New grad per diem job offer - am I being ripped off?

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Hello! I'm a new grad nurse, haven't yet taken the NCLEX.

I recently interviewed and was offered a position on a med/surg unit. It is only per diem (they can't guarantee hours but say I will probably get quite a bit) and have a designated new grad program.

However, I know that per diem employees usually are paid more, as they are not guaranteed hours and do not receive benefits. This is not the case - starting pay is $24/hr as a graduate nurse and bumps up to $26/hr once I pass the NCLEX. This is the same for full time and part time employees. I do not accrue PTO, sick time, insurance, etc. insurance is not an issue at this time, though.

I'm pretty tempted to pass on this opportunity. I don't live in a crazy saturated market, but don't have any other active offers (some interest though). I hate to shoot myself in the foot, but also don't want to settle just for the sake of a job. I am at a point of my life where I am not in need of a job immediately (live at home). It also isn't my ideal hospital or preferred speciality.

Thoughts on this offer?

Thanks!

Nope, pass up on this offer. You need to get a solid training and experience. I'm looking for a per diem job myself but would pass up on that offer as well because the pay is too low. Keep on job searching and good luck.

Thanks! These replies have made me more confident in turning down the position without feeling guilty.

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Haha that's a good point. The nurse manager also told me that they just hired 12 (!!!) new grads onto the floor!!
congratulations, you have found the revolving door located outside of their HR office BEFORE accepting the position.

Most places require 6 months to a year experience before allowing a new grad to work PRN. While most places offer a considerable amount more for PRN this is not always the case. Sometimes the pay rate is only minimally higher (I'm talking $2/hr-more like a pay CUT once benefits are gone) BUT you make your own schedule so they don't control your life either. If the unit is so poorly staffed that they have 12 open positions that didn't have long term employee working them, well, I wouldn't expect to have an ideal schedule or get any of your PTO days granted within the next year or even longer. Just because you have PTO available doesn't mean you'll be able to use it. I've been there, it wasn't fun.

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They have you with a preceptor for 3 months on orientation. Also have classes once a month that all new hires and required to attend. Online modules, homework, EBP projects...

Um, HOMEWORK? Are you filling out a variance or working for free? Hopefully you are at a minimum earning CEUs for your time.

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Sounds like they want a bunch of warm bodies for the absolute minimum they can get away with. New grads frequently move on fast. No vacation and PTO make you less expensive to take a risk on.

I'm going to go against the grain here and say that I wouldn't turn the job down, yet ....I'd get another offer, first.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Haha that's a good point. The nurse manager also told me that they just hired 12 (!!!) new grads onto the floor!!

Here's your sign.

THINK why did they have to hire TWELVE new grads?

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.

Wow, I'm amazed at what I'm reading here.

My attitude when I graduated was, "I just need to start getting some experience... I'll take whatever job I can find and then move on when I'm able." That's precisely what I did when I accepted a job 220 miles from home with many drawbacks. But, it gave me a chance to demonstrate a good attitude, a keen intellect, and an outstanding work ethic. Within 2.5 years I was working at what would have been my first choice out of the gate had the option been available to me.

I very much endorse the "bird in the hand" aphorism.

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.
Um, HOMEWORK? Are you filling out a variance or working for free? Hopefully you are at a minimum earning CEUs for your time.

NOT working for free... learning for free.

Sheesh.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.
NOT working for free... learning for free.

Sheesh.

Heh, I'd seen "EBP nursing projects" for new grad program which were, in fact, parts of various educators' job description but from time to time one of them was feeling too lazy or too rushed to do it and poured everything except writing final short report to those who were not in position to say "no".

Something tells me that it might be rather common practice.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.
Wow, I'm amazed at what I'm reading here.

My attitude when I graduated was, "I just need to start getting some experience... I'll take whatever job I can find and then move on when I'm able." That's precisely what I did when I accepted a job 220 miles from home with many drawbacks. But, it gave me a chance to demonstrate a good attitude, a keen intellect, and an outstanding work ethic. Within 2.5 years I was working at what would have been my first choice out of the gate had the option been available to me.

I very much endorse the "bird in the hand" aphorism.

In a place which needs PRN staff putting 40 hours/week, which takes new grad with zero experience as PRN and just hired 12 such new grads at once one woudn't have a chance to demonstrate anything except ability to run like a chicken with its head just cut off for 12 hours in a row.

