Being a travel nurse does not just offer a lot of job variety and experience but also plenty of traveling adventure (and usually higher pay as well).
As a travel nurse, you may be going all across the country. This can be a great way to travel and earn some cash at the same time.
However, traveling can be hard, especially when you are required at short notice. But can travel nurses stay in one place for longer?
Generally, a travel nurse can stay at the same place for as long as a facility needs her but this depends on the assignment.
In this article, I will explore how long travel nurses can stay at the same place and what happens when they stay too long.
How Long Can A Travel Nurse Stay In One Place?
As a rule of thumb, a travel nurse can stay in one place as long as the facility needs her and is prepared to rehire her.
However, the exact length of time a nurse can stay depends on her travel nurse assignment.
Assignments can be as short as 2 weeks and sometimes longer than 13 weeks. The maximum time a travel nurse can stay in one place is 12 months.
After a year, the IRS typically assumes that you have moved to this state. This means that you will then be taxed on both your travel location and your permanent residency.
A travel nurse needs to move to different facilities, different cities and different metropolitan areas regularly.
Travel nurses can stay in the same state indefinitely as long as they travel to different cities and areas.
Why Would A Travel Nurse Want To Stay In One Place For Longer?
Travel nurses may want to stay at the same facility or location for longer for a variety of reasons.
It could be for better pay, great convenience, location, or the preferred shits or even colleagues. .
Better Pay
Not every position, facility, and location pays the same. This means that your pay can depend very much on where you are working at the time.
If you need to pay a student loan off or a mortgage, then staying in a better-paid role for longer can make a big difference.
The Facility
If you like the clinic or hospital you are working in, then you may want to consider staying for longer.
Also the nursing team and other healthcare professionals you are working with can make you feel more comfortable.
Building good relationships with colleagues can be difficult, especially when you are part of a temporary workforce (see also our article on scab nurses).
And a nice working environment is a good reason to spend some more time working there.
The Right Position
Each facility offers slightly different challenges and specialities to travel nurses.
If you find that you are enjoying your position in this specialty with the right amount of hours, then staying for longer seems a great option.
Location
The location can make a big difference in how we approach our work. After all, that’s why travel nurses love their job. Because they want to see more of the country.
Saying this, some locations are just so stunningly beautiful that it’s tempting to stay on and explore a bit more on your day off.
Can Travel Nurses Stay In The Same Place For Too Long?
When a travel nurse stays in the same place for longer than 12 months, then she will face an increase in her taxes and she will lose her stipends.
After a year, the IRS counts your new location as a second location and you will be taxed for both.
You will also lose your non-taxed stipends if you stay in the same location for too long.
As travel nurses are registered as temporary employees, they get certain tax perks and reimbursement for expenses.
However, when a travel nurse stays in the same place beyond 12 months, then she will lose this temporary status and automatically becomes a resident.
How Long Does A Travel Nurse Have to Leave Before They Can Return to the Same Place?
If a travel nurse stays in one place for under a year, then she cannot return to this location within a 24-month period.
This means that the time a travel nurse has to let pass before she can return depends on essentially three criteria:
- How long the travel nurse wants to stay when returning
- How long the travel nurse has worked there already
- The travel nurse’s percentage of annual income that this location accounts for
Can A Travel Nurse Extend The Assignment Contract?
Travel Nurses can usually extend their assignment contract as long as their assigned facility agrees.
They will need to contact their nurse staffing recruiter and check for the details.
However, it isn’t always possible to get a contract extension, so if you want to extend your assignment, then it’s best to speak to your recruiter as soon as possible.
Consider Your Time Between Work Assignments
You don’t have to work back-to-back assignments as a travel nurse (see also ‘Can You Be A Travel Nurse In Your Own City?‘), or extend your contract if you want to stay for longer.
If your financial situation allows, then you can also take time off in between assignments.
This can give you a different perspective on your new location. You can spend some time traveling without working.
This doesn’t even have to be for too long. A few days or a few weeks can often help to give you some breathing space.
This is one of the perks of a travel nurse. You are a temporary employee, so you can easily take some time out for yourself after an assignment comes to the end.
Final Thoughts
Travel nurses (see also ‘Best Places For Travel Nursing‘) shouldn’t stay in the same location for longer than twelve months to ensure that they don’t lose out on their stipends and tax advantages.
However, they can stay in the same state but need to move around to different areas, cities and facilities.