[TheSnedster]

Hi,

I am considering taking a travel assignment in my current location, Baltimore, then moving back to Nashville where I have a house and continuing to take travel assignments there. I spoke with a recruiter who said that you can't travel in your hometown. But I have heard that people do this! I have a permanent position currently in Baltimore, but I own property in TN, and my nursing license and drivers license are both TN. I'm hoping to take travel assignments for better money and also to gain new experiences.

Also, should I try to branch out a bit into areas that are on the edge of my comfort zone? I would love to work in a traditional ICU but all I know is BMT ICU, which is basically medical but highly specialized and we don't do a lot of things that are seen in a MICU. I would hate to have to only take assignments that are narrowly within the realm of what I am used to doing but I don't want to be unsafe either.

Hm, lots of questions!

[stellar]

I work in a cancer center ICU, came there with lots of ICU experience but with no oncology experience, and I find I really don't need it that much in that all their chemo and XRT is usually on hold for surgery or due to their critical state.If you do the vents, drips, antibiotics and drains (like chest tubes, trachs, etc) that our BMT patients that are septic or have respiratory failure or renal failure for what ever reason, etc, have, that is transferable to a general medical ICU. Certainly having the BMT experience with blood products and lines is helpful and transferable. The intense psycho-social aspect of BMT is a great plus as well for general ICU. Our BMT and ICU can cross-cover, but it depends on the acuity of your BMT/ICU unit. While you would have a learning curve, if you are doing vents, intubations, codes, drips you should be fine.

[Kdog]

There are travel companies that offer LOCAL TRAVEL CONTRACTS which allows the nurse to work close to home.
Cross Country Trav Corp is one,give them a call and research.

[Anmutasc]

From what I understand, if you take a travel assignment in your tax home (which it sounds like TN would be that) then you will be taxed very heavily on the housing stipend. It would no longer be tax free. And when you go and do your taxed at the end of the year, there is some type of stipulation where you would not get as much money back as if you were traveling greater than 75 miles from your tax home. Check out the website for Kobaly. They have all the tax laws and explanations for travel nurses so you make an informed decision. some states (for instance, massachusetts) has laws where you cannot work as a traveler in that state unless it is 75 miles from your tax home, even american mobile has a form you have to sign if you are from that state and are going to work as a traveler there, you have to prove you live further than 75 miles.