PRN vs full time

U.S.A. Florida

Published

Hello! I might be relocating from one part of FL to another. I am considering a PRN position instead of full time. I would still work 40 hr/week but no PTO, medical or dental. I am thinking of getting my own insurance - it would cost me almost as much as company's insurance if I get it through a professional organisation (the hospital's medical is not very good anyway). I have never worked PRN and I am little concerned... What if they start laying off people? I hear PRNs go first. What about workers comp or disability? What if I get hurt at work? Or get sick? (I obviously won't get paid for staying sick at home since I have no PTO) Will they send PRNs home first because their census is low?

The pay is good but I think I would feel less protected. Am I freaking out? Ovethinking it? I am a single mom so I need a job security. I need to make sure the move is worthwhile. Any thoughts or experience? I hope you will help me decide. Thanks!

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Hm... No PRN folks here?

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I work prn. Yes, I get paid more per hour than the regular staff folks, but no benefits (no sick leave, vacation, disability, retirement, etc.). I haven't ever asked, but I imagine I would get worker's comp if I were injured on the job because I am an employee, not a private contractor or anything. Worker's comp benefits are mandated by labor laws, not optional benefits that employers choose to offer. However, in general, you definitely are "less protected" than with a full-time, permanent, benefited position.

Yes, I am the first (RN) to get called off if census is low, unless someone else is asking to be called off (but I've never been sent home once I was at work), but the hospital wouldn't ever lay me off (dump me permanently) -- why would they? I don't cost them anything unless they actually use me, so why not keep me "on the books"?

Yes, since the economic downturn, my employer "healthcare system" sent around a memo to all the facilities/departments, telling them all to avoid using prn people unless absolutely necessary -- but, fortunately (for me), my facility is so poorly managed and has such high turnover that they've kept using me pretty regularly. I'm currently working full-time (for the time being) to cover for a staff RN who is on maternity leave. However, a couple other facilities within the same system that used to use me occasionally haven't asked me to work in over a year.

I've never heard of a prn position that guarantees you 40 hours a week -- doesn't that kind of defeat the whole point of being prn? (From the employer's point of view, I mean.) Is it a float pool type of arrangement? A permanent position where you just waive benefits?

Best wishes for whatever you decide.

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Thanks a lot! I will know more about the position next week. Meanwhile, I am shopping for health insurance... In general, it is going to cost me a little more than employer's insurance and it will cover less. Besides, employer's insurance premiums are pre-tax, and my own is going to be post-tax. However, there will still be a significant difference between PRN and full time paycheck. I will probably get less tax return next year (I do not think my premiums will exceed 7.5% of AGI)... But it is nice to have extra money every two weeks... Hm... I think I might just do full-time.

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PRN's at our hospital are always called off first as well as floated first. We have one on our floor that is scheduled full time 3x12 hour shifts every week. A friend of mine was PRN and basically all of November and December she was either called off or floated-mostly called of due to census. She now has upgraded to FT.

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