Nursing Uncharted Ep 109 - Set Yourself Up for Travel Nurse Housing Success

Have you ever arrived at a travel assignment only to discover your new home is a nightmare? Do you want greater control of your living situation while on the road? 

In this episode of Nursing Uncharted, host Ann sits down with veteran travel nurse Natalie to share her wildest "Housing of Horror" stories. From snooping landlords to being locked out in bunny slippers, Natalie’s experiences will make you laugh and leave you equipped to take on life's challenges. You'll feel empowered to set boundaries, to lean on our nursing community, and to find the safe haven we deserve. 

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Key Topics Discussed

• Prioritizing Safety: How to take charge of your housing search and vet locations. 

• Setting Boundaries: The confidence to demand respect and privacy from landlords. 

• Community Support: Relying on fellow nurses to navigate unexpected housing disasters. 

Chapters: 

• 00:00 - Introduction & meeting Natalie 

• 01:44 - Taking greater control of your housing and safety 

• 14:08 - Boston horror: The boundary-pushing roommate 

• 19:58 - Portland nightmare: The snooping landlord 

• 36:09 - Finding strength in our nursing community 

• 39:07 - Key takeaways and housing tips for your next assignment 

Guest Spotlight 

Meet our guest, Natalie, a travel nurse whose 12 years of experience in pediatric PACU have empowered her to navigate even the toughest housing challenges with courage and wisdom. Natalie’s insights on finding safe, comfortable housing, and her willingness to share personal housing horror stories, provide valuable lessons for anyone looking to take greater control of their travel nursing journey. 

Transcript

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:23:10
 
Hey, guys. Welcome back to another episode of Nursing Uncharted. I'm your host, Ann, and today I'm so excited about this episode because we met sort of organically, not organically, but we just kind of met each other, fell in love, became friends, and an opportunity came up that I needed a guest. And you came in with a great idea that we really haven't touched on.

00:00:23:10 - 00:00:45:16
 
And I'm excited to kind of dive in because you have some of the best stories. So before I give too much away, introduce yourself to the listeners. Okay. My name is Natalie and and I met up in Vegas or else I travel on and I have been traveling for the last 12 years. My specialty is PACU, mainly pediatrics.

00:00:45:18 - 00:01:05:22
 
Most of my adults too. And I spoke to and about, travel, nursing and housing and just thought it could be fun to talk about. So this is what we stumbled upon. Yes. And I have to mention, you were one of our scavenger hunt winners, and I just remember you coming and being like, I saw it on Instagram.

00:01:06:01 - 00:01:21:11
 
Give me a clue where is it? And it was so refreshing to see or so exciting, I should say, for you to come circle back. And you found one of our ribbons and, you know, it just kind of it went from there. We followed each other in social media. You saw that I needed a guest and you jumped on it.

00:01:21:11 - 00:01:44:11
 
So something that we travel nursing we wanted, though I think one of the hardest things sometimes is figuring out your housing situation. So usually we find the job. It's either because it's a location we really want to go to or, you know, the the pay is great. So we're like, let's just go. And then after you get the job, the next part of that is, okay, now where am I going to stay?

00:01:44:13 - 00:02:07:02
 
We hope that every time we show up, the, you know, our housing situation is exactly what is advertised. But a lot of times that is not what happens. I think it would be fun to kind of share those stories. You definitely have more stories than I do, but we kind of fake name this episode. Housing of Horror appropriate.

00:02:07:05 - 00:02:27:06
 
You know, I think before we jump into those funny stories like, let's kind of dig into how we find our housing and you know, what we're looking for and why we choose, you know, the spots that that we do. So for you, when you're looking for housing, what what is like one of the important things that you look for, do you look at the area you want to be in the fun spot or like distance to the hospital?

00:02:27:06 - 00:02:40:12
 
What's something that you you look at? Yeah, kind of a little bit of everything. I do want to be close to the hospital, but I also want to be close to the entertainment. So even where I am now, like being close to the hospital is in a great area. So I'm like, let's go a little bit further out.

00:02:40:14 - 00:02:59:16
 
I'll do a longer drive, but I'll be closer to fun. And I think traveling somewhere, you want to have that work life balance and be able to go somewhere on your days off, so that I typically like to live alone, although some places you just that it's expensive. You're fortunate for having a roommate. Yeah. Just. You want to live in a clean area where women.

00:02:59:16 - 00:03:15:22
 
I think that like it comes without saying. We want, like, clean, shiny, all of that. And. Yeah, safe. You're safe. You know, we want to make sure we're looking at a safe area that way. Yeah. I think, you know what? We didn't really touch on that. But I think that like safety like for, you know, most travel nurses.

00:03:15:22 - 00:03:35:09
 
So guys listening but like it's a it's a really woman heavy profession you know. And yeah we have to look out for ourselves. The world's a little scary at times. So I think safety is is a big thing too. You know, going to a place that we've never been before. How do you know an area is safe? Like what?

00:03:35:14 - 00:03:55:10
 
Like what? What do you do? A lot of times we just go to social media, ask our friends, ask, you know, other travelers and see, you know, what's a good area or do do a Google search. But, you know, I think safety is is a big like for me. I think being in a safe area, is is probably a priority, but I never really thought of it that way.

00:03:55:10 - 00:04:16:01
 
You know, I just I kind of look at it. I try to like Google, like, if I find a place that address, I'll like, like, look at the what's it called? Like when you it'll show like the picture of the street. Yes. Yeah. Like street view. The street view. Yeah. And my, my assignment in I took an assignment in Philadelphia, which is Philadelphia is very street dependent.

