Per diem in a hospital.. please help

Katnip, RN · Sep 20, 2008

Per diem, or as needed varies slightly from hospital to hospital, but usually there are similarities.

Around here, at least, hospitals require you to sign up for a minimum number of shifts per month. Some will let you give them the days you can work, some will tell you which days they need you. A lot of places will ask you to work more than your minimum.

You can be called off a few hours before your scheduled to work or even after you've gotten to work, though they will try to catch you before you start. And yes, if census is low enough, per diem people can go a long period without working.

All hospitals have some sort of protocol about in what order they will call people off. Agencies first, regular full time people last.

samsam22, CNA · Sep 20, 2008

:bow:thank you! that makes me kind of nervous if i went like a month without work, but i feel better at least knowing what my schedule may be like!

Katnip, RN · Sep 20, 2008

A lot of people work per diem in more than one facility to help make up for potential loss. But then, you could wind up working full time unintentionally.

samsam22, CNA · Sep 20, 2008

yeah i dont think i want full time, im starting the lvn program soon and i need to make sure i have plenty of time for school/study

either way the hospital experience is going to be great i know it, thank you for telling me how per diem works, seems like i will get a lot of hours for now at least, she was really eager to hire me even without hospital experience so im guessing they need peoples. :)

mediatix8 · Sep 20, 2008

I'm sure there are exceptions, but most hospitals that I know of need extra help way more often than not. If you were hired to work on a particular unit and that unit doesn't need you for that day, they usually float you to another unit that does need you. There is usually a need for you somewhere, at least from any hospital I've ever known. They may want you to float first since you're an "as needed" person and are probably getting paid more. That's good though, because you'll see more things and learn more. I would HIGHLY doubt you'd go a whole month without work. I would bet my life savings on it. My guess is that low census will happen so infrequently that you'll be begging for it. Even if they have enough CNA's, if a unit is short a nurse then they'll have more CNA's on to make up for it. And there are times when technically the unit doesn't need you but they'll keep you on just in case there are a lot of admits. Some units are less stingy with staff and are just more likely to use extra help even when they don't technically call for it. Also, a lot of hospitals emply sitters to sit with very confused patients who try to get out of bed and are a fall risk. All you do is sit in the room and take care of that one patient, making sure they're safe. If some sitter cases pop up, then you aren't getting low census. Other times there are patients on suicide precautions, where you'd be doing the same thing. In conclusion, I'd say enjoy the extra pay per hour you're getting being "as needed"

RNKPCE · Sep 20, 2008

I wouldn't quit your other job until you start working the new job and talk to other CNA's that are per diem and even those that aren't and see how often they are cancelled. It is rarely an issue at my hospital. I am an RN but am hardly ever cancelled, and we are always needing CNA's. But every area of the country is different. Also scheduled staff who want the day off get it off before giving low census days to regular staff. Low census days are given more often in ICU then on the floors.

samsam22, CNA · Sep 21, 2008

thank you everyone for helping me out, I understand what per diem means now...i feel a lot better.

I think i will be fine and probably will get enough hours... I figure they wouldnt put me through this whole hiring process if they didnt need more help... I start on oct 6th and im really excited.

im pretty tired of this home health place I work at, they give me a ton of hours but mostly house cleaning type stuff.... im like what the heck i didnt take this CNA class to clean peoples houses all day... GIVE ME SOME PATIENT CARE. haha.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Sep 21, 2008

This may work well with your LVN program schedule, because most times, the need is the greatest on the weekends. Best of luck with your new job and the nursing program!

chevyv, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2008

Typically when census is down, you might get called off, but for cna's, you might float to other areas in the hospital. I worked as a cna for about 12 yrs and can count on 1 hand how many times I actually was called off. Most of the time, their calling to see if you can cover.

samsam22, CNA · Sep 22, 2008

you all made me feel so much better and more confident about this postion!

i am excited about this new job! i know it will be stressful, but i cant wait for the learning experience.

thank you all for making me feel good about this!!!! :heartbeat