I’m a Traveling Nurse. This is How I Organize My 2022 Kia Telluride For Work and Family
Being a mobile nurse and a mom means my Kia Telluride is more than just a car. Here's how I keep organized (and sane) doing both incredibly demanding jobs.
There are only a few things more irritating than groceries that have escaped the bag or a bottle of water rolling around your tailgate, making that crashing noise every time your route takes you on a turn. The sight and sound of a chaotic and unorganized trunk is one I know all too well.
As a mobile IV hydration nurse and a mom of two, my 2022 Kia Telluride isn’t just a taxi to and from sports—it’s also my office, my supply closet, and my break room. Juggling medical supplies and Hot Wheels cars in the same space means that organization isn’t optional, it’s essential for efficiency, and let’s be real, my mood as well. It’s a constant balancing act, but I’ll share what I do and keep in my car to support both my work demands and my family’s busy lifestyle.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Read: Why I Bought a Kia Telluride
So, What Does a Mobile Hydration Mean?
As a Registered Nurse, I travel to a client’s location (home, office, hotel, etc.) to provide intravenous infusions of vitamins and hydration. IV hydration is beneficial in the recovery from an acute illness, hangover, or migraine, as well as promoting overall wellness.
I take appointments on an “as needed” basis, as clients request them. I’m “on-call”, so most times I leave the house, I have my medical supplies with me just in case I get an IV request while I’m out. I’m willing to bet most people do not keep an IV pole on wheels in their Kia Telluride at all times, but I do.Follow A Girls Guide to Cars for exclusives, first drives, reviews, buyer’s guides, and more!
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Organization and Preparedness are Key to Maintaining Sanity
Just as you would keep your office or your desk tidy at work, I must maintain the cleanliness and organization of my workplace. A clean and well-organized workspace promotes a positive environment that enhances focus, minimizes distractions, and boosts productivity.
For a while, the trunk of my Kia Telluride was a chaotic mess of reusable shopping bags filled with IV tubing and dressing kits, as well as heavy cardboard boxes of liter saline bags. As the weather cooled into the winter months in upstate New York, I was required to store the saline at room temperature and therefore was carrying heavy cases of saline in and out of my vehicle every day.
Investing in a sturdy trunk organizer was a game-changer. It’s convenient to keep all my supplies in one container, so my husband only has to make one trip to load and unload my trunk for me. I load a backpack from the trunk organizer with supplies and only carry a few sets of IV tubing, dressing, and needles into a client’s home.
Everything has its place, I can keep a better inventory of supplies on hand, and nothing rolls around anymore.
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Aside from the medical supplies needed to provide IV hydration, there are several other practical things I keep in my Kia Telluride that make both my “mom life” and “nurse life” easier. Of course, I never leave home without my emotional support Stanley water bottle full of ice water. I keep extra bottled water in my car to add to my ice when I need a refill.
I am a hydration nurse after all, so I know the importance of staying hydrated in order to keep myself going and energized throughout my day. Commonly, I leave my house for one appointment, and end up doing several more while I’m out. I keep a few protein bars in my center console, next to the applesauce pouches for the kids, to avoid any hunger-related emergencies while I’m out and about.
I also keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in my driver’s door compartment and use it when I return to my car after every appointment. I use Android Auto and Google Maps to navigate to the client’s location. I always have a phone charging cable and plug my phone in for a little extra juice while I’m driving. I usually keep myself entertained with a podcast or an audiobook. Of course, I always keep a pair of sunglasses, lip balm, and gum stocked in my vehicle at all times.
With A Long List of Items Comes a Lot of Trash
To stay on top of things, I keep a few microfiber cleaning cloths in my Kia Telluride as well as an automobile interior cleaning spray in my driver’s door cubby. This makes it easy to spray and wipe the dust from my dashboard or fingerprints off the screen while I’m parked, waiting for my kids at the bus stop.
As I’m sure most moms do, I keep a package of wipes in the car for sticky fingers as well as a reusable and washable nylon garbage bag. I have to stay diligent about emptying the garbage from my vehicle as there are many sterile packages to be opened, and therefore, I generate a lot of trash quickly
Keeping The Cabin Clean And Fresh Keeps Me Calm
I also have a small Pura car diffuser to keep my car smelling fresh and the vibes positive while I work. One of my favorite luxuries in life is a car wash subscription- bonus if they have free vacuums on site! I believe it’s important to take care of and be proud of your mom mobile, even more so if your car is also your office, in portraying professionalism to clients.
It’s definitely not perfect, and there are days when my Kia Telluride looks like a disaster zone. However, having the necessary equipment and a system in place makes it much easier to reset and get organized quickly. Maintaining my car’s organization is an ongoing process, but it’s essential for keeping my work life and family life running smoothly!
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