couple questions about Per Diem, Agency, rates of pay???

[brocktonlpn]

Hi Everyone, im a new LPN grad about to start my first job this week at a ltc facility 4 days a week, I was wondering if anyone can tell me about there experience working per diem or agency or both, im confused if i should check with an agency or get hired from a regular place that offers per diem on my days off, also can anyone tell me some real pay figures, I have been hearing people getting various rates of pay in the boston ma and surrounding areas, (i live on the south shore) and im trying to seperate fact from fiction?

For instance once i feel comfortable with my skills in 6 months to a year, could i technically work for the sake of argument, 12-16 hours a day, 7 days a week? if a place offers benefits, can i ask for a higher wage instead of the benefits? And i keep seeing something about they can cancel a shift up to 2 hours before your shift per diem, is this different with an agency or the same? but does an agency offer more potential positions than say just getting hired from a particular institution that hires someone per diem? I know this is alot to ask but im just trying to sort out my options since i see some ads saying how people are getting underpaid or overpaid and figure out the questions i need to be asking out there because right now i feel kinda lost and/or vulnerable..

thanks a bunch :)

[morte, LPN, LVN]

Hi Everyone, im a new LPN grad about to start my first job this week at a ltc facility 4 days a week, I was wondering if anyone can tell me about there experience working per diem or agency or both, im confused if i should check with an agency or get hired from a regular place that offers per diem on my days off, also can anyone tell me some real pay figures, I have been hearing people getting various rates of pay in the boston ma and surrounding areas, (i live on the south shore) and im trying to seperate fact from fiction?

For instance once i feel comfortable with my skills in 6 months to a year, could i technically work for the sake of argument, 12-16 hours a day, 7 days a week? if a place offers benefits, can i ask for a higher wage instead of the benefits? And i keep seeing something about they can cancel a shift up to 2 hours before your shift per diem, is this different with an agency or the same? but does an agency offer more potential positions than say just getting hired from a particular institution that hires someone per diem? I know this is alot to ask but im just trying to sort out my options since i see some ads saying how people are getting underpaid or overpaid and figure out the questions i need to be asking out there because right now i feel kinda lost and/or vulnerable..

thanks a bunch :)

1)for the sake of argument, yes; but you would burn out

2) that would be pay in lei (sp, sounds like loo) of benefits and some places may offer, some not

3) the canceling is according to contract as far as agency is concerned and facility policy for in house per diem

yes you have more variety thru agency, but a reputable agency will not hire you with less than a years experience. good luck

[brocktonlpn]

ok, thank you very much