Hey all,

Just looking for a little advice. For the past 1.5 years I've been working nights on an ortho/neuro floor at a hospital a little over 30 miles from where I live. Though I like the hospital and my coworkers, I don't like the floor I'm on and the nights are killing me. For months I've been trying to transfer or look for another job, but have had no luck. Today I had an interview for a PRN position on a surgical floor at a hospital close by. A job offer hasn't been made yet, but I think I may have a pretty good shot at it. It seems like a pretty nice place to work. I'd work both days and nights, no weekends, 1:4-5 nurse pt ratio, 1-2 techs on the floor on both days and nights and a unit clerk on both days and nights (things that my current job does not have). The thing that concerns me though is that, of course with a PRN job, there are no benefits and hours aren't always guaranteed. The manager said that I would have the opportunity of going full or part time if and when a position became available. I've never worked PRN before, so the thought of going from my fulltime job to a PRN one makes me a little nervous. Has anyone gone from fulltime to PRN and succeeded? Should I consider taking the job if it's offered? I don't want to make any bad decisions, especially with this job market. Thanks in advance.

I would caution against it. If you think working nights is killing you, rotating between nights and days is worse.

I would caution against it. If you think working nights is killing you, rotating between nights and days is worse.

What mjb said.

I too would caution against it if you need definite income and benefits. For years I worked PRN and had no problem..with the job market as it is FT and PT nurses are staying put longer and picking up extra shifts so at least for me, getting PRN time was difficult. One option would be to accept the PRN but stay where you are until something does open up. Is it possible for you to transfer to another unit w/where you are now? If not, think hard about the PRN before making the leap if you need regular $ and benefits.

You don't have to make a choice between the two; you could actually do both. You could take the PRN job and work just enough to stay on the payroll. Then, when a FT position that you want becomes available, you can apply as an internal employee.

Do both. For all you know the new place could be one of the circles of hell lol Besides, benefits and guaranteed hours are your friend.

Thanks for the responses. The more I think about it, the more I think it may not be the best thing for me right now. I thought about doing both, but my schedule is so crazy at my current job that it would be kind of tough for me to do both. A friend of mine works on this floor and she said there maybe someone leaving in the next couple of months, but there's no guarantee. She also told me that I'm pretty much a shoe in for the job. I hate saying no and I definitely don't want to burn any bridges.

I would advise against PRN work.

My last two jobs were PRN and I swore, never again (except to pick up additional shifts while employed full- or part-time with benefits). Each time, things were great while I was in orientation - I got full time hours; after that, it was dismal - always the last to get shifts, first called off, last called in, first sent home (but that's the nature of PRN work, of course). Worse, with no benefits at all (and they didn't even pay a higher hourly rate!) I was a great bargain for them; but it was horrible for me. Never mind that I always felt as if I wasn't really part of the team (kind of like a float nurse, but those usually make much more money and often have benefits).

Bottom line: PRN is just not worth it (as a primary job).