Can unexperienced nurses be hired PRN, or is it unlikely?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

Your post has been moved to the General Nursing Discussion forum for more feedback and responses. Good luck to you!

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

From what I understand, the job availability is regional- some areas are hiring more than others. I would think that if you can go through the orientation (which is always full-time), there would be a facility that will hire you PRN....it might be a bit harder, but some places like having a well stocked PRN pool :)

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jul 25, 2011

In my organization, inexperienced nurses are NEVER hired into PRN - or even part-time slots. The only way to become competent is through experience... there are no shortcuts. Working fewer shifts just prolongs this process and it is hugely ineffective. There is also the major issue of trying to maintain consistent preceptors, so we have found that it's just not feasible.

RNperdiem, RN · Jul 25, 2011

Orientation for PRN staff is generally "the break room is over there, charts are kept there and here is your patient assignment. I am the charge nurse, call me if you need help."

A new grad is unlikely to do well with minimal orientation unless they have years of LPN experience.

It can't hurt to apply.

If you are young and without pressing outside responsibilities, why not work on your degree part time and work full time?

Many of my co-workers are taking classes and scheduling themselves for lots of weekend shifts.

noahsmama · Jul 25, 2011

Someone I know was hired into a PRN position in an ED as a new grad. She's still there almost 3 years later, so I guess it worked out for her. I don't know how much training she got (but I know she got some) -- she had previous experience as a phlebotomist and had also worked in mental health, which helped her get the job and may also have given her some (but certainly not all!) of the skills she needed.

If I were you, I would go ahead and apply for PRN positions, but if they call you for an interview, I would ask a lot of questions about how much training they will give you and how many hours per week you're likely to end up working. I agree with previous comments that if you're working too few hours, it may be hard to learn. I think ideally you should be working at least 20-30 hours per week, every week, and I would look for at least 4 to 6 weeks of training. I had 5 weeks of training and was working 32 hours/week for my first nursing job, and that was adequate for me (I felt like I could have used another 2-3 weeks of orientation, but somehow I managed without it).

Good luck!

Altra, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

By working part-time (or very part-time ... PRN) as a new grad, you are greatly prolonging the length of time you will remain inexperienced/underexperienced ... and you run the very real risk of then being out of school for, say, 3 years, and still having very minimal experience ... whereas some of your peers at the 3-year mark will be moving into more advanced positions.

Consider all the variables of your situation, but recognize that day-to-day bedside nursing requires "immersion" to get up to speed.

amarilla, RN · Jul 25, 2011

It depends on the facility. The larger hospitals in my area have nurse residency/internship programs that hire PRN to start due to budget constraints. You receive 8-16 weeks of full-time orientation and then start on your floor on a PRN basis; there is no restriction on hours up to 40/week. Granted - they only offer this because it is financially advantageous, not because it is helpful or positive for new nurses. I started in this program and definitely hit bumps in the road trying to roll with practice updates and new experiences not being on the floor on a regular basis.

Other hospitals want 1+ year experience in your specialty before you can work PRN and this makes much more sense. When I've seen new (experienced) nurses come to the floor, they've basically been through the hospital orientation (2 days) and get only a brief introduction to the floor.

nerkeynurse · Jul 25, 2011

I'm a new RN with zero experience and I just got a PRN job. I made it clear, however, that my real intention is to get into a full time position as soon as possible. The lady who interviewed me told me that they are expecting to have 4 full time postions open up within the next two months (so here's to hopeing/ praying!). In my area, it's proving to be more difficult than we all thought to nail down some nursing jobs! With my new job, I get 3 weeks of classroom training and 6 weeks of full time precepting. The main reason I took the job is because I figured a job as better than no job! :)

regrebs · Jul 26, 2011

Thank you for moving my post! Didn't mean to post it under Nursing News.... Oops :rolleyes:

demylenated, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2011

Short of it, yes.

When I was hired PRN, I had to go through a 2 week orientation process...

It is kind of like agency work.

But, it depends on the facility.

regrebs · Jul 26, 2011

Thank you for all of your input. You're all right in that being a part-timer will prolong my inexperience. I've applied for more full-time jobs and hope something comes through. :) After all, from what it seems like, many of the nursing jobs in my area have been bumped down to 36 hours/week.