The Pros and Cons of a Visiting Nurse

The pros and cons of working as a visiting nurse are many. Here are some of the key issues to consider:

Disadvantages of working as a visiting nurse

Working as a visiting nurse has its advantages and disadvantages. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and the work is satisfying despite the challenges. There are times when the job requires you to work irregular hours, such as on weekends and holidays. Additionally, you won’t have much time to spend with your family. However, you’ll also be able to spread holiday cheer to patients, even if they don’t have much to celebrate.

Taxes for visiting nurses

Taxes for visiting nurses can be tricky. Unlike other healthcare professionals, visiting nurses rarely work in their tax home state. But even though they don’t work there, they usually owe taxes to their home state. The IRS makes this distinction by looking at the amount of time that a nurse spends away from home. The more than one year the travel nurse works away from home, the higher the tax burden becomes.

To avoid getting in trouble with the tax man, a travel nurse should file taxes in their home state and in all the states they’ve worked in. Not doing so could result in the termination of their nursing license. In addition to the risk of losing their license, everything they earn will be taxed. And if you’re earning $30,000 a year, you’ll probably end up paying more than one-third of your income in bills and taxes.

Adapting to the environment of a patient’s home

Adapting to the environment of a psychiatric patient’s home is a common medical issue among family physicians. These physicians are responsible for caring for elderly patients with disabilities, who often need help maintaining therapeutic environments at home. Because these patients have little time to decide how to respond to their newly acquired disabilities, physicians often make general recommendations for modifying the home. General recommendations for home modifications include universal design elements and securing potentially hazardous items.

Taking on contracts as a visiting nurse

Taking on contracts as a visiting nurse can be a lucrative option for those who want to work as a floater. Contracts must clearly state that the nurse is an independent contractor. Independent contractors receive tax breaks, which can help to cover the cost of uniforms, continuing education, mileage and more. However, these contracts should not be relied on as the final word on the quality of your career.