PRN PCTs how often do you work?

NightBloomCereus · Dec 12, 2012

I work PRN and have to commit to only 4 shifts a month, and two of them have to be weekends. It's totally doable! PRN/per diem/Pool (too many names for the same thing) are structured in this way and it wouldn't be too much to ask for. Good luck...apply, apply, apply. It took 20 jobs apps over 3 months for me to get an offer.

Kdrenee · Dec 12, 2012

I work PRN and have to commit to only 4 shifts a month, and two of them have to be weekends. It's totally doable! PRN/per diem/Pool (too many names for the same thing) are structured in this way and it wouldn't be too much to ask for. Good luck...apply, apply, apply. It took 20 jobs apps over 3 months for me to get an offer.

Thanks for the reply! I have a PRN job offer, my sister in law is a nurse manager at a local hospital (lucky me) lol I get to choose.. Med/surg, rehab, or cardiac IMU what would you choose?

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 13, 2012

I'm only required to do 8 hours a week or 32 hours per scheduling period. My other job is a PRN and I don't get too many hours. :/

RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2012

I'm a PRN CNA/HCT and I'm only required to work two 12 hour shifts every 6 weeks. I have the option to work more if I can/want. I'm working a couple of shifts a week for the next couple of weeks since I'm out of school but once school starts back up, I'm sticking with 2 shifts every 6 weeks until I see how much schoolwork I have. I also have the option to come in for shorter shifts (4-8 hrs) if I have free time and they need coverage.

Kdrenee · Dec 13, 2012

I'm a PRN CNA/HCT and I'm only required to work two 12 hour shifts every 6 weeks. I have the option to work more if I can/want. I'm working a couple of shifts a week for the next couple of weeks since I'm out of school but once school starts back up, I'm sticking with 2 shifts every 6 weeks until I see how much schoolwork I have. I also have the option to come in for shorter shifts (4-8 hrs) if I have free time and they need coverage.

Ok, that sounds like something I'd be interested in. It's very doable while in school? I'm finishing up my last semester of pre-reqs and hope to be in a program this summer. I got offered a position requiring 3 shifts per month.

kht124 · Dec 14, 2012

I am not wanting to work often,I just want something to spruce up my résumé when I finish nursing school. So, how often do you PRN PCTs work? I am looking for maybe a few shifts a month. Is that possible to find?Realistic to ask for? Thanks in advance.✌

I work every other weekend while in school and go full time during summer and winter break. Although, I am not exactly prn, I am .3 (.6 is part time and 1.2 is full time), which means that I am guaranteed 2 days of work every other weekend but don't get any benefits at all (part time workers do).

PRN pcts at my hospital are not guaranteed any hours, but instead must call to find and maintain atleast 12 hours per pay check, which is why I chose .3 instead. I can pick up extra hours when I want.

Twinmom06, ASN, APN · Dec 14, 2012

we have no minimum (that I know of)...right now I work 1-2 8 hr shifts a week (usually Thursday nights with the occasional Sunday night thrown in)...our mgr asks us what we want to work and the PRN's (all of us are students) fill in the holes nicely with the full timers...

Kdrenee · Dec 17, 2012

thanks for the replies! Do you feel like it is worth it? Do you work only because you have to, or would you anyways just for the experience? Some treachers advise students not to work while in school, and some say a PCT/CNA job is great experience.

RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN · Dec 17, 2012

thanks for the replies! Do you feel like it is worth it? Do you work only because you have to, or would you anyways just for the experience? Some treachers advise students not to work while in school, and some say a PCT/CNA job is great experience.

I don't have to work, luckily. However, we all know that getting hired after graduation is difficult. My school is affiliated with a large healthcare system and I'm fortunate enough to be working at the system's children's hospital, which happens to be in the same location as their main hospital...and my school is next door. When HR is hiring, they look at the graduates of my school before any of the other nursing schools in the area (there are several, ADN and BSN). Being a graduate of my school is a huge plus and already being a hard-working/punctual/team player employee in their system puts me at the very top of the list for hiring. Past history shows that students who are already employed in the system are the first to get recruited/hired after graduation. Let's hope that trend continues!

Kdrenee · Dec 18, 2012

Thanks for the replies!!! I wish everyone good luck in you nursing careers:)

leighTX · Jun 1, 2013

The PRN float pool I got hired as a PCA for requires 32 hours every 28 days, 8 hours must be on weekends, and no more than 32 hours a week.

I'm used to working 24 hours a week while in school, so depending on my clinical schedule I'll be aiming for 16 hours a week, maybe more if my school schedule with tests and care plans is light.