PRN pay??

I work "casual" (I think that would be the same as PRN in your area) and I receive 19% more pay per hour "in lieu of benefits".

I worked per diem (same thing as you were talking) and we only get 12% more of base pay. That works out to under 3 bucks an hour. I accepted a position that has benefits now. It just didn't seem to be equal.

Yes, most hospitals do pay significantly more for non benefited positions. It is not just benefits the PRN nurse gives up, it may be job security as well. These are usually the first to be cancelled if census is low or floated to another area. If there are staff cutbacks, PRN is the first to go. I worked at one hospital who paid 40% more to PRN nurses in lieu of benefits. Many hospitals are moving toward their own "in house agency" and not using travelers or ourside agency help. The draw was a substantial increase in pay, but no benefits. Some are even offering 13 week contracts thru their own "agency" for more security.

Our PRN pay is considerably higher that regular staff.Probably about 40% higher. With no benefits and first to be cancelled it probably averages out over the course of a year.

It's the old rule of supply and demand. In my area (L.A.) so many nurses want to work Per Diem that the hospitals don't necessarily need to pay a much higher rate than they do for staff (FT or PT) nurses. We have 3 classifications of "bedside" nurses: FT or PT with benefits (rates are from $29-$42/hr), FT or PT without benefits (about 17-20% higher), and Per Diem (no benefits, only requirement is 2 weekend shifts/month and they get a flat rate of $37/hrs). Last year when the FT/PT with or without benefit RN's got a pay raise the Per Diems didn't simply because we have a waiting list of RN's who want to work PD and the law of supply and demand kicked in.