To demonstrate intellect and everything else that is good one first needs someone who is able to appreciate it all. Management who hires staff like in case discussed definitely has no intellect and no work ethics neither toward their staff, nor toward patients, and that's just to begin with.

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Wow, I'm amazed at what I'm reading here.

My attitude when I graduated was, "I just need to start getting some experience... I'll take whatever job I can find and then move on when I'm able." That's precisely what I did when I accepted a job 220 miles from home with many drawbacks. But, it gave me a chance to demonstrate a good attitude, a keen intellect, and an outstanding work ethic. Within 2.5 years I was working at what would have been my first choice out of the gate had the option been available to me.

I very much endorse the "bird in the hand" aphorism.

I'm split between the good sense in your comment and some of the likely truths in other comments.

I absolutely subscribe to your line of thinking; my problem is that I very much believe "times have changed." I started in a very large academic center and was the only new grad hired to my unit the summer I hired. The unit was strong because it was comprised mostly of very experienced and professional nurses (and when I say "professional" I include BSNs, ADNs and a few RNs from Hospital School of Nursing, including my main preceptor. I'm speaking of expertise). I received an excellent orientation for which I've always been grateful. Both preceptors (one on days and one on nights) were fantastic. There was a specialty-related didactic component with the unit's educator, but no big fancy residency. I felt supported and as if people cared about my individual success beyond just the bottom line. The initial pay was what I considered to be low (quite low!!) but I looked at it exactly as you have written. And I still think I'm the one who benefitted.

I just don't think this is a common scenario now - - and in fairness maybe it wasn't common when I was new either and I just got extremely lucky; who knows. But I know it wasn't the stone ages...it wasn't all that long ago. And yet things seem much more unapologetically about the bottom line, including the way we handle orientations and new grads. Hiring onto a struggling unit might be an opportunity to excel and earn onself a bit of distinction but it just as likely could simply mean that these people won't be shocked or even too concerned if this new grad doesn't make it or doesn't stick around..and I think that bears consideration.

Anyway. I think you're right. I just think the others are, too. :)

****

Before I reading the above comment, my answer to this was going to be "try to postpone decision-making. Easy enough to do: Let the manager know that you're interested but have decided not to make any decisions until after NCLEX, etc.

I guess that is still my answer. Maybe things will sort themselves out.

Good wishes, OP ~

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Thanks! These replies have made me more confident in turning down the position without feeling guilty.

Is this for RN or LVN and which state?

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I'm split between the good sense in your comment and some of the likely truths in other comments.

I absolutely subscribe to your line of thinking; my problem is that I very much believe "times have changed." I started in a very large academic center and was the only new grad hired to my unit the summer I hired. The unit was strong because it was comprised mostly of very experienced and professional nurses (and when I say "professional" I include BSNs, ADNs and a few RNs from Hospital School of Nursing, including my main preceptor. I'm speaking of expertise). I received an excellent orientation for which I've always been grateful. Both preceptors (one on days and one on nights) were fantastic. There was a specialty-related didactic component with the unit's educator, but no big fancy residency. I felt supported and as if people cared about my individual success beyond just the bottom line. The initial pay was what I considered to be low (quite low!!) but I looked at it exactly as you have written. And I still think I'm the one who benefitted.

I just don't think this is a common scenario now - - and in fairness maybe it wasn't common when I was new either and I just got extremely lucky; who knows. But I know it wasn't the stone ages...it wasn't all that long ago. And yet things seem much more unapologetically about the bottom line, including the way we handle orientations and new grads. Hiring onto a struggling unit might be an opportunity to excel and earn onself a bit of distinction but it just as likely could simply mean that these people won't be shocked or even too concerned if this new grad doesn't make it or doesn't stick around..and I think that bears consideration.

Anyway. I think you're right. I just think the others are, too. :)

****

Before I reading the above comment, my answer to this was going to be "try to postpone decision-making. Easy enough to do: Let the manager know that you're interested but have decided not to make any decisions until after NCLEX, etc.

I guess that is still my answer. Maybe things will sort themselves out.

Good wishes, OP ~

Thanks, I appreciate the reply. Unfortunately HR said that they need an answer by tomorrow.

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