Staying prn at "home" hospital

NedRN · Dec 29, 2014

PRN at home is a nice safety net. It also helps your tax home status but is not required. The difficulty is usually the hospital shift requirements. If they just have an annual term and it is only a few shifts, that is the best possible scenario (and some hospitals are negotiable). If you have to work a couple of shifts per month, that really isn't going to work out.

If you are nervous about whether travel is for you, you can try for initial assignments within a day's driving or so so you can preserve you staff relationship until you know for sure.

I can suggest two better ways though. One is to try for a three month leave of absence. That preserves your fulltime position and benefits. Obviously it also gives you a better chance at a perhaps more exciting assignment that is more interesting than working nearby in the same geographical area.

The other is to try per diem at other hospitals before becoming a traveler to test your skill set and aptitude to work at new hospitals full time.

Lovelymo79 · Dec 31, 2014

Thanks for answering, NedRN. I have actually worked a year agency in addition to my full-time job so I'm pretty comfy with my skill-set and being at a new hospital. The 3-month leave would probably have to be agreed upon by my manager and director and not sure if she will go for that.

But i do like the idea of staying close to home to test out the waters and yet keep my prn stays at home. Pretty sure I won't be able to make the shift requirement of 2 shifts a month if I have to fly in.

Thanks again!

JusJami · Jan 2, 2015

I'm prn at my home hospital, and it's great because I usually get full time hours, luckily my hospital requirements are 12 shifts a year. If my hospital didn't have that, I would look for one that comes close to it, you have so much freedom for travel assignments while still having the security of employment at home.

Trickster122 · Jan 4, 2015

I too droped from full time to PRN status to go traveling. It has worked out well for me so far. When I come home between assignments I picked up slots where they needed me to keep up appearance and keep a steady paycheck.

HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Jan 4, 2015

I also work prn at my home facility. I'm pretty much full time hours and just travel for half the year. They've been really great and flexible about it.

Eby11 · Jan 8, 2015

I am currently trying this. Took my first assignment an hour away from home to get my feet wet at a new facility, and so far, so good! However I have to wonder what happens when I have to travel farther out. i have the feeling it will be a trying time coming home and then working some more. i only need 4 12's out of 6 weeks, so we will see. All my admin at my home ER have told me everyone wants to stay PRN, but eventually they completely quit d/t time constraints when home. We'll see.

smallnurse10 · Jan 8, 2015

I just started my first travel job 3.5 hours away from my home and still work per diem at my home facility. I never have trouble getting hours so I don't think it will be an issue. We will see how it works out as time goes on. I don't think it would be feasible if my facility required two shifts per month or something similar to that it would be too stressful.

ParalyticAgent · Jan 8, 2015

My facility allowed me to stay per diem and work my required hours annually (192) as opposed to monthly (16).

It's a great way to be able to hang out at home between assignments and still have an income. I'm also not rushed to take my next assignment- I can be a little pickier.

Lovelymo79 · Jan 9, 2015

Well, I just accepted my first travel assignment...14 hours away! Lol. BUT, I am able to block schedule so I can work 6 days in a row and have off 8 (I do that all the time now) so I'll be able to fly home often. I'm leaving my dog at home with a roommate so I'll have even more incentive to return home. I'll see how it ends up working.

NedRN · Jan 9, 2015

Congratulations! Sounds good.