Whether you’re looking into becoming a travel nurse or you are already a travel nurse but are exploring new options, you might be wondering, “Is it possible to be a travel nurse in your own state?”
The answer: Absolutely!
Local travel nursing is possible, but there are some important things you need to know before you start.
Keep reading to learn how to be a travel nurse in your own state, the benefits and drawbacks of hometown travel nursing, and more.
Table of Contents
- Can You Be a Travel Nurse Where You Live?
- What Is the Difference Between a Travel Nurse and a Local Travel Nurse?
- Is Local Travel Nursing Worth It?
- 6 Local Travel Nursing Benefits
- Disadvantages of Local Travel Nursing
- FAQs About Local Travel Nursing
- Let Trusted Nurse Staffing Help You Find the Right Travel Nursing Assignment for Your Needs
Can You Be a Travel Nurse Where You Live?
If a facility in your hometown is looking for contracted travel nurses, you can certainly be a travel nurse where you live.
The myth that travel nursing isn’t an option in your own town or state may have come from hospitals and other facilities trying to prevent their full-time staff from picking up contracted positions — but we’ll never really know if that’s true.
So, how can you be a travel nurse where you live? It’s easy.
Just search for Travel Nursing jobs on Pronto.
From there, you will work with one of our recruiters to customize your resume for the positions that interest you in your hometown — or anywhere in the country.
Breaking Down the “Radius Rules” of Being a Travel Nurse in Your Own State
There’s a rumor about some radius rules for travel nurses we’d like to address.
The radius requirements for being a travel nurse can get a little confusing — oftentimes being blamed on IRS regulations, but these are generally established by staffing agencies or healthcare facilities.
For example, a facility in your state may require that any travel nurse they hire maintains a tax home a specified distance away from the facility — maybe within 50 miles, or sometimes even further.
But what about the tax-free stipends? How do those work if you’re a local travel nurse?
IRS Publication 463 states that accepting tax-free stipends is determined by whether a person needs to sleep or rest in order to meet the demands of their work while away from home — this must include an overnight stay.
Rules regarding travel nurses’ tax homes also come into play. This can complicate things for those nurses who take on continuous assignments without having a home base.
To ensure you’re doing the right thing when it’s time to file your taxes, it’s best to consult your tax professional about your specific situation.
What Is the Difference Between a Travel Nurse and a Local Travel Nurse?
Travel nurses work in healthcare facilities across the country and typically take assignments away from home.
Local travel nurses take contracts in healthcare facilities in their local areas, usually 50 miles or less from home.
Is Local Travel Nursing Worth It?
Local travel nursing can be extremely rewarding for those looking to experience the benefits of travel nursing without straying too far from home and family.
Below, we will dive into the benefits and potential disadvantages that come with local travel nursing.
6 Local Travel Nursing Benefits
Although you may not realize it if you’ve never been a travel nurse before, local travel nursing offers a host of benefits — and some of them will benefit you both financially and personally.
#1: Staying Near Your Family
Maybe you’re the parent of a little one and don’t feel good about taking them on the road, don’t want to leave your spouse for weeks or months at a time, or are a caretaker for an aging parent.
For travel nurses with families, local travel nursing is the perfect way to do the job you love without having to leave your family behind for weeks or even months at a time.
Whether you’re looking to start travel nursing in your own city or at least be able to commute home for weekends, being close to family is one of the primary reasons why many nurses choose to keep it local.
#2: No Need for Additional Licenses
Another benefit of local travel nursing is that you don’t have to worry about applying for additional nursing licenses, especially if your state does not offer compact nursing licenses.
Although some travel nursing agencies cover the costs of applying for licensure in different states, obtaining them can be a hassle, especially on a time crunch.
Local travel nursing makes it easy to maintain one state license while still enjoying contracts throughout your city or state.
#3: Easier Work-Life Balance
Becoming a local travel nurse can offer a better work-life balance because you can make the top pay of a travel nurse while arranging your schedule to easily stay involved in your:
- Family activities
- Favorite hobbies
- Local exercise programs
- Faith community
- And more
#4: Higher Pay Than Staff Nurses
As a travel nurse, even in your home state, you’ll receive higher pay than an average staff nurse.
Even as a local travel nurse, you may be required to take on a nursing role quickly, due to demand in certain areas or during times of need, with little to no training.
At Trusted Nurse Staffing, we understand how difficult it can be to sign on to an assignment and “jump right in.” This is just one of the many reasons our travel nurses receive some of the highest pay in the industry.