00:04:16:01 - 00:04:35:15
 
So I remember looking at the Google view of or you saying Google view of the, the street view of, of the place I was staying and it was condemned. And I'm like, wait, what? So like I had to like talk to the girl and she's like, no, no, no, that's super old. Like it was completely renovated. The street was completely redone.

00:04:35:17 - 00:04:54:17
 
You know, it's like, oh my God. Yeah, you take a chance. So like, you want to believe that the landlords aren't doing you're wrong, right? You're like, okay. Yeah, if you say so. Are you like, I want to trust you. So there's a lot of faith that you have to put because you're not close by. It's just like kind of like word of mouth, like what you said and doing your own research.

00:04:54:17 - 00:05:12:22
 
Yeah, yeah. And, you know, I think I think we're similar in a way that I like to live alone majority of the time, but there are places where it's just not feasible, you know, unless you're going to stay in a hotel, which like some people opt to do that, you know, that is an option and it's an option even for, you know, Amen.

00:05:12:22 - 00:05:29:13
 
To find your housing for you, that you can take this element out of it. But I think as a travel nurse, that's part of the fun of traveling is is finding your own housing, even though it can be stressful and and scary at times. But it's, you know, it is it is still a fun element of it. Yes.

00:05:29:13 - 00:05:47:04
 
No, I totally agree. It's it's nice. Amen. Has that feature that they will find you something because sometimes it's just hard. Depending on where you go, the options are still limited. And where there's more options, it's fun to kind of find your own housing and choose your own location and choose where you want to be, which, it's all part of the journey.

00:05:47:09 - 00:06:10:06
 
Yeah, yeah. And you're you're in Denver now, right? Is that correct? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And you've been there before, right? Yes. This is my fourth time back here. Oh my gosh I love that though. Like I think that speaks to you know what. Like how the groups that you are, the people you work with and just how the how the hospital is I do I love a return travel story.

00:06:10:08 - 00:06:26:16
 
Yes, yes. And you know what you're getting into. You kind of like, you know, the pros and the cons, and there's no surprise factor that comes along with a brand new assignment of like, a new place. So that's going to do you stay in the same place or have you stayed in a different place every time? Every time it's been different.

00:06:26:16 - 00:06:45:05
 
So my first year here I like didn't know the area well, kind of like what you were saying. So I lived quite far away from everything. The hospital and the happening scene, and it was an amazing place. It was quiet like had parking, all the things I wanted, but it was just far away. So I've like progressively moved to like more fun places.

00:06:45:07 - 00:07:02:07
 
I'm in a condo now, which is different for me because I usually just like, want to live in a house by myself. So that comes along with like its own challenges too, of like hearing people and like parking and all that fun stuff. Yeah. But still, I mean, you know what? I'll take it compared to some of my other experiences that I've had.

00:07:02:09 - 00:07:18:22
 
Yeah, I know, and, you know, it is kind of it is kind of fun. And something I just thought of talking is the people that I just went to the I just finished an assignment and it was my third time there, and I've stayed at a different place every time because it was an area that has progressively gotten more and more expensive.

00:07:18:22 - 00:07:40:19
 
And I'm like, no, I have a place somewhere else and I'm duplicating my expenses. I can't afford to stay in these like, super nice places that I previously did. And you know, I've become friends with my landlord. So before we talk about the scary, like I do want to highlight that some of these people like one of my first assignments was the place that I just left.

00:07:40:19 - 00:08:05:09
 
And, you know, I when I was there the last time, I didn't stay with her, but we went to dinner. I met up with her daughters and like, you know, you kind of like, bond with complete strangers because you show up at their door and you live with them for three months, like, yeah, you know, and that's the ideal situation is you're going to become friends, you're going to get along, you're going to make it work.

00:08:05:09 - 00:08:24:22
 
And, you know, hopefully have that relationship that's lasting. And then the other person I stayed with, they reached out to me, had no idea I was up there on assignment because they were down in San Diego thinking of me, and they were like, hey. And like, how are you doing? This is so-and-so. You know, we just want to let you know our place is going to be available in April.

00:08:24:22 - 00:08:42:21
 
Can you help us try to find someone to fill it? So it's kind of cool. Like, you know, they can use us to like, help them fill in. You can use them to maybe phone a friend, you know, their place isn't available. So I kind of like the good relationships that we get out of positive housing experiences. Really agree.

00:08:42:22 - 00:08:59:00
 
Like my very first assignment, I was with somebody. I was trying to do it like on the cheap, save as much as I could, and her and I are still really good friends. Like we've gone out for dinner together. Like when I'm back in town, her and I will get together. We still catch up periodically and it's fun.

00:08:59:00 - 00:09:17:23
 
Like when you make those connection, when you have the great landlords, it's like so long lasting, like you said. Yeah. And I think that's the like that goes to speak for the fun of that. Finding your housing aspect is friendships that you may have never had before. And I think that's kind of what travel nursing is to you meet people like, look at us like we we met at Travel Con.

00:09:18:01 - 00:09:36:05
 
I needed a guest to come on. You were like, you jumped on it within I think seconds. And then we were on the phone for like an hour talking, prepping for this recording, and it was just like I was talking to a friend, and I just. I think it's I think it's so cool. And I think the nursing profession is just that speaks to what we are.

00:09:36:06 - 00:09:57:18
 
You know, we're very, you know, open people that just want to create good relationships, just like we do with our patients. And I think moving around like that comes to the territory of like, like you want someone to share these experiences with. And, so it's nice to make friends and like, we're all in this together and we're all like, not to sound cliche, but like, all of us travelers are, like, mostly doing this solo.

