So, your next travel nurse contract is coming up and you are wondering what to pack.

This is my ultimate travel nurse essentials packing list, which every travel nurse should read.

Coming from someone who considers herself a travel nurse pro, these 41 items are what I consider my must-haves that make my job, and life on the road, that much easier. 

If you are wondering exactly How To Pack For Travel Nurses, that post tells you exactly what bags and packing items I use to fit my life into my car — while still leaving room for two cats.

Pro Tip: If you are a new travel nurse, definitely check out my post, The Top 21 Travel Nurse Tips, for some of my best advice for new travelers.

The whole point of this travel nurse essentials packing list is to help you think of items you maybe wouldn’t have thought of otherwise — the must-have items you won’t want to forget to bring to your next assignment.

On this list, you will find items to help keep you safe on the road, helpful things to bring if you travel with pets, some packing hacks, some things I consider essential for the kitchen, and other things you maybe haven’t even considered.

So do yourself a favor and don’t miss out on this list. Take advantage of my experience and expertise and you will be packing like a travel nurse pro.

What Are The Top Travel Nurse Essentials?

1. Packing List App

First things first, you must be organized to succeed in travel nursing. 

I use this app, Packing List, that has everything I bring with me so that when I move, I can go down the list and make sure that I haven’t forgotten anything.

Using this app has prevented me from leaving some pretty important items behind so I highly recommend you use it.

2. Vacuum Seal Bags For Clothes

These vacuum seal bags are a definite must-have for every travel nurse. They will save you SO MUCH room when it comes to packing your clothes.

Also, for more packing tips, see my post “Your Travel Nurse Packing List” to see how I fit everything I own in my car.

I am not exaggerating when I say that I was able to bring all of my clothes with me when I left to travel. 

I roll my clothes up, fill up a bag, seal it, and then suction it with the pump that comes with it, and just like that, it shrinks to a third of the original size. 

Pro tip: Use these for your comforter and pillow if you choose to bring them along. 

3. Backpack

This item is featured on my Travel Nurse Packing List post, but this backpack is amazing.

It basically fits just as much as a carry-on suitcase but is much smaller.

There are a million pockets, two laptop compartments, a place for shoes, a USB for phone charging, and even a wet pocket for you know, wet things. 

Pro tip: Use this as your travel bag when you’re on the road and have to stay at a hotel for one or two nights. 

4. Packing Cubes

My main use for these packing cubes is to keep all of my underwear in one, socks in another, and bras in another. Then when I get to my destination, I just put the whole cube in the drawer and keep my things organized that way. 

With the remaining cubes, I use to pack my traveling clothes and put them in my backpack so that everything is nice and organized. 

Pro tip: I like these cubes because they have a mesh top so you can see what’s inside without having to open it.

5. Pet Carrier

6. Anti-Anxiety Medication For Pets

Travel for animals (cats especially) can be extremely stressful.

My go-to for both of my cats is CBD oil. I give them both a dropper full about an hour before we leave.

And no, this won’t make them “high”, it will just make them more relaxed while in the car. You should be able to find this at a local pet store (depending on your state’s laws). And make sure it is CBD with 0% THC.

If that isn’t enough, talk to your vet and tell them about your plans and perhaps they can prescribe some anti-anxiety medication.

This may seem silly for some, but stress can be very harmful for animals and it is up to us to make them as comfortable as possible.

7. Other Pet Essentials

My cats have a whole tote box that is just for them.

In it, I have toys, dry food, wet food, treats, and their food and water bowls.

I also bring a bed for each of them and then purchase a cardboard scratchy board when I arrive so they don’t use the furniture.

Cats have to have a way to sharpen their nails, so if you can’t purchase a cat tree (I buy a new one every assignment), then at least get a cardboard scratcher. 

8. Bluetooth Speaker

There’s a good chance your new travel nurse housing won’t have a Bluetooth speaker system set up, so it’s nice to be able to play music if you want.

It can also be nice to have background noise that isn’t the TV. 

I like this portable speaker — it’s decently priced and sounds great.

9. Comforter and Pillows From Home

Choosing to bring my comforter and pillows with me was the best decision I have ever made.

Having my own bedding makes my new place seem like mine. And I also forget quicker that I am sleeping in someone else’s bed. 

Pro tip: Vacuum seal these babies to save space in your car.

10. Prescription Medications

Definitely don’t forget to pack these.

Keep them in your travel bag that stays with you so you aren’t having to search for them. 

Pro tip: Find a local pharmacy to have your meds sent to before you run out and are scrambling to get a refill.

