Is Per Diem Nursing Right for You?

When you enter the healthcare field, you’ll likely hear the term per diem being thrown around in the context of job shifts. Exactly what is a per diem job, and why might you consider per diem nursing? Let’s dig into the world of what it’s like working per diem.

What Is Per Diem Nursing?

When hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities are understaffed, employers may turn to per diem nurses to fill the gaps. These nurses are hired to work one or more days at facilities that need to meet their state’s nurse-to-patient ratios.

Instead of working a traditional full-time or part-time job in a single facility, per diem nurses work shift to shift wherever they’re needed most. A study of the per diem nursing market projects a growth of 5.4% through 2032 to equal a total market value of $14.28 billion globally.

What Is Like to Be a Per Diem Nurse?

Per diem nurses are kind of like freelance nurses. They must find and book individual shifts through a staffing agency or on their own, say by using a staffing app on their phone.

You have great scheduling flexibility when working per diem since you acquire work in shifts. This method allows you to work as much or as little as you need or want to. If you have a full-time or part-time job, you can still pick up extra per diem shifts outside of your regular job. (Learn more about common nurse schedules.)

Being a per diem nurse is often ideal for someone that is raising a child, in school, or taking care of a loved one. The flexibility that per diem offers means that you can choose not to work holidays and weekends, and that you don’t have to make a larger commitment to a specific facility. Per diem nursing more or less gives you the option to create your own part-time schedule.

Nurses aren’t the only healthcare professionals who can work per diem. Check out the latest per diem opportunities for the following roles:

• Certified nursing assistants (CNAs)
• Certified medication aides
• Surgical techs
• Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
• Licensed vocational nurses (LVNs)
• Registered nurses (RNs)
• Nurse practitioners (NPs)

Per Diem vs PRN

Per diem is not the same as nurses who work pro re nata (PRN), or as needed. PRN nurses (also called float pool nurses) are employed directly by one facility, and agree to work as they are needed. They don’t get a choice of when they work, but most of the time, their employer guarantees a minimum number of shifts they will work in a year. They are usually entitled to benefits.

Per diem nurses work independently at a number of different facilities on an as-needed basis. They may be called on consistently during flu season, or summers when full-time nurses are taking time off. Per diem nurses are not employed directly by a provider and are not guaranteed a set number of working hours.

Per Diem Nursing Pros and Cons

If you’re seeking greater work-life balance, consider being a per diem nurse. Meaning to learn more about the potential benefits and drawbacks? We’re here to help you decide if going per diem in nursing is for you.

Salary and Benefits

Pro: Per diem nursing pay is usually higher than what you’d earn as a full-time staff nurse. Per diem shifts can turn into a great nursing side hustle — you’ll probably make even more per shift on weekends and holidays.

Con: There’s a difference between working per diem as a 1099 contractor or as a W2 employee. While you may win a bigger paycheck up front working as a 1099 contractor, keep in mind that you won’t have benefits. So you’ll need to buy health insurance on your own and save for your retirement independently. As a 1099 nurse, you’ll also likely have to plan to pay income taxes since it won’t be withheld from your paycheck. If you’re a per diem nurse with a W2, your tax deductions will come out of your paycheck, and you may also be eligible for benefits.

Scheduling

Pro: One of the biggest reasons nurses work per diem is because you work when and where you want to work. You’re not obligated to work anywhere. You can take a vacation and days off to suit your schedule. If you’re a travel nurse, you can combine work and vacation.

Con: You can pick your schedule, but full-time staff always get the shifts they want first. You won’t be paid for time off, and you may not get paid sick time, depending which state you are in. Shifts can get canceled at the last minute. That leaves you no time to find another shift, which is bad news if you’re counting on the money.

New Skills and Contacts

Pro: If you’re looking to eventually work full-time, per diem nursing lets you test drive a facility or department. You might even make contacts that can help you land a job if one becomes available. You may also have the opportunity to learn new skills, work with new equipment, and observe a specialty area that may interest you.

Con: Per diem work gives you no job security. Your shift can be canceled or you can have difficulty finding shifts if there is a low patient count, or if a department becomes fully staffed.

Find Great Per Diem Nursing Jobs on IntelyCare

Does being a per diem nurse appeal to you? Check out all the available per diem shifts available on IntelyCare right now, and start building a schedule that works for you.