Support myself PRN?

Daisy4RN · Oct 30, 2018

I am sorry about your husband. I don't think that anyone can answer that question because of the many different variables. You need to look at your bills vs per-diem rate. Also with per-diem you are not usually guaranteed hours so you would never know if you would get enough shifts. If the only reason you want to quit is because you feel guilty then I wouldnt quit. You already have FMLA and medical insurance. Why leave the security of that job for something that is not guaranteed hours, you may not even make enough to cover the much needed med ins. Plus if you change jobs you have the added stress of that and you probably have too much already. Your choice but if it was me I would stay put as long as possible. Hope everything works out for you and your husband!!

Also make sure you check FMLA rules in order to re-qualify after your end date.

Sour Lemon · Oct 30, 2018

I've been an RN 28 years. My husband is very ill and I'm taking intermittent family leave to stay with him on bad days and to take him to chemo, MD visits. I can't afford to quit but was thinking about signing up to do PRN in schools and home health/hospice. These are my areas of experience. My question is can I support myself doing this? I have a modest house payment and car payment. I realize I'd need to pay for my own health insurance. They don't have a sub for me when I'm off and I feel very guilty when I'm unable to work. Is anyone else managing this way? Thanks!

I work PRN and have been canceled for weeks at a time. Currently, I'm getting called several times a week and begged to come in. I wouldn't say it's a reliable income unless you happen to work somewhere chronically short-staffed ...and that would be rather miserable.

mary.lentz17 · Oct 30, 2018

Thanks for the feedback! I'm trying to hang in there!

Lisacar130 · Oct 30, 2018

Home heath might give you the hours you need.

In the past I worked PRN and almost always had full time hours, but like someone said there are too many variables to say if it will work out for you. I also had to buy my own insurance and it was worth it.

mary.lentz17 · Oct 30, 2018

Thanks for the feedback!

mary.lentz17 · Oct 30, 2018

Yes, I've worked PRN home health in past and always had plenty of offers to work. Also, I know school nurse subs are always needed in my area. My husband's insurance is taken care of and he now qualifies for disability which will help us. I'm trying to hang in at work but looking at options. Thank you for the feedback!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Oct 30, 2018

No advice, just want to wish you all the best as you care for your husband.

mary.lentz17 · Oct 30, 2018

Thank you!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 30, 2018

I feel you, dear lady. My husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2013 while I was trying to work full-time, and I ended up having to take a lot of time off for his doctor and chemo appointments, ER visits and hospitalizations. So I wound up taking a (very) part-time position working weekends as an admissions/QA nurse for a local SNF; of course, we had no health insurance and weren't eligible for Medicaid so the bills mounted up quickly, until the social worker at the hospital found us a charity care program that covered all of our expenses from that particular healthcare system.

In the end, I wound up going on disability for health concerns of my own, which enabled me to stay home and care for my husband till he passed away in July 2016. I hope you'll fare better and be able to manage your competing priorities successfully. Just know that this is precious time with your mate and try not to stress too much about work.

mary.lentz17 · Oct 30, 2018

Thank you, so sorry for your loss!

cleback · Oct 30, 2018

Sorry about your husband. I would not recommend going per diem right now because you would still need a fair amount of hours to qualify for FMLA. For my maternity leave, I figured I'd need to keep up 24 hours a week just to qualify in my state.... then because of time off and the leave itself, it's more like 28 hrs/week. That's not including time you were scheduled and then called off. You're probably better off with a lower FTE with health insurance, benefits, and being guaranteed those hours.