first contract

Your agency(s) will automatically rule out facilities that don't take first time travelers. What do you want explained about overtime? Whatever you might have heard is irrelevant if you don't plan on working overtime, or none is on offer.

What is more important if you are planning on working from home, there are no tax benefits that most travelers enjoy. In fact, depending on where you are located, there may not be a financial benefit at all compared with working staff.

Also, some hospitals will not allow travel contracts from nearby residents. Some impose mileage radiuses excluding residents ranging from 50 to 300 miles. Again, your agency will know.

I am looking at full-on traveling. I live in TX, so close to me means 300 miles. Its all relative, right? I have a tax home, so that means better tax benefits right? I am planing to work some overtime, I guess its not just straight forward time and 1/2. From what I have read.

For my first contract i just dont want to be 2000 miles away, some sense of security until i really know my recruiter and the ropes.

One more question-if you work several contracts can you take an assignment at home?

https://allnurses.com/travel-nursing/please-recommend-agencies-935317-page2.html

You can read my rant about standard agency overtime on a post on that linked page. Let me know if it makes sense. Regardless of what another thread was saying, the vast majority of contracts pay legal overtime, just insufficient overtime in my opinion.

You can work at home anytime you want! While not required, it does solidify your tax home if you can do it. As I mentioned before though, if you are living at your tax home and take a travel contract (or a regular staff, registry, or per diem job), you do not qualify for tax-free treatment.