00:09:57:18 - 00:10:19:06
 
So the friend that we can make along the way, it's fun. Like to share the experience as well. Yeah, yeah. And that's true. Like, you know, we're a lot of times alone and we need like, not that we need a friend, but I think that I think that like is why we like quickly create and cultivate relationships. And you bond faster is because we don't have much time sometimes with those people.

00:10:19:06 - 00:10:37:08
 
Like they might already be on the assignment. You bond and then they leave you in a month. So you have to like jam, pack it all like, yes. Totally agree. Totally agree us what? So what is your favorite place like? Where have you? But remind me again how long you've been traveling and then like, where is your favorite place you travel?

00:10:37:12 - 00:11:02:07
 
Yeah. So I started my very first contract was January 2020. Pre-COVID, did I know the world was about to get shaken up a lot? And then I pretty much been traveling since, I think my favorite location has been San Diego, which I know you can appreciate that. I mean, yeah, the sunshine, the beaches, the perfect weather, the proximity to, like, everything amazing.

00:11:02:08 - 00:11:27:08
 
Temecula. Amazing. Yeah. So good. Local, all my favorite things. The Mexican food in San Diego. Top notch. I mean, like, a great place to be. It's just expensive. Oh, that's the one downfall, but amazing place. Yeah, it is nice and it sucks you in and sometimes can't get out. I'm grateful to be here, but now I have to work every single day to afford to live here.

00:11:27:08 - 00:12:04:14
 
So we are. Yes, yes. What's been your favorite? My favorite place. It's hard because I think my favorite assignment was not in a location that I liked. But like, I had a really amazing thank you for asking, by the way. That was sweet. I actually had I stayed there for about a year and it was near my hometown, which was kind of nice because I was able to see my family reconnect with friends and ironically, a girl that I worked with in my home hospital was on a travel assignment with me at this hospital, but it was only like 40 miles from where I grew up.

00:12:04:15 - 00:12:22:15
 
And but it was a really small NICU, and I got to just work with doctors and work with management in a way that I never did before. And it was a really special experience for me. And, you know, I really helped them with like an onboarding process. And I oriented a lot of their staff because it was a new place and I felt valued.

00:12:22:20 - 00:12:44:21
 
So I think that's why, you know, I, I think it's my favorite one. And, you know, just I even keep in contact with the doctors and the nurse, like the nurses I worked with, like it's, you know, it was it was really special. But the location nothing's chosen. But, you know, just I think I think your job can can make it the best, even if you're not in an area that you thought you would want to go to.

00:12:44:23 - 00:13:08:11
 
I totally agree. And the people and the people, which is weird because I'm like, I couldn't wait to get out of where I grew up. And then I'm back there and I'm like, I like these people. Yes, it makes a huge difference. Huge. They get you through an assignment, honestly. Like even if your house isn't great, I feel like if you go to work and you work with great people, then that can like take the edge off of like a crappy situation with your house.

00:13:08:13 - 00:13:24:20
 
Yeah. Do you ever take like a local assignment near where, you know, because I'm Canadian, so there's not like a huge travel and they're saying, it's not the same in Canada. Basically. I didn't know you're Canadian this week. This is so cool. We're not going to get deep into this is we're going to be talking for an hour.

00:13:24:20 - 00:13:43:05
 
But we we need to circle back. We need to talk about I love this okay. Yes. But no I've been in this state for 11 years now, which is wild. Yeah. There's like really not a whole lot of level stuff. Yeah. For me. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Well, this is really special. We're going to totally talk about this some other time, but amazing.

00:13:43:08 - 00:14:08:09
 
Okay. Let's get into these amazing stories that you told me so you know, we talked about your most, like, your favorite place you've been, but what is the most memorable housing experience you had? Good or bad or good or bad? Okay. Honestly, we'll just jump right in and talk about the bad. And, so I was in New England last summer, and I really just wanted to be in New England.

00:14:08:10 - 00:14:30:19
 
My manager here in Colorado was like, do you want to extend? And I was like, no, I'm going to New England. And I knew it was pricey there. Like, I absolutely know. So I started in Boston, which I, loved, loved it, loved my job. The people were amazing, loved living in Boston, my house, staying where I was in the suburbs, in Waltham there was such little house thing.

00:14:30:19 - 00:14:58:03
 
So I lived with, another woman, and she was in her 40s. And when we talked, we drive. It was great. And honestly, it it wasn't horrible living with her at all. This is not my like, most memorable one. Yeah. I don't get into politics. We'll get there. Prelude. But there were certain things that like annoyed me. And two of those things, number one being the air conditioning, she was like, really turn it off when she was at home.

00:14:58:05 - 00:15:20:15
 
And so I would text her and be like, hey, like the air conditioning is not running in my room. Like I have a thermometer and it's saying it's like 88 degrees in here. Can we possibly turn on the air conditioning and the, the switch to turn on the air conditioning was in her bedroom, and obviously I didn't want to go into her bedroom because as a woman, even I'm sure men feel the same way.

00:15:20:15 - 00:15:37:20
 
Like, I don't want someone going into my bedroom when I'm not there. So I would like ask her. And then sometimes I would turn back on mysteriously and other times it would end. But it was Boston. It was the summer. It was hot and like, tower fan can only do so much when it's hot in your bedroom.

