What exactly does "per diem" mean? - Page 2

Register Today!
  1. Feb 1, '08 by
    what if you want to work per diem but dont want to work i hospitals or nursing homes? do you have any other options? I would love to work per diem so I can make my own schedule but I dont want to work in a hospital or nursing home. anything left?
  2. Apr 18, '08 by
    Quote from tntrn
    my paycheck is either really nice or non-existent, but it works for me.
    I'm seriously considering going per diem at the hospital where I work f/t. But that "non-existent check" comment scared me a little bit. Actually, it scared the crap out of me.

    Did you mean that sometimes you get paid less than usual or that you actually get zero for an entire pay period due to being cancelled or what have you? (That would definitely not work for me.)

    Excuse my ignorance, I'm new to the whole per diem thing.
  3. Apr 18, '08 by
    Quote from Hex
    I'm seriously considering going per diem at the hospital where I work f/t. But that "non-existent check" comment scared me a little bit. Actually, it scared the crap out of me.

    Did you mean that sometimes you get paid less than usual or that you actually get zero for an entire pay period due to being canceled or what have you? (That would definitely not work for me.)

    Excuse my ignorance, I'm new to the whole per diem thing.
    I work PRN & do not have any problem working.....my phone rings off the hook! I have only been PRN for 9 months.....have never gone without a check if I wanted to work. You might go PRN for a couple of places if you are worried about that. I think it also depends on how experienced you are & how many different areas you can or want to work in. I only do ER now & have all the shifts I want & then some....I am usually in OT.
    Hex likes this.
  4. Apr 18, '08 by
    newlvngrad: in my experience, almost all registries place you in either nursing home or hospitals, but check out home health agencies, too. I did know of an agency per diem nurse when I worked in home health.

    I have also gone six weeks without a paycheck because of being cancelled. What has worked for me is to sign on with two registries.

    But I'm an RN and a lot of times the LVN will be cancelled before me, even though I'm costing them more.

    And "per diem" means "by the day." Latin
  5. Apr 24, '08 by
    I have worked agency for more than 18 yrs now. I am never expected to take a shift, but then again, I am never sure I will work this week.

    for the past 6 yrs, I have made at least $25,000/yr!!! picking and choosing my shifts (pretty good in my book.....)

    You do need to be confident in your abilities, and able to think on your feet.....

    I love it..... wouldn't dream of doing anything else...

    Faye
  6. Apr 24, '08 by
    Quote from scrappingfaye
    I have worked agency for more than 18 yrs now. I am never expected to take a shift, but then again, I am never sure I will work this week.

    for the past 6 yrs, I have made at least $25,000/yr!!! picking and choosing my shifts (pretty good in my book.....)

    You do need to be confident in your abilities, and able to think on your feet.....

    I love it..... wouldn't dream of doing anything else...

    Faye
    Is that a typo? I mean, 25k in this day and age is not much. Or do you mean in addition to your salary, you have made 25k? If that's the case, that is REALLY good.
  7. Oct 19, '10 by
    $25K works for me, because it's a 2nd family income, and if i can make my own shifts, it's perfect. i have two kids in HS, and one is a traveling dancer, so i will certainly look into that when i graduate.
  8. Oct 28, '10 by
    I currently work per-diem at a hospital. Since April there were major budget cuts and full timers were dropped to 2 days a week. Float pool/per-diem were being called off left and right. I was down to a couple days a month! Times were hard. I never thought the hospital would call us off so much. I was forced to drive 45 minutes away for another hopsital. I work in the float pool there. Hours are always there. I love per diem. I learned a valuable lesson-if you work PRN, always have another job just in case hours are cut.

    I am able to make my own hours, work when I want to. I can take 5-6 days off in a row if I wanted. I do not recieve benefits (that sucks) but I get paid about $15 more than staff nurses. I may get the worse patients on the floor but at least I am able to make all of my kids football games, school functions, and family trips!!!