paying out of pocket for conferences, etc.

[quazar]

I love being a per diem nurse, but....I hate the fact that I have to pay out of pocket for conferences, continuing ed, etc.. It's a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things and having total control over my schedule, but as of late 2 conferences have come up that really want to attend, but one of them is super expensive ($600) and the other is going to at least get a yelp from my spouse about the cost. Thank goodness for tax deductions.

Is there some secret way to get funds to pay for conferences, etc., that I don't already know about? Just out of curiosity. My facility only issues scholarships and funds to full and part time employees.

[llg, PhD, RN]

That's the way it is with most employers. Being "per diem" means you don't get benefits -- you just get your wages. You get a more flexible schedule: they get a cheaper employee. It's that way at all the place I have worked, too.

However, I do know of a few exceptions that have been made. I have known some per diem employees to get some conference money if they are involved in a committee for the conference is an expectation. -- The per diem employee is going to the conference to get information/participate in an activity that they will "bring back" to the institution. Another exception I have seen is if the employee is representing the hospital as a presenter at the conference (doing a poster presentation, helping to present a break-out section, etc.) Because participation in such activities is "above and beyond" the expectations of a typical per diem staff nurse, the hospital has felt willing to reward such high performance with a little extra benefit.

[quazar]

Yeah, I know I gave up all those perks when I signed onto the per diem gig. I was just wondering if there was some magical treasure chest of funds hidden somewhere on the internet that I didn't know about. Haha. I didn't know about the conference presenter loophole, that's interesting.

Looks like I'm just going to have to suck it up and shell out the money like a big girl. :)

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

My facility doesn't provide funding for conferences for anyone. If I want to go to one, I just save up the money and write it off at tax time. It is what it is.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

While certainly not a 'normal' source of funding, I have been been able to attend several conferences with all expenses paid by being a presenter. I submit abstracts related to my research, and have been to Vegas (twice) and Disney on someone else's dime. In fact, in addition to airfare and lodging and conference fees, I got paid.

The trick is to develop yourself into a subject matter expert on a topic that is hot or emerging. Average to good presentation skills, and network like crazy while on site.