00:15:37:20 - 00:16:04:16
 
So that was like one of the things. And then the other thing was she was like a little bird, like she would just snack throughout the day and, like, eat her crackers and eat her bread and like my weirdo seediness like, I would come into the kitchen and there would be, like, crumbs all over the floor, over the counter, like constantly like she would just walk and eat and like, she never sat down to eat a meal and like, I would be like walking on the floor and there would be, like, bread stuff at my feet, like cracker crumbs.

00:16:04:18 - 00:16:24:09
 
One morning I came down and there was like shredded cheese all over the counter and I was like, oh, what is going on here? Like what is going on then? And she owned the house, so I wasn't going to be like super confrontational and be like, hey, you're in your 40s. You need please clean up after yourself. Like, that's a weird conversation to have with people, especially if they own the home.

00:16:24:09 - 00:16:41:21
 
But so that was a weird situation. But like the best part, sorry. No, no, no, I was going to say but that that goes to like you learn about people like you. You can have these like amazing phone conversations, but like people sometimes are just completely unaware. Totally, totally. And like, how do you tell an adult these things?

00:16:41:21 - 00:16:57:06
 
But something funny that I actually like was telling my colleagues about that we haven't even talked about that I forgot was like this roommate. Like she would go out late and come home at like 2 or 3 a.m. and I would like hear her. Her bedroom was on top of mine and I would hear her come home, which would, like, wake me up and like, that's a whole other story.

00:16:57:06 - 00:17:16:23
 
However, one day she was napping in the late afternoon and I was working 8 to 430. So I was home, you know, at like normal times and my family's face time me so I like, go outside, take the phone call. It was probably like 7 p.m.. I was in my pajamas. I'm an old lady. I had these bunny slippers, like I had these huge feet.

00:17:17:03 - 00:17:33:21
 
And so, like when I fly in size 11 slippers, like, I have to buy them like I can't. So I have these, like, Easter bunny slippers and pajamas. And so I'm on a space time call. I go to go back into the house. The is locked like the back door, like locked behind you automatically, which I had no idea.

00:17:33:23 - 00:17:51:21
 
No click. So I'm in my pajamas, bunny slippers, bra, nothing. And I have to go to the bathroom and I'm like, oh my gosh. So I'm like texting her. She doesn't answer. I go around to the front yard and I'm like, ringing the doorbell. I'm calling her. I'm texting her like, I'm really sorry. Like, I don't mean to be this.

00:17:51:21 - 00:18:10:19
 
I know I'm like, I really need to use the bathroom. And, I ended up having to walk to the neighbor's house and be like, hi. No, we've never met. I'm here in my pajamas, bunny slippers on. I had, like, ears on them, like a toddler slippers. I really need to use a bathroom. Like, I know we've never met, but can I please use your bathroom?

00:18:10:19 - 00:18:27:17
 
In today's day and age, I'm like, shocked that she actually let me and but thank God she did because I had to go to the bathroom so bad and my roommate ended up like coming to open the door like an hour later. Oh my gosh. Yes, yes. I was like mortified. But I mean, it makes for a good story now.

00:18:27:17 - 00:18:48:16
 
Like in the moment, I was like livid. But now I can like, laugh at what a fool I probably look like being like, how did you become friends with the neighbors though? I feel like they were cool people. They would have been like, hey, look at this. Yes, we exchanged numbers. She had cats, I love cats, and I was like, if you ever need anyone to watch her cats, I owe you a solid because, this is kind of awkward for me.

00:18:48:18 - 00:19:08:09
 
And we were just talking about cats for a few minutes, because what else can you do? And I'm just, like, coming to your house to use your bathroom. Yeah, I love that. Exactly. That was my New England adventure. And I was like, oh, any worse than this? But writing with it. Yeah. I mean, in hindsight, like, you think about, like, those are like little things, right?

00:19:08:10 - 00:19:31:10
 
You know, you just you realize it's not a good fit. You know, that's the air conditioning thing. Yeah. That's oof especially in the summer. Like I'm from, I'm from the northeast. Not that far north, but it gets hot, you know, and like, it's humid, like you need AC. A tower fan, like you said, it's not going to do the job, but like, you know, you can kind of deal with a little bit of, like, dirt or like just, you know, that.

00:19:31:10 - 00:19:58:04
 
But there are some things that happen that just, you know, sometimes you have to get out of a situation. So, you know, I think your next experience that you share is, is going to highlight that. So yes. So it was like a two for two for one. So I accepted a contract in Portland, Maine. And I was so pumped because everybody talked so, so highly of Maine Med and they were right.

00:19:58:04 - 00:20:22:14
 
Great contract like loved my contract there. Portland is very, very, very hard to find housing in. They went in like the I started Labor Day weekend or week. So summer was like coming to an end. Summer is even worse in fall. But here I was trying to find somewhere I like, found a place that was available to live by myself, and it just wasn't ready for a week.

00:20:22:18 - 00:20:44:05
 
So I was like, you know what? I will find temporary housing for a week and then I'll move into this place to simplify things. I said, you know what? I'll just do a month with person A, and then I'll finish my contract out at the house that I actually want it. So person everything all her Jane. So Jane and I were like messaging each other on furniture finders like, hey, I found your place.

00:20:44:05 - 00:21:02:18
 
Can we chat? Chat just to like, get the vibe of people exactly who you like. Five, ten minutes and you can, like, kind of tell. So I'm driving home from my job in Boston talking to Jane. It was like an hour and a half, and not that I wanted to talk about long. Like she just, like, would not take the hand that, like, cool.

