can one do travel nursing and a per diem shift?

[Jstephie917]

Good morning everyone! Im thinking about doing travel nursing but I would also like to come back home one weekend(4-5 days a month) so I can work per diem at the current hospital I am at. I would like to go to N.Y. and California for a year but not sure if I would like it. I wanted to know if anyone has done travel nursing and gone back home to do a per diem shift and their experience with that. Im just not sure if its for me so that's why i would like to keep a per diem position. Btw I'm currently working in Miami on a tele unit for about 3 yrs. The per diem requirement is one shift a month. Any responses would be greatly appreciated!

[NedRN]

It is very common for some travel nurses to keep a per diem relationship with their home hospital. It absolutely nails your tax home status to do some work at home.

I think you will find a one shift per month a bit onerous. Try it for an assignment and see how it works. You might want to approach the hospital and see if they can change it to 12 shifts per year. There is a good chance that that will work well for both of you as you will be more likely to be home around holidays, when they need coverage the most.

[Jstephie917]

Thank you NedRn!

[bahamagirlrn, BSN, MSN, RN]

I tried the one shift per month and it was not easy for me. I had to ensure that my manager could have accommodate my time off to include my days to travel back and forth. Once I got home, I didn't feel like going to work because I wanted to spend time with my husband and enjoy being in my house and also I just didn't feel like going. Nights for me were rough as I worked days. No secretary to help with orders, everyone else overwhelmed and no resource basically. If I had to do it again, I will not do it.