Per Diem Nurse Attendant??

[TayRN91]

Hi everyone!

Long story short I am a student nurse who will be graduating in January 2014. I have been in search for a nurse tech/nurse aide position for quite some time and finally got a call back. problem is..its a per diem job! I need a stable income because I have to pay tuition, traveling expenses, food, phone bill etc. (I go to a private school so as you can imagine this is alot).

I currently work in retail, and have held several retails jobs back to back since 2007. I do not know if it is safe to leave my job for this per diem job. I don't want to miss out because of the experience I will gain and because this will help get my foot in the door when I graduate.

So my question to all of you is do you think it's possible to keep my part time job AND have the per diem job. And for those who work per diem, what are your shifts like? Do you get to pick your own schedule?

thanks in advance!!

[TayRN91]

Anyone???

[Mewsin]

I think I am, we call it casual, I used to get called in for shifts but now I'm pre-booked so I think that's different.

When I started my casual position I ended up getting full time hours pretty quickly, it was a call in basis but every time they called I answered and went to work. I made enough money without any other job, so it worked for me. (I have a feeling our hourly wage might be more also). Now that I am in a pn program, the first semester I told my job when I was available for work, and I got hours when I was available. I am working this summer, full time scheduled but I still just have my casual position. Come the second semester, I am not working until after Christmas, but again I just put in my availability and it was approved for when I wanted to work.

[TayRN91]

Thanks for responding Mewsin! Thats exactly the answer I was looking for. I just wanted to make sure that the hours will be descent. I am going in for my interview in a few so we'll see. thanks again!!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

They may or may not be decent, but any hours in a real nursing-related job is better on the resume than retail, and they are apt to increase or at least get your foot in the door. Good luck.