00:21:02:18 - 00:21:18:08
 
Got it. Like going to go inside now. Like it's pouring rain in Boston. I'm like, I just want to go inside my house, but I want to hang up the phone first. Anyways, I was talking about Jane with people at my job in Boston and they were like, oh, she sounds crazy. I'm like, I know it's short term.

00:21:18:08 - 00:21:40:00
 
Like, you know, they're like, she sounds like this lonely old cat lady. And I'm like, you know, she might be, but I like cats too. So like, you know, they warned me they were like, hello, Red flash 2025. Yes, yes. But I was like, it's hard to find housing in Portland. So let's just let's go with it. So I got there and like first night like weirdness.

00:21:40:00 - 00:21:53:08
 
She was like, you know, it was a two bedroom, two bathroom house. And she was like, if your parents ever want to come over, they can have my room and I'll both stay with my mom. Like, I'll strip the bed and put new sheets on the bed and do that and accommodate them. I would love to have your parents here.

00:21:53:08 - 00:22:12:10
 
And I'm like, that's weird. Like, I would never volunteer to give up my bedroom for somebody family to sleep in there. So I thought like, that was like kind of already weird. And then like, she wanted to go out with me the first night in, like, we went out for dinner and she was so loud of the restaurant and telling the server, like, this is my friend Natalie, and she's a travel nurse from Canada.

00:22:12:10 - 00:22:30:15
 
And I'm like, I just met you. Like, what do you mean I'm your friend? Like, it was so weird. So I like, slowly, like, kind of separate myself from her because I was like, this is day one. It's only going to get, like, more weird, like, keep Maine weird. But it was only going to get weird, more weird for the next month that I was with her.

00:22:30:17 - 00:22:53:22
 
So I start my new job, Monday, I guess. And and then from previous travel experiences, I have had cameras at my house and like, I have actually had to use them, like when I've had packages stolen and whatnot. And so I had a camera in my bedroom, and I caught her twice in my bedroom my first week there, like I was at work and like, this looks like she was snooping around.

00:22:53:22 - 00:23:09:01
 
And I was like, that's not cool. Because when we talk for an hour and a half, when I was pouring rain in Boston, I specifically said, like, I just want to make sure that, like, our bedrooms are off limits, like, this is my space and yours is your space, and like, I'll respect that. And she was so on board.

00:23:09:01 - 00:23:27:08
 
She was like, of course, like, that's your bedroom. I would never want to trespass, yada yada yada. So like, okay, cool. Great. So the first time she did it, I was like, I'll give her a pass. I'll let her go. She was definitely, like, skipping around. You could see her like one area. I mean, you're right.

00:23:27:08 - 00:23:52:10
 
You can give them a little bit of a pass, but I do think, you know, just a pause here. Like with with that. I think that, like, if landlords are listening, it is important for someone that's traveling, you know, to have a safe space to be I mean, like, you know, let's be real for like two seconds, like we, we have hard days and like, we were away from our home or away from our friends or away from our family.

00:23:52:12 - 00:24:12:16
 
And we need a safe space. So like the fact that you had that conversation about like, a room being off limits, you know, that that's really it is an important thing to discuss with someone, a roommate that you're going to, a stranger that's going to be your roommate for one to 3 to 6. However long you stay there, you know, must, you know, it's like it is.

00:24:12:16 - 00:24:35:07
 
You need that safe space. So, you know, okay. Someone's curious. It's their house. You want to look around, but, you know, good, good on you for giving a pass for the first one. For the first one, the second time she did it. I was not so nice. So I was at work again. I'm like eating my lunch and I get a notification like, hey, somebody on the camera and I see her in my room again.

00:24:35:07 - 00:24:54:14
 
And so I was like, breathe, breathe. And then I was like, you know, like, that's twice in one week. You're being very, very, gutsy by doing that. And had she said something to me like, hey, I just need to go into your room to check something, do you mind? That would have been fine. But the fact that she did it behind my back was like, what frustrated me?

00:24:54:14 - 00:25:26:05
 
And kind of like what you said, like, the expectation is like you want to feel safe in your place, whether that's a bedroom, house or the whole house. Like you want to feel safe. And I think it goes both ways between landlords and tenants. Like, we all want our safe space and. Yeah, yeah. And it's just like, you know, it's it's it's a respect thing to and that like, for example, right now like I have someone staying in like my house temporarily, just like a, you know, just for personal reasons, just very temporarily.

00:25:26:07 - 00:25:49:20
 
And I had to, like, get something out of there. And I text and they didn't respond. So I didn't go in, you know, and I think it's just that, you know, even though this is like my place, it's still some space that, you know, you, you are allowing someone to, to be in. And so I do think that we, we as travel nurses, we as tenants to these people have the right when we're, we're paying you the dollars to be in your home.

00:25:50:00 - 00:26:07:15
 
So please allow me to have my space that I'm paying for. So yeah, totally. Yes, exactly. And again, it goes both ways, right. Like it's a respect from both angles. Yes. So I confronted her I was at work. It's like 7:00 at night and I'm like, hey, I just got you in my room. Like, can you just let me know?

00:26:07:15 - 00:26:24:07
 
Like, what's going on? I thought we had this agreement and whatever or whatever. And her like, response was like, so rapid fire felt like in her mind she was like, oh shit, I got caught. How do I quickly rectify the situation? And she was like, oh, I was going to text you and tell you, sorry, I didn't get around to it.

00:26:24:07 - 00:26:39:11
 
And it was like ten texts in a row. And then it turned into like, why do you have a camera in your bedroom? Do you have a camera in the house? Are you secretly recording me in my house? Should I be worried that the neighbors are being recorded too? And like, what's happening to my cats all of a sudden it turned into like me.

