per diem and night shift pay difference? just curious?

Hi! I'm just curious about how salary/pay works...
I know some hospitals pay more if you work night shifts, and some hospitals pay more per hour if you work per diem...
So if I were to work per diem on the night shift would I make more than that?

Thanks
Every place of employment has its own pay scale. Some have a union contract and some have workers who are unrepresented. You have to check with the facility or agency where you have applied to work.

Hey, in general, night pay is a premium category (e.g. a little extra based on company scales) and then per diem (aka part time, even if you do a lot of hours) is also a little/lot more, because you don't get the benefits at all of health, prescription, life, AD&D, 401K (depending on what they offer). So, yes, you make a lot more cash on payday being per diem, you also don't have employer sponsored benefits.....

Also if you are per diem you are not guaranteed hours at all, so if you are not needed for 2 weeks or however long, then are you really are not making more at all of course.

thanks for the replies. What about if you work a 12 hour shift? Do you get overtime if it's a unionized hospital? I'm wondering if a per diem position is worth it if it's close to where I live, compared to a hospital that is full time with benefits but an hour commute.I'm just a new grad curious about random things!

I might be wrong, but I don't know of a single place that gives overtime for a 12hr shift. I haven't received overtime unless I'm over 40hrs per week, and as a per diem, like I said, you are totally not guaranteed anything. Sometimes when it's crazy, I'll see a per diem nurse all the time, and then not again for weeks or more. I'm not sure about being union or not, I've never belonged to a unionized hospital. With a FT job you'll have benefits, Per Diem you won't. FT you'll be guaranteed hours unless your facility does some on-call or canceling which some places do. Per diem are usually the first to be cancelled depending on census. If there are a ton of hours available, you'll be able to basically pick your schedule with a per diem position, but nothing is set in stone and you could end up with very few shifts and very little money.As a new grad, I know a lot of you have a hard time getting jobs and sometimes you have to take what you can get. But personally I would NOT recommend a per diem job being brand new to nursing, or that specialty specifically. After orientation, what if you don't get called for 3 weeks? New grads need to see a lot and see it often for learning, IMO. The commute sucks, but I'd recommend trying for the FT position. Not to mention, hospitals might be very hesitant to hire a new grad as a per diem. Usually they want someone who will require less training and monitoring. But every place is different.Good luck!

Quote from JulieSandlinI might be wrong, but I don't know of a single place that gives overtime for a 12hr shift.

<DFW area hospital> Night shift is $3 above base rate and $4 more dollars on top of your base pay for weekends. So if you worked nights and weekends that would be $7 on top of your base pay. Overtime is only given for hours over 40hrs for the week. PRN requirement for my hospital is 48 hours a month, which is one 12 hour shift a week. Every hospital is different, this is just what I have seen at the hospital I am at now.

Quote from JulieSandlinAs a new grad, I know a lot of you have a hard time getting jobs and sometimes you have to take what you can get. But personally I would NOT recommend a per diem job being brand new to nursing, or that specialty specifically. After orientation, what if you don't get called for 3 weeks? New grads need to see a lot and see it often for learning, IMO. The commute sucks, but I'd recommend trying for the FT position. Not to mention, hospitals might be very hesitant to hire a new grad as a per diem. Usually they want someone who will require less training and monitoring. But every place is different.Good luck!

OT for over 12hrs/shift! I went to the wrong state! Massachusetts doesn't pay over 12, unless that 12 is over 40/week total.

Some per diem or contingent contracts require a certain portion of weekends and holidays to be worked.

thanks for all the replies, I really appreciate it. And yes as a new grad I will accept any offer- even working all weekends and holidays! =) Youre right in this economy you just have to get a foot in the door (especially in san francisco which is where I am from).

At the hospital I am employed with we recieve an additional amt added to our hourly wage for our 12 night shifts AND for working Saturdays and Sundays regardless if it is a day shift or night shift.