What are the "rules" about being PRN?

[itsdebraanne]

I work full time 40/hrs at an acute care setting in a nursing home.

I applied at the same time to another facility, but they only had PRN.

I agreed to take both jobs in case I didn't like the other.

Here's the thing, at my full time job I have every other weekend off with wednesdays and fridays off. meaning I get off Friday if i work that weekend. I get wednesday off if im off that weekend.

I've picked up at least two days a month at the PRN job cuz they really needed nurses. Lately, my full time job has been kinda hectic and I keep saying no every time the PRN job needs a nurse. I mean how many times can I saw no before they fire me? How many hours does a PRN "have" to pick up? i handle 16hrs at the same facility but 8hrs at one job then 8hrs at another sounds insane. Plus, i'll be late. then it's not a full shift pay.

Maybe i'm not understanding what it means to be PRN? or im just not ready to handle two jobs. what do i do as PRN?

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I Echo what others said about checking your facilities policy. At my current place of employment, we are required to work 4 shifts per month. At my last on call employer, I literally didn't work for months at a time while in nursing school. That only worked because my agency had a contract with a very big employer to provide prn help and they didn't have enough staff to meet the need---plus, I was very good at my job, (-;

[Junebug903, LPN]

At my previous PRN job, I was required to work a minimum of every other weekend. They were 8 hr shifts...so with a full-time job, that would mean working every single weekend.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Every facility is different--check with yours. One place I did it at would consider us resigned if we didn't pick up for two months. Another had two tiers of PRN--minimum 3 shifts per 6 weeks, or minimum 7 shifts per six weeks. We got an extra $4/hr for taking the larger commitment.

FWIW I don't think you need to think of yourself as "not ready to work two jobs" in any case. Do it if you want to or if you need to, but if it's not working out it's not an issue of weakness or anything.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Every facility is different. There are no international "rules" for PRN employees that the users of allnurses will be able to say apply to your facility.

When I worked in the hospital, we almost NEVER utilized our per diem staff. There was technically a rule that they had to work, I believe, 1 shift per month but they didn't. What typically happened is that they would sign up for that shift and then be canceled. After so many months of that, most of them went and found something else.

When I was in nursing school, I worked a per diem aide position. I worked more or less full time for the summer and then they left me on staff in case I wanted to pick up hours on school breaks. After I didn't work for 6 months, I received a letter in the mail stating that I had been terminated for not working.

Last year, I worked a "per diem" position that was really part time/16 hrs a week.

At my current job, employees are automatically termed if they do not work once every 60 days.

So, as you can see, it varies WIDELY.

[Tabitha Cumpian, MSN, RN]

The hours or number of shifts required to work PRN as a nurse will vary from facility to facility. Some facilities will require a certain amount per month while others may require a certain amount per quarter. 

Job Description/Policy

Begin by carefully reading your job description and the policy regarding PRN staff requirements. If, after doing this, you still have questions, speak directly with your manager or HR representative to receive further clarification. 

[klone, MSN, RN]

LOL