio, prior to starting an assignment. If you don’t have a current proof of acceptable results you will need to arrange these tests—often times at the facility where you will work. These can include drug screen, TB exam, a physical exam, X-rays, and an MMR titer report. Depending on the requirements, these tests can easily add up to several hundred dollars – yikes! So, be sure to include this to your discussion list with the agency, to ensure you understand:
How much of the fees are covered
When they are paid or reimbursed
Policies around providing you with copies of all results so that you can use for future assignments.
This is another overlooked benefit when comparing packages; it’s not in the pay rate but it is part of the travel nurse pay package!
Insurance
You may want to secure your own medical benefits to ensure you will have continuity of care. This makes it easier if you switch to a new travel nurse staffing agency. Having your private insurance means you can take your plan with you. This also allows you to have a more predictable “Schedule of Benefits.” Changing agencies and changing providers can often mean different co-pays, deductibles, coverage limits, and other variables. On the downside, you may end up paying more for less coverage. Agencies likely receive discounts for purchasing in volume. Be sure you look at the total picture. Don’t choose on the cost alone. The terms of coverage are important. Make sure that the package you select includes catastrophic coverage.
Bonus Pay
Some agencies offer various bonuses to travel nurses. And while these are not typically big dollars, or a primary reason to choose one agency over another, the extra income is always cool!
Most bonuses are designed in such a way that the agency is essentially passing on some of their savings to the traveler. Furthermore, some are designed as an incentive and many are in collaboration with the facility. The savings are realized in terms of recruitment costs, license fees, medical test, certifications, and training.
Here’s a few examples of bonuses you can ask about for your next assignment (just remember that bonuses are taxed at a higher rate than base compensation):
Extension bonus– what if you agree to stay on for another contract period?
Retention, rebook bonus, “Loyalty”– what if you agree to stay with the agency and take a new assignment in a different area?
Completion bonus– does the hospital offer any incentive pay to the agency for a completed contract?
Do Your Homework
Here’s a check list of what to ask your recruiter when evaluating your next pay package:
What portion of your hourly rate is taxable versus non-taxable?
Are there licenses and certifications needed and how are they paid?
What medical records must you supply, how quickly, and who pays for them?
Does the company provide insurance options to you and when are you eligible?
How do hours worked affect your living expenses stipend?
Are there any bonuses available?
Do you have questions on Pay that we can help answer? Post your questions in the comments and maybe you’ll find your in-depth answer on our next post in this series.
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Tips to determine your best Travel Nurse Pay Package options
Many components make up a travel nurse’s pay package. When comparing pay packages, don’t just look at the numbers. Travel nurses should dig deeper to see what other benefits are provided. Those additional benefits and bonuses can result in thousands of realized dollars on each contract.
Whether you’re ready to take on your first contract in travel nursing—or perhaps you’ve been at it for a while—determining the best compensation package can be daunting. With so many variables and agencies making promising claims, it’s important to understand what will work best for you and your financial well-being. As part of our ongoing “Truth in Travel Nursing” series, The Gypsy Nurse team has compiled the following first key steps in what to look for in your travel nurse pay package.
location: or the region and cost of living where the assignment is located
nursing specialties
timing: how quickly you can start the assignment
even some general supply and demand factors
A travel nurse’s pay will generally consist of two main components:
The regular, taxable hourly rate
The non-taxable reimbursements for housing and meals/incidentals. These are also called stipends, subsidies, allowances, or per diems. These reimbursement payments are meant to cover meals and lodging costs resulting from the duplicate costs of living away from home for the job. Note that you will not receive a housing subsidy if you take company housing.
While sometimes the taxable hourly rate can seem low, agencies structure pay packages to be tax-efficient for the nurse. The less money that goes to a taxable hourly rate and the more that goes to the non-taxable subsidies, the better the net pay for the nurse. This cannot be very clear. Let’s look at some variables and what they may mean for your situation.
Take a Closer Look at Your Taxable Rate
The taxable hourly rate calculates several benefits should you need to use them. Unemployment, workers’ compensation, and disability payments are based on taxable income. Taxable earnings are also where social security contributions originate. Therefore, if you are nearing retirement, lower taxable earnings could significantly impact your future social security payments. In addition, if you need to borrow money for a home or auto loan, the lender will determine your loan amount qualifications from your taxable income.
Take a Closer Look at Non-Taxable Amounts:
Higher non-taxed reimbursements will make your net paycheck increase. At face value, this is appealing. However, it may not be quite that simple. The tax code allows tax-free stipends only while working away from one’s tax home. In many pay-package discussions, the aspect of “per diems” comes up. Here is some further information to help clarify:
You must be eligible for the tax-free per diems. Do you qualify?
