What is a Travel Nurse

What is a Travel Nurse


A travel nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who travels to various healthcare facilities around the country on temporary assignments. Travel nurses work as independent contractors, taking on short-term nursing jobs that typically last 3-6 months.

Their main goal is to fulfill staffing needs at facilities experiencing nurse shortages due to variable patient volumes, maternal leaves, vacations, or permanent openings. Travel nurses provide flexibility for healthcare systems while also having autonomy and seeing new places through their work.

What is a Travel Nurse

Key Features of Being a Travel Nurse

  • In addition to experiencing diverse locations and cultures, travel nursing comes with several appealing benefits compared to traditional staff nursing roles: Work temporary assignments that last 13 weeks on average (per Aya Healthcare)
  • Get housing and transportation assistance when relocating to assignment locations (per NRN)
  • Earn higher hourly pay rates than stationary staff nurses to compensate for living expenses while traveling (per All Allied Health)
  • Work in various healthcare facilities and specialties around the US (per Travel Nursing Jobs)
  • Gain exposure to different cultures, healthcare practices, and technologies (per Indeed)

Benefits of Being a Travel Nurse

In addition to experiencing new places, travel nurses enjoy benefits like:

  • Flexibility in choosing work duration and locations (per Nurses Labs)
  • Opportunity to learn new specialties quickly (per Trailblazer)
  • Adventure and independence on the road (per Red Coach Travel Nursing)
  • Tax-free stipends for housing and transportation (per FlexRN)

Competitive Pay

As independent contractors, travel nurses earn higher hourly rates than permanent staff nurses. Pay rates range from $1,400 4,500 per week on average depending on experience, specialization, and location. Many assignments also qualify for tax-free stipends to cover living expenses while traveling.

Autonomy and Flexibility

Travelers can select assignments based on interests, climate preferences, specialty focus, or duration without being tied to one particular facility for years. Many take advantage of this freedom by rotating around the country every few months or taking extended vacations between roles..

Career Advancement

The variety of facilities and conditions exposes travel nurses to different practices, equipment, and technologies. This helps accelerate learning and strengthen clinical skills compared to nurses who remain at one site for their career.

Tax Benefits

In addition to housing and transportation stipends, qualified travel nursing expenses like automobile mileage, continuing education, and supplies/equipment purchases qualify for tax deductions. Agencies also offer 401(k) options.

Personal Growth

Living out of a suitcase and immersed in unfamiliar cultures provides personal and professional development beyond what’s possible working locally. Travelers gain confidence in adapting independently while forming bonds with coworkers nationwide.

Common Travel Nurse FAQs

How long do assignments last?

Travel nurse jobs are temporary, usually ranging from 4-26 weeks at a single facility. The average contract length is 13 weeks to fulfill staffing schedules and quarterly/annual budgets..

What is the application and hiring process through an agency?

Interested nurses create an online profile highlighting experience, certifications, references, and availability. Agencies screen candidates and refer qualified travelers directly to facilities. If an offer is extended, contracts are reviewed remotely before relocating.

What types of healthcare facilities employ travel nurses?

Just about every type – large teaching hospitals, rural critical access hospitals, trauma centers, long-term care practices, clinics, prisons, and more. Assignments exist nationwide allowing travel to almost any U.S. location.

How is housing arranged during an assignment?

Agencies provide a weekly untaxed housing stipend and help travelers find short-term furnished housing like apartments and extended-stay hotels near assigned facilities. Some remote/rural roles include housing onsite.

What about liability insurance and licensing?

Travel agencies cover malpractice insurance and assist with obtaining a temporary license in the state of each new assignment through an interstate nurse licensure compact program.

Can travel nurses take time off between roles?

Many travelers use the flexibility to take vacation weeks or months between contracts based on budget or personal needs. Some rotate back-to-back for steady employment while others opt for seasonal or alternating assignments.

Is travel nursing a good fit for families?

It can be challenging but also rewarding for travelers to bring spouses or children along full-time on the road. Agencies work to accommodate family-friendly policies and dual-income assignments when possible given logistics. Otherwise, many couples coordinate alternating work schedules.

