Need your advice, full time to "dream" per diem position

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Let me give you a little background first. I'm currently working as a PCT for a very well known hospital in my area. I am not a big fan of the floor I work on, very heavy patients, working nights, and a very high turn-over rate for nurses and techs. Also, it takes me 45 minutes to drive to work.

I was recently offered a job at a smaller hospital 5 minutes from my house as an ED Tech. The ED is where I have always wanted to work, and I would be able to do more skills than I am able to now. The shift would be 1pm-1am which would work out perfectly for me and my family. The pay is also more than what I make now. The only thing is that it would be a per diem job. I would report directly to the ED director, and during the interview he told me that I should have no problem getting full time hours, and that I would be able to float around the hospital as well. They would use me as a unit secretary/ED Tech/SWAT tech.

I'm nervous about leaving my current job since it is guaranteed full time. What would you do? I so badly want to take their word that they can get me full time hours, but obviously no one can predict the future. I'm just concerned about low census and only being able to pick up a few shifts a month. Anyone been in a similar situation?

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My first concern would be if that position is benefit eligible. If benefits do not matter to you then I would strongly encourage that you take the position. Jobs like that usually always provide more than full-time hours as long as you are flexible on what days you work, what shift, what unit, and what position. If you can be flexible and go where the need is then I have no doubt that you will do well and receive more hours than what you know what to do with.

Do a good job and I foresee you being slotted into a full-time slot within 3-6 months.

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Thanks! Yeah he did talk about hiring me on full-time as soon as he could. They said I'm sort of a "guinea pig" as they haven't had this type of position from the ED before. I think I may try to hold on to my full time position as long as possible, just to be safe and give myself some peace of mind.

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Can you drop to per diem in your current job? That way, if you don't get all the hours you need in the dream job, you have backup!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

I agree with the benefits questions, also, remember you do not get paid for sick or vacation time. In our hospital, PRN are the first to be cancelled. That's tough.

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Being it is the ED I can almost guarantee you will get hours, even without knowing the hospital. The ED always needs extra help, being to work the floor, or sit with pt's. I have worked in 2 ER's as a PCT...and they ALWAYS could use extra help. even if technically the numbers are good as far as staff goes, they will never send someone home who is willing to work lol just for the fact it's the ED... you can go from 0 to 60 in no time.

Like another poster said, see if you can drop to PerDiem at your current job and take it from there. This position sounds great and I would go for it.

CONGRATS!!

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Thanks everyone! The benefits aren't a concern, we will be using my husband's benefits so we're covered there. I like the idea of going per diem at my current job, unfortunately I don't know if it would be worth it! Due to the drive and everything it would pretty much pay for gas and lunch lol. Yeah they really made it sound like it would be no problem getting my hours in, it's just a scary thing going from something that is secure to this.

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I was recently referred to as a guinea pig. I took it to be it is a position in the making.

Since everything else is such a perfect fit.. go for it and make yourself indispensable!

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