What exactly does PRN mean?

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I just graduated with my RN. My plan is to work FT in the hospital for one year then work one day per week after that, as I have young children at home. I want to work that one day PRN, I think. What does it mean to work PRN?

I know you get paid more than salaried employees, you don't get benefits and you only work you're needed. But does it mean they can place you anywhere in the hospital?

Can I stay on my same floor on PRN status?

Does being PRN mean you're an agency nurse?

How much more $ per hour do you get PRN in general (I'm in Florida)? Here, you can switch to PRN status after only six months - I don't need the benefits...are there pros and cons to doing this?

PRN Nursing FAQs

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Specializes in Palliative Care, NICU/NNP.
abcdefg said:
Hi all,

I just graduated with my RN. My plan is to work FT in the hospital for one year then work one day per week after that, as I have young children at home. What does it mean to work PRN? I know you get paid more than salaried employees, you don't get benefits and you only work you're needed. But does it mean they can place you anywhere in the hospital? Can I stay on my same floor on PRN status? Does being PRN mean you're an agency nurse? How much more $ per hour do you get PRN in general (I'm in Florida)? Here, you can switch to PRN status after only six months- I don't need the benefits...are there pros and cons to doing this?

Congratulations on graduating as an RN and having young children at home. When I have worked PRN it was for the unit I was on. I made several dollars more an hour and usually ended up working as much as I wanted. In fact I have worked months full time as a PRN! If someone needed to float that could have been me. You aren't considered agency but a category of nursing employment. Hope that helps, and don't wear yourself out full time!

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Oh, nevermind. I misread the OP. sheesh. :)

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At our hospital, there are different levels of PRN contracts. I am currently a department based (ER) RN at the lowest pay tier for PRN....but that is because I *choose* not to float and my only committment is 4 times per month. This means I am required only to work four 12hr shifts a MONTH, one major holiday and 2 minor holidays. I do NOT float. EVER. They call me all the time wanting me to work more. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. If I want extra Christmas $$ or whatever, then I just sign up for more shifts.

There are other "tiers" of PRN that pay a bit more, but require you to float to other units, work more hours,etc. Even at the lowest tier, I still make quite a bit more than regular $$ and the shift diff is SWEET. I usually work a weekend day while my husband is home with our child. It works out really well.

I don't get benefits (we use my husband's insurance) but I DO get dollar to dollar matching on the company based 401K. I signed up for a disability policy through an independent agent. While we don't depend on my $$ for income, it would be kind of a dent if something happened and I could not work. If you are PRN, you do not get ST disability. Just something to think about, especially since you have young children at home.

Unless you have a lot of experience in different units, I highly recommend you only sign up to be unit based. If they don't need you, you are canceled instead of floating. It is hard enough keeping up with your skills while working just once a week........I can't imagine keeping up with ed requirements for several different units.

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If I don't have my RN or CNA can I still work as a PRN or do I have to have a nursing degree of some sort

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How much exp. do they usually require before going PRN???

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

I was working full time until my babysitter gave me a days notice and quit on me. I had to change to a PRN status. My hospital has different levels of PRN contracts like carachel2.

I never needed the benefits and ended up making 12 dollars more an hour. I could work full time hours and then some if I wished. I am obligated to work 12 12 hour shifts per 6 week cycle which equals 2 days a week.

I have only been called off one time.

As far as floating...well, they do float us to the ICU on occasion. I would check on your unit's floating policy, it's different everywhere.

Good luck to you, PRN has been a blessing with regard to schedule (I have little ones at home too.)

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Addiction, Education.

Hi All,

For all you people who do not know what PRN means:

PRN stands for Pro Re Nata and this is Latin for: "as the situation arises"!

Diddy :D

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As a PRN, can you pick the days out of the week that you want to work or is it up to the hospital? For example if I only wanted to work monday and thursday would I be able to do that? Do you just have to fill your quota by the end of the month or is it a weekly schedule? I am thinking about running a part time training business as well as becoming a nurse and I was wondering with scheduling if it is possible??? Thank you in advance for any feedback!

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morganrt1416 said:
As a PRN, can you pick the days out of the week that you want to work or is it up to the hospital? For example if I only wanted to work monday and thursday would I be able to do that? Do you just have to fill your quota by the end of the month or is it a weekly schedule? I am thinking about running a part time training business as well as becoming a nurse and I was wondering with scheduling if it is possible??? Thank you in advance for any feedback!

Different hospitals have different expectations and requirements -- your best bet is to clarify precisely with a particular hospital you want to work (prn) for what you would be agreeing to if you take a prn position.

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I am in a real dilemma. My parents are being cared for by some very lovely women who work for a firm in Southwestern Virginia. They call themselves a: private company categorized under Skilled Nursing Care Facilities.

The women who care for them have admitted that they are paid only minimum wage and are NEVER paid the time and a half pay for overtime. They are called in the middle of the night to show up at a home. They sometimes work as many as 60-70 hours per week, every week. They sometimes work double shifts.

I decided to research this on their behalf and found that the Department of Labor does not categoize them as being eligible for protection under the Fair Labor Standards Act. They state that this goes back to the "olden days" when if someone agreed to go into a neighbor's home and care for an elderly person, there was no requirement for the employer to provide any benefits for that "empoyee". This makes sense in the respect that even today, if I agreed to take care of my neighbor-----I would not expect guaranteed benefits.

I was very discouraged after hearing this, and felt that maybe I cannot help these women, unless I just start a campaign to alert congress and the senate about this.....which I will do, as the situation is only going to get worse with our aging population.

However, in reading your posts, I am seeing that you all seem to be paid more than the minimum wage and are well cared for. Is this because you are a PRN for a hospital? These women are actually employed by the firm I referenced, meaning it is not a referral they are providing. Oh, and they are constantly threatened that they will lose their job and have received no raises in as much as three years.

Any advice out there on how to help these women. Anyone know of any loop holes in the laws?

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How many correct questions is required to pass the AANP exam of a 150 questions?

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