Local Travel Nursing: Benefits and Definition

Written by: University of Tulsa • Jun 17, 2026

A travel nurse looking at a clipboard with another nurse in a medical facility.

Succeeding as a travel nurse requires the right combination of skills, education, and experience. One of the benefits of becoming a travel nurse is that it allows nurses to make a difference by helping to mitigate the effects of the ongoing nursing shortage, which is expected to continue in the next decade, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Travel nurses fill in when nursing staff leave a facility, during seasons of high cyclical illnesses (e.g., flu), and when specific locations see an influx of patients. Distance rules vary by state and can dictate where local travel nurses may seek employment.

If you’re interested in local travel nursing and its benefits, learn more about how earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing can position you to qualify for more job opportunities, higher pay, continuous learning, and personal growth.

What Is Local Travel Nursing?

Local travel nurses are licensed registered nurses who are either contracted through staffing agencies or hired as contractors by health care providers. Their assignments are generally short-term and limited to within a certain number of miles of where they live. Nurses using agencies are paired with jobs based on their criteria, education, and skills. In some instances, they can work in their permanent positions while also accepting local contracts.

Travel nursing and local travel nursing are not quite the same. As the name implies, local assignments are limited to facilities in nurses’ geographic areas in their own or neighboring states. Travel nurses have a much greater range and may fly across the country to fill employment gaps.

Responsibilities

Local travel nurses’ duties vary based on the needs of the facility and the nurses’ expertise. Common duties include:

Collecting and delivering patients’ tissue, blood, and urine samples
Ordering medical supplies
Assisting physicians with examinations
Collaborating with other medical staff on treatment plans
Administering therapies and medications
Recording and assessing patients’ vital signs
Using electronic medical records (EMR) systems to log patient data

Mileage Rules

Staffing agencies stipulate the mileage that the local travel nurses they employ will travel from their home base for assignments. Many positions allow candidates to work close to home, so there’s no need for them to find hotel or rental accommodations. This mileage is often limited to 50 miles, but that figure can vary.

Assignment Lengths

Assignments generally last between four and 26 weeks. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), work assignments under 12 months are considered temporary. Beyond that, assignments are deemed permanent. This distinction is important because it changes how travel expenses can be deducted.

Fundamental Requirements

While state laws vary, all travel nurses must be licensed RNs. Most employers seek candidates with at least two years of hospital and bedside care experience. Nurses with experience in these specialty areas are typically in high demand:

Labor and delivery
Emergency medicine
Trauma
Pediatrics
Critical care
Neonatal care
Operating room

Many travel assignments also require basic life support (BLS), advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS), and pediatric advanced life support (PALS) certifications.

Skills

Beyond hands-on nursing experience, travel nursing requires some key skills and characteristics. These soft skills help nurses deliver high-quality care:

Problem-solving skills
Adaptability
Commitment to patient safety
Patient interaction skills
Passion for learning
Ability to learn quickly
High ethical standards
Critical thinking skills

Pros and Cons of Local Travel Nursing

As with any potential new career, it’s important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of local travel nursing. Below are some positives and negatives to consider.

Pros of being a local travel nurse include the following:

Proximity to friends and family
Local networking opportunities
No relocation costs
Familiarity with the working area
Paid living expenses
No additional nursing license (if located in a shared license state)
Flexible schedule
Often higher pay rates and better benefits than staff nursing positions
Exposure to different patient populations

Cons of being a local travel nurse include the following:

Some job opportunities may have mileage limits
Lack of travel to long distance locations, compared to other travel nursing positions
Short orientation and training at new facilities
Taxes may not be withheld on stipends (e.g., housing), though they are taxable as income
Possible tension with staff nurses
Lack of job security
Long commutes

How to Become Licensed to Work in Another State

Registered nurses must be licensed to practice in the state in which they work. For travel nurses who want to practice in another state, such as in a bordering state for local travel nurses, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) allows nurses to hold multistate licenses through a nationally recognized agreement called the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). As of 2024, 41 states and two U.S. territories are part of this program.

The NLC credential is issued to RNs, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are expected to hold licenses in each state where they will practice. These licenses are only available to nurses who work in compact states, which are those that have legally agreed to allow their nurses to hold multistate licenses.

Multistate license applications can be submitted through the nurses’ home states’ boards of nursing. Current nurses may check their license status and eligibility through Nursys, an online database for nurse license verification. A multistate license can save nurses time and money compared to obtaining multiple single-state licenses. If nurses’ home states don’t participate in the NLC, they will need to apply for a single license in any other state where they want to practice.

Do You Need a BSN to Be a Travel Nurse?

While a bachelor’s degree is not a requirement to become a travel nurse, local travel nurse staffing agencies often prefer nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. A BSN demonstrates increased competency in nursing fields, which helps agencies feel confident about sending nurses into a new assignment.

