Considering traveling

ESRD · Feb 13, 2004

Hello.......
I am considering doing a traveling assignment over this upcoming summer up to Rhode Island (my home state) This would be my first travel assignment. Since I don't know whether I will truly enjoy being a traveler until I try it out, would you suggest:
1) Staying on at my current hospital but as hourly, no time commitment and just not working those three months
2) Taking a leave of absensce for three months
3) Resigning completely
Thanks for your input.

You need to check with HR at your hospital as to their per diem policy. Some have a very lenient one.. You can work once a year and keep your per diem status.. Others require you to work one week end every six weeks, one major holiday in season..i.e. Xmas, 4th of July...Winter/summer respectively.

If you plan to go back and not lose your senority you will need to abide by the rules. If you have alot of senority you probably don't want to lose it.

On the other hand if you know you can walk right back into the hospital and pick up where you left off maybe a leave will work.

Maybe you can do your duty on the six week weekend thingy by requesting a long weekend in your contract and coming home to work. And maybe you can work Memorial Day for your summer holiday..

It just all depends on what the hospital requires..

That's what I'd do... One hint you might love travel nursing and this would all be mute.. Except for the fact that you need to have a tax home to be able to deduct travel expenses.. So hopefully the hospital will work with you to help in that aspect..

Good luck

ESRD :blushkiss

New CCU RN · Feb 13, 2004

You need to check with HR at your hospital as to their per diem policy. Some have a very lenient one.. You can work once a year and keep your per diem status.. Others require you to work one week end every six weeks, one major holiday in season..i.e. Xmas, 4th of July...Winter/summer respectively.
If you plan to go back and not lose your senority you will need to abide by the rules. If you have alot of senority you probably don't want to lose it.
On the other hand if you know you can walk right back into the hospital and pick up where you left off maybe a leave will work.
Maybe you can do your duty on the six week weekend thingy by requesting a long weekend in your contract and coming home to work. And maybe you can work Memorial Day for your summer holiday..
It just all depends on what the hospital requires..
That's what I'd do... One hint you might love travel nursing and this would all be mute.. Except for the fact that you need to have a tax home to be able to deduct travel expenses.. So hopefully the hospital will work with you to help in that aspect..
Good luck
ESRD :blushkiss

Thanks for your reply. I am pretty sure the requirement is just 12 hrs once a schedule which the schedule is monthly so you can make that be one weekend every two months.... if you are unprotected hourly there are no holiday requirements...

I only have two years at this facility, however, it just seems less scary to not leave all together. I guess two years isn't much seniority although on my unit I am 17th out of about 49 (yes, that is how much turnover we have had!!!!) At the same time there are always openings and it would not be difficult to be rehired... just have to go through the dumb hosp orientation all over again...blah...

We will see... I am leaning more towards resigning all together... that way there will be no commitments to worry about.

ESRD · Feb 13, 2004

Thanks for your reply. I am pretty sure the requirement is just 12 hrs once a schedule which the schedule is monthly so you can make that be one weekend every two months.... if you are unprotected hourly there are no holiday requirements...
I only have two years at this facility, however, it just seems less scary to not leave all together. I guess two years isn't much seniority although on my unit I am 17th out of about 49 (yes, that is how much turnover we have had!!!!) At the same time there are always openings and it would not be difficult to be rehired... just have to go through the dumb hosp orientation all over again...blah...
We will see... I am leaning more towards resigning all together... that way there will be no commitments to worry about.

Just remember in order to claim travel pay on your income taxes you need a tax home. You need to show ties to that tax home. Working there will show the IRS, among, other things, that you have ties to your tax home.

Good Luck

ESRD