Qustion about travel nursing

jbjelus1 · Nov 11, 2009

This seems like an extremely dumb question, but if I live in a certain city (we'll say houston,tx), and there is an agency trying to place a travel nurse there, couldn't I just take the job and live at home? Is that how it works? I graduate soon and plan on becoming a travel nurse and I am just trying to learn to in's and out's.

Wouldn't be nice if that is the way that it worked. In order for you to be considered a travel nurse you have to live a certain distance from the facility. It however depends on the company that you are working for. The last company that I worked for, told me that I had to live a minimum of 50 miles from the facility if I wanted to stay in state, but that was in 2005, so things may have changed now.

NICUQueen · Nov 11, 2009

You say you will graduate soon. Most travel nursing companies require at least one year's experience before placing you. Med/surg is a good experience builder!

bill4745, RN · Nov 11, 2009

I know several nurses who work in their own city as travelers. And ditto that you need at least a year experience.

MERRYWIDOW46 · Nov 11, 2009

One year experience minimum, IRS sets standards for "Travel Nursing" and it still is 50 miles from home for tax free housing stipend. The only exception I am aware of is the Washington DC Metro area, 50 miles is not considered a "reasonable commute" so Travel Contracts are different there. Local travel contracts are available with some agencies, the pay is structured differently.

BE careful which agency local or travel you work for. I had my paycheck not be accepted for insufficient funds from one agency several years ago. If it seems too good to be true it is.

Good Luck.

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2009

Actually, you are incorrect. There is NO IRS standard for of 50 miles from home for tax free travel on housing benefits. That has been a common misconception for many, many years. The standard to not be taxed on housing is that you must essentially maintain a tax home and that you have to work far enough away that you can't commute (that's not the exact wording of the requirement, my paraphrasing). Basically, if you can drive daily to it, you are going to be taxed. Some companies pound it into the ground that you have live 50 miles away, but it's easy to look up the publication on the IRS website and get the real information. My impression is that companies are setting their own standard to try to make sure tax advantage and housing stipends will meet guidelines, which in some instances they don't....thereby sticking the traveler with a huge tax bill with penalties.

Having said all that, sometimes you still make more money if you work locally and allow your housing stipend to be taxed. When I lived in rural NC, staff salaries were terribly low so I went with a travel company to work at my local hospital. I STILL made out with my housing being taxed. So sometimes, it's still worth it.

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2009

That was actually a company guideline, not an IRS guideline. Some companies just set their own rules and don't follow the law. Crazy.

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2009

Here's a link for a great article on permanent tax homes..which is essentially what you're asking: http://www.traveltax.com/Articles/10%20Dos%20and%20Donts%20Nursing%202005.pdf