Just Got Hired But Want to Go Per Diem in Order to Travel RN

[EatCake2Day]

Question - Is it too early for me to go per diem after being hired full time? If not, any advice on how to bring this up to the manager? 

Background/explanation - I am an ICU nurse with 1 yr experience. I just got hired full time at my current job, I am off orientation next week. The thing is, this new job is in LA, and I'm having some travel RN fomo. I did a couple CA travel contracts in 2020 as tele, but had to quit and move back home in order to get ICU experience (SoCal wasn't training new ICU RNs at the time). 

So now I'm having major second thoughts about staying full time in this position. The travelers on my floor say 1 yr experience is enough. I was thinking about doing full time for the rest of October before thinking about transitioning to per diem at my current job in order to pick up some ICU travel contracts in SoCal. I didn't do that initially because I want to apply to grad school once I get my 2yr ICU experience in + I wanted to get some rapport with staff because in my 2.5 years as a nurse, I have yet to work somewhere for over a year (1 yr tele + 2 travel contracts +1 year at my last facility) 

[ICUnurse990, BSN, RN]

I am an nurse manager.  There is not a snowball’s chance in heck that I would offer a per diem position to a new ICU nurse who just finished orientation and now wants to travel.

 

 

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

2 hours ago, ICUnurse990 said:

I am an nurse manager.  There is not a snowball’s chance in heck that I would offer a per diem position to a new ICU nurse who just finished orientation and now wants to travel.

Wish you were my manager, mine would take her and tell us "it's a body"....?

[klone, MSN, RN]

On 10/1/2021 at 7:16 PM, JBMmom said:

amoLucia- just to expand (because I'm a nerd), for the Mean Arterial Pressure, you take 2 times the diastolic pressure and add the systolic pressure and divide the whole sum by 3. A MAP of greater than 65 mm Hg is the target for critical organ perfusion. That's why sometimes we don't really get too excited about systolic pressures in the 90s, or even in the high 80s, because it's more influenced by the diastolic. When you're titrating pressors it's generally to the MAP, unless a doc specifically states to titrate to systolic pressures. 

Thank you! My understanding of MAP was limited to just knowing what the acronym stands for. That was interesting to learn. ?

[bluescrubs, ADN, ASN, RN]

If you really want to travel I would do it but maybe do med/surg or tele if you only have one year of ICU experience. I've worked in different hospitals and even staff and new grads are not getting proper orientation. So they won't do a lot of hand holding with a traveler. I have almost 2 years experience in Med/surg tele and felt comfortable leaving to travel and I do not regret it. No drama that staff usually have to deal with, no mandatory meetings, I'm making 3 time my normal salary so I can take a month off between contracts for relaxation if I want to. Just be prepared to float a lot. My last contract I barely worked the floor I was assigned to. I was constantly floated to Covid but it worked out for me because I ended up with less patients. As far as the per diem goes I do not think they will let you go per diem right after orientation, I personally wouldn't say to go travel as the reason. Many hospitals are short staffed and they need full time staffers. Hospitals have open beds but no nurse for them unfortunately. Be prepared to have to let that job go. I do not work per diem anymore but I was able to handle my per diem job while traveling but that was a non bedside settings for they were more flexible. I told them when I wanted to how up and I didn't have to work every week.

[Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Usually travel positions want a minimum of 2 years. But I don't know your specifics in the job your applying for. I would be ticked off though and fire you. 

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

I agree with the poster who said to just resign. I think your manager will be irritated if you ask for per diem (and will probably deny it anyway). But resigning with proper notice is not an odd thing to do, even for a job you’ve barely started. 

[InHisImage, BSN]

On 10/5/2021 at 6:35 PM, Snatchedwig said:

Usually travel positions want a minimum of 2 years. But I don't know your specifics in the job your applying for. I would be ticked off though and fire you. 

OP, I have never traveled but I have done a lot of inquiry because I considered doing it at one point.  It’s my understanding that not only do most hospitals want two years of experience, they want that experience to be in the area for which you are applying.

[Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

17 hours ago, InHisImage said:

OP, I have never traveled but I have done a lot of inquiry because I considered doing it at one point.  It’s my understanding that not only do most hospitals want two years of experience, they want that experience to be in the area for which you are applying.

Yup!

[floydnightingale]

Not even off orientation and you want to quit, which is effectively your plan because per diem isn't going to happen.

When I was on the committee that interviewed prospective hires, people would often say they wanted the job because they wanted experience in the level one ER of a respected hospital which I interpreted as they would leave after a year, half that year being orientation. Orientation is a huge investment. I always recommended against hiring these types.

 

TLDR: If you can't commit to the job, just leave.

 

[hardworkpaysoff, MSN, RN]

I think the responsible thing to do is stay in the full time position and build your foundation.  This is coming from someone who works part time & per diem and trying to avoid full time with all my might (after doing years of full time).  The grass is not always greener.  Don’t want to sound harsh but your career is just getting started so whatever you feel as if you’re missing out on you can get there but it sounds like the route you want to take will lead to feeling overwhelmed, underprepared on a travel contract in the midst of a pandemic.
 

You’d be working at least 3-5 x/week, conflicting holiday requirements, meetings and likely a horrible work life balance. You have an amazing opportunity before you and you likely won’t fully learn per diem.  I say stay at this job and when you go to grad school go per diem.