Which would make a better work-family balanced job in NYC?

[skyheaven477]

I currently work per diem/day shift with a full time schedule in an ambulatory unit. It is a small hospital and they aren't currently hiring full time. A few nurses may retire in the next year or so but no one knows. It is a straight forward job, not really bedside care but pre-operative assessments instead. As a per diem I get to float to a med-surg floor from time to time. It is a great job with minimal stress compared to my classmate's jobs but since I work per diem I do not have benefits. I really love my patients and co-workers. I look forward to going to work. I have been a nurse for about a year and a half, so I am fairly new to the profession.

Just recently, I got interviewed at a major hospital here in NYC for a full time position, working nights 7pm-7am. It will be in a med-surg floor. The job has great benefits. I will be learning tons and tons. I am prepared for the challenge if I get hired, since I have never worked nights before and I know there will be some stress involved (more acute cases).

I plan on keeping my per diem job too and working a few times a month to keep my status. I like the job that much.

I am just trying to figure out how it would work out when I decide to start a family which may be in the next year or so. My co-workers at the per diem job tell me to hold off on going on any more job interviews for full time positions and make sure to keep working there so I could have a better chance of getting hired full time with them (since someone might be retiring next year). At the same time hospital jobs are hard to find these days and it would be great to have this med-surg full time experience.

Any advice or suggestions are highly appreciated. Thank you.