changing from FT status to PRN, thoughts?

RNperdiem, RN · Apr 30, 2012

I switched to prn from full time when my son was born and I am still doing it now.

Now that I have the freedom to choose my own schedule, I'm not sure when I will go back full time.

It is a good idea if your husband has a stable job with good benefits.

There is a down side as in all things. I found that I was something of an outsider in my unit. The majority of my co-workers are very career minded, where several people go off to anesthesia school or get their NP every year. As a per diem, I had stepped off the career track. I am the only per diem staff who does not have a second job or is going to school.

Other than that I have been very happy I work prn. I get the job satisfaction, money and skills while having the time to spend on home and family.

Altra, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2012

The previous poster makes an important point about stepping off the "career track" ... but this can be temporary. You can both aggressively pursue a career and have time with children ... but you just can't necessarily do it all at the same time. If you can do it financially, you might find it very rewarding to have more time at home for now.

Good luck to you. :)

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2012

I love, love, love it. I'm not prn anymore but have a every other weekend schedule and will sometimes work if they call me and I can fit it in with my kids' busy schedule

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Apr 30, 2012

As long as you don't need consistent hours and benefits it will work. Our PRNs are the first to be cancelled and the first to float to other peds areas. Ours have weekend requirements and holiday requirements (they have to work at least 2 weekend days and they rotate holidays). They also fill in where we need people, and it is usually on an off shift since days is always well staffed and they will rotate off shift people to days to fill in, so it leaves the gaps on eves and nights. So, check and see what the requirements are and if it works for you.

loving2 · May 1, 2012

Thanks for your advice! I'm not really worried about falling off the career track. I plan to stay in my specialty for a long time. I've found my niche :) I just need to make sure I work enough to keep up my skills. Besides, I feel that working nights is already a disadvantage since I'm not visible to administration. I'm planning for this to be temporary. My oldest will start Kindergarten this fall and my middle child will start pre-K in fall 2013. I'll go back to FT status then.

From what I understand (I need to confirm this), the scheduler on our unit asks the PRN staff which days/nights they can work. They organize the FT staff around PRN availablity. I know that is really crappy, but we are short staffed so that is how they they fill in the gaps (just a little backwards in my opinion). There are some PRN staff that request to work the same schedule each week and their request is honored. I know I will financially need at least one shift per week, possibly two. We always have a "needs list" posted so I know I there are shifts available.

I'm just nervous that I'll regret dropping to PRN. For instance, I will give up my FTEs and won't be able to bounce back into a FT position when I want to. There is a high turnover on our unit, but there are some major changes happening (for the better) that I'm afraid will slow the turnover rate. I really want to jump into a "day" position in a couple of years and I'm afraid I will be knocked off the list.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · May 1, 2012

That is something to think about. When our PRNs want to come back they have to take what is there, and the day positions go to people in the unit. You aren't an "employee", if you will, of your unit anymore, but of the nursing service. At least that is how it is on our unit.

Our unit used to schedule like that too, then nursing office took over and stopped the PRN's getting first choice of times. And they set up all the rules. Sucked for the PRN's, that is for sure.

Hope it all works out!