Can You Build a Nursing Career as a Per Diem Nurse?
Whether you’ve been a nurse for many years, have just become one recently, or are considering getting into the field, there are different paths taken to achieve this goal.
Educational paths taken by someone who wants to enter nursing can happen one of three ways: obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or receive a certificate or diploma from an approved nursing program.
From there, a nurse may consider continuing their education to reach their next diploma or they might consider adding on certifications or specializing in an area of medicine.
Regardless of which path you take, you know that you will be working at a facility and will need to figure out which type of shifts work best for you. If you still find the work-life balance isn’t what you expected — there’s no need to panic.
The option to become a per diem nurse is waiting for you — and here’s how you can get started.
Navigating Your Career as a Nurse
After you complete a level of diplomacy in nursing, you may begin looking for work. As an RN, you may start working as a floor nurse and eventually move up to a staff nurse. From there, maybe you become a Nurse Supervisor.
If you decide to continue your education, advancing to a Nurse Practitioner (NP), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), or Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) could be in your future. Or you may find specialization in an area, such as pediatrics or oncology, is how you want to progress your career.
Regardless, if you have been working at a facility for a while and have not yet made the type of advancements you would have hoped for despite having the proper level of education, then perhaps now is a good time to begin testing the waters.
If you want the flexibility to explore other avenues, per diem nursing would be a great fit for you. As a certified nurse, you already have everything you need to begin this type of career.
This can be beneficial in more ways than one. Per diem nursing gives you the opportunity to try out a different facility, different types of work, or even a different role before committing full-time at a new place of employment.
Advancing in Your Nursing Career
When looking to advance your nursing career, you may feel stuck at your facility. If the floor you have always dreamed of working on is constantly full, or the role you’ve had your eye on got filled, there’s a new way to look at advancing.
If you have wondered what types of opportunities for advancement are out there but can’t risk leaving your current job, there’s no need to worry. With per diem nursing, you get the perk of exploring other career avenues without putting your current one at risk.
With a career in per diem nursing, you get to select where you work and how often you work. If a shift you are qualified for is open — take it!
From there, you really get to learn if the career you always thought you wanted is the right fit or not. Plus, you get to work at other places to see if you like how their facilities run over the one you are at.
You know what they say — getting one foot in the door is all that it can take. Why not think about advancing your career in the same manner?
Considering Per Diem Nursing
When deciding if a career in per diem nursing is the right career path for you, consider what it means to work on an as-needed basis.
- You can work as much or as little as you want
- The pay is typically higher for those who help fill a shift
- You can discover what facilities and work you like best
- You get to pick your own schedule
Once you make the decision to move forward with exploring this career, NurseDash is here to help. To get started, download the NurseDash app, and enter your information. Once you do that, you can begin looking for available shits at facilities and build your schedule the way you’d like by working when you want.
Don’t worry about how much or little you can work. With NurseDash, there is no minimum number of hours needed. Build the schedule you want and find the flexibility you were always hoping to get today.
