Per Diem Psych?

Published

I graduated in May and will retake my boards next month, and I am really interested in psych. I am in an area that is so flooded with new grads, and the economy is not helping! Well, I called a local facility that is hiring for psych and will take new grads, but they are hiring "per diem" only! I know job security is scarce, especially in these times. I am worried about benefits etc. Please help. What do you all think? Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would take it. When you are working per diem do a good job. In the future, hopefully they will have part time and/or full time openings. If you do a great job as per diem they may reward you in the future with more hours. So many new grads with no work at all. Per diem is better than no work at all. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I sympathize with the general lack of opportunities for new grads these days, but I think starting out working agency or per diem fresh out of school is a really bad idea. What kind of orientation are you going to get (usually v. little for a per diem position)? How many different units will you be floating to? Are you going to get enough shifts/time to actually start to develop any competence or confidence? Many (most?) good hospitals/facilities have a firm policy of not hiring new grads into the per diem pool because it is a bad idea. The idea of per diem staff is that you are a competent, experienced nurse who can be dropped down in whatever situation the facility needs you and you're ready to do the job. It's not a good situation for someone who is just starting to try to figure out how all this works. The fact that a facility is willing to put you in that situation is a big red flag, as far as I'm concerned.

Also, as you mentioned, per diem jobs typically offer no benefits.

Again, I do sympathize with how rough things are for new grads these days -- best wishes for your journey! :balloons:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Sub-Acute/Psychiatric/Detox.

Per deim is a start. It depends on the individual's back ground of course too.

If the new grad has 0 experience besides clinicals in psych it can be scary. Psych has a lot of off-label meds in use also and with the middle aged psych population other medical issues occur also diabetes, etc. It is by no means easy nursing.

You must be strong with your meds. Agency Psych nursing would be a big no no. Each facility has different protocols that pretty much mean the same thing but may use different letters.

Random example if Facility A uses "A" as full privileges and Facility B uses A as unit restrict. Could be major confusion if your floating around.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello thanks all for responding. I forgot to add that this is a facility, not an agency. I know of someone who graduated from my school, and she started the same way. I think it can be quite a learning curve at first, especially with no experience, with any specialty. I am willing to at least try. I want to make this work. I by no means think it is easy; this is what I really want to do after doing some research and after going through all my clinicals. I was not happy with any of my other clinicals as much as I was with psych.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Because I didn't have to worry about benefits, I took a per diem job as a new grad. I had no difficulty making enough hours to equal full-time...then a few months into it, they offered me a full-time job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am in the same boat. I have submitted over 100 applications to various hospitals around the country. The only one that hired me was a psychiatric hospital PRN. They only wanted to give me 2 weeks of orientation for 3 different units, but I asked for more. Honestly, I would take any job you can get right now. Just make sure you ask for more orientation if you need it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My opinion is that this would largely be dependent on what you feel like your current skill level is in terms psych nursing. I took a prn job on an acute geropsych floor immediately following graduation. The orientation was very minimal - 4 shifts and then I was expected to function as a competent RN - and even serve in the role of charge (sometimes there is only an RN and LPN on the floor - the RN is charge by default, irrespective of experience). The hospital system that I work in allows 3 orienting shifts for a nurse who is hired prn - I was given 1 extra shift to orient because I was a new grad! I was fortunate to have a lot of support and a significant amount of experience in this hospital system. Ultimately, I would say that given the economy and job situation, it doesn't hurt to try out the prn job and see if your skills and abilities as well as your satisifcation are a match and then go from there. Best of luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Me too, just got an offer as an on-call nurse in a mental health rehab as a new grad. I am very thankful with all others' responses. Now, I have some ideas now regarding the orientations. I will be starting my 3-week orientation next week.

What I really need to know is that how nurse moms take care of their young (mine is only 2-year-old) while doing the night shift? I do not have other help but my husband.

Also, is it still possible to find a job in a hospital if I am a psych rehab nurse? I am more interested in acute setting though, either psych or med-surg.

Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion