Per diem is a Latin phrase meaning “per day.” In healthcare, hospitals, facilities and clinics hire per diem nurses to meet their staffing needs, especially during times of unusually high census. If you are considering stepping into the world of per diem nursing, here are four tips to help you make the most out of working per diem.
Pick up weekend shifts
Weekend shifts are not as popular and hospitals sometimes have trouble staffing them for obvious reasons. Therefore, weekends are great opportunities to pick up extra shifts and add to your income.
Volunteer to work holidays
Similar to working weekends, working on the holidays is not as popular. This is great for per diem nursing, especially because you have the opportunity to make overtime pay. When you pick up shifts that no one else wants, you immediately get on your coworkers’ good side and show that you are a team player.
Map out your expenses
As a per diem worker in healthcare, it’s even more important to plan ahead and map out your expenses. Determine how much you spend every month on housing, transportation, food, clothes – all of it. The easiest way to do this is save your receipts or keep a spreadsheet.
Be good at saving and sticking to a budget
The nature of per diem work is fluctuating. You could pick up a lot of shifts one week and not as many the next. You will feel more secure if you are good about saving your money for a rainy day.
Want a career that fits your unique schedule? Take a look at our open per diem contracts!