11. Roku Streaming Stick

On The Road

 12. Roadside Assistance

The last thing anyone wants is to be broken down in the middle of nowhere, stranded, with your whole life packed in your car.

Either get AAA or most credit cards have roadside assistance as part of their perks.

Make sure you have at least one of these before hitting the road. 

13. Fix A Flat

Do you know how to change a tire?

I sure don’t.

That’s why I carry this foam tire inflator that I can just spray into the tire so that I can drive to the nearest auto center. 

14. Car Emergency Kit

I keep a tote bag in my trunk (under where the spare tire lives) in case I get stranded.

It contains water, a protein bar, a mini LED lantern, blankets, a warm coat, and pet food. 

15. Pepper Spray Or Other Self-Defense Items

As a solo female traveler, it is essential to keep some sort of self-defense item on hand. I recommend this pepper spray that you can keep in your purse or keychain.

Pro tip: only stop at rest stops if you absolutely have to. Gas stations tend to be much safer with staff around.

16. Mini Fire Extinguisher

Hopefully, you will never use this, but preparing for the worst is better than not being prepared at all.

I keep my portable fire extinguisher in the side pocket of my car door for easy access. 

17. Car Battery Jumper

This is the last of my doomsday car preparedness items.

Once again, I have never had to use this on my vehicle (but I have helped others out) but better to have a portable battery jumper just in case. This one is super small and won’t hardly take up any room.

Pro tip: Keep these items in the compartment where your spare tire lives so as to not take up precious cargo space.

Kitchen Essentials

18. Air Fryer

The air fryer I have is a smaller version of a full-sized one, but it still accommodates all of my cooking needs.

It is small enough to fit in my car without taking up too much room plus, I don’t have to think about putting my food on someone else’s air fryer (gross).

19. Coffee Maker

There is no way I am taking a chance on there not being a coffee maker at my new place.

Because of this, my Keurig is an essential item that is always with me.

This one in particular is slim and lightweight, easy to just tuck into an empty space in my car. 

20. Immersion Blender

Another kitchen essential I always bring along is an immersion blender.

It’s good for smoothies, sauces, dressings, eggs, salsa, and soups, plus it takes up hardly any room. It may not be an everyday item, but when I need it, I am so glad that I have it with me. 

Bonus, this immersion blender in particular comes with a milk frother attachment. 

21. Handheld Milk Frother

Even though the milk frother fad has faded, I still use mine on the daily. It’s especially great for protein shakes, pre-workout, and at-home iced coffee. 

Besides the 200,000 reviews (yes, that number is right), and assortment of colors, this one comes with a stand so you don’t have to lay it dirty on the counter after use. 

22. Non-Perishable Condiments

Condiments are expensive. Especially when having to buy new mayo, ketchup, mustard, jelly, peanut butter, oil, tea, vanilla, spices, etc every four months.

Think about it, those items usually last months if not years at a time. So if I have room, I will try to bring the non-perishable stuff with me on my moves.

23. A Few K-Cups For Your First Couple Days

A nice little hack I like to do is to stuff 3 or 4 coffee pods into my Keurig where the water goes so that I at least have coffee for that first morning before I’ve had a chance to go to the store.

Trust me, you will be SO glad you did this.

24. Tupperware For Meal Prepping

25. Meal Subscription

I have tried about six different meal subscriptions in my time of travel nursing and I have never regretted it. 

We all have seasons where we just aren’t into cooking or meal prepping, and in that case, splurge a little and subscribe to a health meal subscription service. 

Since there are so many options and competition these days, the quality of the food has become pretty damn good.

I have had good experiences with Factor 75 (especially if going low carb or Keto), Hello Fresh, and Hungry Root.

Other Travel Nurse Essentials

26. Memento Items

Even though your packing space is limited, it is important to bring a few items that have sentimental value. Trust me, it helps with being homesick.

For me, these items are my cat’s Christmas stockings, a favorite comfy sweater, and photos.

27. Line A Day Journal

Ok. This has been one of my favorite purchases yet.

This journal allows you to write 3 or 4 sentences about what happened on that day, every day for five years. Take a look at this Line A Day Journal to see what I mean. 

I love going back and seeing what happened, how I was feeling, or what life was like on this day last year. 

It is also a great way to document your life while travel nursing. 

28. Passport

You never know when you will need a second form of ID.

Or lose your driver’s license, or you might find yourself in a border state and want to have an adventure or an international vacation. The possibilities are endless.

Be sure to keep this in a safe place, preferably where you keep your important documents so you know where it is at all times.

