is it possible to just work PRN?

[cacciatore]

I'm currently a physical therapist, and unfortunately the rehab industry is tanking after a Medicare reimbursement change was announced last year. Most places are eliminating their use of PRN therapists entirely and there are pretty much no jobs. I had to go from PRN to full-time to keep my current job, and happened to get lucky that one of the other FT staff was leaving at the right time.

I'm also a musician and it is important to me to have enough free time and schedule flexibility to work on music. I do not want to have to work set full-time hours - I want to be able to have the flexibility to work more or less as needed.

So my question is, how feasible is it to only work PRN and earn enough income? As a new grad (I have a clinical doctorate in physical therapy and would be going for a second bachelors to get a BSN), how many years of experience would I need to get before being eligible to work PRN? And are there certain practice areas/specialities that are more likely to use PRN more often than others?

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I would say a minimum of 2 yrs experience to do PRN. Because PRN nurses do not get benefits, they get a premium pay which makes those positions competitive in my unit.

Being able to support yourself on PRN hours may be fairly easy to very difficult depending on the number of shifts you work in a pay period. You will also need to consider that the hospital will not contribute to your retirement, no sick or vacation time accrual, not eligible for company health insurance.