Is this how your unit defines prn????

RN~in~CT · Dec 28, 2003

On my floor, the full time staff has first choice on the shifts (though we only do 8's), and the PRN staff then fills in the open shifts.

At a prev job we had a mix of 8's and 12's, and I just LOVED the 12 hr shifts... tiring as they are, was nice to get the work week over with in 3 days.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2003

Shees,, our PRN staff only are required to work 2 shifts per month. The usually consist of 8 hour shifts, and you can rarely get them in on a pinch. Our extra help is drawn from our full-timers or part-time staff and usually it is difficult to get them to do more than their scheduled shifts (including me). We just go without extra help.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2004

prns at our hospital usually get to pick their own schedule. Plus they get more money. One of the joys of working prn.

I understand your resentment, they get good schedules and make more money.

But you said it, we're dependent on them. They are helping us staff our unit.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jan 3, 2004

PRN staff at the last facility I worked picked their shifts, often did not show up as scheduled, but were not written up or yelled at by the HN. Most of them did 12 hour shifts. They only did weekends as required. Most would not come in to work when there was a real need unless promised a bonus. I was cheated out of a critical bonus twice but they got their's. Most of the regular staff ended up doing a lot of their scutt work. I refused to continue to do this and started a war. I just figured that anyone who was making $10.00 to 15.00 more on the hour than I was could do their assignment. WRONG!!!!! Once I asked one to verify the placement of an NG tube I had just inserted and she looked at me and said" How do I do that?" I just said never mind and got a regular staff to verify the placement. I was too busy later to start her IV"S, call a doctor for her, or take report. Sounds mean I know, but she had lunch, and a break and I was still going on my morning coffee. She reported to the HN and the supervisor that the staff was "unfriendly and unhelpful". Guess we were, but I was not going to do her job while she watched TV in the break room and in the confused patient's room. She did not last too long and later was working at another facility that caught her stealing drugs. I know there are good PRN nurses out there, I have worked with many, but when you get a bad one or one with a bad attitude, then it makes for a long shift.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2004

Originally posted by barefootlady
.....but when you get a bad one or one with a bad attitude, then it makes for a long shift.

One would be less than human if one didn't get a resentment that they were getting all those perks and extra money and didn't pull their fair share of the workload. I've come across them in prn's and traveling nurses as well.

Burnt Out, ASN, RN · Jan 4, 2004

The hospital I work at PRN employees are required to work only 1 day a month and one major holiday per year.

3 12 hour shifts at my hospital is full time.

I have worked PRN for almost a year now-I work 2 days per week (12 hour shifts). That is what I told them I would be willing to do-any 2 days of the week they needed me or every other weekend. IMHO, that is better than most PRN employees are willing to do.

Yes, I do make a little more than my full time co-workers, but in my area where our hospital doesn't pay us like they should-given what other surrounding hospitals, LTC facilities, and rehabs make-I also do not get benefits, such as health insurance...which if I need, I must pay out of pocket.

If they call me and ask me to come in, and if I do not have other things going on, I do not care to go in and work...most of the time, they call me wanting me to work nights, ON TOO SHORT OF NOTICE, and no, I am not going to do it.

Agnus · Jan 19, 2004

I have worked PRN and I have worked staff.

As a PRN I got more per hour. As a PRN I got NO benefits. As a PRN I picked my hours, that is if I did NOT want to work at certain times I did not have to. On the other hand when census was down and regular staffing was up I was not called to work no matter if I wanted to work or not. Working PRN the availability of work is unpredictable. Staff get first preference in EVERYTHING both full and part time. PRN get called at odd and inconvenient times. PRN must stay available unable to make plans if they want to work, because they do not know if and when they will be called in.

So yes they get more $$ and can refuse work, and there is a price to pay for that.

You have to deside what is most important to you.

Right now the PRNs may be busy. That could change with more budget controls or census decline, or decline in regular staff absense, or hireing of more core staff. Sadly the PRN is not informed when these changes are about to take place so it always comes as a suprise.