Maria

For nearly a decade, Maria has worked as a traveling nurse and lived in multiple locations throughout her career, from California to North Carolina. But behind the rewarding work of caring for patients lay a persistent challenge every time she takes on a new assignment: finding flexible housing in an industry where the rules have recently changed.

“Healthcare companies used to offer housing, which would make it a lot easier because, as travelers, we have homes back home, so we’re duplicating expenses,” Maria explains. “Now, most companies just offer the stipend, which means we have to look for our own housing.” 

In expensive markets like California, even with the maxed-out housing stipend, nurses are often left scrambling to find short-term, affordable homes that don’t require a year-long lease.

“To have an option that was so easy to get into without having to go through the hassle of renting furniture was such a blessing,” said Maria. “Furnished Finder is a nightmare, and that’s what most nurses use, but it’s so inconvenient because they want the credit checks and references, and all these things you have to do every time you want to move in, which is a lot of work for three months of housing.”

Losing electricity in her Airbnb

Maria found PadSplit when she urgently needed to leave her Airbnb in Charlotte. The Wi-Fi had been unreliable for weeks, often cutting out without warning. But when she woke one night to find the electricity shut off because the host had failed to pay the bill, she knew she had to get out fast. “Even after contacting Airbnb, I didn’t get any resolution from them.”

She immediately began searching online for better options and discovered PadSplit. Within 24 hours, she moved into a new home.

“I stayed in a really nice four-bedroom PadSplit home. My room included its own bathroom, which was another blessing. It had a lot of closet space, and that was my introduction to PadSplit, and it was such a blessing,” said Maria. “I haven’t looked back–I’ve been using PadSplit ever since!”

“PadSplit is a better value than Airbnbs and Vrbos.”

PadSplit has opened new doors for Maria—she can now accept assignments in high-cost areas like California while saving more on housing.

“I have a condo back home, and as nurses, we’re all duplicating expenses. The rule of thumb is we try and pay for all of our expenses for the month in one week’s check, so that gets tricky–PadSplit is a better value than Airbnbs and Vrbos.” 

The impact on her career choices has been profound. “I wouldn’t have taken this California assignment without PadSplit. Even with higher pay, the cost of living would’ve made it impossible. PadSplit changed that entirely.“

Making connections in each PadSplit home

Initially apprehensive about living with strangers, Maria has been pleasantly surprised by the connections she’s made.

“In North Carolina, I met another night-shift nurse who was living in my PadSplit, so that was really neat!”  

What could have been an awkward living arrangement became a genuinely supportive environment—PadSplit’s model has a way of fostering natural communities among like-minded residents.

Maria can afford to live anywhere

Today, from her cozy Los Angeles PadSplit studio, Maria reflects on how the platform has expanded her horizons.

Her commitment to the platform runs deep (she once paid for two PadSplits simultaneously, keeping her North Carolina room while booking her LA studio, to ensure she wouldn’t lose her spot). She plans to continue using PadSplit as she works toward her retirement.

“I only have eight more years working until I reach retirement, so I can still manage to travel to California, then I can retire back home,” said Maria.

“This platform is life-changing for travel nurses.”

Looking toward retirement in the coming years, Maria is grateful for the stability PadSplit has brought to her nomadic career.

“I really feel PadSplit is such a great thing for my profession–the process was so incredibly easy. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done without PadSplit.”

For the 1.7 million healthcare workers traveling the country to serve communities in need, Maria’s story offers a blueprint: with the right housing solution, the open road doesn’t have to mean constant instability.

Now it’s your turn. Find your room today at PadSplit.com.