How does PRN work?

[msmoore]

Hey Allnurses! I know all hospitals are different, but how does PRN normally work?

[Mulan]

All hospitals are different.

[sassy_cassie]

All hospitals handle it different I work PRN in a small hospital. The nurse manager makes the schedule leaving shifts blank where scheduled nurses have asked off or where they are short for other reasons. Sometimes the full-time/part time hours don't fit together perfect, so we are always short a few shifts. Then the nurse manager emails me and the other prn staff the schedule with a list of hours they are short at the bottom. We email her back with the shifts we can cover. Then things come up the nurse manager, or floor nurses give me a call when they need days off or someone calls in sick. If I am free I can come in on those days if not I don't. Where I work there is no promise prn's will get a minimum number of hours and we are not required to work a minimum number of hours. This works for a small hospital our hospital census averages around 15, for a larger hospital it is probably more regulated.

[msmoore]

Thanks sassy_cassie! I appreciate the feedback! I think this is similar to the program I am starting in a few weeks. I was trying to get an idea of how prn scheduling worked in some places. :)