Nursing salary ....

I live in PA and started at $18/hour during the week and $19/hour for the weekends. I work in LTC which generally pays more than hospitals or Dr offices. Also, don't know if you are going to be an RN or LPN, I am an LPN.

ALso...please help me understand "Per Diem". Does this term mean that you do not have regular hours scheduled? Are there regular staff positions where you get a higher hourly wage if you do not need benefits without the uncertainty of available hours?

ALso...please help me understand "Per Diem". Does this term mean that you do not have regular hours scheduled? Are there regular staff positions where you get a higher hourly wage if you do not need benefits without the uncertainty of available hours?

Every hospital has their own definition of "per diem". Basically it's a person who doesn't have benefits (which you say you don't need) and makes a higher salary.

Where I work there are several levels of per diem, with the highest salary being those who committ to working full time, two weekend days a month, and one holiday. Some units these people get to make their own schedule.

Down to the lowest paid which is "no committment", meaning the person can work whatever they want, no weekends, no holidays, etc. They make their own schedule. I think they have to work at least once every six months to stay in the system. Some of these people only want to work part time, or they have other jobs and want to work one day a week for extra money.

The downside of per diem is that with no benefits, this includes no PTO, so when sick they don't get paid, and when called off for low census days they don't get paid. The upside is the flexibility of your own schedule and the higher salary.