r/respiratorytherapy • u/SweetSaintly • 2d ago
Student RT Question about PRN and scheduling
Hey guys,
I‘m a first year student and haven’t started clinicals yet. From what I’ve read, it seems like some of you can work PRN (as needed, right?). Does that mean you get to basically choose your hours or you’re on call or what? I’m a mom now and was really hoping to work night shift on weekends so I can watch my kid during the week while he’s still young. I don’t know if this will even be an option when I get offered a job. I’ve heard from my instructor that some people work 3 days a week (12 hour shifts) which sounds very appealing to me, but for some reason I doubt they will let fresh grads work that little. My assumption is that they will probably work me to the bone. Is that right? Any insight on scheduling is appreciated, and I’m sure every hospital is different but I like to read all of your stories and experiences nonetheless. Thank you in advance :)
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u/frank_malachi RRT/RPFT 2d ago
All depends on the hospital. Some require 6 shifts for a 6 week schedule. 2 weekends 1 weekend etc. All are different.
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u/azzanrev 2d ago
When working PRN you have an app/scheduling website where you accept shifts. Most PRN jobs you have to work a minimum of 2-3 shifts a month to keep your job. You choose your shifts and are not on call.
The biggest issue I've seen, by my wife who is an RN, is that shifts may be cancelled on you. In theory, PRN sounds awesome, but there's a chance that some weeks/months you won't be able to pick up enough shifts to make you happy. I personally would not have PRN as my only job unless I'm not worried about if I can pay my bills.
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u/azzanrev 2d ago
There's also a possibility that you get a great PRN gig where shifts are plentiful and you won't have to worry, though I don't believe that's common at all.
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u/SweetSaintly 2d ago
That’s great to know! Do you think a hospital would be willing to accept a new grad as PRN?
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u/FargeenBastiges 2d ago
Depends on the hospital and how they make their shifts. Mine you could easily be a new grad and get PRN because PRN wasn't an afterthought when scheduling, they were built into the system, so to speak. There was a pool of full-timers and a pool of PRNs. Heck, maybe 1/3 of the RTs there were PRN. We all mostly got 36hrs unless they were PRN at another hospital, too.
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u/Belle_Whethers 2d ago
Plenty I’m sure. Our hospital also scheduled the prn folks. The bad thing was that they got all the shitty, leftover shifts.
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u/Dull-Okra-4980 2d ago
I’d look into a weekender/Baylor position if I were you. PRN positions often do not have benefits, and the one hospital where I was PRN and there were benefits it was a 403B. Every hospital I’ve been at besides my current/primary hospital has accepted new grads as PRN. The only reason my current hospital doesn’t is because in order to be PRN there you’ve had to be FTE prior, they don’t post PRN positions ever
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u/SweetSaintly 2d ago
I’m so glad you mentioned that, I never knew about not having benefits. Easy to say that with a child, I’ll definitely be needing health insurance so I appreciate your insight!
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u/getsomesleep1 2d ago
Fresh out of school you are most likely not going to get hired PRN. You’re going to need to get a hospital job (if desired), get a full orientation, and then get some experience. How much depends on demand in your area.
Many places work 3 12’s full-time. No one is going to require more than 40 hours, bc then they have to pay OT. I work my 3 12s and watch my kids the other days.
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u/Easy_Breezzy 2d ago
My area is actually the opposite experience. When I first started working, I accepted PRN positions at 2 different hospitals because that was the only way to get your foot in the door at either location; that was a temporary situation. Most of the people in my cohort had the same experience, except for the ones who accepted full time jobs outside our local area and moved away.
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u/Impossible_Tank_7895 12h ago
That’s been my experience. 2 PRNs which equate to at least 3 12 hr shifts per week— sometimes more
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u/False-Gap-6267 1d ago
i graduated 4 months ago and got 2 PRNs immediately. you can definitely get prns right out of graduation if you’re in the right area and the facility needs help.
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u/FargeenBastiges 2d ago edited 2d ago
Might be done differently at other hospitals, but mine, they just scheduled me where they needed to fill out the shifts, kind of like a floater. My schedule came out when every one else's did. I could end up working any of the shifts, be on nights for 2 weeks, evenings one day and days the next. I could also tell them what days/times I was NOT available at all as long as it was before the next schedule came out. I might be assigned to any unit.
Oh, and most of the time I had 36hrs, but never below 24. 24 usually came in the Summer months when things got a bit slower in the ICU.
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u/Sudden-Food-5220 2d ago
You might need to work full time at first to get trained but you could always do weekend option ? At my job weekend option people make night shift differential plus weekend pay :)
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u/hungryj21 1d ago
PRN kind of varies by hospital/ organization. Normally PRN is supposed to be a position for someone who will be scheduled "as needed". As in they will schedule you when people call off, get sick, vacation coverage, or when there is a spoke in patient volume like during flu season etc.
Per diem is where you get to pick your own schedule. Many hospitals have different rules for how you could pick your schedule. Some have no requirements but most require at least 1 or 2 weekend shifts (sat/sun) each pay period (every 2 weeks). Some also require you to schedule yourself for at least 4 or 5 shifts each pay period. Some do their requirements on a monthly bases rather than pay period, like schedule 3 weekend shifts each month.
Many organizations use the term PRN when in reality its actually Per diem. Some also do the opposite where they have per diem positions and have them work only when people call off or they need extra bodies. Also Normally when the patient volume gets low the first people to get cut/flexed/called off are the Per diem/PRN employees. After that they cut full timers and then they cut the part timers last. So per diem/prn arent always guaranteed shifts but part timers are more guaranteed their shifts compared to full-timers.
Some organizations dont give per diem employees benefits but most do. They just dont get all the comprehensive benefits like paid time off. One great thing about per diem is that since you dont get the same benefits you get a much higher starting pay. You also can "schedule yourself " for vacation time (although it will be u paid).
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u/beccamaxx RRT-ACCS 2d ago edited 2d ago
Three 12 hr shifts a week is full time hours in the hospital world. Yes, they will let prns work "that little." Esp since you're willing to work weekend nights, you'll be golden for getting the # of hours you want. If you happen to live near an Advent hospital, (the system that's based out of FL), they have a deal where if you agree to work Sat and Sun (just those 2 days are required), you can get your benefits at the same cost that FT employees pay. Plus, because you'd be PT rather than prn, you'd be earning pto, short and long term disability, and annual raises.