Nursing is a great profession with many avenues to pursue, such as working part time vs. per diem.
In addition to all the different practice areas is the ability to flex your work time. Working part time or per diem is a great way to keep your license active and work at a level that allows you time for other things in your life.
You could be a new parent and want to stay at home more, or maybe you are close to retirement but still want to be actively employed. Maybe you want to travel and see the world. To each their own! We are all just grateful you are actively working in the profession.
What is the difference between part time vs. per diem? This is important to understand so you can pick the right role for you.
Part time vs. per diem defined
First, it's best to start with defining a few terms. I compiled generalized information, so don't forget there are some state nuances. I always recommend reviewing your state requirements.
- Full time: FTE stands for full-time equivalent. If you work 40 hours per week, you are a 1.0 FTE. If you were hired to work three 12-hour shifts, you are a 0.9 FTE (even if you work overtime or frequently reach 40 hours). A 0.5 FTE is typically 20 hours a week.
- Part time: The definition of part time varies by employer as state and federal governments do not decide what constitutes part or full time. Part time for one employer may be considered full time by another. Always check with your human resources department to give you the final word on this for your organization. This determination usually affects benefits eligibility. Part-time employees are usually scheduled fewer shifts than a full-time employee. You are scheduled hours based on the status and FTE you were hired to fill. In the case of a low census, you would get credit for the unworked portion of your FTE to keep you at your hired part-time status. Benefits of part-time employment are mainly around time. Part-time work gives you more freedom to do other things in your life, such as time with family or going back to school. It also may improve work-life balance and reduce stress. With part-time employment, you may be responsible for paying a higher amount for your healthcare benefits compared to a full-time employee.
- Per diem: Per diem means "as needed." In a per diem role you are not guaranteed hours, usually work less than full time, and sometimes don't receive benefits. Per diem status might be noted as a 0.1 FTE. Even if you work full time, the status you were hired into is per diem. You are not technically guaranteed any hours, and your position is one that is used for substitute coverage, such as sick calls, vacation, family leave, or medical leave. One week you might work 40 hours and the following week you may not work at all. With per diem, there is no "low census" stipulation. The benefits of per diem are more freedom in scheduling your hours and often an increase in hourly pay. The down side is if you need a steady income, you may need more than one per diem position to obtain the income you need.
Staffing trends of employment statuses vary
Both part-time and per diem statuses have different implications for staffing.
- When developing a schedule, full-time staff may have first access to fill out their requested schedule.
- Part-time staff are next for requests and are used to "fill in the holes" for vacations or maternity/paternity leaves.
- Per diem staff may be used after full- and part-time staff are scheduled to fill in known holes, but often are called in a few hours before to cover sick calls.
A well-run organization, hospital, or healthcare organization will have a mix of full-time, part-time, and per diem staff to cover their schedules.
Which one is right for you? Typically, part-time and per diem positions are benefits eligible. However, the amount you are responsible to pay for benefits may vary based on your hired FTE. Often part-time employees pay higher employee rates than full-time employees. Per diem employees may need to pay an even higher amount (employer + employee portion) for the same insurance.
Part-time employees typically are paid the same rate as full-time employees and per diem employees may be paid a premium rate
Does part-time or per diem work satisfy your needs?
Ask yourself the following questions when considering part time vs. per diem:
- Do I need a guaranteed level of income weekly?
- How much do I want to spend on healthcare benefits?
- Does the per diem rate of pay provide the income I need?
- Am I okay working per diem knowing I am not guaranteed any hours?
- As a per diem employee, am I okay with being available more often?
There are many variables to consider when weighing your options. But having the option to flex your hours and contribute to our profession continues to be a great benefit of our profession.
Editor's note: Jennifer Mensik does not endorse, recommend, or favor any program, product, or service advertised or referenced on this website, or that appear on any links to or from this website.
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