00:26:39:11 - 00:26:57:11
 
Like doing something to her cats. It was just like boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Message after message after message was like, whoa. And like, I know, like I was young ones too. And like, when you get caught, you get defensive. Like, that's just like a natural reaction. And I was like, hold up. And she was just like, you're so brash.

00:26:57:11 - 00:27:19:11
 
Like, why would you have cameras in your room? Do you not trust me? Or like, clearly I don't. And I was trying to be so calm with her because I was like, clearly like, you're very like, you're here. I anything I say, it's going to be, like taken out of proportion. Yeah. And so it just like basically things spiraled and like she was somebody who like texted text, the text of like nonstop.

00:27:19:11 - 00:27:36:03
 
And I was like, okay, please stop. So I ended up messaging this other landlord whose house I was going to move into early in October. I was like, hey, can I move in? Because I just caught this landlord where I'm currently at in my room twice in my first week here. And she was like, oh that's horrible. Yeah.

00:27:36:04 - 00:27:54:10
 
See, like the guy's coming out Saturday. If you want to clean yourself. Like I don't have cleaners coming for a while, but if you want to clean, like feel free to move in on Sunday and we'll start your, rental then. And I was like, yes. So this landlord left cognitively all weekend, which was good for me because I just wanted to like pack her house.

00:27:54:12 - 00:28:16:10
 
Well, that's the thing to like. How do you go back to that? Like after you like, how do you handle those situations? Right. Like, thank goodness you had something else lined up. But like it's it's it's stressful and not, you know, I my very first travel assignment my housing situation like I mean TMI but the girl used my razor in the shower.

00:28:16:12 - 00:28:37:22
 
Oh no. I was like, that's not mine. And I'm like, this is so weird. Like, why? You know, it's an okay, it's a razor. But like, still, it's like this is like what? Like it's one of those thing and. Yeah, and yes, it's the boundary thing. And like she went into my room and you know, and asked like, hey, like it was like something, like something so like it was like the window or something.

00:28:37:22 - 00:28:52:23
 
And I'm like, wait, what? And then she's like, oh, I found this in your room. I'm like, why are you going through my stuff? And like, it was my first travel assignment, so I didn't know any better. Oh, I was like, okay, this is this isn't my house. Apparently these people, it's fine for everyone to go through your stuff.

00:28:52:23 - 00:29:14:21
 
But then when you use my, my razor, that's kind of like, move boundaries. Yeah, well it's interesting, right? So like this landlord, she try to stay like, the reason that I was in your room is because my electricity bill has skyrocketed since you've moved in, and I think it's because you leave the air conditioning like this house had window units and you're from the northeast.

00:29:14:21 - 00:29:31:04
 
Ish. Like, you know, it's humid and hot and, like, your clothes get musty and wet, and, like, I was paying, I think, $2,000 for a bedroom. So I was like, I think that I can keep the air conditioning running. It wasn't like it was at 50 degrees, like it was like 70, whatever. In the 70s. And also I'd been there for one week.

00:29:31:04 - 00:29:47:14
 
So like, I know she had an electric bill. Yeah. So I'm like, don't lie to me. Like you were in my room snooping and it is what it is. But, like, just don't lie to me. Long story short, I ended up moving out like within. Like I moved it to my new place. Like I caught her on Friday for the second time.

00:29:47:18 - 00:30:05:05
 
I was in my new place Sunday and, yeah, I was just like, get me out of here. So is this was your second place good, or was her second place bad? I was also bad. I, like, almost lost my faith in Portland because I was like, are all people crazy? So my second place, it started out great.

00:30:05:05 - 00:30:24:07
 
Like, the landlord was like really accommodating obviously to like let me in early, like clean myself, which I knew I was going to like. She told me was kind of weird, though, to start out that way, to be like, oh, you're going to clean this. You're. Yeah. I mean, to me, it was like, the only way that I could, like, get out of the other person's house.

00:30:24:10 - 00:30:40:18
 
So and I was like, sure, I'll do it. And she was like, the guy's probably pretty clean. Like, I haven't been into his space since he moved in. I was like, check. You like, respect boundaries. Then, I was like, you know what? It's my only fast exit. So, like, let's do it. And she was like, I'm very pregnant.

00:30:40:18 - 00:30:55:05
 
She was 40 weeks pregnant, like, ready to pop at any time. And she was like, I can't bend over and clean. And I was like, no, I got it. Like, you're helping me. Cool. Yeah. So it started out great with I met her whole family, like she had young kids. Everything was great. I lived on top of their garage.

00:30:55:05 - 00:31:15:14
 
It was a two bedroom on top of their garage. And then they lived on the same property. So, like, for the first week, everything was fine. And then I came to Trav Con in Vegas where we met. Yeah. And I had, like, messaged her just to be like, hey, just so you know, like, in case you see a car pulling into your property today, like, 3 a.m. to me, like, don't be freaked out because she had two young kids.

00:31:15:14 - 00:31:35:18
 
So I want you to be, like, respectful of that. And like that. That was me being a nice person. But I think it like, annoyed her that I was messaging her. And then when I came back from Trav Con, I noticed that there was purple shampoo all over my shower, like I had like exploded or when I was that Trav time, she told me like, hey, a plumber's coming into the house today.

00:31:35:19 - 00:31:49:20
 
Look at the water pressure. And I was like, okay, I guess I have no say in this. Like, no, like 24 hours, whatever. I was gone. So I was like, not the end of the world. So I guess while he was in the shower doing whatever, he must have dropped my purple shampoo and it had like, stain the walls.

