casual/ PRN nurses

Morainey, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2013

I work FT in a hospital and do per diem at a nursing home, if by casual you mean per diem.

I like being per diem, honestly. I have the freedom to schedule myself, so if it's a crazy month with a lot going on, I can skip a month. It brings in a little extra cash. If I lose hours at my other job, it's not quite so much of a financial setback. If I ever lose my fulltime job, I have a backup that knows me and knows I am reliable. I bypass the day-to-day drama. It's actually pretty awesome.

ajaxgirl · Mar 7, 2013

I work FT in a hospital and do per diem at a nursing home, if by casual you mean per diem.
I like being per diem, honestly. I have the freedom to schedule myself, so if it's a crazy month with a lot going on, I can skip a month. It brings in a little extra cash. If I lose hours at my other job, it's not quite so much of a financial setback. If I ever lose my fulltime job, I have a backup that knows me and knows I am reliable. I bypass the day-to-day drama. It's actually pretty awesome.

Yes I mean per diem.

Many people at my work do casual at 2 different places. They can totally choose their schedules/ vacation time.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 7, 2013

I am curious:
Do you work 1 place or more?
Are you casual by choice?
Why do you like being casual?

1. I work in two places: a hospital and with an agency. I am debating taking on a third job only because the hospital is less than a 5 minute drive away from my home...I could walk there if I wanted to (though that'd take more than 5 minutes). Otherwise, I usually don't have a problem getting enough work when I want it.

2. Yes. I've thought about going "permanent" but...

3. I like the flexibility and freedom to set my own schedule and work it around the needs of two kids.

ajaxgirl · Mar 7, 2013

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1. I work in two places: a hospital and with an agency. I am debating taking on a third job only because the hospital is less than a 5 minute drive away from my home...I could walk there if I wanted to (though that'd take more than 5 minutes). Otherwise, I usually don't have a problem getting enough work when I want it.
2. Yes. I've thought about going "permanent" but...
3. I like the flexibility and freedom to set my own schedule and work it around the needs of two kids.

Sounds perfect. Is it hard to keep your schedule straight ?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2013

Do you work 1 place or more?

My PRN/casual job is my only job. I do not even have a full-time job.

Are you casual by choice?

Yes, I am PRN/casual by choice.

Why do you like being casual?

I do not particularly enjoy my job, so I do not want to be obligated to a full-time schedule. I could not stand being at the bedside 3 to 4 shifts per week due to anxiety issues. Although I receive no benefits, my PRN hourly pay is $11 more per hour than the full-time rate. I like having the flexibility of taking five days off in a row if I please. I simply do not want to be forced to be at my place of employment 36 to 40 hours per week if I do not feel like it.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 8, 2013

Sounds perfect. Is it hard to keep your schedule straight ?

Not at all. I consider the hospital my main employer, and so I supplement the shifts I get there with shifts from the agency. If I'm not getting as much from the hospital that week, I let the agency know of my increased availability. That's that nice thing about the agency: I can give them short notice of when I'm available, such as "hey, I'm free tomorrow if you can use me." And more often than not, they'll use me.

RNperdiem, RN · Mar 9, 2013

I work at one place.

I like working per diem. Nothing compares to the freedom to set your own schedule. I pick which holidays I work. If I want vacation, I just don't schedule myself for that time.

I have been per diem for the past 11 years, and the on the non-working days, I take care of kids, house and family without needing to pay for childcare.

Non-full-time work does have its disadvantages. When census is low, the prn nurses are the first called off. If I want to switch specialities, I would need to commit to a few years of full-time work to become proficient in another area.

DoeRN · Mar 9, 2013

I am curious:
Do you work 1 place or more?
Are you casual by choice?
Why do you like being casual?

I work PRN float and make almost double of what a floor nurse makes. I pay for my own insurance. I only have one job.

I'm PRN by choice

I like it because I don't like my job and like commuter I can't tolerate being there any more than I have too. I like setting my own schedule. I don't have to work weekends or holidays.

I rarely get cancelled. If I do get cancelled I'll schedule myself for the next day. I get all my required shifts done at the beginning of the pay period. So I work 2 days one week and I'm off the next week. I will pick up some extra shifts on occasion but not too often.

I'm in school so I spend my off days studying. And the thing I like most is I don't get mixed up in all the politics.

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