How is working PRN?

military spouse · Dec 4, 2006

Hello!

I've usually started out part or full-time and then switched to prn Do you need benefits? If not, prn might be perfect for you! The majority of places that I've worked have had so many hours available that prn nurses can essentially work full-time if they are interested. The sad truth is that both a hospital and a SNF can be very challenging for a new grad. Is it a nice SNF? Perhaps the DON knows the workload is unrealistic and that is why she is suggesting that you start elsewhere. A nice SNF can be a great learning environment, but many aren't too nice. I'm sure it will all work out for you!!!!!!!!!!!

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2006

Wellll, I've just ventured into the PRN world in LTC. As a new grad. I would say NO. Not until you are really, really familiar with getting a routine down and actually have some experience in under your belt. What type of orientation will they be giving you? I've been doing LTC for the last 10 years, so the transition in different facilities wasn't all that hard,but sometimes I wanted to pull my hair out.

wefdm21 · Dec 4, 2006

Well, the place did look kind of shaby. There were confused patients out in the main lobby where I was filling out my applications. So maybe you're right about that place. It may have been a stressful environment. But I thought that many grads start out in LTC facilities all the time. Or was I wrong?

linzz · Dec 4, 2006

Please listen to the other poster, Michelle 126 (I think), working PRN as a new grad is not a good idea. I also did LTC in my clinicals and sailed through it. However it is much harder once you are working. I think that she is right on about needing to get a routine of your own down. There are many things to learn about passing meds quickly without tons of errors. It can also be challenging to pass meds QID when you are behind because then the next doses also are behind. Anyways, I tried PRN and it is not for me. I have decided that I need to work part time somewhere first, then maybe PRN. I also found that it was next to impossible to arrange childcare as the facility I was at would give at most one hour's notice.

military spouse · Dec 5, 2006

Well, the place did look kind of shaby. There were confused patients out in the main lobby where I was filling out my applications. So maybe you're right about that place. It may have been a stressful environment. But I thought that many grads start out in LTC facilities all the time. Or was I wrong?

I think many new grads do begin in LTC. I worked my last year of nursing school as an LPN in a SNF and learned soooo much. I also worked as an RN in a deficiency-free SNF, where we had med aides, and it was still challenging. Some places are just dumps and expect one nurse to provide assessments, med, treatments, doc calls, etc. for 30 residents. Another aspect I would look at is how many patients with wounds? Oftentimes that is a good evaluator of the quality of care being provided. Of course, there are always people that will get wounds very close to death and people that transferred into facilities that already had wounds. Other places are more reasonable and choose to provide better care. How is the job market where you are? Many SNFs are begging for nurses. If that job doesn't work out, are there other places in which you are interested? When I first graduated, I worked med/surg and HATED it with a passion. The patient load was so unreasonable. Ten years later, I worked med/surg and the environment and workload were MUCH better. Still not a huge fan of med/surg, but I was in a city that had an 80 bed hospital--50 of which were med/surg. Hospice is a great job, but you would probably want some experience. I'm currently working corrections and it is very interesting..much different than anything else I've done. I know it is hard with that first job out of school. Just remember, there is a good chance that 10 or 15 years from now you will have worked in many capacities and environments as a nurse.

wefdm21 · Dec 5, 2006

thanx for the encouragement military spouse. Well the situation in my area is that it seems like all of the recent graduates came out at the same time and are all applying at the same places. The DON at the same facility that I mentioned before said that she had about 15 new grad applications on her desk now. I've applied to about 8 or 9 different LTC's in my area and they don't seem to be begging for nurses at the moment. But I like that you said you started out in Med/surg. I on the other hand I LOVED Med/surg, and planned to start there after graduation. However I was told by a few of the hospitals that I was interested in that they wanted LPNs with hopital experience (?). That makes no sense to me. They have plenty of new grad RN programs at the hospitals though. So I was told that I would have a better chance being hired at a LTC facility, which is where I am now.

military spouse · Dec 5, 2006

thanx for the encouragement military spouse. Well the situation in my area is that it seems like all of the recent graduates came out at the same time and are all applying at the same places. The DON at the same facility that I mentioned before said that she had about 15 new grad applications on her desk now. I've applied to about 8 or 9 different LTC's in my area and they don't seem to be begging for nurses at the moment. But I like that you said you started out in Med/surg. I on the other hand I LOVED Med/surg, and planned to start there after graduation. However I was told by a few of the hospitals that I was interested in that they wanted LPNs with hopital experience (?). That makes no sense to me. They have plenty of new grad RN programs at the hospitals though. So I was told that I would have a better chance being hired at a LTC facility, which is where I am now.

Being an LPN might limit you just a bit in the hospitals. Some places, like where I just came from, would prefer an RN but were very happy to hire an LPN. There were small differences such as hanging blood, IV push meds, etc. Everything else seemed to be the same for RN and LPN. Be friendly and persistent. If you feel that you would like to work at the SNF you mentioned, continue talking to the DON. Atleast she will remember which of the 15 new grad applicants you are. Are you willing to work any shift? That can be a huge plus if you make that known. There are some places in the country where places are begging for LPNs. I have a friend in El Paso, TX that works as an LPN and makes more than I do as an RN;) Hang in there!

CNAtoRN2b06 · Dec 5, 2006

We have the pool here. You can set up your schedule. It helps a lot, especially when your work at other places, and you're trying to go to school.

Setting up your own schedule, for me, is nice. But I'm 16. And other people have families. But, personally, I like it.

jrussole · Dec 5, 2006

I suppose working as a new grad and prn will be a challenge, no matter where you would work. It would only be beneficial if you were allowed an adequate training period. But I have never worked in LTC. And when I was an LPN we worked the same as RN's. Actually, the LPN's were the ones who gave the meds while the RN's gave the treatments in the hospital. So alot has changed in 25 years of nursing for me. Once I became an RN, I found there were no boundries as far as what I could do or wanted to do. For me, med/surg sucked big time. 10:1, days, come on! I worked like a mule. Now in the ICU, 2:1 is a much better ratio. They may be sicker, and you need to know your stuff. But I no longer feel like a mule, that's for sure.

wefdm21 · Dec 5, 2006

Well, I had the interview today at the LTCF that was only hiring PRN. This place didn't seem as bad/stressfull as the other. The DON at this place offered me the job pending background checks and all that. She said that it is difficult for a new grad working PRN, but it has been done and can be done. She said that I would have to be willing to ask plenty of questions, which I definitely don't have a problem doing. I also don't have a problem reading up on whatever I need to. I would have 3 days of classroom orientation and some days on the floor rotating to the different areas, and she said that I could take more time in areas that I didn't feel comfortable with. She also said that as a new grad I am going to be paid more ($16 per hour as oposed to like $14)as a PRN nurse than I would being hired full-time, and if a full-time position came open I would still keep that salary. So that was good, I'm just afraid of not getting any hours. Like I said I will keep looking.

linzz · Dec 5, 2006

To: jrussole: I am so glad to hear that you are glad you got your RN, I too have applied to bridge over because I hated MedSurg and have found that I am so sick of few opportunities and working like a mule.