[Dolce]

I am doing agency/PRN work now and I love it, love it, love it! However, when I read the part in your post about your insurance being the only insurance for your family....that is a different story. That just sounds like way too big of a risk to me. I'm not sure you would come out ahead financially even though the hourly pay rate would be higher. If I were you and in your situation I would stay in your current position.

[ethelbsnrn]

Originally Posted by Dolce

I am doing agency/PRN work now and I love it, love it, love it! However, when I read the part in your post about your insurance being the only insurance for your family....that is a different story. That just sounds like way too big of a risk to me. I'm not sure you would come out ahead financially even though the hourly pay rate would be higher. If I were you and in your situation I would stay in your current position.

Thanks, Dolce for the reply.

I didn't mean to say I won't have any insurance. I have a family to take care of. I am trying to weigh if getting a private insurance will work instead of the group health insurance. I called BC BS of Texas, they quote $406/month for a family deductible of $2500. I am paying $299/month via our hosp's group insurance.

I don't know...I was so gung ho the 1st time I heard about the new job offer, but now, I feel like.. I am safer working as a staff. But, maybe...it is just fear of the unknown.

Let me hear from some more PRN nurses out there.

[allevi]

I quit my regular full time job in april of this year. I have done several short contracts 4-5 weeks since. Now for the remainder of year I will just work perdiem. I am being selfish and want holidays off for once.

I love what I am doing now. I schedule my hours,with the exception of when I am in a contract. I am signed up with 2 agencies however to ensure availability of hours that I want.

I don't have to provide insurance. I know in this area that the hospitals charge so much for their insurance that many times you can get it cheaper from outside source.

I wish you luck with your decision.

[Jolie]

ethelbsnrn,

I think I may have mis-spoken in my previous post when I indicated that you may be able to purchase COBRA coverage. If you are changing job status with your present employer, then I don't think you are eligible for COBRA. If you are leaving your current employer and taking a per diem job at another hospital, then you would be eligible.

Check with HR to be sure. Just want to make sure I'm not giving you bad information!

[indigo]

I am also thinking of going PRN. I don't need the health insurance, get that thru my husband. I am a staff nurse working nights in labor and delivery/med-surg at a very small community hospital. We are usually fairly desperate for nurses, esp. labor and delivery/OB nurses. We ALWAYS have a job opening on nights for OB. I see PRN nurses coming and going at will, getting scheduled full-time plus sometimes. It would increase my salary at least $10 an hour. Because we are so small and always needing RNs, it's hard to get time off, especially in the summer.

Just thought I'd add a few more thoughts into the mix. On the downside, I have my children to support (my husband doesn't support us, we just share bills and he gives me health insurance) and I do like the security. But it's hard when I see others making so much more money and having so much more freedom. I am also stuck on nights for the foreseeable future and PRN may give me more day shifts.

indigo