00:31:49:20 - 00:32:14:12
 
And as you know, from having silver hair like that, that was expensive. It's like over $50 a bottle. And so I was like, hey, like this happened and now the walls are stained. Like, just an FYI, I. And her response was like, oh, bummer. Like what? That is a bummer for him. For me. Are you going oh, I was like, okay, not what I was expecting, but okay.

00:32:14:15 - 00:32:34:08
 
And then two of the smoke alarms went off like my second week there. Like the batteries need to change. And the lease, it said to contact the landlord for smoke detector stuff, so I did. She maybe that was like the third thing that pissed her off between like me telling her, hey, I'm going to be in your driveway probably at 3 a.m..

00:32:34:09 - 00:32:54:06
 
Yeah, okay. This purple shampoo that stain the wall. Yeah. And now there's smoke detectors going off. And she was like, you are like. Like we've never had a tenant be this needy. You are being way to needy. You can fix the smoke detector yourself. Just buy new batteries if you want me to reimburse you. I can. But like, it's not that hard.

00:32:54:11 - 00:33:10:09
 
And I was like, okay. Like I wasn't trying to be like, hey, in your lease. Like, it says this, like, yeah, you should probably know what's in your lease. She had just given birth. I think I was like, trying to give her a free pass. Yeah. Things happen. She's getting settled, the whole shebang. So I was like, okay, I kind of, like, so awkward.

00:33:10:09 - 00:33:29:14
 
Like, her texting me was very much like, be a grown up and do it yourself and like, stop bothering me. Meanwhile, I was like, I don't travel with a ladder, so how am I going to change these smoke detectors? Go to the driveway, I guess. Snoop around? I don't know, right? Like, That's crazy. So hot. How long did you last at this place?

00:33:29:15 - 00:33:45:14
 
Okay, so the first place was, like, just over a week. The second place was, five weeks. Like, there were, like, little things that had happened. Like, I couldn't go to our one day, like, one of my girlfriends was over visiting me, and, like, the shower door wouldn't open and it was glass, and I didn't want to break it.

00:33:45:16 - 00:34:12:19
 
So I asked her about that, and she basically said, just clean it. Like if you clean it, it will fix itself. Well, I was like, yeah, cool. And then my final straw was, when I was leaving one day to go somewhere like the temperatures had just started to change. It was the end of October in Portland. Like, I could not lock my door like it would physically lock, but like it wouldn't latch like the wood, like things were out of place and I tried so hard.

00:34:12:19 - 00:34:29:08
 
I'm not even kidding. For like 15 minutes I was like, I do not want to text this crazy lady. So I'm like, shifting the door up and down, side to side thing slamming, opening, slamming, trying to like screw, screw, like trying to do whatever I can. Of course they work. So I messaged her like, hey, I can't lock my door.

00:34:29:10 - 00:34:45:14
 
I don't know if this has ever happened. I can't remember exactly what I said, but like, I try to be like again, civil about it. No answer. So like 20 minutes goes by and I'm like, I have an appointment to get to. So I call her and I'm like, hey, like I can't lock my door. And she loses that on the phone with me.

00:34:45:14 - 00:35:04:01
 
Like, this is not an emergency. This does not need a phone call. You are so annoying, yada yada yada. And I was like, what? Like I can't lock my door. Like, yeah, this is like we talked about safety. Like if you pass in your yeah, it's it's crazy. So that was kind of that was kind of the last the last straw with with things.

00:35:04:07 - 00:35:20:05
 
Yeah. I mean she came over to look at the door and so like where I was on the like over the garage, there was like a door at the bottom of the stairs, which I didn't have a key to. So I could, like, lock it from the inside when I was home, but not from the outside. And then there was a door to my unit.

00:35:20:07 - 00:35:35:06
 
And so, like, the door downstairs was locked and she came over and she was like sort of pounding on the door. And I was like, oh, hell no. Like she like, she's out of her mind and she's yelling at me and she's just like, cursing me. I'm so annoying. And I'm so I've never had a tenant be this needy.

00:35:35:10 - 00:35:49:05
 
You need to learn how to do this stuff yourself. We live in a safe neighborhood. No one's coming into your house. I don't care if you have anything valuable. That's not my problem. Just, like, blew up at me and I was like, oh my gosh, like, what the heck? I remember calling my dad. I mean, like, I think I'm done.

00:35:49:05 - 00:36:09:13
 
Like, I'm going to cancel my contract here because I can't do this. And then it's like it loses faith in like, your job, like, you know, like these these stories, I think, like, I love that you're you're sharing these and like, you know, it really brings the realness to like, what travel nursing can be, but something I want to get to before we run out of time is how you handled the situation.

00:36:09:13 - 00:36:25:06
 
So you I know we had talked before like you had to, you know, you left you you spent five weeks there and you left. And I think it's really I want to touch on that. Before we before we wrap up, is how you got out of that and the the how like, how did you with the people that you worked with.

00:36:25:06 - 00:36:45:11
 
How did that how did. Yeah. So I was working nights in Portland small group I work PACU and I was talking about at work one day and like my camera had like actually picked up like the conversation, the like chaos of what ensued when my landlord came over and my colleagues were like, oh my gosh. And I was like, I'm so happy that I got this on camera because I feel like no one would believe me otherwise.

00:36:45:11 - 00:36:59:05
 
Right? And they were like, you need to get out of there. They help me look for housing like we were on, furnished my nerves together, like it was actually one of my colleagues who helped me find the third and final house that I moved here. And then one night at work, she was like, I'm not doing anything this weekend.

