Work as a prn LPN during nursing school?

[lei8809]

Hey all,

I'm just looking for some opinions and information about my hopes for working as an LPN during my second year of nursing school. The last similar posting that I could find was from a few years ago and I realize that some things are different (economy and such).

I've passed the first year of an ADN program in southern AZ and am about to take the NCLEX-PN.

I've been a stay at home mom and haven't had a job since 2008 and I'm a bit worried if that will work against me when I start looking for a job. That's one reason why I'd like to be an LPN so I'd at least have some experience before seeking a job as an RN. The flip side of that is I wouldn't want a job to interfere with school either.

Do prn jobs normally require some kind of schedule or minimum hours? I've had this hope (or fantasy) that I'd be able to just say I can't work x number of days because I need to study and yet still work whenever I felt like I had time.

Also, I feel really nervous about working because my clinicals were in the evening (5-10 pm) so a lot of procedures had already been done (blood draws, IVs, catheters, etc) so I've only had one attempted blood draw that was unsuccessful (very elderly and dehydrated woman that even the experienced nurse wasn't able to do).

Of course, this is all assuming I actually pass the NCLEX-PN but I'm choosing to stay positive and not let that one worry me yet (until I schedule it anyway).

Thanks for any and all opinions or info!

[203bravo, MSN, APRN]

Of course every place is different.. but most places prepare their schedule a month in advance and PRN employees are expected to submit their available shifts by a certain date prior to them actually making the schedule. This will allow them to know what resources are available when granting full time employees PTO and leave requests. Where I work PRN employees are to submit at least 4 available days every month to remain active... (but they usually aren't very strict about this as long as we are working some hours.)

And there is also the opportunity to "pick up" shifts during the month as positions become available. Most places today use several forms of mass communications to reach out to employee pools to make them aware of open shift -- text messages, emails, online scheduling software etc..

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

You will find that as class work goes by you will say to yourself, "Boy, I wish I'd known that last month at work." It's a great motivator to learn more.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

My PRN position requires a specific number of shifts worked in a month.

Many places require a certain number of shifts (per month or schedule), weekends (per month or schedule) and holidays (per year) .

I'm lucky in that, my PRN positon is an offsite office and they are closed on holidays and weekends.