We believe in offering our travel nurses the best because they provide the best for their communities, which is why they also receive:
- A welcome box
- Options for part-time and full-time positions
- Referral bonuses
- Flexible contracts from as short as 8 weeks to as long as 52 weeks
- Sign-on and completion bonuses
- 401(k) with a 4% match after 1,000 hours and one year of employment
- Direct deposit
- Employer-sponsored health insurance
- HRA to fully cover deductibles
- Guardian dental and vision insurance
- Wellness benefits
- Portable permanent whole life insurance
- License, CEU, and certification reimbursement
- Student loan reimbursement for nurses employed with Trusted Nurse Staffing for over 30 days
- And more
Whether you’re a local travel nurse or a nurse who travels across the country for your assignments, we have a benefits package that will work for you.
#5: Opens New Doors to Those Wondering if Travel Nursing Is the Right Career Path
Maybe you’ve been working as a nurse but are having trouble deciding if becoming a travel nurse is the right path for you.
Taking on a few local travel nursing assignments is one of the best ways to decide.
By staying local, you can experience different contracts throughout your city or state while still having the comforts of home and learning about the best travel nursing opportunities for your wants and needs.
You’ll gain great experience for your resume and have the opportunity to decide if the fast-paced, ever-changing field of travel nursing is the right fit for you.
#6: Keeping Your Day Job
While most travel nurses choose to work full-time, depending on the facility, it also may be possible to work as a part-time travel nurse.
Maybe a local hospital is in need of someone on weekends, or a local clinic needs a nurse for a few specific days throughout the month. Part-time travel nursing could allow you to continue at your day job while also working as a local travel nurse when you have time off.
Disadvantages of Local Travel Nursing
Although there are many amazing advantages to local travel nursing, there are also some things that you might consider to be disadvantages.
As a local travel nurse, you miss out on the opportunity to see new places around the country.
If you’re a homebody, this may not be a deal-breaker, but if you’re someone looking for adventure and don’t mind traveling outside your state, consider becoming a regular travel nurse instead of a local travel nurse.
Another disadvantage, one that can be a deal-breaker, is that contract options in your area may be limited.
Are you in a city that doesn’t have a high demand for nurses? Hospitals and other facilities in your area may not be looking for contracted employees. You may want to consider looking outside your local area to begin travel nursing.
And finally, something important to consider, especially if your local travel nursing contract has you working farther from home than you’d like to drive regularly is that you will likely have to maintain two living spaces.
Although you may be making a housing stipend, you may also have to maintain your family’s home, as well as your “work” home.
If you are considering becoming a local travel nurse, talk with local agencies. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to help you determine if local travel nursing is the right move for you.
FAQs About Local Travel Nursing
Can I Start as a Local Travel Nurse and Request an Assignment Away from Home at Another Time?
Of course! If you’re looking to get your feet wet or want to switch things up, becoming a local travel nurse and then requesting assignments outside your local area is pretty simple.
At Trusted Nurse Staffing, for example, our recruiters are here 24/7 to support you.
If you’re currently in a local contract and it is coming to a close, one of our recruiters can help you find the perfect fit for your next assignment — near or far.
As for other agencies, be sure to read your contracts and ensure that you have the option to ask for an assignment farther from home after your current contract ends.
How Long Can I Stay in One Location As a Travel Nurse?
Most travel nursing contracts last anywhere between 8 and 52 weeks, and to be considered a travel nurse in the eyes of the IRS, you must change assignments at least once a year. After a year, the IRS considers your assignment permanent.
This doesn’t mean you have to move from location to location in a year, but you will be required to move to a different facility/contract.
How Much Do Local Travel Nurses Make?
The average salary for local travel nursing can vary by state. Click here to view a table of average travel nursing salaries by state.
Do Local Travel Nurses Get Stipends?
Most likely not.
When you’re a local travel nurse, you’re not considered to be duplicating expenses, but this may vary, depending on your specific contract and staffing agency.
Let Trusted Nurse Staffing Help You Find the Right Travel Nursing Assignment for Your Needs
Are you ready to dive into local travel nursing?
Whether you’re looking for your first travel nurse contract or hoping to switch it up and stay local, Trusted Nurse Staffing is here to help you.
Getting started is as simple as searching for available jobs on Pronto.
You’ll be matched with a recruiter, who will guide you through the process of searching and applying for jobs and recommend placements based on your criteria. When you choose Trusted Nurse Staffing, you’ll get professional support each step of the way from:
- Your recruiter, who will be your continual advocate throughout your assignment. Not only will they support you during your assignment, but they are also available to help you find your next travel assignment when the current one expires.
- A compliance team that’s ready to assist you with any facility-specific licensing and testing that may be required — and we’ll cover the cost for it, too!
- A dedicated payroll team who is easy to contact and can answer any payroll-related questions.
Our number one goal is to put our nurses first and help them reach their goals, professionally and personally.
Use the Pronto job search to find available travel nurse assignments and let your local travel nursing adventure begin.