Candidates
Compare per diem and permanent healthcare work
Questions to ask about shifts, availability, onboarding, and compensation when comparing per diem and permanent healthcare roles.
By Practica · Published
Use the label as a starting point
Practica lets you filter permanent, temporary, per diem, travel, and shift opportunities. These labels help organize your search, but the description and employer’s offer explain the arrangement. Do not infer guaranteed hours, benefits, or contract terms from a label alone.
Before comparing roles, write down the availability you can reliably offer, the locations you can reach, and any start-date constraints. This gives you a consistent set of questions for each employer.
Ask how the schedule is assigned
For a per diem opportunity, ask how shifts are offered, whether there are minimum availability expectations, and how cancellations are handled. Clarify whether the employer expects coverage across multiple sites or units.
For a permanent opportunity, ask about the usual schedule, rotation, weekends, on-call expectations, and how schedule changes are communicated. Request clarification when a listing leaves these details open.
Compare the complete written terms
Ask the employer to explain compensation, any differentials, benefits eligibility, required training, and the conditions attached to the offer. Keep the written answers with the posting so you can compare like with like.
For any assignment involving travel, ask who arranges and pays for travel or accommodation and what happens if the assignment changes. A title or advertised rate cannot answer those questions.
- What hours, if any, are guaranteed?
- Which onboarding steps must be completed before the first shift?
- Which sites and duties are included?
- Where are the final written terms recorded?
Keep search preferences current
Select each employment type you would actually consider in your candidate profile. Update those choices when your availability changes. You can search a specific role and state, then compare the individual descriptions.
Use the same checklist across opportunities. If two offers differ, record the difference plainly instead of assuming one employment label always produces a better arrangement.