Is a Per Diem Nursing Job Right for You?
If you’re a nurse, you may have thought about working as a per diem nurse. It’s not an uncommon way to make some extra money – especially if your work schedule is flexible and time off can be arranged with relative ease. Most nurses don’t mind the job so much because it offers them more free time than their regular jobs do. Plus, there are often other benefits, such as using vacation days or sick days during your “regular” job for any contract days you have scheduled. Here are some things to consider before deciding whether or not contract work is right for you.
1. First, make sure you understand what per diem means. It’s a Latin term that means “for each day.” When you work on a per diem basis, you are only paid for the exact number of days you work. So, if your contract is for six days and your first day ends up being canceled, then it will mean that you are paid for five days of work. You may also be able to negotiate a cancellation fee, which is a payment made if the contract is ended early for any reason other than an emergency or your failure to perform your job duties.
2. Of course, the pros and cons of a per diem contract are going to be unique to you. Some people enjoy not having a set work schedule, while others have difficulty with being too flexible. So think very carefully about how much flexibility you need or want in your job before agreeing to any per diem arrangement.
Having looked at the considerations above, here are some benefits of a per diem nursing job:
1. Flexibility To Fit Around Your Life
If you’re the sort of person who wants a job that they can just fit in around their normal responsibilities, then per diem is probably for you. Very few jobs are this flexible!
2. You Get Paid Well
Most per diems pay better than agency work, so there’s every chance you will be better off financially if you go down this route.
3. You Get To Pick And Choose Which Contracts You Work On
If you only take the best contracts, then there’s no reason why you can’t make quite a bit of money from per diem nursing. The better the contract, the more money you will make!
A report by World Health Statistics shows that there are approximately 29 million nurses and midwives in the world. 3.9 million of them are in the United States. This means the nursing field is a rapidly growing market that needs more nurses to fill the growing demand. As a nurse, you have an opportunity to take advantage of this explosion by working as a per diem nurse and making good money while having flexible free time to pursue your other interests.
