From career flexibility to the chance to earn extra cash, per diem work offers many advantages. But every job is different — and so are all per diem nursing contracts. Make sure the one you choose is right for you by asking these 5 essential questions before you sign your next contract.
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Per Diem Nursing Contracts: 5 Essential Questions
Sometimes, per diem jobs are permanent. In those cases, you’re part of a hospital or healthcare organization’s regular payroll, and are assigned shifts as needed.
But many other per diem jobs are offered on a contract basis. And that means each one is different, depending on exactly what’s in that contract. The challenge, then, is to understand each one, and what it offers. And to do that, there are a few essential questions you need to ask.
Remember, not all of these questions are addressed in actual per diem nursing contracts. So, whether you're talking to a recruiter, or the employer’s HR rep, it's important to ask them before you sign — especially if you’re new to per diem, and want to make sure your first experience is a successful one.
1. What’s the specific hourly pay rate?
Either in the contract, the per diem job listing, or verbally, make sure to confirm exactly how much the job pays per hour. You should also make sure you know whether that rate changes based on night and weekend shift differentials.
- Why it’s important: Because per diem jobs may not provide standard job benefits (like paid time off), it’s important to make sure that the hourly rate is enough to meet your needs. (For instance, some of the jobs currently available on the HealthTrust per diem jobsite pay more than $75 per hour.)
- What else to consider: Is the job days, nights, or both? How often do you get paid? You should be clear on all this info before you make a commitment.
2. What are the specific requirements for this job?
From education to certifications, and from vaccinations to the need to take a fitness test, all per diem assignments have specific job requirements. Will you be working the floor, or will you be expected to jump into other settings and specialties, too? Make sure you get all this info ahead of time.
- Why it’s important: Making sure you meet all the requirements means you’re not wasting time chasing a job you’re not qualified for. In addition, if a certain job requires a certification or skillset you don’t have, then you know what you have to do to land the next one.
- What else to consider: If you’re working in a different state, you may need to earn take a different amount of continuing education (CE) credits to maintain your nursing license there.
3. Will I be expected to “bounce” to other departments?
If you work a per diem nursing job with a large employer, or a nationwide staffing company, you may have the option to work different positions with the same contract. For some jobs, it may even be required. Either way, it's essential info to have up front.
- Why it’s important: Obviously, you should know if you’ll be expected to work in a different unit on certain days (with or without notice) — not just because of the different clinical skills you’ll need, but also so you’re emotionally ready.
- What else to consider: Flexibility and adaptability are two huge “soft skills” for any per diem nurse to have. If you plan on working per diem jobs full-time, then developing those skills should be a priority.
4. Are there options for guaranteed hours or extra shifts?
Some per diem nursing jobs guarantee a certain number of hours per week, or have “minimum requirements” for the number of shifts you have to work each pay period, even if patient volume changes, or if the facility hires new staff.
- Why it’s important: Guaranteed hours mean you still have a chance to get paid if the unit or department you’re working in doesn’t need your help on certain days. However, if you’re working per diem because you want to work less, you might prefer not to have guaranteed hours.
- What else to consider: Guaranteed hours might also mean you agree to work in other departments as needed — and that could mean a different skill set is required. It’s important to understand those expectations and to be ready.
5. Will there be other opportunities after this contract?
Something to ask before you start a new per diem job is whether it will lead to other opportunities — especially given the fact that per diem nurses are often fill-ins, working a specific role while an employer sources a full-time replacement.
- Why it’s important: While some nurses love the flexibility of the per diem lifestyle, others may prefer to know there’s always a job waiting for them. This can also provide a sense of security that makes it easier to commit to the per diem lifestyle.
- What else to consider: When you work with a major per diem staffing company, you know you can move onto another great opportunity when your current assignment is done, without the need to constantly search for new jobs — or even go through the credentialing process all over again.
Ready for Your Next Per Diem Nursing Contract?
Ready to work your next per diem nursing contract job? You’ll find the best opportunities from coast to coast with HealthTrust, the nation's leading provider of per diem nursing jobs! We’ve got hundreds of openings every day — see for yourself by searching them all here.
