Per Diem and Availability

[84RN]

I work per diem, mainly because I need the flexibility to set my own hours around my family's needs. Just started with a new agency that seems to think that per diem means you are available 24/7 unless you've put in a written request for a day off.

Huh? For me, when my visit schedule is as full as I can manage during a week, and I've maybe committed to help in the classroom or whatever else I need/want to do during an afternoon where I don't have any patients, then as per diem staff, it's perfectly fine to say No Thanks to a soc when they call. I was actually told last week that if I'd wanted a day/afternoon off, then I should have submitted a time-off request to hr----2 weeks in advance!

Is anyone else experiencing this, where their agency is using per diem staff like we're fulltime?

This agency is no longer hiring fulltime staff, probably in order to avoid paying benefits, and I know many per diems want fulltime hours, but some of us don't and this is frustrating.

[caliotter3]

This situation does not pertain to me, I've different issues with being scheduled or not scheduled, but as I see it, you need to have a frank discussion with the person putting the pressure on you. If you can't come to a reasonable clearing of the air regarding your availability, then perhaps you need to find a second agency and really cut down your available hours. There is no worse feeling than to believe one is being shortchanged in the mutual respect arena.

[pnkgirl25]

I work per-diem and they schedule pt's by send you a text with the zip code of the pt and type of visit (ie. daily, bi weekly, monthly, one time etc.) It is up to you to decided if you want to take them or not. You can say no...BUT I was told after too many times of saying no they will usually just skip you.

I try not to take daily patients because I want the true freedom of setting my own schedule ( am a single mom with a kindergartner and like to volunteer). Once you commit to a daily pt is up to you to see that pt every day or find someone else to cover for you. With the bi weekly and monthly visits you can plug them in whenever you like. I LOVE that.

They will never just schedule someone for you without asking first.

We do have people who work 7 days a week because they have several daily patients. These are "full time" yet per-diem people. If they want time off they have to request it two weeks in advance. When they come back they may or may not get thier patient load back. I just can't do that.

[toomuchbaloney]

I would recommend that you review the offer letter that you received as well as the company description of a per diem employee and the expectations of that role.

My experience is that per diem nurses work without benefits but may have a regular schedule. Some facilitites use per diem staff as if they are oncall or standby. As a manager I expected that I would have communication with per diem staff weekly or biweekly to determine their availability and the department's needs for the upcoming week/pay period. Some prefer to have a fairly set schedule, others are looking for optimal flexibility.