29. Bathing Suit

I keep a bathing suit packed 365 days a year. You may be invited to go to a hot springs in the middle of January and girl, you do not want to go bathing suit shopping when we have our “Winter bodies” on. Believe me.

30. Comfy Clothes

I don’t know about you, but the day after I work three in a row, I am living in my comfy clothes for at least the next 24 hours. And I’m not just talking about pajamas. 

31. Hobby Stuff

It’s important to keep up with the things you enjoy doing when you have downtime or when you haven’t made new friends yet.

I like to draw zen tangles and color them in. I have also gotten into embroidering and string art.

In fact, I started this blog when I was looking for a side hustle! 

32. Laptop

This should be a given, but if you are on the fence about bringing your laptop, do it.

You will definitely want it when you have 30 hours of online modules to do and are given the option to complete them at home. (For pay, of course).

33. Tablet

This is a personal preference, but I sometimes bring my iPad to work when I know I will be having downtime and have things to work on, and don’t want to bring my laptop to work. 

34. Slippers

Slipping into a pair of squishy, comfy slippers after work is the best feeling.

I like to buy Dearfoams as they add some extra support to my tired, barking dogs.

35. Oofo Recovery Slides

Hear me out.

These Oofo Recovery Sandals feel like slipping on a while-you-walk foot massage.

After I get home from a shift, I always slip these on and my feet instantly feel better. 

These are especially great if you have some plantar fasciitis or arch problems. 

36. Plants

Plants fall under the “making your new space feel like yours” category.

I cannot stress how important it is to make your new place feel like home. Plants are calming and visually pleasing to the eye.

I like to buy either succulents or small leafy plants from somewhere like Trader Joe’s. 

Just remember that you probably won’t be able to take them with you when you move, so don’t spend too much money on them.

37. Comfy Blanket

Having a comfortable blanket that you know hasn’t been used by 100 other people and that is cozy and nice to cuddle with is just nice.

I bought a fleece one at Target and literally use it every single day.

38. Sleep Mask

This item is also very important, especially if you work nights. 

I have done tons of research, and this luxury Drowsy sleep mask takes the cake.

It does have a heft price to it (in the $70 range) but it has silky soft satin on the outside, has a nice weight to it (like a weighted blanket for your face), lets 0% light in, and is guaranteed to last 3 years.

I promise you that it’s worth the splurge. Your sleep is SO vital to good health.

39. Ear Plugs

You never know what kind of neighbors or ruckus there will be outside of your new digs. I always have earplugs on me, just in case. 

They also come in handy if you work nights and your neighbor decides to mow the lawn or take out the weed wacker while you’re sleeping.

40. Black Out Curtains

This is another essential for you night shift workers (holla!). While a sleep mask may do the trick, I still always have these installed to be extra sure that I get optimal sleep.

These are also good for the Winter and Summer months when there are extreme temperatures as these help insulate and regulate the temperature in your bedroom.

41. Headphones

Seeing as how travel nurses are living the nomad life, I consider headphones to be an essential packing item. 

I am always sure to bring my Airpods with me to work — mostly for my lunch break when I want to tune out and go on TikTok, watch a show, or drown out loud talking.

I also swear by my Airpods Max. I know, I know. They are spendy, but I f*cking love them. The noise cancelling is top notch and the sound is so crisp and clear. They are a splurge for sure, but I have yet to regret my purchase.

More About These Items

These travel nurse essentials are items that I swear by and that I bring with me to every assignment. 

I consider myself to be a successful and knowledgeable travel nurse and have put quite a bit of thought into this list. 

Are all of these items essential? That is for you to decide.

But, I always feel that I have everything I need and nothing that I don’t, which I consider a win.

Items Not On This List

Because this is a “travel Nurse Essentials” packing list and not a “New Nurse Essentials” list, I didn’t include the obvious items like scrubs, comfortable shoes, stethoscopes, and the like. 

If you are looking for a comprehensive nurse essentials list, please check out my post, “The Top 29 Nurse Essentials”.

If you are a travel nurse, that means you have been a nurse for some time and don’t need advice on what brands of scrubs or shoes to buy. 

I also did not include things like underwear, socks, pants, shirts, etc because you know that these are a given (unless you are a nudist) and hopefully do not need a reminder to bring them.

Wrapping Up

Moving every four months is not for the faint of heart — or the disorganized. 

The whole point of this travel nurse essentials list is to help you think of items you maybe wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.

I encourage you to use my experience and expertise to help you decide what to bring to your new travel nursing job to leave you feeling confident before you hit the road.

So stay safe, be smart, and bookmark this list to reference it or recommend it to a friend.

Remember, you are a badass. YOU GOT THIS.

FAQ

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