Benefits of PRN nursing?

[kcolli45]

Hello all!

I am a new grad nurse currently working full time on an ortho/med/surg/tele unit. My magical "first year of nursing" is coming up here in July and I have been looking into getting a PRN position. I absolutely love my job and co-workers, but I do not feel challenged by my current position and am afraid that I am losing some of the valuable skills and knowledge that I learned in school. I am hoping to get a PRN position at one of the local ERs/ICUs around me. These areas of nursing have always been my passion and I would be looking to work at least one 12 hour shift per week. My only concern is that I know that PRN nurses are not always greeted with enthusiasm as they are seen as being lesser or not knowing as much as the full time nurses. What are your attitudes towards PRN nurses? Do you see them as helpful or a hindrance?

[CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN]

Since you don't have ER/ICU experience, you'll need to be fully trained to either of those units. Chances are it would be a full-time gig for a while, possibly with an orientation and work commitment. You could do that, then PRN med-surg.