There is a widespread myth that if you live (tax home) more than 50 miles away from your assignment, you are entitled to, eligible for, or guaranteed the per diems completely free of taxes. IRS Publication 463 states that you can accept tax-free stipends if “you need to sleep or rest to meet the demands of your work while away from home.” There are no guidelines, no specific distance given that would constitute your need to sleep or rest. Therefore, if a traveler prefers to drive 70 miles each way to work and back each shift, they do not qualify for tax-free lodging allowances. Why? Because they are commuting. Further, if you commute or are within a “commutable distance,” you don’t qualify. There are no duplicate lodging expenses to reimburse.
The Per Diem amounts
The General Services Administration (a federal government agency) sets GSA Per Diem Rates. These are “the maximum allowances federal employees are reimbursed for expenses incurred while on official travel.” Although designed for government employees, these rates are also applied by the IRS to private sector employees. The travel nurse industry uses these in determining per diem rates. Therefore, these reimbursements are paid free of taxes. Above all, you mustn’t assume you will be paid the exact current GSA table rates. Here are three GSA realities:
GSA rates are the maximum amounts that can be reimbursed without the requirement to turn in receipts. There is NOT a requirement that these maximum amounts be paid out.
GSA rates are based more on short-term hotel housing, which tends to be pricier than the longer-term housing used for a typical travel nurse assignment.
Bill rates are what determine what travel pay and per diems will be. Very rarely is an agency bill rate high enough to pay out the GSA table maximum amount and retain a profit.
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“Since just recently joining The Gypsy Nurse, I have had so many questions answered about the world of travel nursing. This has been an excellent resource!”
We recently posed a question to Gypsy Nurse readers:
What Bucket List experiences have you had as a travel nurse?
Travel nursing allows us to feel a little free and sometimes do things that we wouldn’t normally do from our home location. At Home, there is always the thought that ‘it will be there next week’ and sometimes next week just never happens. The ability to travel nurse in areas that have Bucket List experiences is one of the best perks to Travel Nursing. The experiences that travel nursing opens up are vast.
Some exciting Bucket List Experiences from TGN Travel Nurses
We like factory tours and have watched cheese and ice cream being made, paper milled, cranberries harvested and although we don’t drink, we’ve been to four different breweries around the country. We even got to see the Budweiser Clydesdale’s!
I saw the Nutcracker with the Phoenix Ballet and saw a tango show with an instructor from Dancing with the Stars and Alvin Ailey Dance troup.
Whale watching on the California Coast
Driving tour of the covered bridges in Pennsylvania
What Bucket List experiences have you had while working as a travel nurse?
What experiences do you dream of fulfilling? Post your experiences in the comments below.
You can share your travel nurse experiences with us by contacting us at content@thegypsynurse.com or by posting your #gypsynurseadventures on Instagram.
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Welcome to the exciting, adventurous world of travel nursing! Travel nursing provides a unique opportunity for career growth by seeing how other facilities provide care. As a travel nurse you can focus on taking care of your patients and learning from new experiences while visiting fun and exciting areas of the country.
“Pearls of Wisdom” for your first travel assignment:
Licenses – if you want to go to a different state from where you are licensed, your recruiter can provide you with up to date licensing information about each state. For additional information you can contact that state’s Board of Nursing directly.
Specialty certifications: BLS, ACLS, NRP, TNCC etc.
Current Health Statement.
Pick a place
pick a place you’re familiar with for your first travel assignment, one with friends or family close by. It will help calm your nerves while on your first travel assignment.
Do your own research
Before signing your contract as a first-time travel nurse, research which travel nurse company you want to work with. Think about where you want to work. Ask other travelers their opinion. Write a list of what is important/what you’re looking for on your first travel assignment.
Take care of your home logistics
Lights, gas, do they need to be turned off and does your mail need to be forwarded?
Do a dry run before starting your first assignment
Practice your first day. Check to see if commuting/traffic is an issue and the length of time you need to arrive on the unit on time. Find out where to park and how to get to your assigned unit. Is there a parking cost, if so how much?
First Day
Be prepared to make a good impression on your first day, it sets up your entire assignment. Arrive early, be cordial and professional.
Most facilities provide orientation for travel nurses to their systems and some time on the unit. To help you for the next few weeks after that orientation, enroll a nurse you work with to be your “mentor.” This way you know who to go to for questions, it will save you a lot of time.
Be flexible
As a new traveler, be flexible to location, setting and facility. You may not always be able to get your preferred position immediately because there may not be a need. Being flexible will set you up to be working as soon as possible. Be patient and work closely with your recruiter, that perfect position will come.
Stay connected with your recruiter
Your recruiter will be with you every step of the way answering questions and guiding you through the process. Your recruiter will support you throughout your assignment. Call them whenever you have a concern, issue or question. They are here to support you and help you have a successful travel assignment.
