Should you Become a Local Travel Nurse?

Local travel nurses are a form of travel nursing. While regular travel nurses travel all around the country filling in vacancies at various hospitals and clinics, local travel nurses stay within a certain area while still regularly working in different organizations. In doing so, local travel nurses gain experience in a variety of work settings without having to constantly uprooting from your community. The following are five questions to help you determine whether becoming a local travel nurse is right for you:

Would you Prefer to Stay in a Specific Community?

Local travel nursing is ideal for people that want to stay based in a certain area. If you have commitments such as a home or family, traveling around the country may not be practical – local travel nursing provides the excitement of working in different healthcare settings with the added benefit of returning home each night.

Even if you don’t have other commitments, working in a specific community could offer a level of familiarity. You might find the guide at Very Well Health useful as it outlines lists the best travel nurse agencies as you make a decision.

Are you Prepared to Make Variable Commutes?

While your placements will usually all be in a specific city or state, this area could still be quite large. This does mean potentially having to make long commutes back and forth to work (unless you’re willing to stay in a local accommodation for the night, which many travel nursing agencies can provide).

You’ll ideally need to drive and have a car that is reliable. Consider using sites like Edmunds to shop for a reliable and comfortable vehicle that will make commutes easier. If you’re traveling in a large city with good public transportation, owning a car may not always be necessary.

Are you Willing to Adapt to New Placements?

Something to consider with any form of travel nursing is the fact that you will constantly have varied placements. This could include roles in different departments – each with their own staff dynamics and their own way of organizing things. You need to be comfortable being the new nurse on the team and be able to adapt to pertinent rules and methods.

Some people thrive in such jobs, but others may find it more stressful than working in a single hospital or clinic.

Do you Have Nursing Experience?

You generally cannot become a travel nurse right after completing nursing school. Most agencies will only hire applicants with working experience as a registered nurse – usually at least 2 years of experience. If you have your heart set on being a travel nurse, make sure that you’ve got some hands-on nursing experience first.

Is There a Local Demand for Travel Nurses?

Temp staff are always needed in hospitals and clinics, but there may not always be enough placements locally to work as a local travel nurse – particularly if you live in a rural community. Urban areas tend to have a higher density of medical services and therefore have more vacancies to offer within a specific area. This is something to consider before you apply.

Travel nursing can be rewarding. However, it is important to make an informed decision.