How Long Do Traveling Nurses Stay In One Place?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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What Is the Length of a Typical Travel Nursing Assignment? The length of a travel nursing assignment varies depending on the facility. A travel nurse assignment can be as short as two weeks, but

6, 8, or 13-week positions are the most common

.

How long do travel nurses travel?

How Often Do Travel Nurses Travel? The typical contract length is

13 weeks

. Trusted Nurse Staffing offers flexible contracts for 8, 13, 26, and even 52-weeks. As long as the hospital is in agreement, contracts can be also renewed and extended multiple times if you happen to fall in love with your assignment.

Can you be a travel nurse forever?

How Long Can a Travel Nurse Stay in One State? A travel nurse can stay in one state indefinitely IF they continue to move to different areas such that they never spend more than 12 months in any rolling 24-month period in the same area.

Is it worth being a travel nurse?

So, the question today remains, is travel nursing worth the money? and the short answer is

yes

. Throw in the adventure of travelling to new areas, meeting new people, working in new facilities and building your skills and resume, and you’ve got yourself one very interesting and unique job.

Who is the highest paying travel nurse agency?


Triage Staff

is our best overall pick because it pays more than most agencies, providing high hourly wages and frequent bonuses. This agency attracts top talents thanks to its benefits and extensive perks, like tuition reimbursement and day one 401(k).

How much money do travel nurses make?

The average travel nurse is now earning about

$3,334 a week on average

, according to Vivian Health, a health care hiring marketplace. Contracts can last a couple of days or weeks, and nurses can choose how often they travel. Prior to the pandemic, average travel nurse salaries were about $1,800 a week in 2019.

Where do travel nurses get paid the most?

Historically speaking, the highest paying states for travel nurses include

California, Texas, Massachusetts, Washington, and New York

. Southern states tend to have lower living costs and, in turn, lower travel nurse pay. Areas that are considered “destination locations” (like, Hawaii and Florida) may pay lower.

Do travel nurses pay taxes?

Because travel nurses are paid a bit differently than staff nurses, so too do travel nurses file taxes a bit differently. This is because

travel nurses are paid a base hourly rate, that is taxable, and a weekly travel stipend that is not taxable

– both of which equal their total pay in a given contract.

How many times can you call in as a travel nurse?

For example, you may call-off

3 times in a 13 week period due to illness

. While those may be the only 3 sick calls you have all year, it may look as though you call in sick all the time to the hospital.

Can travel nurses bring their spouse?

Remember that it’s okay for personal responsibilities to take priority over traveling for work. The great beauty of travel nursing is that

it allows both travel nurses and their spouses or partners to take part in the flexibility of travel, too!

What are the disadvantages of being a travel nurse?

  • You will always find yourself in an unfamiliar environment. …
  • You will always be the new guy. …
  • Varying pay rates. …
  • What do you do when your contract has ended? …
  • Not the best work assignments. …
  • License issues. …
  • Floating. …
  • Your contract can be canceled.

How do travel nurses survive?

  1. Do your research. …
  2. Get organized. …
  3. Get the right recruiter. …
  4. Understand your limits and flexibility. …
  5. Search for housing. …
  6. Connect with other nurses in the area.

Why are travel nurses paid so much?

So, why do travel nurses get paid more? It’s because

they fill short-term needs, accept assignments in areas with severe nursing shortages, receive extra compensation for their flexibility and work in hard-to fill specialties

.

How long does it take to get your first travel nurse assignment?

Using travel nursing as an example, it typically takes

one to five weeks

to land an assignment. However, a host of variables affect the length of time it takes to actually get started. As a result, it can take less than a week in some cases and much longer in others.

Can traveling nurses bring their families?

Can travel nurses have families?

Yes

. While there are certain factors to consider, travel nursing is not reserved for singles. Some nurses choose to be a travel nurse only during school break, while others have made a career out of travel nursing year-round with their families.

What type of nurse makes the most money?


Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists

earn a mean average salary of $183,580 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it the top paying nursing specialty. CRNAs typically work 40 hours per week, making the hourly wage average out to approximately $88.26 per hour.

What is a traveling nurse called?

The term “travel nurse” most commonly refers to

Registered Nurses (RN)

. However, it could also refer to Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN/LVN) or Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA). Some people use it to refer to Nurse Practitioners (NP), Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA).

What’s the difference between a nurse and a travel nurse?


Travel nurses:


Are registered nurses with a valid license and at least 2 years of nursing experience

. Work short-term assignments at hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. Help by filling in gaps where there are nursing shortages.

Why do hospitals hire travel nurses?

Filling a position between full-time hires; covering for hospital nurses who are off the job due to health or personal reasons; or providing additional support during busy seasons, such as flu or tourist season, are some of the most frequent reasons hospitals hire traveling nurses.

What state needs travel nurses the most?

Top States in Need of Travel Nurses

These states are

California, Texas, New Jersey, and South Carolina

. Travel nurses are desperately needed in these states and employers often give incentives to entice nurses. California consistently has the highest demand for travel nurses throughout the year.

What city has the most traveling nurses?


Austin, Texas

Austin is often ranked among the most popular locations for travel nurses for a number of reasons. In addition to being a fast-growing city in recent years, it has a high density of highly regarded healthcare facilities to keep demand for nurses relatively constant.

Can travel nurses be PRN?

Essentially,

these contracts are a combination of a traditional assignment and per-diem (PRN)

. They typically ask you to provide 5 days of availability each week. In return, the travel nursing company will guarantee that you work 3 shifts per week.

How do travel stipends work?

An employee travel stipend, also called a vacation stipend or travel reimbursement, is

an allotment of funds that workers can use during each calendar year at their discretion to pay for personal travel expenses

.

Do travel nurses get w2s?


Most travel nurses operate as W2 employees

. With the recent tax reform, many are considering the option of changing over to a 1099 employee.

What can travel nurses write off on taxes?

Travel nurses can also claim tax deductions for legitimate business expenses in excess of reimbursements or allowances. These include

expenses for transportation, lodging, and meals

. However, a 50 percent limit applies to deductions for business meals and entertainment.

Charlene Dyck
Author
Charlene Dyck
Charlene is a software developer and technology expert with a degree in computer science. She has worked for major tech companies and has a keen understanding of how computers and electronics work. Sarah is also an advocate for digital privacy and security.