keeping a per diem job at home - can it be done?

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

Wondering if anyone out there is also doing this and how much hassle it will be. I will be attempting to keep my per diem job at a local hospital here at home while I travel. I'd have to fly back every 2 months with the possibility of working 6 days straight. We will also be here for about 3 or 4 months straight every year (another reason I want to keep the job, they pay the best in the area and I love the people and hospital system). I'm worried that potential travel contracts will fall through when I insist that I be granted that specific time off to travel home to work. Anyone doing this now? How much of a pain is it?

[NedRN]

The pain is mostly with keeping up the requirements of your local hospital. If possible, see if they will allow a commitment of some number shifts annually, rather than monthly. There are some hospitals that do just that and it makes traveling much easier. It is fairly easy with many assignments to specify a particular week off in the middle of the assignment, but I think you will find that too difficult, expensive, and ultimately not worth it on an ongoing basis.

If your home hospital doesn't want to make it easy on you, even with a three month commitment a year as you are suggesting, you can also do the somewhat silly routine of quitting and then going through a new hire process once a year. Hopefully you can talk some sense into HR, perhaps with the help of a manager who would like to retain you.

[shoegalRN, RN]

I do this now. I fly back home for a week during my contracts and work at both of my PRN jobs to keep up my requirements. I ask for a week off up front in my contracts to do this. I would rather keep my jobs at home because I take a month off in between contracts so I need income during that month off.

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

Thanks all. I'm going to talk to my manager and see if we can work something out.