Quitting my per diem?

Nurses General Nursing

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Newer nurse here. I have about 11 months of nursing experience. For my first 10 months of being a nurse I worked in a skilled nursing facility 4 days a week. I was considered "full time" and received benefits.

I got a per diem job working at a LTC facility for extra money in May and have worked about 2 shifts/month there as that's their requirement. It's OK but I'm not entirely crazy about it. There was a sign on bonus which was a plus and it contracted me to work for them for at least 90 days to receive the full amount. (August 6th marks my 90 days).

I recently just changed my status from full-time to per diem at my full-time job for a new job at a subacute facility, which I start next week. I felt like the environment for me to learn will be much better, etc. With this company, I am eligible to work the minimum of 3 days/week to receive benefits, which I need. They are paying me very well, so that's not an issue. I'm trying to decide if I should approach my DON in regards to my schedule and ask if I could start out at 3 days/week (8hr shifts), instead of the four we initially discussed, as I do have two other per diem jobs and am currently in school for my next degree. I figured if I work the three days at my full-time job I can work more at my per diems, and give them availability and compensate with the extra money. but I know that no hours are guaranteed at per diem and I could be potentially cut if not needed.

It was not my plan to have two per diem jobs, but the company offered and I accepted because I felt bad I was leaving at such a stressful time, I was an employee of 9 years, and they were short-staffed. I'm conflicted whether I should approach the DON at my new job about my schedule change, or if I should stay at the 32 hrs/week we discussed initially and quit one of my per diems? I obviously make more money at my per diem jobs, so staying at 3 days/week at my full-time wouldn't be a concern, but I don't want to make a bad impression with my new boss, nor do I want to hand in a two week notice to a company I have only been working for 90 days and quitting once I receive my bonus (it will make me look like I was only working for the sign on bonus and that's not true).

I don't want to burn any bridges, as I would want to keep my options open in the future with any nursing facility. But I feel as if I were to put my notice in, I may be burning some bridges? My family says to wait and see how I like my job before quitting any of my per diems, but I'm not sure what to do.

Choose a priority job and quit anything that doesn't work well around it. Just reading about this many jobs makes me feel irritated.

It's difficult enough to juggle TWO harmonious positions. Three sounds like a nightmare. ?

Like your family advises, I would wait to see which and what works out best before doing any quitting.

Specializes in ED, med-surg, peri op.

Personally I would not ask to only do 3 days, as you have already discussed doing 4. They will be your main employer that you are relying on. Making a bad first impression is very hard to over come.

30 minutes ago, EDNURSE20 said:

Personally I would not ask to only do 3 days, as you have already discussed doing 4. They will be your main employer that you are relying on. Making a bad first impression is very hard to over come.

^this, and IMO it'd be much easier to pick up extra shifts working only one facility if you needed them. Running back and forth, trying to remember policies and possibly different EHRs sounds like an added stressor for me.

Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.
7 hours ago, Sour Lemon said:

Choose a priority job and quit anything that doesn't work well around it. Just reading about this many jobs makes me feel irritated.

It's difficult enough to juggle TWO harmonious positions. Three sounds like a nightmare. ?

I work for 2 agencies (home care), and it is much harder to be flexible when it comes to adding an extra day. When working for one agency, the scheduling headache isn't my problem.

I wouldn't recommend working for more than two!

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