Certifications for per diem nursing
Are there certifications for per diem nursing?
There are no per diem nursing certifications designed specifically to work as a per diem nurse. That’s because any nurse can become a per diem nurse.
To become a nurse, you do need to graduate with a nursing degree. In addition to your degree, you will need the appropriate nursing licenses to work in a specific nursing field. We’ll touch on those degrees, certificates, and licenses below.
Per diem nursing is simply a nurse that works on an as-needed-basis. Usually hired by a hospital, or staffing agency to fill vacant shifts.
Per diem nursing is a great way to earn extra income when your regular nursing schedule doesn’t have more hours to offer. It’s also a great alternative to working full-time but with more flexible hours.
While there are no traditional per diem nursing benefits, such as health insurance or PTO, there are many pros to becoming a per diem nurse. Adding flexibility to your per diem nursing schedule, and a potential increase in per diem nursing pay are among the perks.
Nursing has many degrees, licenses, certificates, and courses depending on which type of nursing position you’re interested in. Once you become a nurse, you can actively work while taking more courses to further your nursing education.
Next, let's discuss the degrees needed to become a nurse, and common licenses when you pursue a career in nursing.
What are the different medical certificates and nursing degrees?
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
A certified nursing assistant diploma or certificate takes between 4 and 12 weeks to complete.
A CNA typically works for nursing facilities, home health assistance, local hospitals, and assisted living environments. You also have the opportunity to become a healthcare documentation specialist, also known as a medical transcriptionist.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN)
An LPN or LVN are essentially the same position with different titles. Becoming an LPN or LVN typically takes between 12 and 18 months.
These nurses are usually employed by physician offices, private medical hospitals, assisted living, surgical hospitals, mental health facilities, and home care facilities.
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
An ADN is a degree that Registered Nurses get after they complete 2 years of school.
A nurse with an ADN degree can become a registered nurse, emergency department nurse, oncology nurse, pediatric nurse, and other medical professionals.
If you’d like to further your education as an RN, you can go to school longer to achieve your BSN.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
A BSN degree typically takes 4 years to complete. 1-2 years if they’ve received their ADN.
A BSN degree takes longer to complete but gives nurses the opportunity to advance to higher paying positions such as management roles. Whereas an ADN degree is shorter, you get to experience hands-on work sooner, but you have less advancement opportunities.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
A MSN degree is a postgraduate degree and typically takes 2 years to complete if you have your BSN.
Positions for MSN graduates include:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Certified Nurse Midwife
- Nurse Practitioner
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
- Nurse Educator
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
A DNP degree is typically a 3 to 6-year program.
For nurses that have gotten their Doctor Of Nursing Practice degree, there are 15 specialties you can consider.
DNP nursing positions include:
- Nursing Admin
- Health Policy
- Public Health
- Nursing Practice
- Nursing Education
- Executive Leadership
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Types of nursing certifications and courses
Nurses are required to take specific courses and receive specific certifications depending on which type of nurse they choose to become.
The more common certifications and courses include:
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
The BLS certification is a course that helps medical professionals and medical providers provide proper lifesaving techniques to those in need of medical assistance.
BLS training teaches you how to perform many life-saving skills. These skills include CPR, rescue breathing, and proper use of a bag valve mask.
Most medical professionals that receive this certification include nurses, physicians, and first-responders.
Other life-saving professionals that may require their BLS certifications include police officers, coaches, firefighters, and lifeguards.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification
The ACLS certification, similar to the BLS certification, equips professionals with life-saving techniques. The difference is ACLS goes further than the BLS and provides advanced training.This includes medications, cardioversion, defibrillation, and much more.
Most medical professionals that are around patients who have higher risks of having cardiac-related emergencies are required to be ACLS certified.
This includes nurses working in more serious or critical environments like the intensive care unit (ICU).
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
The PALS certification that provides the proper life-saving training techniques for children and infants.
Any medical professional that is in the position to oversee the care of infants or children will need to receive their PALS certification.
A PALS certification is a requirement for many nurses, physicians, doctors, and first responders such as paramedics.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
The NRP is a program developed to provide training to those that provide care for newborns.
Medical professionals that handle newborns in the delivery room or post-delivery, may need to quickly treat or resuscitate infants. These medical professionals are required to pass the NRP.
Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC)
The ENPC helps medical professionals accurately assess children with injury or acute illness.
The emergency nursing pediatric course provides pediatric information as well as testing healthcare professionals' psychomotor response. This is to ensure that medical professionals can take care of pediatric patients in emergency situations.
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
AWHONN publishes guideline standards for nurses caring for women and newborns.
AWHONN guidelines cover subjects such as breastfeeding, labor induction, care of premature infants, fetal heart rate monitoring, and more.
Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
The trauma nursing core course provides medical professionals with knowledge and hand-on training to react quickly to patients experiencing trauma.
National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
The NIHSS is a measurement tool that helps healthcare providers measure the amount of impairment a patient has received due to a stroke.
You can read more on the NIHSS and how it’s measured by clicking here.
Nursing Compact States License
A nursing compact states license is a license that allows nurses to work in different states under one license.
This is beneficial if a nurse decides to relocate or travel regularly. If they do, then they aren't required to acquire a new license every time they work across state lines.
To learn more in detail, check out our complete professional nursing compact state guide
We hope this was informative for any current or future nurses that are considering per diem nursing positions.
If you are considering per diem nursing, you will love it. Per diem nursing offers flexibility and freedom to your schedule and the positions you choose.
You know what else offers more freedom to how you find vacant positions? Para!
What is Para for per diem nursing?
Para is an app that allows nurses to connect with medical facilities.
No back and forth phone calls, no waiting!
All you have to do is download the app and photograph your credentials to verify.
Once you’re verified, you can start accepting shifts.
It really is that easy. Sign up to get started today!