If you’re a CNA looking for flexible work, you can find per-diem shifts through a traditional staffing agency or, increasingly, through a staffing platform like Switch. The difference is control: a platform lets you browse and claim open shifts yourself, get paid the same day, and go back to facilities you already know — instead of waiting on a recruiter to place you.
Agencies vs. platforms: how CNAs find per-diem work now
For years, the only way to pick up flexible CNA shifts was a staffing agency: you’d talk to a recruiter, they’d match you to an opening, and they’d manage the placement. That still works, but it puts a middleman between you and the shift.
A staffing platform flips that. On Switch, you see the open per-diem shifts near you in an app, and you claim the ones you want with a tap — no waiting for a callback. Switch handles the credentialing and the payment behind the scenes, but you decide when, where, and how often you work. Switch focuses on local per-diem shifts for CNAs, LVN/LPNs, and RNs — not travel contracts or long-term placements — so the whole thing is built around flexibility.
How to find per-diem CNA shifts with Switch
Getting started is straightforward, and most CNAs are picking up shifts within days:
- Create your profile in the Switch app.
- Add your credentials — CNA certification, CPR/BLS, and immunization records.
- Clear compliance — a background check and any facility-specific requirements.
- Browse open shifts near you and claim the ones that fit your schedule.
- Work the shift and get paid — the same day.
That’s the whole loop. There’s no long contract and no commitment to a single building. You pick up a shift when it works for you, and if it doesn’t, you don’t.
What to look for when choosing where to pick up shifts
Not every option treats CNAs the same way. Before you sign up anywhere, it’s worth comparing on the things that actually affect your day and your paycheck:
- How fast you get paid. Switch pays same-day, so a shift you work today doesn’t wait for a two-week payroll cycle.
- Whether real people answer. When something goes sideways at a facility or with your pay, you want a human — Switch has a support team on the other end who knows what you do.
- What happens when a shift falls through. This is the one most CNAs get burned on: a facility cancels last-minute, or fills the spot internally and never updates the app, and you eat the lost day. On Switch, that triggers a penalty for the facility, not you — because a shift is a commitment on both sides.
- Transparent pay. You should see the rate before you claim the shift, with no surprises at payday.
Why coming back to the same facilities matters
Here’s something a recruiter-driven agency can’t really offer: continuity. Picking up shifts at the same facilities — where you know the residents, the routines, and the charge nurse — makes the work easier and the care better. Switch is built to send you back to buildings you’ve worked before, so per-diem doesn’t have to mean starting cold every shift. It’s better for you, and it’s better for the residents who’d rather see a familiar face.
Get the most out of per-diem work
Treat every shift like a working interview, and per-diem becomes a career, not just extra income:
- Keep your credentials current — license, CPR/BLS, immunizations — so shift offers aren’t held up.
- Respond quickly to open shifts; the fastest response often gets the assignment.
- Tell your preferences — shifts, locations, and unit types — so the offers you see are the ones you’d actually take.
- Build relationships with the charge nurses and managers who can request you back, so you build a roster of facilities that ask for you by name.
- Submit your time accurately and on time to keep pay smooth.
Working across different facilities also builds a broader resume and can open doors to new specialties or further nursing education down the road.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need experience to pick up per-diem CNA shifts? You need an active CNA certification and current credentials. Experience helps for higher-acuity settings, but many per-diem shifts are open to CNAs at all stages.
How much do per-diem CNAs make? CNAs average around $20 an hour in nursing homes as of 2025 (Skilled Nursing News), and per-diem shifts often pay a premium over staff rates. Exact pay depends on your market, specialty, and shift.
How fast do you get paid? On Switch, same day — you don’t wait on a payroll cycle.
Do I have to commit to one facility? No. Per-diem means you choose each shift; there’s no contract and no obligation to any single building.
Is per-diem CNA work steady? Demand is strongest during high-census periods and dips during slower stretches, which is why many CNAs keep a primary role and pick up per-diem shifts on top of it.
Ready to pick up your first shift?
If you’re a CNA who wants control of your schedule, flexible per-diem work, and same-day pay, Switch makes it simple to create your profile, complete your onboarding, and start browsing per-diem shifts near you — with a real support team behind you. Download the Switch app today.
New to per-diem work? Here’s what per-diem nursing actually is before you start.
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Switch is the easiest way to get the shifts you want at the rates you deserve—in the best facilities in your area.