what is a job as PRN? how do you become one?

[futurenurse93_]

How do you vecone a PRN? IM CONFUSED? im trying to figure out jobs to work while in nursing school that dobt require to work full time. Any suggestions? And what is a prn?

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

Depending on the State you live in, you may be able to go through your first semester of nursing classes and be able to become a CNA. Other states do it where you go through the 1st semester of nursing classes, you can skip the written test but have to do the skills test. Others don't allow you to jump any part of the CNA course.

It just all depends on your state.

PRN or PD means as needed. Most places require that you work a certain number of shifts per month, some require 1 weekend a month and possibly a required holiday.

[futurenurse93_]

Im in illinois

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Different facilities have different definitions when calling a position "PRN" (the term means "as needed," like a PP said. Not sure how far into nursing school, but you'll see the term used with regards to meds and treatments, e.g. "change dressing daily and PRN.")

When I've worked PRN, the facilities had a minimum commitment they required of their PRN staff. Once the scheduler had scheduled their full-time and regular part-time staff, we'd discuss with the schedulers which days they still needed help. Then we'd tell them which of those shifts we were going to commit to. One was a nursing home/rehab that required at least one shift every two months, and I think 1 or 2 holidays per year. The other was a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) that required 3 shifts per 6-week block, one major holiday and one minor holiday per year; we got paid more to commit to 7 shifts in that block.

It's nice to be able to work that way when in school because you retain a lot of the control over your schedule. When I worked PRN, I did get a lot of "can you work today?" phone calls, but I had no obligation to come in to work on short notice. If I couldn't or didn't want to work that day, I simply declined to work that day. The downside is you're not guaranteed hours; availability of shifts depends on the facility's patient census. I've been told "you can work as much as you want; we always have needs," but when it came time to commit to the shifts, they might have most of my available work days fully staffed already. They generally don't provide bennies for PRN positions either.

I also agree with the PP who suggested working as a CNA if you can. Nothing wrong w/ housekeeping, but a CNA position would be more applicable to your future as a nurse. :)

[futurenurse93_]

Yeah thats why i contacted my school to know if one semester of nursing school means would i be able to work as a CNA like others claim because in that case i will drop my summer courses of the CNA class.

[schnookimz]

I am also in illinois. The one semester of school should be fine. But in my experience you may not even need that. Most of the hospitals don't seem to care if you have a cna certification. They will train you to do the job.

[futurenurse93_]

Yeah i dont seem to be lucky enough to hear about those kind of jobs. Hopefully something works out

[futurenurse93_]

Turns out even after doing the semester in nursing school i would not be able to work as a cna without cna certification: ( . I really need to find ideas for a part time job while attending nursing school. This sucks

[brandiep1982]

I would just go ahead and finish your CNA school. Not only is it good experience and money while you are in school, but it also gets your foot in the door for a job when you finish nursing school bc people will have already worked with you and know you.

[brandiep1982]

Or if you really don't want to do that, you could always be a server. I did that while I was in paramedic school.

[futurenurse93_]

Yeah i was thinking the same thing. Just to think i was about to drop the courses smh that would have been dumb. I only wanted to drop the courses to get a few more prerequisite classes done in the summer instead of cna classes. But i guess ill keep the cna classes

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

In lots of states, to get CNA certification, if you're in nursing school, you take an exam after you finish your first semester of nursing classes. That means you complete the nursing fundamentals class, which is includes the content of CNA courses.

[futurenurse93_]

Yeah i was just told by my school im not able to do that