| There are many great aspects to a career in nursing. | | | | are taking continuing education classes and other |
| You get to help people, you get to meet people, and | | | | nurses who don't want to work full time, but want to |
| since nurses are needed across the United States, | | | | work intermittent shifts in order to keep their |
| you have the opportunity to work just about | | | | experience current. In some cases, per diem nursing |
| anywhere you want. | | | | gives nurses the chance to test a hospital in order to |
| But one oft-overlooked advantage of nursing careers | | | | get a feel for the work culture and environment before |
| is the opportunity to schedule your career around your | | | | signing on for a permanent position. |
| life. That's exactly what per diem nursing provides. If | | | | While per diem nursing can be a good part-time job |
| you want or need to schedule your own working | | | | and a career booster for a wide range of people, it's |
| hours, but still earn a good salary, then this type of | | | | not for everyone. Taking a per diem job means nurses |
| non-contract job may be the ideal career choice for | | | | may be scheduled to work in several different |
| you. | | | | hospitals within a single week, which means dealing |
| With daily nurse jobs there is an opportunity to partner | | | | with several different hospital systems, different |
| with medical staffing agencies and work in temporary | | | | doctors, and different colleagues. While those with per |
| assignments at hospitals and clinics. RNs that sign on | | | | diem nursing positions have some control over how |
| for these nursing positions may sometimes work | | | | many different situations they have to deal with, it's still |
| on-call and will typically be scheduled week to week. A | | | | important for every per diem nurse's well-being to be |
| per diem nurse will also be responsible for any | | | | comfortable in their position as a temporary staff |
| last-minute requests to fill in for sick hospital staff or | | | | member. |
| for those who simply can't make it to work. In some | | | | While flexibility is a crucial trait for people pursuing per |
| cases, someone with a per diem nursing position won't | | | | diem nursing careers, they can look forward to being |
| be called in until the day he or she is needed. And | | | | well-compensated. Those working with a good medical |
| there may be no guarantee that the per diem nurse | | | | staffing agency that places people in per diem |
| will be called at all. Some assignments can be part-time | | | | positions can make $30 to $40 per hour. And those |
| and some can be full-time. In other words, per diem | | | | willing to take daily nursing positions during late-night |
| nursing is a good career choice for nurses who can | | | | shifts or in intensive care can make as much as $50 |
| remain flexible. | | | | an hour. |
| Choosing a day-by-day nursing career doesn't | | | | The best medical staffing agencies can also place |
| necessarily mean that a nurse has to work at a single | | | | those with per diem jobs in positions that offer an |
| hospital, either. Those involved in per diem nursing | | | | inclusive benefits package, which may include health |
| careers can work at several different hospitals within | | | | insurance and a retirement plan. |
| a single area. Someone in a per diem nursing job also | | | | A good medical staffing agency will only want the |
| has the option of taking on preferred specialty roles-as | | | | most qualified per diem nurses representing them that |
| a critical-care nurse, for example, or they can choose | | | | includes a thorough registration process is usually |
| to work in more general per diem nursing roles. | | | | required. Basic qualifications for per diem positions |
| Per diem nursing is often described as shopping for | | | | include an RN license, one year of critical-care |
| nursing shifts. Those who work on a daily basis can | | | | experience, good references, and good credentials. |
| choose to work shifts that are as regular or as | | | | Those pursuing per diem nurse positions should also |
| irregular as they like. For those that love to travel, that | | | | have up-to-date immunizations. Competency tests |
| can be a big plus. By being able to set their own hours, | | | | may also be distributed by medical staffing agencies |
| the weeks that they are available to work, per diem | | | | looking to place per diem nurses. |
| nurses can plan for short or extended vacations far | | | | Initially, nurses that have several specialties will likely be |
| more easily than those working on a regular schedule. | | | | offered with a wider choice of available positions. |
| Per diem nursing offers a taste of adventure that may | | | | That's especially true for nurses who have experience |
| not be available to nurses with full-time jobs at a | | | | in critical-care assignments. The per diem nursing jobs |
| hospital or clinic. It's a good resource for nurses who | | | | in highest demand are the positions that experience |
| haven't quite found their niche or specialty area. The | | | | the largest number of shortages, which include |
| opportunity to work in clinics and hospitals of all | | | | positions in cardiac care, intensive care and in the |
| different sizes and the opportunity to discover what it's | | | | emergency room. |
| like in new departments makes finding that right nursing | | | | Many of those who decide to pursue per diem nursing |
| specialty easier than ever. | | | | positions find the variety of options exciting and |
| Others who can benefit from per diem nursing careers | | | | engaging. For qualified nurses who want more |
| include new moms and nurses close to retirement. Per | | | | freedom and more flexibility, nursing presents an |
| diem nursing is also an excellent choice for nurses who | | | | unbeatable opportunity. |