What does "contingent" mean?

[MsPebbles]

Please forgive my ignorance, but I'm trying to find an entry-level position in a hospital before I start school. I see some positions listed as "contingent", and I have absolutely no idea what that means. I haven't applied to any of those positions for fear that they may not offer enough hours for me to be able to live on. I'm probably way off, so if someone could shed some light on what it really means I'd truly appreciate it!

[elkpark]

Contingent means work that other nurses do not want, when they do not want it and where they do not want it.

It also means that the person taking the "contingent" job is treated like a disposable entity or worse just treated like dirt.

Contigent work is the worst assignment possible under the worst possible conditions and sometimes not even possible at all.

I disagree completely. I am currently employed on a prn basis, and I get treated much better by the nurse managers and house supervisors than they treat the regular, full-time staff because they really want to keep me happy and willing to continue filling in for them when they need me. They couldn't care less about the permanent, full-time staff and treat them like dirt.

As for the actual work assignments and conditions, they are no better or worse than the assignments of the full-time staff -- I am asked to work when they need to cover for someone being out sick or on vacation -- it has nothing to do with other nurses not "wanting" a particular shift or assignment.

[sukh :), BSN, DNP, RN, APRN]

I am called today for the on call internal medicine RN position in northern Va. Can any one guide me about the hours or the days they will be asking me to work for. my interview is next week. Can you also tell me what should I focus on while preparing for interview.

Thanks.