How is working PRN?

[wefdm21]

I don't expect to hear that it's wonderful. I just wanted to know if it is worth taking a PRN position if it is offered to you. I have been applying to different LTC facilities, and I was told last Friday by a DON that she would rather not hire a new grad because she feels that a new grad may have a better chance starting out in a hospital because it can be too difficult caring for 23 residents. I tried to explain to her that I am no stranger to LTC. Most of our clinical experience in nursing school was in LTC and Med-surg. I told her that during our Nursing Leadership portion of the program I was responsible for caring for 12 residents for a month. She told me admissions can get hectic. I told her that during that time I had two new admissions while another resident of mine had to be rushed to the ER, another had just passed away, and another was on her way out (not in those words). But anyway she was insisting on telling me why I would not fit in. I know for a fact that many of you were hired as new grads so I was not bothered by this.

I know that I should keep applying at other places, but I was wondering if it was worth it to accept a PRN job in the meantime. Will I even get any hours? How much notice are you given before having to work? I have two small kids that would need to go to daycare. Did any of you end up getting hired full time shortly after? Please tell me your experience with this.

[linzz]

I think that you will likely get hours, I just found it impossible at this stage of my life because my kids are of the age that they still need a sitter. I was not able to get childcare without notice and the place I was at would only provide an hour's notice or a few hours if I was lucky, but they did call a least a few times a week, so you will likely get hours.

[jrussole]

Plus, working prn you don't have to deal with all of the **** that goes on a daily basis. Nurses can be pure evil people. With prn, you do your shift, work your tail off and say goodbye till next time. You don't have to deal with all of the attitudes. All of the nuses that are on their mighty "I'm better than you, crap" etc, on a daily basis. They are just insecure people who wish to lash out on others to make themselves feel and look better due to their own insecurities. PRN is far better. If you don't need the benefits, it's worth it.