Can a grad nurse get a prn position?

NicuGal, MSN, RN · May 25, 2011

First, the place you are working at right now is not being fair to you. Did they take you off orientation early because of staffing? We never take people off early no matter how great they are, you need the time, esp as a new grad. The charge nurse part...yeah, you were thrown under the bus....no one who is a new grad and just off orientation should be a charge nurse that soon, but you did not say what type of floor you work on. I know that some LTC facilities will do that. But seriously, as a new grad and only working that short period of time, do you feel comfortable being in charge and knowing that if crap hits the fan you are the one responsible for all of it?? I sure wouldn't have been.

As for the PRN...I don't think it is a good thing for new grads, esp if you are going to a different area from where you work now. You will not get an orientation like a full time person will. At my facility we will not take PRN's without at least one year experience, preferably two. You might be able to find somewhere that does a weekend program. You can talk to your manager, she may have a feel for it, but from the sound of it, your floor will toss you under the bus.

lillystarrn · May 25, 2011

I have a feeling that I was taken off orientation early due to staffing. I was never told why, but just asked how comfortable I felt. I work in a small hospital on the med-surg floor. I told them that I am comfortable working as a second RN (meaning I supervise the LPNs taking care of half the patient load), but not as charge nurse for a full house (which is up to 30 something). I was put as charge nurse for the two times when there was a patient load of 9 or 10. I do/did not feel comfortable as charge nurse, but I don't know what to say since this is my first nursing job. I talked to the DON that I didn't mind being charge nurse as long as I have another experienced RN with me (there's usually only 2 scheduled per shift and 3-4 other LPNs on average) who's usually charge nurse. However, this past time I was the only RN. I'm really beginning to wonder if they're trying to get rid of me and I have no idea what to do if this is the case, except to look for another place that won't look down upon the fact that I quit my first job after only 2 months of working there.

netglow, ASN, RN · May 25, 2011

No they are not trying to get rid of you. They are trying to cut out the experienced nursing staff in order to make money. They know you don't know anything and you are very likely to risk your license by doing what they want simply because you don't know better. By being only part time, you don't have rights to the benes a full time person does. I have a friend who is PT. She can never get a stable schedule from this hospital, so she can't seem to make getting another PT job fit. This is a purposeful move by her original employer so that they can call her in randomly. Meanwhile she can't make enough money to live and pay off her loans. Hospital edu is not available to her either. This full time PT is bad. In my area many hospitals do it to new grads with no intention on giving you a chance for full time. You see you will mess up without experience. These employers know it, figure the gamble is worth the cash. If something bad happens they will cut you down as a criminal which is fine because you and only you are responsible for it all as a licensed practitioner.

jones.rn · May 25, 2011

I just got my first job at a hospital a month ago. They hired prn but are advancing me to full time. I work 36 hours a week already. I HAD to get my foot in the door as hospitals are not really interested in a nursenwith no experience. I think it all depends on your situation.