paying out of pocket for conferences, etc.

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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.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

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.

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. :)

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

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.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

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.

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