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Written by Christine Purviance, BSN, RN, Director of Clinical Services at Medical Edge Recruitment

Did you know that you can be a travel nurse in your city and come home to your own bed and family every night? Local travel nursing offers nurses across the country the benefits of travel nursing without uprooting their lives. If local travel nursing interests you, keep reading to learn everything you need to know!  

What is a Local Travel Nurse?

A local travel nurse often referred to as a local contract nurse, is a nurse who works short-term contracts with a travel nurse agency. The location and length of each contract is 100% up to you!  As a local travel nurse, you call the shots when determining your shift, location, and agency—just like a regular travel nurse!

You may be asking yourself how a local travel nurse differs from a regular travel nurse, and there’s one main difference. Tax-free stipends are for travel nurses who are duplicating expenses, like housing.  Although you will not receive the tax-free stipend as a local travel nurse, you will make significantly more than a staff nurse without any strings attached to the hospital or facility that your contract is at!

What is the process to become a local travel nurse?

The process of becoming a local travel nurse is straightforward--you must meet the following:

  • Education,
  • Certification
  • Experience requirements

Before you can start working as a local travel nurse.  

1. Education

First, you must earn an Associate’s or Bachelor of Nursing degree from an accredited nursing school. Keep in mind that some agencies and contracts may require a Bachelor of Nursing degree, but not always.

2. Licensure

Once you graduate, you must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain your Registered Nurse license in your state.

3. Experience and Certifications

Most agencies and contracts require a minimum of one year of experience in your specialty before you are eligible to work as a travel nurse, local or not. In addition to one year of experience, you will need the required certifications before you can work. All nurses will need a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Depending on your specialty, you may need additional certifications, too.

4. Finding a Local Contract 

Once you meet the above requirements you can begin finding a local contract! You can reach out to a staffing agency, like Medical Edge Recruitment, to begin your search. If you know the facility where you want to work, you can also reach out to their Human Resources department to confirm that they have local travel nurse contracts.

Pros and Cons of Local Travel Nursing

Local travel nursing offers many benefits of travel nursing without having to uproot your life.

The pros of local travel nursing are:

  • You get to come home every night to your family, kids, and pets
  • Earn more without working overtime
  • No long-term commitment to a healthcare system
  • Little to no travel costs
  • Explore different healthcare systems in your area

Cons Of Local Travel Nursing

  • Contract availability may be limited depending on your location
  • Potential for longer commute times
  • You won’t experience the adventures of traveling across the country

Find a Local Travel Assignment With Medical Edge Recruitment

Are you ready to find a local travel assignment? Medical Edge Recruitment is the premier travel nursing recruitment agency, specializing in providing top talent to clients in the healthcare industry. We connect clinical and allied providers to their ideal opportunities, focusing on building long-lasting relationships through honesty and transparency.

In travel nursing, bigger does not always mean better. While we have an extensive network of job opportunities, our experienced team is dedicated to making your personalized provider experience our priority. There are a lot of moving parts in getting set up for a new assignment, but we take care of all the details along the way. Adventure awaits, let Medical Edge Recruitment show you where to go next!

 

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