New grads in per diem pool

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

I recently was made aware of an area hospital hiring new grad RN's for their Med-Surg Per Diem pool. With the current job climate, there are more than enough takers for these positions. But this has me worried, how are new grads supposed to hone their skills as novice nurses if they are only going to work per diem hours and not have a home unit that will nurture their growth? How is this financially feasible for the new grad? I also feel that the hospital is putting profits ahead of the well-being of these new nurses by not having to offer benefits and not paying the "official" per diem rate because they have no experience and have nothing else but a desperate need for a job at the bedside. I have teachers in my family and I know new grad teachers are being hired by school districts for substitute positions that don't guarantee full time hours and offer no benefits. Have nursing gone the same direction? Sad.

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Specializes in High Risk Antepartum.

Every hospital that I spoke with/applied to said that they wouldn't consider anyone with less than 1-2 years experience for a per diem spot. Some even said 3-5 years. And that was at least six or eight different hospitals within a 50 mile distance of NYC.

They all sited the same reason -- not having enough experience to draw from regardless of the field.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

That has always been the norm and I totally support that...that's why this news had me worried.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

It's an employers market. It wasn't that long ago that all the hospitals in my area had residency programs and invested months of non-productive pay to train new grads. We've since gotten rid of our residency program to save money and also stopped hiring BSN's to cut training costs even more. I agree it's pretty near-sighted but the overwhelming focus right now is cost-cutting, not building strong foundations for Nurses. We've laid off higher paid nurses, which resulted in some re-shuffling that left holes mainly in the float unit, which is where the new grads hired to, often as per-diem. In other professions you'd expect the professional groups to raise the alarm, but you have to remember that our main professional group is the ANA, which is basically worthless.

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Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.

Are the new grads at least full time during orientation?

I don't like the idea of hospitals hiring for per diem to get out of offering benefits but at the same time at least they are hiring! I personally don't need benefits so the opportunity to get some experience would be enough for me to take the job. Also, if a full time position opens up you have a good shot of getting it.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Larger hospitals in my organization hire New Grads into their nursing pool in order to provide jobs for NGs who participated in a hospital-based internship or residency program if there are no FT positions available. Pool nurses can opt for different levels of contractual obligation - most choose PT or FT status rather than true Per Diem. New Grads MUST go with the FT option.

Here's how it works. Orientation is limited to one department with an assigned preceptor. Afterward, the NG is assigned to no more than 3 related units that have similar patient populations. Normally, our FT pool nurses are scheduled in advance because they they cover for scheduled absences (FMLA, vacations) and the PT/PerDiem staff are used primarily for call-ins and increases in census. FT & PT Pool nurses are eligible for benefits, just like other staff. Whenever FT or PT positions become available, internal candidates, including pool nurses get first crack at filling them.

So, it can be done - but you have to provide all the necessary structures that New Grads need for a smooth transition into practice.

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

One of my nursing school classmates (May '08 grad) was hired for a per diem position in a local hospital's emergency department. She did get full time orientation, and I think she was getting quite a few shifts per week once she was working on her own. She also had prior experience as a phlebotomist and as a mental health professional -- both of which made her more appealing to the people hiring her, though obviously the skill set is different from what one uses as an RN. Last I heard she was doing just fine.

I still agree that, in general, it's not such a great idea for new grads to work per diem, but if they're getting a reasonable number of hours per week (I'd say, at least 24 hours/week), sometimes it can work out ok.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
It's an employers market. It wasn't that long ago that all the hospitals in my area had residency programs and invested months of non-productive pay to train new grads. We've since gotten rid of our residency program to save money and also stopped hiring BSN's to cut training costs even more. I agree it's pretty near-sighted but the overwhelming focus right now is cost-cutting, not building strong foundations for Nurses. We've laid off higher paid nurses, which resulted in some re-shuffling that left holes mainly in the float unit, which is where the new grads hired to, often as per-diem. In other professions you'd expect the professional groups to raise the alarm, but you have to remember that our main professional group is the ANA, which is basically worthless.

The ANA abandoned bedside nurses aeons ago. Bedside nurses are beneath them. Now, if you want to be an APN, they're more than happy to advocate/legislate for you. This is why the CNA/NNOC has gained so much momentum.

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