What's the deal with per diem?

JaredCNA, CNA · Nov 2, 2007

I thought "per diem" and "pool" were the same thing. It turns out that if one is hired per diem, one is paid at the same rate as a staffer --BUT WITH NO BENEFITS!!! If one is hired as a pool worker, one is paid at a higher rate and does not receive benefits.
What do you guys think about per diem work? What are the pros and cons?
Thank you.

I would love to work per diem (PRN) if my wife could ever get full time at her job so we could use her benefits. I mean, they call you to come in to work, and you can tell them no. You can work as many hours as you want, when you want to work, as long as you work 16 hours a month (at least where I work.)

I would work 36 hrs/wk when I felt like working...although I would probably find myself working doubles since I'd have a hard time forcing myself to come in. lol

As far as the difference between per diem and pool, I understand it like this:

You have your per diem who are typically assigned to a specific unit or float pool but don't have set hours. Now at the hospital where I work there is a Full Time Float Pool that has benefits and a Per Diem Float pool that doesn't.

Also, there are people who are just per diem on a certain unit. I don't know if that makes sense...I got off at 7 this morning and am trying to stay awake so I can sleep tonight.

elkpark · Nov 2, 2007

Actually, "the deal" is that different hospitals use these terms to mean different things. You have to be sure that you understand clearly what a specific hospital means by any of these terms, because it may not be the same as what you expect.

As always, with any kind of nursing job, be sure you know exactly what you're getting into and what will be required of you before you take a new job.