In summary, a career in travel nursing provides registered nurses with a dynamic alternative to traditional staff roles through exposure to diverse healthcare environments, higher pay potential, and autonomy over location, duration and specialty focus of assignments. This path continues attracting more RNs as demand grows for flexible staffing solutions

Here are some additional details on the tax benefits that travel nurses can take advantage of:

Housing Stipend: Most agencies provide an untaxed weekly housing stipend to cover living expenses like rent/mortgage while on assignment. The stipend amount varies depending on the location and cost of living but is excluded from taxable income.

Meals: Travel nurses can deduct 50% of meal expenses incurred while traveling away from their home residence. Per diems average $60-75/day depending on location.

Transportation: Roundtrip travel costs between home and assignment locations at the start and end of each contract are deductible. Mileage for using a personal vehicle to drive to/from clinical sites while on assignment is deducted at $0.585/mile in 2022.

Home Office Deduction: Since travel nurses maintain residential addresses elsewhere, they qualify to deduct home office expenses for maintaining a home base. This includes costs like internet/phone, home office supplies, and a portion of rent used for administrative duties.

Continuing Education: Attending seminars, and conventions, and purchasing books/materials for maintaining nursing licenses and certificates qualifies as a tax deduction.

Liability Insurance: Premiums paid for malpractice insurance coverage through travel agencies can be fully deducted.

Healthcare Expenses: Out-of-pocket costs for medical tools/equipment purchased for nursing jobs can lower taxable income.

For those working extended periods on the road, travel nurses may also qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, allowing expats to exclude up to ~$112,000 of income in 2022. Proper record-keeping is important when itemizing tax deductions to maximize savings each filing season. Accountants familiar with contractor taxes can advise travelers on optimizing their tax situation.

Here are some additional details on the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion that may apply to travel nurses working abroad:

  • Eligibility: To qualify in 2022, travelers must reside overseas for at least 330 days cumulatively within a 12-month period or be physically present for at least 330 days within 12 consecutive months.
  • Income Threshold: Up to $112,000 of foreign earned income can be excluded from taxes in 2022 for those meeting residency/physical presence tests. Spousal income may also qualify if living/working together abroad.
  • Foreign Presence: Travelers must establish a tax home in a foreign country even if assignments are short-term or rotating between international locations. Maintaining an overseas residence is key.
  • Exclusion Mechanics: Qualified foreign earned income is removed from taxable wages on Form 2555. Standard or itemized deductions still apply to remaining domestic income.
  • State Taxes: The exclusion only impacts federal income tax. Some states offer a foreign income tax credit but residents may still owe state taxes on excluded wages.
  • Planning Considerations: Signing 6-12 month contracts overseas back-to-back maximizes the exclusion. Cash out PTO or take unpaid leave to extend stays if needed for 330+ days.
  • Extensions: An affidavit can extend the physical presence requirement if sudden adverse conditions like civil unrest, pandemic, or natural disaster arise.

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is a significant tax benefit for international travel nurses. Proper documentation is crucial to avoid IRS eligibility disputes and ensure full tax savings each filing year spent living and working abroad.

key forms and documentation requirements for travel nurses to claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion:

  • Form 2555 – This is the main tax form used to claim the FEIE. It requires providing qualifying foreign earned income amounts, foreign housing/housing expenses, and physical presence/bona fide residency documentation.
  • Physical Presence Test – Travelers must maintain a written record of international arrival/departure dates like passport stamps, plane/hotel receipts, etc. to prove 330+ qualifying days abroad within a 12-month period.
  • Bona Fide Residence Test – Documentation showing establishment of an overseas home like property lease/title, utility bills, bank statements, and immigration/visa records may be required to prove tax home abroad.
  • Foreign Tax Return Receipt – For countries where the travel nurse paid income tax, a receipt showing the foreign return was filed is needed. This proves taxes weren’t avoided overseas.
  • Employer Letters – Letters from international healthcare facilities/agencies verifying dates of foreign employment and wages paid help establish eligibility.
  • Extension Request (if needed) – An affidavit may be filed with Form 2555 to extend the physical presence test due to specified circumstances beyond the individual’s control.

It’s important for travel nurses to retain thorough documentation and be able to provide supporting records if the IRS audits a return claiming the FEIE. Using the proper forms and organizing qualifying information is key to avoiding issues down the line.

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