Question about PRN positions... Had to get a 2nd job due to low census!!!

[TigerGalLE, BSN, RN]

Ok so our census has been low for 4 months. Everyone is completely out of PTO. They aren't laying anyone off and the census isn't picking up. We just don't have patients. I'm losing about 24 hours a pay period. I've accepted a PRN position at another hospital. After I accepted the job the manager told me I would have to do 6 weeks of orientation on the floor plus 1 week of hospital orientation. She then told me I would have to be available to work 4 days a week for those 6 weeks to complete my orientation... UM exuse me but did I not accept a PRN position?? I already have a full time job! How does she expect me to be available 4 days a week to orient and work full time at my other job?

Is this normal for PRN orientations? PLUS I'm not a new grad, why on earth do I need 6 weeks orientation on a med surg floor?? :banghead:

I need this second job so bad! My current manager says she will try to work with me to allow me to complete my orientation at the other hospital. However, she pretty much said if nurses get sick (or quit) or if our census picks up then she will expect me to be available to work. I told my manager that my full time job was my number 1 priority and to let me know if she needs me. I would hate to do anything to put my current job at risk.

Anyway, I've just never heard of this kind of orientation for a PRN position. Have y'all?

[springfieldrn]

All of the per diem, agency and travel jobs I have had required the hospital new employee and nursing orietation. As far as orientation to the floor when I got my orientation sheet completed I was done. Every place is different of course. Maybe you could ask the new manager if the orientation period could be flexible.

[Cindy-san]

That's odd. I've only seen 1 week of classroom BS orientation (computers, policies, etc) and maybe a day or two being preceptored.

I guess it depends on experience?

[cc_nurse]

that does seem like a lot. The per diem jobs that I have held have been pretty understanding and flexible regarding my other full time employment. Have you looked around at other facilities? Good luck, our unit has been having the same situation for a long time!

[RNKPCE]

With your full time managers trying to work with you I would start the per diem job and see how it goes letting the per diem manager know your situation. If you get 3-4 weeks into the orientation and your other job picks up hopefully the per diem manager will be flexible. If you prove yourself to be valuable in those 3-4 weeks she may do what ever she can to keep you.

or

Could you take a 6 week personal leave of absence?

[MERRYWIDOW46]

That seems a bit excessive for PRN. All the PRN jobs I have had in 34 years understand U have a FT job. Most require 2-5 days of hospital orientation and then clinical is one to five days and flexible about when U are available. Sorry, that she did not tell u this prior to accepting. It is good your FT manager is understanding. Good Luck.

[TigerGalLE, BSN, RN]

Yea it is frustrating. This is the only hospital in the area not on a hiring freeze. I am hoping that, like batmik said, after a few weeks they will see that I don't need 6 weeks of orientation. I've been a medsurg nurse for 3 years so I have some experience. They are still on an all paper system so I don't have any crazy computer system to learn either.

[Mulan]

one job was 3 days, the other 5

[Hoozdo, ADN]

Mine was about two weeks. One week in class, one week on the floor. This is a PRN in a county jail facility so it was more learning on how to deal with inmates and corrections.

I am glad I have that PRN job, I have been getting called off low census about once a week. There never is a shortage of patients in jail. They have never called me off, ever.

IMO, it is safer than hospital nursing. I have a guard, sometimes two of them, wherever I go. The prisoners are always on lock down in cells too.