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Sometimes, the term “travel nursing” conjures images of venturing far and wide, seeing every corner of the country and exploring a new city every few months. And for many travel nurses, that’s exactly what draws them to this area of nursing. But you might be wondering… what if you’d like to stay closer to home while being a travel nurse? Is it even possible?

Let’s take a closer look at local travel nursing and what it entails.

Can you be a travel nurse in your own state or town?

The answer is yes – you can absolutely be a travel nurse in your own state, or even in the town where you live. There are a lot of misconceptions out there that travel nurses must not work in their home state. But this isn’t always the case. Some healthcare facilities – and some staffing agencies – do set geographical restrictions, yes. But you can find out what kind of stipulations an employer has in place before signing on the dotted line if you’d like to avoid these restrictions and work in the same place you already live.

What are the benefits of local travel nursing?

The obvious benefit of local travel nursing is that it allows you to remain close to your home base – and your family. Whether you’d like to stay close to home because of childcare or family obligations, or you’re simply not interested in constantly traveling for your nursing work, you have the option of being a travel nurse in your own state or city.

Another practical benefit of local travel nursing: You don’t have to apply for and receive additional nursing licenses if you don’t plan on traveling out of state. This is especially helpful if you’re living and working in a state that doesn’t offer compact nursing licenses.

How do you land a local travel nursing contract?

How do you become a local travel nurse and start working in a facility close to home? The same way you land any travel nursing contract: by partnering with an experienced travel nursing agency. Medical Talent is your trusted healthcare staffing agency for top travel nursing positions. Our recruiters work closely with you to understand exactly what you’re looking for out of your travel nursing career and find you contracts that suit your needs.

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Advance your travel nursing career by partnering with us. Contact the Medical Talent team to speak with a recruiter and get started.

How often – and how well – do you show appreciation for your employees? Your staff needs to be recognized for the important and lifesaving work they do. It’s not just the right thing to do, either. Showing your employees that their contributions are valued has very real effects on employee retention and your company’s turnover rate.

Here are a few great ideas for showing your employees you really care:

Recognize and reward great work.

How are your staff members supposed to know that you value and appreciate them if they never hear it? One of the simplest ways to show employees that you care is to simply say “thank you.” The little things go a long way. Beyond the verbal appreciation, make a point to recognize great work on your company’s social media platforms, and out loud during company meetings or daily huddles.

When it comes to rewards, there are several ways to go about it. You could set up an official rewards system at your facility, where team members rack up reward points over time and then exchange them for a gift of some kind. Or, you could hand out small gift cards to help reward extra contributions. Of course, bonuses tied to performance are always a great option, too.

Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones.

Be sure to recognize and celebrate when one of your employees has a birthday. The same goes for a work anniversary. Simply pointing it out at the daily meeting goes a long way, or you could bring in a birthday cake or decorate the break room to mark the occasion. And celebrating certain milestones – an employee reaching a certain number of years with your company or gaining additional certification – is a great idea too.

Promote health and wellness.

Give employees plenty of PTO to use to relax and recharge. Encourage wellness activities at work, like frequent breaks or even meditation sessions. Sponsor a gym membership or other wellness initiatives. These efforts don’t just keep your employees performing at their best and encourage great health – they show your staff that you really care about their well-being and that you’re there to support them in all ways, not just financially.

Host a happy hour or pizza lunch.

Who doesn’t like free food? Throwing a pizza lunch or hosting a happy hour after work is always a great way to show your employees that you’re thinking of them. Just make sure there’s enough for everyone!

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Find the top talent you need by partnering with Medical Talent recruitment experts. Contact us today to get started.