What makes a home comfortable for a traveling nurse doesn't seem that different from what might make housing comfortable for anyone. However, certain aspects of housing become even more important when traveling nurses and other medical professionals live there because of their varying shifts and need to sleep at odd hours. While many nurses and doctors have very traditional daytime shifts, many do not, and those shifts can change suddenly. If you manage housing for traveling nurses, ensure that these three policies are in place to help tenants get the sleep they need when they need it.

Enforcement of the Right to Quiet Enjoyment

Most states have a tenant right known as the right to quiet enjoyment. The actual wording may differ slightly from place to place, but in general, there is the acknowledgment that a tenant or occupant has the right to peacefully enjoy the premises. This right doesn't make living noises illegal; someone living near a busy road should expect to hear traffic, and someone in an apartment may hear water running through plumbing pipes. However, it does mean that tenants playing music, for example, can't play it so loud that it interferes with other tenants' ability to enjoy their homes.

For nurses and other medical professionals, intrusive noise can be devastating. Even at noon on a Saturday, if that nurse needs to sleep before going to work on the night shift, then the nurse's apartment has to be quiet enough for deep, restful sleep (again, this is referring to noise that can be controlled, like that from stereos).

If building management doesn't enforce the right to quiet enjoyment, the nurses who stay at the building won't be able to sleep as well, and that can affect their ability to work.

Amount of Notice Before Management Entry to Housing

Many states mandate a 24-hour notice before management or maintenance enters the unit for a non-emergency reason. Some mandate none or encourage tenants and managers to negotiate. In the case of medical professionals like nurses who may be coming from states with different policies and who may work very long shifts, it's best to arrange for a slightly longer period of notice, such as 48 hours. This gives them more time to clean up their places and comes as less of a shock when they've just returned from a 12-hour shift.

Installing Air Conditioning

Even if a place is at the coast, air conditioning should be available in each unit. Whether it's a window unit, portable unit, ductless mini-split, or what have you, giving nurse tenants the ability to cool the place down lets them sleep more comfortably. As with controlling noise, climate control allows them to be more well-rested for their next shift.

These policies can benefit anyone, but they are very important if the housing in question is meant for traveling nurses and others who need to work night shifts or unpredictable shifts. When a tenant has such an important job, good housing policies become just as important.