Is Per Diem Nursing for Me?

Per diem nursing offers flexible scheduling options for those looking for an alternative career path. Is this the best choice for you?

 

A routine, full-time schedule isn’t the right fit for every nurse. Maybe you have other responsibilities competing for your time and attention, or maybe you just don’t like doing the same things day after day, week after week. If you are considering working on a per diem basis, ask yourself these questions.

 

Are you a quick study?

 Per diem nurses are thrown into unfamiliar settings and situations on a regular basis. If you can’t pick up new procedures and policies efficiently, you will struggle as a per diem nurse. You should be a fast learner who can keep plenty of new information straight between hospitals and departments.

 

Are you self-disciplined?

 You have the perfect, relaxing day planned out – and then the hospital calls asking if you’re available for a 12 hour shift. How tempted will you be to say no? While it’s important to stay balanced and enjoy your time off, you’ll also need to be reasonably available and eager for work.

 

Are you flexible?

 Some nurses like having a set routine. They want to know what to expect and what rules need to be followed. Changes or inconsistencies make them feel uneasy. If this is you, per diem nursing will probably drive you crazy. On the other hand, if you are easy-going and find a little uncertainty to be exciting, a per diem approach may suit you just fine.

 

Are you good with your finances?

 Per diem nurses can’t guarantee a certain amount of hours every week. To survive financially, you’ll have to be good about saving money during the busy times to cover you when the hours begin to thin.

 

Take a Look at Per Diem Nursing

 

Have you considered becoming a per diem nurse?

 

Traditional full-time nursing roles aren't the right fit for every nurse. Per diem nursing is an alternative that appeals to those who appreciate flexibility, variety, and freedom. Consider the benefits while you look into per diem scheduling.

■Fit your career around other responsibilities. If you are continuing your education, parenting young children, taking care of an elderly patient, or pursuing a time-consuming hobby, per diem scheduling can help you maintain a career without sacrificing other commitments in your life.

■Learn more about your field. Per diem nurses are exposed to many different hospital settings, floors, and specialties. If you want to settle down into a full-time position later in life, your experiences as a per diem nurse will ensure that you know just where you want to be.

■Broaden your network. One of the best ways you can advance any career is to develop a wide and deep network. As your shifts move between hospitals and departments you will meet a large variety of professionals in your field.

■Earn more money. Per diem nurses usually earn a higher wage than their full-time counterparts. This means you can use your flexible schedule to work less hours or to quickly save up money when you need it.

■Enjoy variety in your career. If you get bored with monotony, per diem nursing is a great opportunity to enjoy a career that involves something different every day

Best Benefits of a Per Diem Nursing Job

Nursing is the largest healthcare occupation, and according to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 2.6 million nursing jobs. But because of the difficulty of hospitals and healthcare facilities to retain full-time RNs, the need for per diem nurses has increased significantly. You might think the stability of a permanent nursing job is more desirable than a per diem nursing job, but read on to see what great benefits come with a per diem position.


Flexibility

Nothing can match the flexibility that comes with per diem nursing. No other position allows you to accept shifts around your schedule like per diem nursing does. You can schedule your work around everything else in your life instead of the other way around.


Opportunity for Extra Shifts

Got some extra time over the holidays or during your break from school? Per diem nursing allows you to pick up extra shifts when they are available. This gives you the flexibility you need but you still have the opportunity to make decent wages.


Higher Pay

Per diem positions are one of our highest-paid nursing positions. The flexibility to pick up shifts as needed, combined with higher wages allows you to make maximum pay–all around your own schedule.


Expand Your Experience

Most per diem positions require you to have at least one year of hospital experience, but working per diem can help you gain more experience working in different positions and different locations. Having the opportunity to work in more than one hospital will expose you to different coworkers and patients and ultimately broaden your experience in the nursing field.


Float Between Locations

Unlike travel nursing, per diem nursing allows you to work at various locations right in your hometown. You get the excitement of different working environments without actually having to “travel” anywhere. The flexibility and ability to float between locations also maximizes your opportunity for shifts!

Transitioning to Per Diem Scheduling

Transitioning from a steady full-time nursing position to per diem scheduling can yield many benefits. You will have greater flexibility in your schedule and more personal control over when and how much you work. You can start focusing your time on other aspects of life outside your career, such as family, travel, or hobbies, while still picking up work when you need it. You will familiarize yourself with several hospitals and floors, and improve your professional network by meeting new nurses and other healthcare professionals – and to top it all off, you’ll get receive a higher hourly rate. Per diem nursing may seem ideal to some at first glance, but there is definitely an adjustment period as you begin the transition from traditional employment to flexible scheduling.


Financial Security

The flexibility of per diem scheduling can become a double-edged sword to nurses who aren’t financially prepared. Your income will likely fluctuate from month to month as your availability and the local hospital’s need for you ebbs and flows. Unfortunately, you will have no guarantee of how much work will be available for you. Budgeting won’t be impossible, but it will be trickier than you were accustomed to when working regular hours. You cannot plan to live paycheck to paycheck, and it is wise to create a substantial amount of savings before switching to per diem scheduling.


