Members are discussing the challenges of working as a PRN employee in a nursing home, with some expressing frustration over lack of guaranteed hours and concerns about being phased out or terminated. There is also mention of the benefits of maintaining a PRN pool for on-call coverage and the importance of having a full-time position lined up. Additionally, there are comments about the lack of legal requirements for employers to offer a certain number of hours to PRN employees and the potential implications of conflicts with supervisors on future job prospects.
Is there a law on how many hours an employee must work in a specific time frame as a PRN employee?
I remember when I worked full time at a hospital, a PRN employee had told me they had to provide her with, or she had not to turn down any days, to equal, I think, a specific amount of hours in a 90-day period.
The reason I am asking is my current PRN job isn't giving me any hours. There has been a conflict between me and a previous supervisor that retired a week ago about not giving me hours, and now they've not given me any in 2 months. They keep saying there aren't any hours, but 2 of the RNs left, and they are hiring another, which would have less seniority than me, and I'd have to be offered them first.
I don't have any write-ups. That was the only bad thing on my record, and corporate h.r informed me. When they did the investigation to reinstate me that it was cleared off my record, I can't pick up any shifts if they don't offer them. I can't just show up and work, LOL. But it's OK. I have a full-time position now and plan to resign.
Specializes in Float Pool - A Little Bit of Everything.
I had to give them a minimum amount of hours every month in all the PRN positions I have worked. But they did not have to give me those days. It is always based on need. So say I gave one hospital every Saturday in a month. I can sign up to meet my commitment, but if the floor is staffed, I might not get those hours, or I will get floated. Rarely have I been called off for low census or a fully staffed floor. I have been PRN for over four years now; I only did one year as a regular Full Time employee.
Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.
I work in LTC PRN. I'm required to do 16 hours/mo, but they aren't required to give me hours. I actually pretty much pick up for only one nurse; her work schedule works well for my school schedule, so she just calls me and then lets the DON know I'm picking up for her. Could you do it that way?
At first, I thought you were asking if there was a legal requirement for how many hours one must work PRN in order to keep your license active. But now I realize you are asking if there is a law requiring employers to give you a certain number of hours, correct?
No, there are no laws that would force a facility to offer any hours at all to a PRN employee unless that is specifically addressed in a legal and binding contract.
Thanks, everyone, for your input. I wasn't sure if there was a law or not. I just wanted to make sure before I said something when I didn't need to. The only reason I care about this specific job is because it's only 20 minutes from home. It's the only place in my county that employs RNs. Everywhere else RNs have to drive an hour or more.
I worked at a nursing home part-time for over a year. The scheduler left, and the DON took over. In June, things were okay at the start of the month. There were 11 days without a day of work. I found out the DON only wanted to text people for scheduling and got upset that my phone did not have that option. So I gave her my email and reminded her of voice mail on my phone. So I got the three shifts for two weeks as per the contract. In July, all was good until the 6th. Then another dry spell. Even if I called her every day and/or sent an email, no shifts for a week. So I got in touch with HR, and all she did was give the email to the DON. Another facility had been calling, so I went to an interview and was hired on the spot for better money. So I used the 12 days of no schedule as my notice. And then the DON called to give me a schedule. Other staff told me they were using an agency instead of calling any part-time or per diem staff.
PRN means that they use you at the manager's discretion. I have been PRN for the last 15 years. I have worked at the same hospital but am oriented to several units. At times I could have worked 24/7 in the EC. I'm in the GI lab now, and the shifts really vary, from 1 shift in 3 weeks to 5 shifts per week. The only rule is that I must give the availability of 1 week per the hospital's rules. I can not cancel a shift, but they are allowed to not use me on any of the days that I offer. I cover my bases by staying relevant to the unit nurses. I talked to them and suggested they let me know if they want a day off, and the manager won't allow the shift to go uncovered. I will make myself available on those dates.
Maustin89
13 Posts
I don't have any write-ups. That was the only bad thing on my record, and corporate h.r informed me. When they did the investigation to reinstate me that it was cleared off my record, I can't pick up any shifts if they don't offer them. I can't just show up and work, LOL. But it's OK. I have a full-time position now and plan to resign.