There are a lot of nurses who are trying on per diem nursing jobs. The reason behind this is because per diem nurses have a good compensation compared with regularly employed nurses plus there are other advantages. You can check on the advantages of being a per diem nurse from Gifted Healthcare so you will know what are the perks of getting into a per diem nursing job before becoming one. Here are 8 things you need to know about per diem nurse jobs:
What Does Per Diem Mean?
The word per diem originated from the Latin word which means “for each day”. Per diem nurses can be assigned for a day or two or a few days, that’s why they are called per diem nurses. Per diem nurses also get paid after a day of work and this is advantageous to most nurses. That’s why they’re called per diem nurses.
How Does Per diem Nursing Work?
Most per diem nurses are employed by staffing nurse agencies. These nurse staffing agencies are partnered with several medical facilities. The medical facilities contact the nurse staffing agency if they need nurses to fill in shifts for a short period. For instance, a per diem nurse can be asked to work for an 8-hour shift, for a whole shift, or several days. Per diem nurses often fill the positions that are left by nurses who are on vacation or leave for any reason. Some per diem nurses are also put on board to fill staff shortages in medical facilities.
What Should You Consider Before Accepting a Per Diem Nursing Job?
Per diem jobs can be advantageous for nurses who want to have work and life balance. Since they can work when they want to and they can take a break when they need to. The duties and responsibilities of a nurse can be exhausting and getting a break can help them be more productive once they get back to work.
How Much Does a Per Diem Nurse Get?
Per diem nurses can get a higher hourly rate compared with regular nurses. A per diem nurse can earn up to $100,000 per year considering she will be able to work straight and with enough assignments to cover her daily working time. That’s why most nurses prefer per diem because of the difference in pay.
What are the Requirements For a Per Diem Nurse?
The requirements would depend on the medical facilities. Most of them require at least someone who is a Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse. One or two years of work experience as a nurse is a plus since some would not mind getting nurses who are new.
How Many Hours Should a Per Diem Work?
A per diem nurse can work for an average of 60 hours per week. Some employers would put limits on how many hours a per diem nurse should work in a week depending on the availability of jobs and the number of nurses they handle.
What are the Benefits of a Per Diem Nurse?
Per diem nurses gets benefits such as:
- Flexible Schedule
Per diem nurses get a break after working on each assignment plus they are allowed to decline assignments if they think they are not ready to work yet. So they get to manage their schedule.
- Per Diem Nurses Gets Reimbursements
Per diem nurses can get reimbursement for expenses made that are job-related. Travel expenses, housing expenses, and scrub expenses are reimbursed.
Can New Nurses Work Per Diem?
There are nurse staffing agencies that accept new nurses but depending on the clients they have. For instance, if the medical facility they are partnered with accepts new nurses then they can hire new nurses on their agencies.
These 8 things you need to know about per diem nurse jobs can serve as your guide on how to become a per diem nurse and what’s to expect. If you are a nurse don’t hesitate to talk with a nurse staffing agency to get more ideas on how per diem nursing jobs work. In that way, you can prepare yourself well and start your journey as a per diem nurse. This can be your gateway to advancing your career as a nurse.
