New grad, accept PRN job, but still want to get a fulltime job is it okay to do both?

[grcy]

Hi I just got hired as PRN, i just can't turn down the offer because this is the only job that called me for interview from a month of looking and applying online, most of my application is rejected right away because i don't have any experience (other than being a volunteer nurse from my home country ER departments for 7 months),plus the bad economy right now that make most of hospital have hiring freeze. the facility where I'm gonna work will train me they said they want to give new grads opportunity which is nice & very much appreciated because how new grads will earn experience if no one will ever hire us?

anyway long story short, my concern is, now that I accepted this job is it okay for me to continue looking around for a fulltime, (fulltime job is very needed so we can pay bills and I don't think my PRN can because the hours I'm gonna work each week is not guaranteed.) but im not sure if its okay for me to look someplace else while employed as PRN to another, I don't want to violate anything. Anybody have idea, or been in same boat, somebody who works PRN to one facility and fulltime to another and how your schedule works. thanks, I will appreciate your feedback.

[STL2008, RN]

Yea its ok to look. The RNs I work with who are PRN and have full time jobs pretty much make up their own schedule as to when they can come in.

[caliotter3]

Of course it is ok. Having multiple employers is how a lot of people earn their living. You just have to be careful not to let your schedule with one conflict with the other. Normally, people go to work for the first employer that offers them a shift. It is not ok to accept a shift with one employer, then call off that shift because another employer calls you with a different shift that you would rather work for some reason.

[grcy]

thanks for the replies STL2008,RN & caliotter3, it really helps, i was hesitant to accept the PRN at first because I thought it means I need to be available everytime they need me, so it means I could not get a full time job that has fixed schedule. So you mean PRN means "as needed" but I don't really have the obligation to be always available all the time when they call me? I'm worried about them calling me and I'm not available because of the full time job schedule (just in case i land on one).

Yes im waiting to get interviewed from my other applications, gosh i never thought looking for RN job is so hard, I thought once you pass the NCLEX you are good to go, but that's not the case nowadays, one of my application have "forwarded to manager" status since 05/31/11 but until now no call until this PRN opportunity came, and I just couldn't let it pass because I want to work asap and gain experience and they are willing to hire me even i am considered new grad.

thank you very much!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

It is perfectly acceptable to have both a full-time job and a PRN position. I've always kept a PRN job to earn extra money around the schedule of my full-time job.

[caliotter3]

You are not obligated to accept a shift, but realize that if you always turn down work, eventually they will stop calling you.

[grcy]

Thanks TheCommuter, that's what I'm thinking too. I plan to keep my PRN even if I get full-time job (hopefully i could get one soon), extra money is good and honestly we need it.

Thanks caliotter3 - yes I will keep that in mind, I know this sounds too ambitious for me to aim 2 jobs as a new grad, but i need it, I'm also hoping to get a 12hrs/day and 3days/wk full-time, that way i have extra 2 days of my weekday to be PRN so my employer know exactly when they can call me, that will avoid turning them down. Then I still have my weekends to be a full-time wife.

Thank you so much guys for the feedback i really appreciate it, it really helps. Now I understand how PRN job works.

[rn/writer, RN]

Two things to keep in mind--

Many facilities that use PRN staff have different pool groups with differing levels of obligation. Pool A Group might have to work eight shifts a month and two holidays a year, while Pool B Group might be required to pick up only four shifts and one holiday. The group with the greater obligation would usually get first crack at picking their hours.

This is a highly individual policy, so ask the folks you are working with to help you understand anything you have questions about.

The second point is that working PRN can give you a real advantage for full-time or regular part-time work at that facility. Current employees usually see job listings well before the general public does. In fact, if employers can fill positions in house, there is no reason to make them public at all. You can even hear through the grapevine about jobs that are still in the pipeline (not officially posted even in-house yet), especially if you float to a number of departments.

If a full-time or regular part-time job becomes available, you will have the advantage of already being oriented to the facility and knowing your way around.

Finally, there's the old saying that the best way to get a job is to have a job--meaning that you come off as being more successful, more employable, simply by being employed.

You might want to consider a blend of regular part time hours and PRN hours. This can give you wonderful flexibility down the road.

I'm so happy for you that you found this position. Hope you can get the hours and experience you need.

[grcy]

Thanks RN/writer, yes your right, i feel lucky that somehow i found a job and will be able to gain experience, because the longer i stay home jobless i think it's harder for me to find a job, plus wasted time, that can be use to gain experience.

[NoviceRN10]

PRN doesn't mean that you are on-call and need to make yourself available to work at all times. Normally you are a "fill-in" for the schedule after the full and part-time people are put on it. I just changed from fulltime to contingent (PRN) and I have to wait for the rest of the staff to fill in the skeleton schedule and then I can add myself to the shifts that look "light." I may or may not get all the hours I sign up for. I may get cancelled if the patient load is low, but usually where I work they just float nurses to other units if there are too many scheduled for the patient load that shift. Go ahead and look for that full or part time job that you need to pay the bills :).

[grcy]

Thanks NoviceRN10, yes i never stop looking for other Full-time or part-time. I know it will take a while but im not losing hope.

Thanks :)

[KaksRN]

How does PRN work when it comes to training new grads?