Per Diem Nursing FAQ

Per Diem is Latin for “by the day,” which means that you get to work flexible shifts as needed by facilities in your area without signing a contract.

Per Diem nurses may be called to fill in for staff shortages, help with seasonal demand, or provide assistance if a staff nurse gets sick. Because of this, you may need to work in different facilities or departments, depending on where you are needed most. Either way, you will be free to pick up shifts when you are available or decline them if you are not.

PRN stands for “pro re nata,” which is Latin for “as needed.” It is often used interchangeably with Per Diem, which means “by the day.”

Both PRN and Per Diem are used to describe staffing opportunities where nurses or clinicians can schedule shifts at a facility without needing to sign a contract.

• Opportunity to make extra income by working additional shifts outside of your regular work hours.
• Ability to keep your license active even when you aren’t working full time.
• Flexibility to control your schedule and work when you want to work.
• Variety of experiences at different facilities in your area to learn new skills and grow your resume.
• Often offers higher pay per hour.

Two years of experience in your specialty are required to begin per diem nursing through Gifted Healthcare.

We have made it simple – look for jobs near you on our job board by selecting “per diem” or “local contract” in the “job type” dropdown.

When our team sees you have marked a shift as available, they will give you a call at confirmation time if you are needed for the shift. Be prepared for the call and ready to work the shift. If you are not 100% certain of availability for a shift, do not mark yourself as available.

Be sure to bring your RN license, credentials, and photo ID. The staffing office may need to make their copies on your first shift.

When picking up shifts at different facilities, always head to the Nurse Staffing Office to sign in with the supervisor to receive your assignment.

You can remove your availability from your schedule any time before the two-hour confirmation window. We highly recommend calling as in advance as possible to give facilities enough time to plan replacements.

Per Diem nurses receive the same benefits Gifted Healthcare offers all nurses, including premium pay and 24/7 support. However, Day One benefits are not included for all Per Diem nurses. Please contact your recruiter or our Benefits Manager for more details.