What does per diem mean in nursing? I’m a new grad RN looking for a job and I keep seeing this.

Per diem means as needed . It does not normally provide you with a schedule and there are usually no benefits involved.( No health insurance, no paid time off, No holiday time. It works well for nurses that do not want to be tied down to a schedule. You can decline when they call you if it is not a time that fits your schedule.

Per diem is essentially a mix of part-time and substitute. You might be hired per diem for a unit or sister units, or you might be hired per diem within a hospital or even within a system. Your hours and schedule are generally not guaranteed, and shifts may be offered more on a last-minute basis than scheduled the traditional 4-6 weeks in advance.

In my experience, hospitals generally want nurses with experience for per diem positions, since they may be picking up on multiple units or may be called in fairly last-minute to cover a staffing shortage (which can mean fewer opportunities to be onboarded fully or to have a more new grad mentoring relationship with a nurse as you onboard).