New grad as per diem?

GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN · Jan 11, 2008

I think your best bet may be to think about a permanent part-time position rather than per diem. I honestly don't know how you can get a per diem position as a new grad. General hospital orientation takes usually 2-3 months at full (or nearly full) time. This investment by the facility/hospital in you, would not make financial sense if you were only to be there per diem. Per diem is usually best for those who have experience, and can jump in and pull their weight on an as-needed basis. You may have better luck though in LTC, I have never worked in one, but they do hire new grads, and have much shorter orientations, and then maybe you could work a 'regular ' per diem spot, maybe 1-2 days per week Good Luck

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2008

As a new grad, you'll need to go through orientation, which depending on the unit can be up to 6 months or more. When you go through orientation it needs to be full time. As a new grad RN, there is a TON to learn and you only learn by being there and getting the experience.

I wouldn't work less than full time for at least the first year or two as a new grad.

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 12, 2008

I suppose anything is possible but in my experience, most places will not let a new grad work PRN. It costs a lot of time and money to train a new nurse and it is just not reasonable as far as the hospital is concerned.

Plus, being a new nurse requires a lot of hands on time and exposure and you just don't get that working PRN. You would be doing yourself a great disservice by not working full time (or at least part time) while you go thru at least the orientation process.

One could always try but I would imagine you'll be turned down a lot or offered the job only if you are willing to comit to X amount of full time first.

My suggestion is to find places that self schedule or consider some weekend/night options that might work out better for you and your family.

Nursing is a great field with endless opps for schedules AFTER that first couple of years of good, solid experience.

DominiRN09 · Nov 17, 2009

I know I am responding to a real old post....

...but anyway I am a new grad and I got hired as a per diem RN. I did not want "per diem" status but that was the only thing avaliable for me. They cannot afford to hire be as full time because they cannot afford my benefits. I got into a really great hospital in NJ and if that is the only position I could get as a New grad RN at these difficult economical times, then that is the position I will get.

I will have a 3 months orientation which is full time, and after orientation I will be a perdiem. My RN MGR said that most likely she will give be full time hrs, but nothing is garenteed. Hey, I will take what ever I can get :)

Hopefully by the time my orientation finishes a full time slot will open :)

miss_vtRN · Nov 20, 2009

Like the above poster, I am a new grad who just got a per-diem job. I was hired partly because i had previous CNA experience in the same type of nursing...but they are willing to give me a full new-grad-type training experience. Even though I am a per-diem employee, I can train full time if i want to get that done sooner. They are having me work closely with the nurse educator to fill in any gaps not met by "new grad program" type training. If I had a child, i would try for a per diem position. You can self schedule all your training AND shifts, which is great.

DominiRN09 · Nov 21, 2009

Isn't that something. I got hired because I had previous CNA experience too. I guess they like it when we have CNA experience. I can't wait to start. What kinda unit did you get hired for?

miss_vtRN · Nov 21, 2009

Rehabilitation medical unit @ a medium-sized city hospital. I previously CNA floated at an inpatient rehab hospital...not really what I want to do but I'm so happy to have a job after six months of looking! If I didn't have that CNA experience I don't think they would have looked twice. As it is, they didn't even interview anyone else.... :-)

OP, if you have any type of CNA experience I would think that would be helpful in getting hired per diem...also, this time of year I think employers/managers are willing to be more flexible r.e. new grad training because there are no "new grad" programs this time of year...so your trianing will be tailored to you specifically!

DominiRN09 · Nov 21, 2009

I used to be a cna & a PT aide for Rehabilitation (PT/OT) also! What a small world. I also worked as a cna in a long term care/sub acute care facility. so having 5 yrs cna experienced definitley helped :) I got hired within a month of searching at a regional hospital at the post cardiac care unit. I am pretty excited. I feel that I am ready to be a nurse. That starts in December. For the time being I am doing home care nursing so I can get some practice. Congrats of getting a new job!