Tell me about working per diem!

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2008

Different facilities have different rules. You can most likely sign up for empty shifts as well as be called to fill in for sick calls. You might be obligated to work a certain amount of holidays. Where I am it's one major and one minor holiday, although I don't think it's enforced.

Fiona59 · Feb 25, 2008

You give a list of available dates to the staffing office. They call if they have matching shifts. My hospital requires you to be available for x number of weekends in three month period. You will get last minute calls for sick coverage.

Having said all that, casuals usually don't get a lot of stat holidays due to the time and a half pay for the shift.

Many in my hospital are refusing to work weekends which is leading to resentment on the floor staff who are always short on weekends and nights.

You usually don't qualify for pensions and benefits and vacation is paid on each and every cheque.

No guarantee of a paycheque. So, it's not for you if you are the main income earner.

Burnt Out, ASN, RN · Feb 25, 2008

I work per diem at my hospital. I look at the schedule to see what days they need someone and if I am able, I put down to work that day. So I definately know in advance when I work. I do get calls many times around 7 am about 2 or 3 calling in sick and being asked if I can come in. I also get calls in the late morning hours or around noon asking me if I can come in because they are getting slammed.

You can tell them "no" to certain days: there are at least 2 days in the week that I have trouble with child care and I have to remind them of that.

You can work as much or as little as you want although you do need to check your facilities policy about per diem workers. At my hospital, we have to work at least 1 shift/month and 1 major holiday/year.

If you need benefits, it isn't the best way to go though.

evergr33n16 · Feb 25, 2008

Thanks so much for the info everyone! I'm not looking for benefits since I am covered under my husband's. Basically I'm looking to work but want to have lots of flexibility to be home with my son. Anyone else? If they call you at the last minute to come in can you say no?

RNperdiem, RN · Feb 25, 2008

I am rarely called at home. I submit my schedule of when I want to work to the assistant nurse manager. Rarely am I ever cancelled, and they find a way to work me in if I work part of a shift.

Generally I work Saturdays. My sons stay at home with their Dad. I do not have to pay for childcare, get very well paid. My husband gets a chance to do some long stretches of real childcare. He has never asked "what do you do all day?". He knows what stay-at-home parents do all day now.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Feb 26, 2008

Thanks so much for the info everyone! I'm not looking for benefits since I am covered under my husband's. Basically I'm looking to work but want to have lots of flexibility to be home with my son. Anyone else? If they call you at the last minute to come in can you say no?

Absolutely, you can say no. I loved working per diem. I had no weekend or holiday requirements and basically worked whenever I wanted and if I didn't want to work, I didn't work - end of story. If I wanted to take a vacation, I just didn't sign up for shifts during the time I was planning to be on vacation.

On my unit, we signed up for shifts we wanted on the upcoming schedules. We were more likely to get shifts that we wanted if we signed up for shifts that were shorter on staff. We could sign up for any shift we wanted - day or night. Sometimes, they would call us if there was a particular shift that was short and they were trying to find coverage. We also got called for last minute things (like if the next shift was getting a lot of call-ins). However, we were under no obligation to say yes (or to answer the phone, for that matter). Not every unit is that flexible with per diem, but it is almost always better than full time or part time in terms of flexible scheduling.

elkpark · Feb 26, 2008

My NM calls me up when the facility is working on finalizing the next month's schedule and asks me if I'm available on dates that they need an extra RN, and it's my choice whether I want to work any of those days. For whatever reason, they very rarely call me at the "last minute" (same day) to ask me to fill in. This particular facility doesn't have a policy (or, at least, no one's mentioned it to me) that you must work X shifts per month or work X holidays per year, but I know that a lot (most?) facilities do.

You always have the option of saying "no;" however, if you turn them down often, the hospital will probably (understandably) give preference to people who are more likely to say "yes" and you may find you're getting less opportunity to work. If you don't want to work very often, that may suit you, but it's worth keeping in mind ...

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2008

That's a very good point, Elkpark. You don't want to turn them down too consistently. Sometimes I'll give an excuse like "I have an appointment that day, sorry" (even if the appointment is to laze around at home with my family). Sometimes I'll be a great team player though.