Pet-Friendly Travel Nursing: 5 Tips for Bringing Furry Friends

You don’t have to fly solo when pet-friendly travel nursing is possible. Lots of nurses bring their four-legged friends along on their assignments! The best part? It’s not as complicated as it sounds. Check out Aya’s top tips for traveling with your pets.

1. Get your ducks (and docs) in a row

   Before heading to your assignment, make sure all your animal’s vet records, licensing, emotional support certificates, etc. are up to date. These vary from state to state so be sure to do your research before you leave. We don’t want your pet to turn into a wanted fugitive! But those mugshots would be adorable.

2. Start preppin’

   Traveling can be hard on our little buddies. Make sure your pet is housebroken and can handle change. Planning to stay in a hotel? You may need to use a crate, so be sure to introduce crate training before you start your pet-friendly travel nursing assignment. Consistent training and structure help calm animals in an ever-changing environment.

3. Pack your pet’s suitcase, too

   Depending on the climate of your next assignment, your furry (or not-so-furry) friend may need weather-specific clothing! If you’re heading to the cold, make sure to pack a vest or raincoat and booties to keep Fido comfortable. If warmer climates are on the agenda, consider bringing pet sandals — hot concrete can burn those sweet little paws! Not only will these keep your pet happy, they’ll be stylin’ too! #InstaWorthy

4. Use these housing hacks

   Housing is usually the most difficult part of finding a pet-friendly travel nursing assignment, but it doesn’t have to be! Sites like Furnished Finder make it easy to find pet-friendly homes. Just click “Search Our Map,” enter the city/state, select your max monthly budget and check the “Pet-Friendly Only” option. Remember some places have breed restrictions as well as additional expenses like pet rent or deposits. If this sounds like too much work, simply connect with our housing team and they’ll take care of you!

5. Relax — this is supposed to be fun

   Feeling overwhelmed? We promise it’s not as hard as it seems. Just ask Brandi and her pupper-in-crime, King Louie, or any other Aya travel nurses who bring their sidekicks along! Having a pet on the road will make you feel more at home — no matter where you are.

Ready to make your life a little more paw-some? Talk to a travel nurse recruiter today!