Per diem at home

[perfexion, ASN, RN]

Does anybody keep a per diem job at home while traveling? How does that work? Do you fly home once a month and do all your days in a row? I just signed a 6 month contract for 48 hours a week, but I was also offered a per diem position near my home for 3 days a month. I'm trying to figure out how doable it is or if I'll burn myself out that way. How does everyone else do it?

[NedRN]

What is your motivation to do per diem? Benefits, bolstering tax home status, safety net?

[perfexion, ASN, RN]

I want a per diem job so that I can maintain my skills between contracts and so that I can take more time off after my contracts end and still have a little money coming in. I don't know if that makes sense or not.

[NedRN]

Sure, that makes sense. Rather than be tied down by a quota of 3 days a month, negotiate! See if they will be OK with 12 days every four months. An annual requirement would be even better, allowing you to take 3 stacked assignments away from home. Otherwise, I suspect you will come to regret the requirement. No big deal, all that would happen if you fail to meet it is being purged from current status - which you might be able to up ad lib. But flying home to meet three shifts doesn't make financial sense by itself, unless you want the excuse for at-home personal time.

My other suggestion would be to see if the same or other nearby hospital uses local agency. Doing per diem then would really be self scheduling.

[NurseLexx]

@perfexion how is this going or what did you decide to do because I'm looking forward to doing the same.

[ParalyticAgent]

I did what Ned suggests.

I stayed per diem, but I asked that the monthly requirement be annual. I'm responsible for 192 hours per year. I work at home between contracts and I work well over my required hours!

[Argo]

I tried to give prn a shot for the Same reason but it didn't work for me. They wanted too much training up front doing 3 days a week for a while then tried to require 2 days a week for prn staff, not really the point of prn. They didn't really understand how quickly a person used to traveling adapts... pay wasn't worth the hastle.

[HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

What about local agency? I signed up with one of my local agencies and work when I want when I am at home. No minimum amount per pay period or month. I just need to work at least one shift a year for them to stay active in their system. It's great. So much less hassle than keeping a per diem hospital gig.

[Argo]

I reside in a smaller city and there isn't a local agency. If I still lived in a big city I would definitely do that.