Finding Balance

Per diem nurses can fall into two extremes when determining their availability for shifts. Some may turn down work so often that they find hospitals rarely call them in anymore when they need the hours. Others are so eager to prove their availability that they never turn down a shift, even when they already have appointments or plans for that day. Although such open availability will improve your chances that the hospital will call you first when they need help, over-committing will leave you more exhausted and stretched for time than you were on a traditional schedule. The key to per diem scheduling is to find the right balance between availability to the hospitals you work for and flexibility for yourself.

Per Diem Requirements for Nursing

 

 

Working as a per diem nurse can allow you to have flexible hours yet still meet your career objectives and financial goals.

Nurses may choose to work in many different fields of employment. A nurse may decide to work assisting doctors in surgery, treating patients on dialysis or treating injured army personnel. A nurse may also decide to work full time as a staff nurse, part-time according to her needs, or as a freelancer. Nurses who work part-time or without a set schedule are known as per diem nurses. To become a per diem nurse you must meet several requirements.

 

State Licensing

 

Once a nurse has graduated from a school of nursing or earned her degree she must be granted a license to practice from the state. All states require nurses to demonstrate mastery of basic nursing techniques by passing a state licensing exam.


The exam is known as the NCLEX or National Counsel Licensure Exam. LPN's take the NCLEX-PN (practical nurse) while RN's take the NCLEX-RN. The NCLEX consists of a series of multiple choice questions.


All applicants must correctly answer a certain number of questions. Each state has a different exam. Some states will accept the results of another state's exam while others will require individuals to take additional NCLEX exams to become licensed in that particular state.

Specialty Certifications

 

An employer may require per diem nurses to have additional qualifications and training. A private pediatrics practice may prefer to hire certified pediatrics nurses. A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) devoted to the care of premature infants will require potential per diem nurses to complete the same coursework as on staff nurses including certification in neonatal resuscitation. Nurses with additional training can often command higher wages and choose from a wider variety of assignments.

Laws on Per Diem Pay

 

According to Chapter 57 of United States code Title 5, Part III, Subpart D, anyone "traveling on official business away from the employee's designated post of duty, or away from the employee's home or regular place of business" is entitled to a per diem payment in accordance with the rates set by the Administrator of General Services. The law further stipulates that all per diem rates be established in accordance with the cost of living in each city. An employee who abandons an assignment before completion due to illness or emergency should still receive a per diem for each day spent on assignment. Though no law stipulates exactly how far away from "home" an employee must travel to receive a per diem, tax resources such as Solo W2 suggest 50 miles.

Per Diem and the Military

 

The United States military pays a per diem expense to all service members away on military business or temporary assigned duty. The Department of Defense sets these per diem rates, which run at a flat maximum, rather than in coordination with the cost of living in a specific location. As of 2011, the maximum per diem for military employees is $123, which includes $77 for lodging. In 2010, the military maximum per diem ran $116, or $7 less than in 2011.

What Is Getting Paid Per Diem?



Getting paid per diem has two meanings. Some companies pay employees a flat rate, or daily per diem rate, for work-related travel expenses. The United States General Services Administration describes travel per diem as a daily allowance for lodging, meals and incidentals. Per diem also describes a worker who is paid a flat fee by the day for services. Temporary workers and contractors are often paid this way. Per diem workers are not regular employees and do not qualify for health insurance or other benefits offered to full-time staff. Companies use per diem workers for special projects or to increase staff size during busy times.

 

Budgets

 

Paying travel expenses through per diem allowances helps companies and organizations control travel expenses. Although $18 a pay for breakfast may seems generous, it is possible to spend more than that at some hotels or restaurants. Getting paid per diem for travel forces an employee to follow certain guidelines.

Independent Contractors

 

Some independent contractors are paid directly by the client. The contractor negotiates a daily per diem rate with the company or organization and submits regular invoices. The client pays the invoice without making deductions for federal income tax withholding or Social Security.

Per Diem Rules

 

Work-related travel can be either a perk or a burden depending on the destination and the nature of the work there. Employees who travel may be liable for their own expenses, or they may receive compensation from an employer. Employers who pay for employee travel expenses can reimburse costs, provide employees with expense accounts or offer per diem payments in advance of travel. "Per diem" is Latin for "per day" and comes in the form of a flat rate for each day of travel.


 

Per Diem Allowances


The U.S. Department of state offers a list of per diem rates, known as per diem allowances, as a guide for employers. These rates vary based on the location to which an employee travels. The per diem allowance lists dollar amounts for food and lodging in each location. States provide their own per diem allowances, which may be higher or lower than federal allowance levels. However, state allowances typically refer to travel within the state, while federal allowances list per diem rates for foreign travel.

Use


Since per diem payments are intended as a perk for employees who travel, those who receive per diem can use it however they wish. Some of the most common ways to use per diem include paying for hotels, meals, taxis and parking. Employees who exceed their per diem must usually pay the difference of their travel expenses out-of-pocket. On the other hand, those who travel modestly can keep the additional per diem payment they don't spend. Employees can pay for travel costs with per diem cash (or the cash they get for cashing a per diem check) or with a personal credit card, using the per diem to pay off the balance later.