Per Diem Question....

[987!]

Hi, I am a new pre-nrusing student, and I still don't know too much about nursing, but this site has helped me so much. I have simple questions:

1-What exactly is per diem? Is it that you work only certain days in any hospital and you get paid for that shift only, no benefits nothing? Does it mean that technically you are not employees by that hospital?

2-What are per diem rates in Long Island / Queens hospitals right now?

ANy other info about per diem would be appreciated

[jack4408]

Hi, I am a new pre-nrusing student, and I still don't know too much about nursing, but this site has helped me so much. I have simple questions:

1-What exactly is per diem? Is it that you work only certain days in any hospital and you get paid for that shift only, no benefits nothing? Does it mean that technically you are not employees by that hospital?

2-What are per diem rates in Long Island / Queens hospitals right now?

ANy other info about per diem would be appreciated

Per diem is when you work for a hospital, but make your own schedule. Each hospital has different requirments as far as how many shifts/month, holidays/year, weekends/month you have to work. It is more flexible and the pay is better (I know it's $49 where I work in Brooklyn), but I'm sure it would be at least low $40s/hour in LI and Queens. The downsides are no benefits, no paid time off, and the risk of being canceled if you are not needed. Also, you need experience to be hired as per-diem.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

As a per diem employee, you are the first to get canceled and first to float. If you depend on a steady paycheck, per diem is not good for you. There may be times you don't get to work a shift for weeks at a time.