Local Travel Nursing vs. International Travel Nursing: Key Differences

As the name suggests, international travel nursing assignments are outside the United States, and can vary between a few weeks or months. Nurses who specialize in certain areas, like infection control, trauma, intensive care, oncology, or military nursing, may be better positioned for overseas opportunities.

International nursing staffing agencies can negotiate nurses’ pay rates, benefits, and other specifics about their assignments. In some cases, their contracts may include the cost of flights and visa processing. Working abroad as a nurse requires a work visa, which can involve a medical examination, immunizations, language proficiency, and an employment offer.

Local Travel Nursing vs. Traditional Travel Nursing: Key Differences

The main difference between local and traditional travel nursing involves distance and tax regulations. Travel nursing assignments are more than 50 miles from nurses’ tax homes, and living stipends are untaxed. These assignments can be at health care facilities all across the United States, and require nurses to be comfortable with moving frequently and across far distances.

Like local and international travel nursing, traditional travel nursing staffing agencies may offer different compensation models to cover the cost of travel and housing.

Importance of Local Travel Nursing in Health Care

The United States is expected to face a shortage of 63,720 full-time RNs by 2030, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. As different regions are affected at different rates, local travel nurses will become increasingly important to help address nursing shortages in underserved areas in their own and neighboring states.

Here are some key reasons why travel nurses are so important to the health care industry:

They fill staffing gaps during surges, absences, and seasonal upticks.
They reduce the need for overtime pay for staff nurses.
They require fewer benefits than staff nurses.
They provide specialized nursing care to rural and underserved communities.

Travel Nursing Agencies to Consider

Choosing the right travel nursing agency is as critical as selecting the right assignment. This process can be overwhelming, but communicating with an experienced recruiter may ease the frustration. The top areas to consider when selecting an employment agency include the following:

Pay rate
Housing assistance
Schedule flexibility
Specialty assignments
Contract length
Agency customer service
Agency benefits
Cancellation policy
Sick pay
Paid time off
Discount/perks

How to Succeed in Your First Local Travel Nursing Assignment

Getting started as a local travel nurse typically begins with earning a nursing degree and obtaining a nursing license. You can pursue a BSN and pass your state’s certification board exam to obtain licensure.

Gain at Least Two Years of Nursing Experience

Working as an RN for at least two years and being exposed to a range of situations helps produce well-rounded nurses who can successfully manage patient care, organize patient data, and communicate clearly with patients.

Consider Professional Certification

While pursuing a nursing certification is optional, you can get certified in a variety of nursing specialties, including ambulatory care, pediatrics, gerontology, and infection control. Since there isn’t a specific specialty for travel nurses, they may choose one that aligns with their interests.

Some of the benefits of earning a certification in preparation for becoming a travel nurse are access to more job opportunities, potentially higher pay rates, and the ability to provide specialized care.

Remain Flexible

One of the keys to having a thriving local travel nurse career is being open to new experiences. Staffing agencies typically have a variety of assignments. Being flexible and accepting challenging jobs can enhance your knowledge and future opportunities.

Keep an Updated Resume

Along with remaining flexible, being prepared when a dream job presents itself can be rewarding. Prospective or current travel nurses should keep their resumes up to date.

Network With Other Travel Nurses

Communicating with fellow travel nurses may help beginners navigate the intricacies of this role. Networking may also lead to employment opportunities and tips on how to handle complex issues like contract negotiations.

Other Useful Tips

Organizations like the American Travel Health Nurses Association and the National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations offer educational events, national conferences, memberships, and the latest industry news.

Other tips for first-time travel nurses with local assignments include the following:

Learn as much as possible.
Be respectful of other medical staff.
Learn the policies and procedures of the facility or hospital.
Allow enough time to learn the area and floor plan of the facility.
Take advantage of emerging technologies.

Train to Become a Local Travel Nurse at The University of Tulsa

Local travel nursing has many benefits, such as the potential for higher pay, schedule flexibility, increased job opportunities, professional growth, and making a difference in the local health care community. If you’re considering a nursing career, a bachelor’s degree can help you gain leadership skills to be able to work independently.

Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a nonnursing field should consider The University of Tulsa’s online Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. This program prepares you to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), which is required to become licensed and eligible for employment, in as few as 21 months.

Find out how TU can prepare you to work as a travel nurse by earning a degree in nursing.

Recommended Readings

What Are the 3 P’s in Nursing?

Nurse Advancement Opportunities for RNs

RN vs. BSN: Why Earn Your BSN?

Sources:

Advantis Medical, “Can You Make Good Money as a Local Travel Nurse?”

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Nursing Shortage Fact Sheet

American Association of Medical Colleges, “New AAMC Report Shows Continuing Projected Physician Shortage”

American Nurses Association, “How to Become a Travel Nurse”

AMN Healthcare, “Advice for First Time Travel Nurses”

AMN Healthcare, “Comparing Travel Nursing Jobs, Per Diem, and Local Nursing Roles”