Dropping to PRN

ponderingDNP · Feb 18

Personally, I wouldn't care about the length of their hiring process (or even whether or not they hire someone). They will use that to keep you in the position if you allow it. The question is whether or not they will allow you to go PRN (is there a PRN position open?).

You are not obligated to remain in place until a replacement is hired. I suggest speaking with the manager regarding your desire to go PRN. Give a two week notice, and move on with your life. Leave the staffing issue to those who are responsible for it.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Feb 18

You are not obligated to staff the facility. Your coworker is getting ready to leave due the same nasty useless charge nurse. If you both leave at the time, she might be forced to work as staff !! I understand you want to keep your foot in the door. What is their PRN requirement? I don't know anything about your finances, put your plate is full. Can you take a year off?

JKL33 · Feb 18

Quote

The catch is that I work at a severely understaffed country hospital that has the hardest time keeping employees.

I read that as: time to barter for a position that works for you

Everybody makes choices. They make theirs and you make yours.

Leave out all the stuff about the UTIs and the abrasive coworker; that just gives them fodder with which to put some kind of responsibility back on you. Besides, it sounds like you are going to need at least some kind of change in order to accommodate family needs irrespective of these other things that are making life difficult. So keep it short and very simple. Figure out what you need and let them know. Before you do that you'll want to keep in mind their possible responses and what you will do if they don't respond the way you hope. Aim for something that is relatively a win-win (you get a doable schedule and they avoid completely losing 2 night shift members). Maybe that is something like working 23-0700, or maybe per diem or something else you can come up with.

I would not give them 3 month notice; it seems over-the-top. Something longer than the standard two weeks would serve to gesture to them that you are trying to be considerate but at the same time this is business. Maybe 1 month or even "next schedule" (often 6 wks). Some would not even do that but given that you are going to be much more inconvenienced if you need to find work elsewhere it's worth demonstrating that you wish to maintain this relationship.

Good luck ~

aga2012 · Feb 19

Been there,done that said:

You are not obligated to staff the facility. Your coworker is getting ready to leave due the same nasty useless charge nurse. If you both leave at the time, she might be forced to work as staff !! I understand you want to keep your foot in the door. What is their PRN requirement? I don't know anything about your finances, put your plate is full. Can you take a year off?

I want to keep working there, I just can't fill the full-time commitment that they need. I am to the point though that I will quit if they can't provide the PRN option for me.

aga2012 · Feb 19

JKL33 said:

I read that as: time to barter for a position that works for you

Everybody makes choices. They make theirs and you make yours.

Leave out all the stuff about the UTIs and the abrasive coworker; that just gives them fodder with which to put some kind of responsibility back on you. Besides, it sounds like you are going to need at least some kind of change in order to accommodate family needs irrespective of these other things that are making life difficult. So keep it short and very simple. Figure out what you need and let them know. Before you do that you'll want to keep in mind their possible responses and what you will do if they don't respond the way you hope. Aim for something that is relatively a win-win (you get a doable schedule and they avoid completely losing 2 night shift members). Maybe that is something like working 23-0700, or maybe per diem or something else you can come up with.

I would not give them 3 month notice; it seems over-the-top. Something longer than the standard two weeks would serve to gesture to them that you are trying to be considerate but at the same time this is business. Maybe 1 month or even "next schedule" (often 6 wks). Some would not even do that but given that you are going to be much more inconvenienced if you need to find work elsewhere it's worth demonstrating that you wish to maintain this relationship.

Good luck ~

I like this. I will give them a shorter time frame to work with. And my plan is really just to go in and talk to them about my foster care schedule and that I will need to cut back because of this.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Feb 20

aga2012 said:

I like this. I will give them a shorter time frame to work with. And my plan is really just to go in and talk to them about my foster care schedule and that I will need to cut back because of this.

Administration does not care why you need to cut back. They will either give you PRN or not. If they don't try to hang on to you.. they are idiots.

JKL33 · Feb 20

Been there,done that said:

Administration does not care why you need to cut back.

Agree, and it counts as giving excess information (info that is not guaranteed to put things in your own favor but could give others something specific to criticize). Just my preference, but I'd start this conversation with, "I'm going to need to adjust my schedule coming up [in X time frame]." They do not need to get any idea in their heads "well that sounds like a big hairy undertaking, she's never gonna be available to work." And maybe the one thing worse (in their minds) than a regular per diem employee is a per diem employee who can hardly ever work.

The fact that they have at least one employee who is driving others away while they fret over their staffing problems is useful info that you shouldn't overlook. On the one hand they may bend over backward to keep you (but if so they don't need the reason why you're making a change), and on the other hand....they've already proven that they are capable of poor choices.

CritterDNP · Feb 22

Do it. You could theoretically still work full time hours, but it would be during shifts YOU want to work - which sounds likely especially if they're always short staffed, yay you! You'll get more money from over time since casual status starts paying overtime sooner than part or full time. You can invest in a Roth IRA instead of whatever dinky retirement account they push at your job, and if you make under a certain amount still (like 60k?) you can get decently comprehensive insurance through the health marketplace for incredibly reasonable prices. I've been thinking of doing it too if you can't tell, LOL. I'll be doing a 4-6 week notice.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Feb 22

aga2012 said:

I like this. I will give them a shorter time frame to work with. And my plan is really just to go in and talk to them about my foster care schedule and that I will need to cut back because of this.

I agree don't give them your personal info, they could just use this to control you. It is none of their business and believe me that hospitals are a business not a family so don't fall into that trap. You already seem to be with the idea of giving them a 3 month notice. Nothing more than 2 weeks is necessary unless your employer dictates otherwise. But they may keep you longer on the schedule before they let you go PRN if you stay there since it's not the same as quitting. Seen that happen when nurses wanted to transfer jobs and they were short staffed. They would delay the transfer, drag their feet and in a couple cases they cancelled the transfer, once by writing someone up which automatically revokes the ability to transfer. Those staff then quit and took jobs at competitors so their actions backfired. So be aware of all possibilities and make contingency plans!