What Are Local Agency Travel Nurse Contracts?

Jul 24, 2024

You don’t need to venture far from home to pick up contract work as a nurse. Many nurses interested in travel nursing but who need to stay close to home may opt to pick up local travel nurse contracts. Local contracts offer many of the same benefits of travel nursing, like flexibility, varied work settings and higher wages.

What Are Local Travel Nursing Contracts?

Working as a local agency travel nurse allows you to take 13-week contracts in your own area. It’s a flexible option, allowing you to work near your home.

The main difference between working a local contract and a regular travel contract is the distance from your primary residence. Local contracts may be any distance from your home that allows you to comfortably commute daily. Alternatively, travel contracts are further away, requiring you to secure temporary lodging because the commute isn’t reasonable. Many agencies or employers may require a minimum distance of 50 miles, but the IRS doesn’t set a precise distance.

What’s the Difference Between Per Diem Nursing, Local Agency and Travel Nurse Contracts?

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It’s great to have so many different options in nursing, but choosing the right employment option for your career goals, financial needs and personal life is essential to maintaining a positive work-life balance. Whichever route you decide, you have lots of employment options that typically offer above-average wages.

Vivian’s jobs marketplace had 280 per diem openings, 1,359 local agency travel contracts and 101,184 travel nursing jobs posted on June 19, 2024. The job board is updated hourly, so check back regularly if you don’t find the right job immediately. Vivian users can also set up job alerts to receive email, SMS or push notifications when new jobs post matching the preferences they set up in their profile.

The table below outlines the differences between working per diem, local and travel nursing contracts to help you decide which fits your needs best. We collected salary data from Vivian Health on June 19, 2024. However, salaries vary depending on your nursing experience, specialty and location. We divided weekly travel nurse salaries by 40 hours to produce an hourly rate for easier wage comparison.

	Per Diem	Local Contract	Travel Contract
Duration and Commitment	Flexibility when you work without a set number of hours needed No contract	Typically, a minimum 13-week commitment working full-time hours Often has an option to extend	Usually, a 13-week minimum requirement, working full-time hours Often has the option to extend if still needed and you’re a good fit
Location	Typically done in your local area Travel contracts for per diem also exist	Usually near your home address and commutable	Further away, requiring you to travel to the assignment and obtain secondary housing near the contract facility
Need	Fill in at a facility on short calls to cover: Staff illnesses Staff shortages Maternity leaves Holidays Vacations Other temporary needs	Could be used to cover: Vacations Staffing shortages Other needs	Peak holiday times Staff vacations Known staff shortages Strikes Higher than normal patient volumes
Salary	$53 to $95 an hour	$60 to $110 an hour	$50 to $185 an hour
Stipends	Not typically provided	Higher hourly wage to account for stipend being fully taxed	Tax-free stipend in addition to an hourly wage to cover travel expenses, accommodation and food

Types of Local Travel Nursing Contracts

One type of local agency nursing is taking a travel contract as a local traveler and receiving a fully taxed wage. Travel nurses usually receive tax-free stipends to cover housing, meals and incidental expenses. The nurse is only entitled to those stipends if they can claim a permanent tax home a specified distance from the facility where they’re working.

While the health system may require this distance to be 50 miles, the IRS doesn’t state an actual distance. Local agency travelers often live in the same location as the facility or close by, therefore preventing them from getting the tax-free stipends.

Another type of contract is when an agency owned by a healthcare system hires local agency travel nurses. A good example is the Memorial Hermann float pool agency in Houston, Texas. Another example is the relationship between HealthTrust Workforce Solutions and HCA hospitals. In locations with numerous HCA hospitals, HealthTrust usually operates a ‘local float pool’ that they source out to the surrounding facilities.

These huge hospital systems have sub-agencies that help fill their staffing holes and allow them to float nurses between facilities in a specified area. It can help decrease the need for outside travel nurses and offer staff a chance for different experiences.

Nurses who do this type of local agency nursing usually have a permanent residence in the area. The pay is better than local permanent staff pay because the nurses receive higher compensation for floating between facilities. They’re usually told at least a day in advance where they’ll be going, but some systems don’t let the nurses know until the morning of the assignment.

