Full Time or Per diem (But Full time)

[Irah0526]

������Hi Nurses!

i just want to ask some opinions from you.

I am working full time but recently i was thinking of working as Per diem but full time. I will still be giving 3 days (12 hrs shift) but with my own set of schedule. I know there will be no benifits for this position.

I am under my husband's insurance (Health & Dental) He is working with the Post office. I may be full time but I dont enroll for benefits such as Health/Dental but only my 401k.

if i change my status as Per Diem, do you think ill lose my 401k benefit?

should i Go with per diem or stay with full time?

your answers will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

Think this over seriously please.Think in future finanacial terms.You will be cutting your benefits as far as pension and becoming dependent on your husbands good will.Perdiem fulltime is Not a guarantee the census will be enough to create a need for your services.It is really sweet to have more time for your family but you pay a high price in your future earnings ,independence and ability to step in and provide if anything should happen to your husband.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

The advantages of going per diem are the ability to set your own schedule and in many places, it pays considerably more. The disadvantages are there are zero benefits and no guarantee of hours. If you don't need benefits that's not a deterrent but you will in a way lose that 401k. The money that's in there won't go anywhere but no more money will be added to it. You can always roll over that 401k into an IRA that you can fund yourself. You will also lose the extra pay you'd get from Holidays and vacation pay, but the higher hourly wage might make up for that.

While there is no guarantee of hours and no guarantee that the hours you want will be available you might still be able to keep pretty much full-time hours as long as staffing is typically a little short. If your employer fills all open positions with regular staff though there might not be as many shifts available as you would like.

Don't be too quick to roll over a 401K/403B into an IRA because there is a little-known clause that you can take money out penalty-free if you leave your job after you turn 55. With an IRA you have to wait till you are 59 1/2 years old or will be penalized. You never know what the future holds and I think it's better to have flexibility. For that reason, I also advocate maxing out a Roth IRA. Since it is an after-tax investment you can take the contributions out penalty and tax-free if you need to at any time so it makes a nice emergency fund.