Per Diem & Flex Pool Nurse

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I don't graduate until May of next year, but would someone please explain to me the difference between being a "per diem" RN vs a "flex pool" RN? What are the advantages and the disadvantages of each - including pay.

Thanks!

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

Hey there amblessing.

I'm not really sure, but wanted to tell you I'm really diggin' your avatar! That cat's gettin' down mannnnnnn! :D Go cat go! :chuckle

I have worked per diem and flexpool, and I never thought that there was a difference, but there could be. I just don't know. They seemed to be the same to me though. :)

I always thought they were the same too.

Specializes in Critical Care.

At one facility I work perdiem means you can work as much or as little as you wish, no obligations to weekends, holidays, etc. Flex pool means you agree to work anywhere needed and in return get a higher salary. You are not unit specific, one shift could be med/surg another telemetry, you have to work a certain amount of off shifts, weekends, holidays, etc.. Basicallly you are full time staff without a permanent unit. Hope this helps.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

perdiem and flex pool status are NOT the same thing!!!!

I am perdiem for an obstetrics unit. means I work oncall/casually----but----- not floating around the hospital, working where they send me next, as in "pool" nursing (hence the name). I work ONLY OB/GYN.

Usually perdiem nurses here (in absense of most benefits) make15% more than so-called "regular" staff. I don't know if that is extended to float pool nurses. I guess that would depend on their status. Some float pool nurses work full/part time and enjoy the bennies of any other FTE.

Best way to know is to call the HR dept of the hospital and ASK THEM how they define these types of positions. No one here can tell you definitively, not knowing where it is you are going to work.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

I am currently working perdiem/float pool. We make about $1.00/hr more than the regular perdiem nurses who are assigned to a specific floor. The nice part right now is that with the summer vacation crunch the hospital that I work for has instituted a bonus program of $100.00/shift over and above your normal salary for any additional days worked over your minimum requirement(which in my case is 4 days a month). Brings me up to the agency rate without the cancelling.

I love floating! I don't get involved in the politics of any one floor. Much less stress, I go in, take care of my patients and go home!

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