Advice about Per Diem vs. Traveling

Posts: 8 · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 8 Location: CA

I've been talking with a recruiter about working as a travel nurse for the first time. What's the deal with per diem shifts? Is it really better than traveling on 13-week assignments? I'd love to hear back from those of you who've done both and can give me some insight. Pros/cons?

Posts: 2 · Joined: 16 Jul 2007 Posts: 2 Location: West Virginia

I have been an agency nurse for almost two years now. I also do Per Diem work at a hospital near our home. The Per Diem job fills in gaps that are not available while under contract. An important apsect between the two is that Per Diem may not pay as well, as is in my case. Best thing about Per Diem is that if you can't find a travel position that suits you, then you can fall back onto the Per Diem job and there is very minimal contractional obligations. I like it and it works for me.

Posts: 43 · Joined: 12 Jan 2005 Posts: 43 Location: California

Hi jules23,

I'm about to start traveling for the first time too. I've heard that you can make a lot more money as a per diem nurse. I looked into with a company called Access (I just started working with them). I've decided to do travel assignments instead, but the woman I talked to, Maggie, was super nice and answered all my questions. I figure it's best for you to talk to her since she can answer all your questions.

Good luck! Hopefully I see you out on the road. Very Happy

Posts: 8 · Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 8

i've worked per diem shifts in my spare time for about 2 years now...and i LOVE it! Very Happy

i haven't worked with access before like km, but i definitely think you should look into doing per diem work. it's tough to do it full time, but i i've heard of travel companies that have programs to make it easier. you should research it if you're seriously about trying it. i like that i don't have to become to attached to another hospital other than my own. Confused

i already care so much for my patients where i work perm. that it'd be tough to try and split my dedication. good luck. Smile

Posts: 50 · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 50

Per diem agency nurses are the first to be canceled when the census drops. Travelers have assured hours. Something to think about.

Posts: 1 · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

I only wanted to go to seattle for a month, the travel companies wanted to pay me 37$ flat with no assistance for housing/travel, the agency 51$ and 76$ for overtime with no promise of how many hours I would work. I went with the agency and made 9000 before taxes in one month. I love agency!

Posts: 50 · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 50

Sounds great. Most travel companies pay for housing and travel though. Maybe because it was just a month?

Posts: 2 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 2 Location: AR

Stajen where was this contract, how long, and what agency? The hourly rate sounds extremely high from all that I have researched. Did it include bennies, housing and all that jazz? Thanks for any reply.

Posts: 11 · Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 11 Location: US

I'd be interested to hear about the contract you got Stajen because it sounds too good to be true (which, in my experience, means it is). I've worked with Access Nurses for awhile now and the rates are amazing! But I always work 13 week assignments so maybe that is the difference.

Posts: 5 · Joined: 11 Sep 2007 Posts: 5 Location: chicago

Stajen, this sounds like strike pay. I've heard those are great (short term, lots of hours and great money).

To those talking about per-diem vs. travel: Don't move somewhere just to do per-diem. You would be the first to get cancelled and then you don't get paid. Make sure you have a travel position and use per-diem as extra. Your travel contract should state that if you get cancelled you still get paid.

Posts: 1 · Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 1 Location: tucson az

well it isnt working out for me in tucson, I am on a 26 week assignment, and part of that contract is one per diem shift per week. On paper (the contract) it looks wonderful, in reality it is a nightmare.
I had to schedule my own per diem shifts, I get confirmed, then called off, then cant get rebooked.....I am not making the money promised, and being threatened to have my stipend affected. I am getting very sour on the travel nursing through a travel company, when I found out that I can get the same arrangement with the hospital itself, minus the middle man.
any thoughts?

Posts: 50 · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 50

What agency did you work for Evil or Very Mad

? Throw your weight around. Tell them they broke the contract by not providing you with the hours and you want out. Tell them you will get a lawyer. Call the district attorney. If they are JHCHO (spelling sorry) certified, threaten to call them. This is assuming you want out of the contract. If not, tone it down but be firm. Tell them they are not holding their end of the contract by providing you the hours, etc. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Posts: 3 · Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 3 Location: NW Arkansas

I work per diem for a local hospital, along with my regular full time job. I have been doing both for 2 years and have gotten called off only once. I make $40 an hour per diem, plus shift diff, so the money is great, but I really want to travel. The probem is rates to travel are so low that I would be taking a pay cut, even with the dollar average between the two jobs, if I leave the per diem. I do get the worst patients and there is no teamwork in the per diem situation, but I heard it's the same with travel nursing sometimes too. I don't want to stay in the area I am currently in, so my desire for change is forcing me into making some new decisions, but if it's okay to stay in one area. Per diem is pretty good from my point of view, Just make sure that if you get called off, it's not going to be difficult for you. Since I have the other job, it works out for me.

Posts: 8 · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 8 Location: CA

Thanks everyone for all of the advice. I just worked my first per diem shift with Access Nurses. So far so good. I'll probably be back with questions.

Nowpoint and windycity--Thanks especially for the advice about getting called off/cancelled.

Posts: 18 · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 8:20 pm

stajen wrote:

I only wanted to go to seattle for a month, the travel companies wanted to pay me 37$ flat with no assistance for housing/travel, the agency 51$ and 76$ for overtime with no promise of how many hours I would work. I went with the agency and made 9000 before taxes in one month. I love agency!

you can do so much better then this in seattle area.
my break down 48.00* 37 hours= 1776 (travel)
58.00 *24-37 hours = 1368-2146 (per diem)
=========================================
total 3144-3922 a week * 4 weeks 12576-15688 a month before taxes

this is working tele as a 1099 nurse