Full time and per diem? NICU/postpartum. Help please!

[NurseBAP]

Hi

I am a NICU nurse of 2 years working full time at my current hospital. I am interested in cross training in postpartum but I'm not sure if my hospital has this opportunity at the moment. I was going to look into seeing if the postpartum unit had any PRN positions available. But I was unsure if I could work in the NICU full time and the postpartum unit PRN at the same time at the same hospital?

I only have NICU experience so I didn't think getting a postpartum PRN job at another hospital was probable without having any postpartum experience. (I don't even know if it would be possible at my current job never mind a different hospital) I just don't know if a unit will take the time to train me for only a PRN position.

I would love to gain some postpartum experience but don't want to stop working full time in the NICU right now because I am hoping to start travel nursing within the next 6 months and want to be able to say I have 2.5 years of NICU experience as opposed to just 2 years. I also am contracted with my current hospital for the next 6 months regardless, which is the only reason I am not already traveling.

If I did get a PRN postpartum position, I would be willing to keep this position even while I am traveling, because flying back to my home base a couple of times during a travel assignment to work my PRN shifts would be an option for me.

I know there is a lot going on here lol but anyone have any advice? Thanks in advance

[klone, MSN, RN]

Generally, a hospital will not allow you to work full-time and per diem at the same time, because any hours worked above your full-time job would put you into overtime. I know lots of nurses who work full-time at one hospital and have a per diem gig at another hospital in town. I also know many nurses who travel and keep a per diem gig in their hometown for something to do between assignments (and to keep their seniority at their local hospital).

To be honest, 2.5 years of NICU experience is not going to be more valuable than 2 years of NICU experience, from the standpoint of working as a traveler.