Per Diem?

I can only speak in regards to a per diem position in a hospital, having never worked in an ECF. One generally fills out their schedule with the days they are available and want to work, and may be required to work a certain amount of hours per pay period to keep up their per diem status. You may get calls to pick up extra days, but you are not obligated to say yes.

Generally, it is preferred that nurses have 1-2 years FT experience on the floor or the equivalent before taking a per diem position, as you may end up working quite infrequently and it is quite easy to forget nursing skills that you haven't had the time to perfect and rarely use.

When house census is low, per diem employees generally get called off first. This can become a problem for your pocketbook : P

Many times when you are being courted to hire in at a specific hospital, they will offer you a variety of units to help you select which might be a good fit for you. They want you to like what you are doing and stay there for a while if they are going to spend all of that money on your orientation!

Good luck to you.

Cardiac-RN, PCCN

I've been an LPN since January but only practicing in ALF since May. I hope to be finished with my RN in December and sit for boards January or February. I've seen a few jobs as a per diem RN, one for a nursing home/rehab and the other in a local hospital.

Now, the nursing home/rehab I can see I would be able to attain easier for my skills... I'm used to working in ALF and many patients in those types of facilities would probably be more suited for a nursing home.

However, for a hospital, would they stick you anywhere? Or do you normally get hired for a particular floor/unit? E.G., one day on OB/nursery and the next day on tele? Do per diem employees receive full orientations?

Also, for per diem, do they call you that day and ask you to come in or do you just fill in their monthly schedules? If you had another job and worked per diem would it look bad for you to say you weren't able to come in for a shift they needed filled r/t scheduling conflicts?

WHAT IS ALF?

Assisted Living Facility