Negotiating Call-Should I try?

[Palmetto_Nurse]

In your experience, can a nurse negotiate how much on-call time is worked?

I was pretty heavily recruited for a job today, a PRN position I am well-qualified for, but the time required for call seems excessive. It is actually double the on-call time I do in my PRN job now.

Will the nurse manager think the cheese has slid off my cracker if I mention my feelings about this tomorrow? I mean, otherwise I really want the job.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

If you feel strongly about the on call, by all means mention it. If you don't, you might be unhappy or resentful. It never hurts to ask. I got a call about a job, had an interview and asked for what I thought was a salary I'd never get.....I got more. Ask.

[Palmetto_Nurse]

If you feel strongly about the on call, by all means mention it. If you don't, you might be unhappy or resentful. It never hurts to ask. I got a call about a job, had an interview and asked for what I thought was a salary I'd never get.....I got more. Ask.

Thank you. I think I am afraid of seeming ungrateful for the offer.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

If the required PRN call is excessive, then what they are getting is a "regular" part time or full time employee minus the benefits. I would be curious as to why it is PRN if you are required to work regularly and so many hours. What would be the disadvantage otherwise to not have a regular part time or full time employee?

If you do not require benefits, or a PRN status fits your life better, then it would not hurt to ask for a higher salary due to the number of hours required. If you are going to work for a union facility, ask if there's a full time or part time opening in the future, if you can have your start date as seniority. Another negotiation that would be to your advantage is that your PRN status be limited to the shift you would like to work. Meaning, if you are required to work 2 weekends a month and say 24 hours per week, that perhaps you don't mind that many hours, as long as it is either days or eves or nights or whatever your preferred shift. I would negotiate--so you are not resentful once you are required to work a number of more hours and at all kinds of shifts.

[Palmetto_Nurse]

If the required PRN call is excessive, then what they are getting is a "regular" part time or full time employee minus the benefits. I would be curious as to why it is PRN if you are required to work regularly and so many hours. What would be the disadvantage otherwise to not have a regular part time or full time employee?

If you do not require benefits, or a PRN status fits your life better, then it would not hurt to ask for a higher salary due to the number of hours required. If you are going to work for a union facility, ask if there's a full time or part time opening in the future, if you can have your start date as seniority. Another negotiation that would be to your advantage is that your PRN status be limited to the shift you would like to work. Meaning, if you are required to work 2 weekends a month and say 24 hours per week, that perhaps you don't mind that many hours, as long as it is either days or eves or nights or whatever your preferred shift. I would negotiate--so you are not resentful once you are required to work a number of more hours and at all kinds of shifts.

Thank you for your reply. From the conversation I had with the PACU nurse manager today, I gathered (did not ask) that all staff is required the same amount of call. I am PRN in PACU in a smaller hospital in the same hospital system; therefore, it would be a job transfer. I do not need the benefits and the nurse mgr said I could work as many (or as few) hours as I'd like. This suits me great since I do like working 32-36 hours/week and she guarantees the hours would be there for me as I want them. This PACU is open M-F 0600-1800 with weeknight, weekend, and holiday call commitment. I love the PACU I work in now, but the needs just aren't there consistently and a change in status to FT would mean $4 less an hour.