00:36:59:05 - 00:37:17:07
 
Like, if you want me to help you move, I'm happy to help you. And then another guy was like, I can come to it. I have a huge pickup truck, like, we can do it all. And so thank you to Hank and Jess, if you're listening to this, like, amazing, like, restored my faith in people from Portland because, like, they were staff there, like, I was no one to them.

00:37:17:07 - 00:37:35:10
 
Like I was brand new there for six weeks. Like they hardly knew me. And like, all of a sudden it was like, it takes a village. And they came and helped me like after working night shift, like just like such an amazing group of people. And it's such an amazing story and like, that's what I like about, you know, nursing in general, travel nursing.

00:37:35:10 - 00:37:49:17
 
But like you said, these are staff nurses, but they saw what you were going through. And like, they wanted to help you and like, you know, you had bad experience after bad experience, after bad experience. And like, you know, like you said, it's like, am I the problem? Like you start to think, oh my God. Like, is it me?

00:37:49:17 - 00:38:07:16
 
Like, what am I doing wrong? And you know, but just to have those those nurses rally behind you and help you is like, you know, I think what like the, the silver lining, the good that comes out of every bad situation, you know, to to highlight. And then I'm hoping I'm hoping you found a safe place to finish your assignment.

00:38:07:18 - 00:38:27:10
 
They were amazing. Like good good good good good. My landlord was actually Canadian so we bonded over them. Love. Third time's a charm. Truly. Like they would like dust snow off my car for me before I went in for my night shift. Like they knew you needed that. The little coddling and extra, extra TLC. They were amazing. I love them, absolutely.

00:38:27:10 - 00:38:49:00
 
Chris and Natalie love, I love both. Thankfully it's not all bad. Like there's silver linings to like bad informations. And I think this is why I wanted to do this episode, is because I think that that like you have like crazy stories, but you're not the only one. You know, I think that we everyone looks at like every housing situation, if you've been doing this long enough, you're going to have a crazy, a crazy story.

00:38:49:00 - 00:39:07:04
 
You know, the house housing of horror as we, we know, claim this episode to be. But you know what is something you learn from this experience? Is this like made you approach finding housing differently? Yeah. Okay. So read reviews. If there are no reviews on a posting like have a red flag because like just, you know, like people are honest.

00:39:07:04 - 00:39:22:15
 
They feel like overall reviews. So like people are saying and sometimes there's good and bad and you take out of that what you want. And like being particular like to me, I was like, I had to go up in my budget to get like my third and final spot, be amazing. But it was worth it for my own sanity.

00:39:22:15 - 00:39:40:10
 
So yeah, yeah. And that's good. And I mean, I think I love that the reviews, I didn't even think of that. You know, I'm always like, okay, get on a FaceTime call. You know, the, you know, you use there are many housing platforms out there. Something that, you know, I use I used to use furniture finders, you know, but I would never book through them.

00:39:40:10 - 00:39:57:16
 
I would contact them on the side, do a FaceTime call, see the person, give me a tour of the place. You know, those little things that you know you can do, but you're sometimes traveling 3000 miles away. Plus, you know, you don't know where you're going and you want to make sure you're safe. The place is really what the place is.

00:39:57:16 - 00:40:20:03
 
So pictures are great. But like having that real like FaceTime. I always thought you'd be protected, but you know, you never know. And then another thing is the the travel nurse, the gypsy nurse Facebook page. I think that's really helpful because you're getting those real life feedback from fellow travel nurses. And, you know, I'm not going to lie, there are some crazy stories about some travel nurses that do some crazy stuff.

00:40:20:05 - 00:40:38:09
 
But for the most part, we're good, we're clean, we're there to work, and we're going to respect your place and get out of there. So I think that those those platforms have become really helpful, for travel nurses. And I love the reviews and I think search like just do, do your due diligence in any way that any way that you can.

00:40:38:09 - 00:40:59:12
 
But when you have these things happen, another thing I want to point out is especially with AMN, I exclusively work with AMN. So my recruiter is like there for me. Like I text and they check in and I'm like, help me because they have a bigger network. There might be other travel nurses in that area that you are as well, and they can maybe help to find you a place.

00:40:59:12 - 00:41:28:01
 
But you're not alone on a travel assignment. You have amazing coworkers that you might not even know are there, and you have a team of your recruiter and everyone else on the companies, the company you're traveling with, they're there to help you, and you need to take advantage of that. Yes. And I actually learned something new because I didn't realize that AMN had their own dedicated housing department, which would have been, like, so handy for me in that moment where I was like, I'm about to walk away through with contract.

00:41:28:01 - 00:41:49:17
 
Like, that's a great feature that I have. Yeah. No, that's right. I mean, I think that's a a good highlight to to point out, but I Natalie, I really appreciate you coming on and sharing your stories. It's so vulnerable and horrific what you went through. And it's not you. You just had a bad run. And I'm glad you're in a safe place now.

00:41:49:19 - 00:42:06:22
 
Yes. No, it's been great. It's been therapeutic for me too. And it's about that now. So it is on the show, of course. And thank you for the, you know, just being so, so open and willing to to share all of that. And, you know, I think you've had your three bad experiences. So now it's just going to be smooth sailing from here on out.

00:42:07:00 - 00:42:15:23
 
Exactly. Positive vibes only. Yes. All right. Well thank you so much. And I'm sure we're going to have you back again. Been fun. Thank you for having me. Of course.

00:42:15:23 - 00:42:55:22