Thinking of switching to per diem status...advice please

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello

I work FT on a busy Peds unit. It's a toxic work environment for many reasons with a high turnover rate.

I am stressed and burnt out to the max. The heavy patient load, constant precepting and being in charge is wearing me out. Not to mention the other stressors of difficult family members and physicians. Some staff members are catered to, (don't have to precept or be in charge as much) They play the game better than I do, acting overwhelmed/playing dumb etc. so they don't get more responsibilities. Unfortunately, the only reward for good hard work, is more work.

I look terrible, I feel terrible. I can't sleep and I'm anxious all the time. Sometimes I get chest pain at work. I feel like I'm going to explode.

I'm thinking of switching to per diem status in order to have some more free time to get my head together. Eventually I will phase out of bedside nursing altogether. I just don't want to take the first job offered, I really want to get well.

I was thinking of quitting and taking the summer off, but then at least per diem would pay the rent. Also, per diem doesn't have to precept or be in charge. I am married, so I have my husband's insurance.

Does this sound like a good idea? Anyone here per diem and like it? Thanks.

How about even working a 4 or 8 hour shift? Once a week? Per diem allows you to do that. Ever since I went to per diem status, working only 8 to 12 hours a week, I have more of the joy of nursing minus many of the problems. No more being in charge, no office politics, pick your own schedule and work as little or as much as you want.

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How about even working a 4 or 8 hour shift? Once a week? Per diem allows you to do that. Ever since I went to per diem status, working only 8 to 12 hours a week, I have more of the joy of nursing minus many of the problems. No more being in charge, no office politics, pick your own schedule and work as little or as much as you want.

I totally agree! I work the hours I want on the days I want. If I want to take some time off, I do - If I want to work more for a while, I do. Changing to per diem was the best thing I have done for myself. I have worked agency and enjoyed that as well, but the NICUs around here have decided not to use agency nurses anymore, so I do per diem.

I find I have more flexibility in scheduling as a per diem as well - when we used agency nurses, they HAD to work 12-hour shifts. I enjoy the flexibility of being able to fill-in for the 4 or 8 hour shifts (the regular staff like it too). There are advantages and disadvantages, but for me, I have found the advantages to far outweigh the disadvantages.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

if money is not an issue for you and you don't depend on a full time paycheck with benefits, per diem is perfect. i know some nurses who went per diem and were canceled every time a full time staff member wanted extra hours. so just be careful where that is concerned. good luck with everything.

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i understand that with per diem status a nurse would not get any benefits. what about retirement?

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Wow, Agent99, I could have written your post a little under a year ago. I was in a similarly toxic job, was sick all the time, and went per diem to give myself a breather and figure things out. Bless my hubby for bearing with the income cut and covering our health benefits.

When I cut my hours and was able to think straight, I started looking for other options and wound up taking a job in a doctor's office. It saved my health. It's not stress-free, and it was a small (but smaller than I thought) pay cut.

It was well worth it, though -- I work 8-5, no weekends/nights/holidays/call. I get a lunch break every day. No one bothers me on my days off. I feel like a normal person. And I *really* enjoy getting to know patients. I have the time to do more teaching and preventative care. I'm in an adult cardiology practice, but I would imagine there is plenty of demand in peds since so much of that is OP and clinic based.

Just something to think about! Please, though, take care of yourself. You are fortunate that you have a spouse who is supportive and can pick up the slack for now. Let us know how it works out for you.

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

It depends. Do you need the benefits full time work provide? If not, then by all means, do it. I work perdiem and never have looked back nor regretted it. But then my dh, being military, has always had benefits for us to rely on. But I like my workplace, so it would not matter if I were perdiem or not. I went perdiem to spend more time with my family, not less time at work so much.

Also going perdiem won't cure the toxic workplace issue. If a place is toxic, you cannot change that by yourself. The only thing you can do is leave it, if possible.

Being perdiem does not cure a lousy workplace for you. You will still literally get sick going to work; I know this to be true. It only lessens the amount of time you spend there, but toxic remains toxic. If it's truly that bad, you would do well to investigate other opportunities, even if that means leaving the hospital itself. Devote as much energy to that as you can. Another environment will make all the difference in the world, believe me.

Good luck. I am so sorry you find yourself in this situation.

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Hi to all

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So am I the only student nurse here?

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I had to switch to PRN due to family circumstances and trying to decide between taking care of my son and getting him to school and sports functions or paying someone else to do it or working all hours and missing out. It worked out fine the first few weeks, then the Nurse manager called me wanting specific dates that I would work. Well I told her that I went PRN and if I could give specific dates I would be able to work full time, that was the whole point. She bugged me to no end. I finally just quit answering the phone. I did go in when another supervisor called on the weekend needing someone PRN. After awhile this NM got on my last nerve and I resigned. I had tried to resign in the first place but it was her idea for me to do the PRN status because she "didn't want to loose me". Well that's what ended up happening anyway. I'm still a SAHM and at times I wonder if I'll ever get to go back to nursing but my son is more important and I will never get this time with him back. We can afford for me to be here so why not. I'm a highly trained taxi driver for a teenager. LOL I won't go back and work there though. They mistreat the nurses there terribly. Good luck with your choice.

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Hey... I recently resigned from my unit because of the very atmosphere you described!... It was like reading my own diary. It was a scary thing for me, but I signed up with 2 different agencies. I am new to agency nursing. I took this action within the past few months. So far, so good. I work as much as I want to. I have worked in one facility where I seem to really fit in well and so they welcome me back when they have a need. The decrease in stress has been wonderful to say the least. The pay is great. I would recommend agency nursing for almost anyone in your position, even if on a temporary basis. You have the potential to have some free time to look into finding the perfect permanent position, if that is what you are wanting in the future. Best of luck to you.

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Penname:

Thank you, I'm glad you found a niche in agency nursing. I've also considered that.

SandiLA:

Yeah, I'm afraid of the same thing happening. I might just resign and sign up with agency. Thank you

Smilingblue:

Yes, toxic is toxic I agree. I might just get a totally different job. I think I am holding on because I really like my coworkers, we are a pretty good group. I might just have to jump and hope for a net! Thank you.

Nurse Echo:

Wow, I am glad you are happy now. I am lucky with my spouse, I agree. I am worried for my health. Thanks.

RN perdiem:

Yes, that is what I wanted to do. I'm not sure now, I just might make a clean break, it might be better for me.

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I just want to say A BIG THANK YOU to all of you for your supportive posts. I felt like I was losing my mind, and you really helped me feel better. I hope I didn't leave anyone out.

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