Some local agencies offer local contracts and allow these nurses to contract at one of the nearby hospitals for weeks or months at a time. But they’re not on a signed contract with the agency itself, only with a specific facility. This type of employment is considered permanent but as an agency nurse not employed by the health facility.

Can I Work as a Local Travel Nurse?

You can work as a traveler and tell the recruiter that you understand you won’t be eligible for the tax-free stipends, but you want the job. The travel rate is usually discussed as a blended rate – meaning how much you make per hour, including any taxable income plus the stipends. That hourly rate should be the same as a local traveler, but the local travel nurse takes home less net pay (after taxes) because their entire wage will be taxed.

This scenario would be the same if a nurse took travel contracts nationwide but didn’t have a permanent tax home. These travel nurses are considered itinerant workers and pay taxes on all wages. However, most of the time, they still receive a higher salary than staff nurses’ fully taxed wages.

Pros and Cons of Local Agency Work

Travel nurse with family

As we’ve discussed, the biggest annoyance in local travel agency work is the fully taxed wage and not reaping the benefits of the tax-free stipend. Let’s take a look at the big picture. Local contracts are great if you want to work close to home and stay connected with your local community, friends and family. Local contracts may have a quicker start date as you’re likely already eligible to work in the area because you hold the appropriate nursing license.

One benefit of choosing a local contract over a permanent staff position is the flexibility to select and commit to contracts on your desired schedule, typically for 13-week periods. This flexibility allows you to avoid the indefinite commitment of a staff job, where vacation approval is often dependent on seniority and isn’t guaranteed.

Contract work is also a great way to secure a higher wage compared to staff and maximize your income in a shorter period. This perk is similar to per diem nursing, but per diem nursing is unpredictable in the number of hours you may get each week.

Local travel contracts and travel nursing usually allow you to work in various settings, gaining experience in different units and building within your skill set. This variety can be an exciting shift for some nurses, but for other nurses, constantly working in new environments may be anxiety-provoking.

Frequent changes in work settings can make it challenging to adapt to new policies, procedures and team dynamics. Another known downfall often felt by contract workers is that they’re placed in different settings but may not receive the proper education.

Additionally, opportunities for professional development and continuing education might be less accessible for nurses on local travel contracts compared to those in permanent roles. Depending on your life situation, another consideration is that compared to permanent positions, local travel contracts typically offer fewer comprehensive benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plans and paid time off.

How to Find and Secure Local Agency Contracts

When negotiating contract terms for local travel nurse agency work, it’s essential to understand the contract details. There are many things to consider when evaluating a healthcare travel contract. Make sure you clarify hourly rates, shift differentials, required hours, patient ratios and overtime pay. Know the length of the contract and cancellation and sick call policies. Review the benefits and ask about opportunities for contract renewal or extension. Clear communication with the agency can help you secure favorable terms and avoid misunderstandings.

To find local travel nurse jobs that fit your needs, check out Vivian Health’s job marketplace. You can filter results to show local contracts in your area and the specialty you’re looking for. If you don’t find a suitable local contract, review travel contracts in your local area and contact the recruiter with your interest.

Licensing and Credentials for Local Nursing Contracts

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If you’re looking to secure a contract in your local area, you’re likely already all set to go with the legal and professional responsibilities of maintaining your state nursing license and having the required credentials to practice nursing here. If you’re new to the area, check state laws, ensure your state license is up to date and make sure you have all the certifications needed for this area.

Every nursing role requires you to have a current Basic Life Support Certification. Depending on your specialty, other required certifications may include:

Choosing the Right Option

There are many benefits to working in a local travel nurse contract, including staying near home, with the bonus of picking your contracts when the timing is right for you to work. You could take summers off to spend time with your kids while they’re out of school and enjoy the nice weather. Alternatively, you could pick up various contracts throughout the summer, planning around holidays and family events to avoid working during those times. Only you can decide what’s best for achieving the perfect work-life balance and meeting your financial goals.

Browse Vivian Health’s job marketplace for local agency nurse contracts and see what’s available in your location.

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Amanda Farquharson, BSN, RN

Amanda Farquharson, BSN, RN is a registered nurse, travel nurse, writer and wellness warrior. She practices from a holistic lens with a focus on health promotion and prevention. Amanda has been actively engaged with the wellness community for over 15 years, supporting and developing activities that strengthen individuals' and communities' emotional, mental, spiritual and physical health.