Traveling Nurse Question........

[TCLA]

I was wondering as a traveling nurse, do you travel all around the country? Or do you just travel in the state you live? If not, are you able to make it so you can just travel in your state? Also, how do you become one? After you graduate nursing school, what do you do? I would like to be a traveling nurse, but i dont wanna be out of my state all the time. I live in Southern California, how much do Travel RN's make here? Main question is, if i can just travel within the state I live or near my city ( like travel to different hospitals and what not)

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

You can travel after one year of experience in a specialty. You gereally must live a minimum of 50 miles away from a job site to be considered a traveler. Each assignment pays differently depending on a number of factors.

If you want to work at different hospitals within your city, you would be considered an agency nurse, not a traveler.

Jobs in traveling are waaaaay down now due to the economy. I've been traveling for years, and I've never seen it so bad.

Hopefully things will be better in the future.

[highlandlass1592, BSN, RN]

I beg to differ with you. The 50 mile rule is just a myth. There is no IRS reg regarding that..and it's done by some agencies and some hospitals. I did in-state traveling as well as out of state traveling and I was still a travel nurse. Consideration has to be made re: tax status and duplication of expenses.

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

I'm aware that the 50 mile rule is not an IRS rule, but it is a policy with every agency I've worked for. I have also worked within my own state- less than 50 miles- agency. More than 50 miles- traveler.

I have even been told by agencies that some hospitals will not accept a traveler if they live within 50 miles of the facility. A lot of Phoenix hospitals are this way.