A career in nursing has the potential to be as lucrative as it is fulfilling, especially per diem nursing. But what is per diem nursing, actually? As a per-diem nurse, you usually make money by working when hospitals, clinics, or nursing homes need you. Per diem nurses are also called "PRN" nurses.
It is not widely known, but PRN nurses make more money than staff nurses. In recent years, the utilization of per-diem nursing has become more popular in the United States due to nursing shortages in many states. PRN nursing is a little bit different because these nurses are paid more and get to choose the shifts they want to work. This is because they are filling in for shifts that would have gone unfilled otherwise.
Succeeding as a Per Diem Nurse
There are pros and cons to all career paths, but succeeding as a per diem nurse is more lucrative than full-time nursing, offers more freedom, and is easy when you use a nurse staffing app such as Nursa. The Nursa app helps nurses and other healthcare workers find the best PRN shifts all over the country, so earning money as a per diem clinician has never been more accessible.
What Are Per Diem Nursing Jobs?
PRN nurses have to be very smart and learn quickly. They should also already know how to do some of the most important and difficult jobs. When taking on a per diem nursing job, the expectation is to hit the ground running and go wherever help is needed to support fellow clinicians in serving patients.
Once you land a per diem nursing position, you typically receive hourly pay for the time you put in. This rate may be higher than the rate for full-time nurses because per diem jobs don't come with benefits or job security.
Some per diem nurses also have the chance to work extra hours or more shifts, which can help them make more money. Also, some healthcare facilities may give bonuses or other incentives for per diem nurses who consistently work a certain number of shifts or meet other performance metrics. Overall, the amount of revenue you're able to generate as a per diem nurse will depend on how many hours you work, how much you get paid per hour, and if the healthcare facility you work for gives you any bonuses or other perks.
Per Diem Nursing Benefits
An issue with PRN nursing is that it is harder to get seniority and access free continuing education credits and training courses, which full-time staff nurses can get. In addition, if you are a PRN nurse who has worked in more than one state, then you must submit taxes in each state where you worked. This is considerably more difficult if you are a nurse who can write prescriptions and administer medications. As a traveling or PRN nurse, it is crucial to keep all of your paperwork organized, up-to-date, and easily accessible as you begin each new position.
Arguably the best benefit is that you can work whenever you want, go to new cities and medical facilities, and take time off whenever you want. If you want to be a travel or PRN shift nurse, you should also think about taxes, certifications, licensing, and credentials. Each state, city, and healthcare facility will have its own rules and requirements about what is needed.
Top Per Diem Nursing Specialties to Consider
To make money as a per diem nurse, you will need to find opportunities to work with healthcare facilities that offer per diem nursing positions. Discovering opportunities for per diem nursing jobs near and far has never been easier. You can search for top-paying nursing job opportunities that best fit your needs on the Nursa app.
Regardless of where you work geographically, you will most likely find yourself in one of the following clinical environments:
- Assisted Living: This type of living situation is for adults who are still pretty independent but need some help with day-to-day tasks (ADLs). Depending on each person's abilities, this may include help with grooming or bathing, and it will often include help with some housework.
- Home Health: When you work as a nurse in home health, you usually work with a patient who stays in their own home even though they are medically fragile or otherwise vulnerable. In this kind of setting, jobs will vary a lot depending on how sick the patient is. It could mean going with the patient to appointments or social events, and it's likely to include helping with ADLs and household chores.
- Skilled Nursing Facilities: A nurse will do a lot of the same work in a skilled nursing facility as they would in a nursing home or an assisted living facility. Some of the people in this setting may be very sick, but others will be getting ready to go home. Because of this, the needs of your patients will be different.
- Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities: Nurses who work in nursing homes or long-term care facilities will spend most of their time doing ADLs and making charts.
- Ambulatory Surgical Centers: ADLs will be a big part of a nurse's job in this setting, but it's also a place where a lot of different medical procedures happen, which may be interesting to a nurse who wants to go further in the medical field.
- Hospitals: Naturally, most nurses want to work in hospitals, so it can be hard to find open positions there. Working PRN shifts in a hospital is a great way to get your foot in the door the next time a job opens up.
The Best Way to Find PRN Nursing Jobs
Nursa is an app that you can easily get on any Android or iPhone by going to the app store. After you install the app, you must create a profile and upload your credentials for verification. Once your credentials have been verified, you can start looking for your next high-paying assignment anywhere in the US. What better way is there to see new places, make a little extra money, meet new professionals, and have the best experiences in the world?