Are you traveling with pets? Let your recruiter know so they can help support you with anything that might come up. Does your pet need to see their vet before traveling with you? Are their immunizations up to date?
Think about your next assignment.
13 weeks goes by quickly. It’s never too soon to start talking with your recruiter about what’s next after this assignment. Do you want to extend, or do you want a new assignment?
You’re off and running on the next exciting phase of your career!
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Aging is a part of life and there is nothing we can do about that. We can, however, do everything in our power in order for our dearest ones to feel comfortable, appreciated and loved once they reach old age. As a travel nurse this can be more of a concern, since you are away from home for work. If you find yourself in this situation where you have to care for an elderly parent, it’s good to know that there are many things you can do for them. Take a look.
Make sure you understand their needs
The first thing you need to do is have an honest conversation with your parent. Ask them whether they want to stay in their home, move to a smaller place or even to a retirement village. If you see that they are struggling with everyday activities, you can suggest hiring someone to help out around the house. In case they also have health issues, you must take that into consideration before you make any decisions.
Maintain contact with them
If you agree that your parent will continue living alone, you should reach out to them on a regular basis. Being away can make this more difficult but, thanks to technology, it’s no longer hard to stay in touch. Try to teach them how to use various apps so that you can talk more often. If you’re a busy person, you can call them on your way to work or while you’re going home. Also, try to see them at least once or twice a week if possible. If it isn’t possible have a friend stop by for a visit on a weekly basis. Make sure they know you are there for them, no matter what t
hey need, and that they can always turn to you.
Encourage them to socialize
Since you are away on assignment as a travel nurse you may not have the opportunity to spend the time with them and socialize with them. If they can move on their own, they can go to bingo nights or organize a book club with their friends. Moreover, living in a retirement village is great for socializing as they can meet a lot of people their own age who might share similar interests. Elderly people who live alone are at a greater risk of depression. That is why you should encourage them to socialize.
Provide them with proper care
Of course, you want to provide your parents with the best possible care. That is why you might want to consider hiring a professional caregiver who can make sure your parent is safe and taken care of. A caregiver can put your mind at ease when you are traveling for work.
On the other hand, if you have the time, you can also opt to further your education to help you deal with the numerous aspects of caring for an elderly person, including conditions such as dementia and the strategies needed to deal with it. By gaining this additional knowledge you can ensure you will be well equipped to know how to assist your parent and give them all the support they need. Moreover, don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it. Even if you do decide to care for them on your own, you should be able to rely on other family members or even have a caregiver who can help out from time to time.
Ensure their home is safe
You should properly equip your parent’s home if they want to stay there alone. Introducing even small changes can help them a lot. For example, installing grab bars near the shower and toilet can make everyday life much easier. Also, add anti-scald devices to faucets to prevent serious burns. Invest in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with vibrate or strobe lights features which elders can notice more easily. Furthermore, make sure night lights are installed so that they can find their way around the home during the night. To avoid accidents, remove all clutter from floors and add non-skid mats in slippery parts of the house.
Take care of finances
Finances are often a tough topic to discuss, but it is something that has to be done. See whether they are willing to give you the power of attorney, in case they can’t control their finances anymore. Ask if they have a will, and if not, make sure they make one. Additionally, you have to talk about various monthly expenses. If they move to an aged care home, who will be paying for it? Would it be more cost-effective if they were to move to a smaller condo? Will they be paying their own bills or will you take over that responsibility? Moreover, there are resources which can help you reduce the costs of prescription drugs and save money on medical bills.
Taking care of other people, even if they are your parents, can be extremely difficult and challenging. If you feel like you are up to the task, go for it. If not, know that there are great options for your parents out there. Whatever you do, make sure you stay in touch and show them how much they mean to you.
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The third option that many travel nurses choose, is to carry their home with them in the form of an RV. Using an RV Travel Nurse housing as an alternative has many advantages.
I’ll be brief on this because I’m not as well educated on RV living as I am with the previous two options. There are a lot of travel nurses that choose to take their homes with them and there are some distinct advantages to doing so.
Advantages
If you have a tax-home and are eligible for the tax-free perks, your travel nurse housing stipend can actually make both your lot rent payments as well as your RV payments. I have spoken to several travel nurses that have done that very thing.
You only have to go through the riggers of packing once. To many, this in itself is reason enough to go through the trials of RV ownership.
When you choose RV travel nurse housing and living in an RV park there are no outside chores to do. No lawn to cut. If the wind should blow down a tree or tree limb the park cleans up the mess. Oops a dog got into the trash…park managers job. Essentially the only upkeep you must maintain is the home itself.
If you get tired of living in one spot or you just don’t like the neighbors you just crank up and move on.
If your planning to explore this option, I would advise you to reach out to the RV communities both in your local area as well as online and do as much research as possible beforehand. There are a multitude of resources for RV living.
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