PRN nurses

[MILOBRI]

I am a new RN (just passed my boards last week) and I've been hired to work PRN in the acute care unit at a local hospital. I was disappointed at first that I didn't get hired as a contract nurse, but the more I think about it, the more I think I should actually be grateful that I was hired to work PRN. The hospital requires PRN employees to work 1 summer and 1 winter holiday. I will work full-time during my 6 week orientation and then be on PRN status. Beyond that, it seems I can pretty much work whenever I want to. I start my job in 6 days and I already know that full-time positions are coming open in my unit. I have benefits through my husband and did not plan on using the hospital's regardless so that is not an issue for me. The base pay for contract and PRN employees is the same, but the shift and weekend differential is just slightly less for PRN employees.

I do have 3 young boys - 2, 4, and 6, so being able to schedule around their activities would be really nice. Or do full-time employees also have flexibility in their schedules? Is there an obvious choice here if I do not need the benefits? I realize that I would not have guaranteed hours....is it worth the trade off to work the days you want to. My husband has been the only provider for several years, so my money is all extra.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I am a new RN (just passed my boards last week) and I've been hired to work PRN in the acute care unit at a local hospital. I was disappointed at first that I didn't get hired as a contract nurse, but the more I think about it, the more I think I should actually be grateful that I was hired to work PRN. The hospital requires PRN employees to work 1 summer and 1 winter holiday. I will work full-time during my 6 week orientation and then be on PRN status. Beyond that, it seems I can pretty much work whenever I want to. I start my job in 6 days and I already know that full-time positions are coming open in my unit. I have benefits through my husband and did not plan on using the hospital's regardless so that is not an issue for me. The base pay for contract and PRN employees is the same, but the shift and weekend differential is just slightly less for PRN employees.

I do have 3 young boys - 2, 4, and 6, so being able to schedule around their activities would be really nice. Or do full-time employees also have flexibility in their schedules? Is there an obvious choice here if I do not need the benefits? I realize that I would not have guaranteed hours....is it worth the trade off to work the days you want to. My husband has been the only provider for several years, so my money is all extra.

If they do offer you a full time job with benefits you should still compare the benefits to those at your husband's job. I have found that oftentimes those working in healthcare have access to better health insurance plans.

I am surprised they hired a new grad as PRN. Try to work as much as they will let you so you can become proficient at your skills and more used to how things on the unit run. As a new grad, if you are only working 1 day/week it will take you longer to feel proficient and build up your speed

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

"benefits" are not only health insurance. You may bemissing out on a retirement fund and other extras, like tuition reimbursement, bonuses, etc.

[elkpark]

"benefits" are not only health insurance. You may bemissing out on a retirement fund and other extras, like tuition reimbursement, bonuses, etc.

Also long and short term disability, sometimes education reimbursement; most healthcare employers these days offer a pretty wide variety of benefits. Also, the last place I worked prn, the prn staff were not eligible for merit raises (regardless of how well you did your job or how glowing your performance reviews were).

I agree with ChristineN -- I also am kinda surprised that they hired a new grad to work prn. I don't consider that a good "omen" about that employer.