Can a nurse survive on several per diem jobs?

NicuGal, MSN, RN · May 11, 2014

Do you have health insurance thru a spouse? That would be a big thing to consider since benefits are so expensive. And PRN aren't always guaranteed hours, so I would make sure to have a nest egg.

Ruas61, BSN, RN · May 11, 2014

I did in the 1990's but I was young, single, fancy foot and free along with being a jack of all trades in nursing and in an area where it was possible.

These days?

I don't know.

It depends on how complicated your life is.

RNperdiem, RN · May 11, 2014

If weekend and holidays are an issue, be aware that some per diem jobs do have holiday requirements. If you work in more than one place that requires one summer and one winter holiday, you will work double the holidays.

I fund my own retirement fund and my husband's job provides health benefits, so per diem suits fine.

ihatethisjob · May 12, 2014

Yes health and dental through spouse. The nest has some eggs in it. Right now I am unemployed for the first time in my life at 52 years old. The hospital I worked at closed. J u s t l i k e t h a t. I had over 400 hours of sick time, which is now gone. Makes me wish I'd called out sick a little more often! So, anyway now trying to reinvent myself for the remainder of my working years. Being unemployed makes me feel so hopeless sometimes.

ihatethisjob · May 12, 2014

Well, the children are grown. the mortgage is paid. I've been a nurse for 31 years but still have 14 years til full retirement. Lost my job in March when my hospital closed on three days notice. I have med/surg, telemetry, peds, maternity, homecare, and rehab/snf experience.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · May 12, 2014

Agency work could keep you busy until you decide what you really want to do.

Do you want to stay in the hospital? If not start searching for other areas. I had 30 years in when I found my dream work from home job.

Good luck!

Guest219794 · May 12, 2014

Short answer: Yes.

As mentioned above you have to look out for weekend/holiday obligations. If each of your three jobs requires you to work half the holidays, you will need to clone yourself, which is cost prohibitive.

Even when I was staff, I did not take the health benefit, as it sucked. There is no magic to benefits. Each has a dollar value. Depending on per diem differentials, you may be able to make up the difference- assuming you get enough work.

I earn similar in a year to what I would earn in a local hospital. But, no job security, no guarantees. For people who live check to check with lots of payments, this does not work.

Good luck.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 12, 2014

I survived on a couple of PRN/per diem jobs from 2010 up until this past December, when I accepted a full time salaried position.

However, I am single and have no expensive health problems (yet), so I was able to forgo the health insurance in exchange for the extra $11 per hour that PRN employees receive.

Delicate Flower · May 12, 2014

Yes. Depending on your situation. But remember, the employer mandate courtesy of the ACA is coming up in January which will require employers to offer affordable health insurance to any employee working 30 hours a week or more. So if you are planning on working full time hours at a per diem position, that could potentially be an issue. But it's not entirely clear at this time how employers are going to handle this.

At my job where I am Per Diem but work 48-60 hours a week, they are not sure what is going to happen in January. Rather than trust them to look out for my best interests, I jot a full time job for the security and benefits. There is also the issue of being put on call or downsizing to consider. Per Diems are always first in line for this.

BTW, I am required to work every other weekend (1 weekend shift) plus one winter and one summer holiday, as a Per Diem.

GM2RN · May 14, 2014

I did two per diem jobs up until last September. The only work requirement was 1 shift per month for each job with no weekend or holiday requirements. It was kind of a pain having to coordinate two jobs all the time, and of course no health benefits, but it worked out great otherwise. Some months were a little short on shifts but most months I had no trouble getting more than enough, so it averaged out that I had plenty.

Caffeine_IV · May 14, 2014

Depends on your needs.

I have 3 PRN jobs. One is outpatient (so no holiday, weekend reqs) and the other 2 are within one hospital system but totally diff units. Hours are plentiful due to staff turnover.

I have insurance (me and 2 kiddos) via the ACA. Eventually I hope to do one PT position and one PRN after I complete my BSN and am able to get a position I enjoy.