Thinking about working casual

There are a few issues with going casual that you want to address before making this decision. Casual staff have zero guaranteed hours, if you need a certain number of hours to pay the bills going casual isn't a good option. Maybe look at asking for a position with reduced hours and pick up extra hours as you are able and as they are available. Casual staff usually get zero benefits, no accrued vacation/PTO, no health insurance, often no holiday pay if you pick up those days. Check your facilities policies before committing to going to casual because where I work the very second you change your employment status from scheduled to casual you lose any PTO/vacation/sick time you already have banked. Because there are no benefits available the pay is usually higher than scheduled staff, but if loss of benefits is a concern again the casual position isn't a good option. On the other hand, if the guaranteed paycheck and/or benefits aren't a necessity for you going casual means you can pick and choose what shifts you want to work, as long as your employer has a ton of shifts open to choose from.

I agree with everything Kbrn has posted as well and want to add that if the facility starts to lay nurses off the PRN or casual staff is usually in the mix. Usually it will start with contract nurses being laid off then casual, then part time etc. So, you might want to consider this also when making a decision. Why not try part-time with limited benefits?? That way you can pretty much get a regular schedule and still some benefits. This would help you to be able to achieve some balance between work and the real world!! Good LUck!

Thanks for the reply, you have some good points. I just don't know what to do, I have no work life balance, the weekends when i have them off are spent recovering. Don't get me wrong I am grateful to have a job, I just want to finish my day on time, I want to be able to do things after work. I just don't know where in nursing I fit, I have yet to find the job that suits my personal goals, I keep telling myself nursing was the right path but after almost ten years I have yet to find an area that I enjoy that doesn't leave me burned out.

I just had baby and plan on going parttime. It is a win win for me.

I'm per diem and love the flexibility.

But my husband and I don't NEED my salary and benefits.

I work for personal fulfillment and to have extra fun money.

As long as you don't need the benefits and X number of hours a week to get by, do it!

You can also work multiple per diem jobs if one isn't giving you enough hours.

Being casual does not mean you will get out on time.

If you can talk to other casual nurses where you work and see how often they get cancelled and how often they get the hours they want. If you are union read your contract.

I have never regretted going casual. My benefits are through my spouse. I'm able to plan my shifts, so that I usually still work the number of days I want when I go on a vacation. I make a lot more than I did before. When I went casual I got paid out the PTO I had in my bank.