PRN vs Full/Part time

Silverdragon102, BSN · Nov 25, 2010

Moved to the general nursing discussion forum

brownbook · Nov 25, 2010

I don't know your financial situation. It sounds like your family, children, are very important to you. And your husband is supportive of going per diem.

Sit down with a financial planner???? Or just you and your husband sit down with the bills, expected income, expected "outgo" (as I always call it). See where you are. See how the budget looks. If you are home more, doing more home cooking, not paying so much day care, etc. it could be worth it?

I am per diem but my husband and I have always lived very conservatively financially so we are doing fine with it.

Even if it might be a financial struggle your children, your life, are more important than the bottom line.

mustlovepoodles, RN · Nov 25, 2010

Of course, you will have to look at all the ramifications before you make a change but I just want to encourage you. I've been a nurse for 34 years. I worked full-time until my first child was born and then went first to part-time and as the other kids came along went to prn.I absolutley loved being home with my kids. I had to be very creative to make it work. I worked a LOT of weekends and nightshifts. Going prn allowed me to homeschool my kids for 9 years, too. I do not have a pension plan, but I do have a 401K and investments. I will never be rich but I have wonderful, rich memories with my kids. I never regretted it. :redpinkhe

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 25, 2010

When I was PRN, I opened up an outside IRA that I contributed to. Now that I'm full-time...they don't have a pension plan so I keep contributing to my IRA. As far as what will happen to your pension plan, contact HR as they're the best ones to answer that question.

Upsides to being PRN are setting your own hours and possibly (not always) a higher pay rate.

Downsides include loss of benefits, no guarantee that you will get the shifts you put in for, you're more likely to be made to float, you'll be the first one cut if the census is low, and most facilities have a weekend/holiday scheduling policy that applies to PRNs as well so you may find yourself having to sign up for more weekends/holidays than you think.

What is the best answer? I don't know...only you and your family can decide that :) Remember that while being PRN can give you more freedom and family time, there's no financial guarantees. You have to decide if doing that is something that you and your family can make work.

momof2prettygirls · Nov 25, 2010

At the risk of sounding ignorant what is PRN? I'm new to this :)

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Nov 25, 2010

I work prn. I have 2 kids and one due any day. I LOVE it. You have to be good about taking some money investing it somehow. Get a financial planner. I LOVE being prn. It beats being away from my kids so much, especially holidays. I can say no to working them! I still work some just to be fair. I generally don't mind working the 4th of july, labor day, memorial day, etc. I worked this past Easter and last new years. I worked last Christmas evening shift. If it doesn't interfere too much with my family plans, I will do it to help others out. But I love not having the obligation to work holidays. I also love that I can do just weekends, and then not need daycare. And I can not be scheduled if I want some family plans on the weekends. It really has been great. I have been prn for over 5 years now. If you can afford it and your husband is supportive, I say go for PRN. Kids are only kids for so long. I think it is nice to still have a foot in the door and to have some extra money, and to pick up extra time when you are short on cash, without having the obligation to work all of the time.

RNKPCE · Nov 25, 2010

I love PRN at my hospital but I might not at another hospital. I work 2 nights a week and don't get canceled often. I don't necessarily float first. I do get paid more. I contribute to our 401k but don't work enough to get mathching.

At another facility things might be different, I might float first, get canceled a lot and not get paid more.

Talking to prn nurses on your unit at your facility would help you make a better educated decision.

I love the flexibility and wouldn't go back to scheduled. I don't miss the important things in my kids life anymore like 1st homecoming dance, award nights, football games etc.

EZsmom · Nov 25, 2010

Thanks everyone for all the answers! At my hospital the prns get paid more but do get cancelled more often than not. But my husband is the main financial support in our family. Also if you are a RN you do not get pulled or float because they send the LVNs. I think I just might go for it! Thanks for the encouragement.

AmericanRN · Nov 25, 2010

At the risk of sounding ignorant what is PRN? I'm new to this :)

PRN is Latin abbreviation for "pro re nata" an occasion that has arisen, as circumstances require, as needed.

Nurses can work PRN status.PRN usually means no benefits or limited benefits. Scheduling depends on the facility's rules.

PRN medication has the same meaning. You as a nurse will only give them as needed within a set parameter of time frames and dosages that the physician has prescribed.

caliotter3 · Nov 25, 2010

It sounds as if your retirement benefits are important to you. I do not think I would easily walk away from them.