By: Kendall Upton
What is a pro re nata (PRN) nurse? What they do, how it works, salary & more
A pro re nata or PRN nurse is a registered nurse (RN) that is not employed full time and instead works as needed for a healthcare employer. The term “pro re nata” is Latin for “as needed” or “as the situation arises.” PRN nurses have flexible, ever-changing schedules that depend on the nurse’s availability and employer needs.
Key takeaways
- A PRN nurse is a registered nurse who works on an as-needed basis, offering flexible schedules.
- They select shifts to cover staffing gaps but their work is not guaranteed at all times.
- PRN nurses perform the same tasks as other RNs, but their duties might vary depending on the healthcare facility and specialty unit.
- To become a PRN nurse, you must first obtain a nursing degree, pass the licensing exam and gain experience as an RN.
What do PRN nurses do?
PRN nurses perform the same patient care responsibilities you would expect from any RN position. This includes tasks like taking patient vital signs, administering medication, assisting doctors with minor procedures, performing wound care and more. PRN nursing is a scheduling arrangement, not a specialty.
However, PRN nurses working in a specialized hospital unit or healthcare facility can expect to perform tasks associated with that specialty. A PRN nurse working in a labor and delivery (L&D) unit, for instance, will care for women during childbirth. Alternatively, an operating room (OR) nurse helps treat patients before, during and after surgery. The nursing fundamentals don’t change, but the application of your skills can vary depending on where you work.
Some facilities have a float pool where PRN nurses are assigned to float between units, depending on the needs and patient counts of the facility.
Where do they work?
Just about any healthcare facility can employ PRN nurses, including but not limited to:
How does PRN nursing work?
PRN positions can function a little differently between employers, but in general, a PRN nurse works for one healthcare facility and picks up available shifts. Employers typically post available shifts for upcoming scheduling cycles on an internal or external staffing platform, which are usually shifts that the facility’s full-time RNs need covered due to various time off requests. Then, PRN nurses can select the shifts they want to cover to fill in the staffing gaps.
Some PRN nurses may also be on call at their facility to fill in for nurses that call out on short notice or provide extra support if there are high patient counts.
All of this adds up to a flexible nursing career where PRN nurses generally get to choose when they work and how much. That said, most employers require PRN nurses to work a minimum number of hours or shifts. A minimum of two to four shifts per month is common.
Work is not always guaranteed, though. If patient counts are low, for instance, PRN nurses are usually the first to be sent home early or have their shift cancelled altogether.
Do PRN nurses need certification?
It depends. Employers may prefer or require PRN nurses that work for a particular specialized hospital unit or facility (such as a pediatrics) to have an appropriate certification. More general PRN nursing positions may not require it. There is no certification available for PRN nurses specifically, as it is not a specialty.
PRN vs per diem nurse: What’s the difference?
A per diem nurse is a similar term that people may use interchangeably with PRN nurse. In fact, some healthcare facilities don’t distinguish between the two titles. However, these terms don’t always mean the same thing.
“Unlike pro re nata (PRN) nurses (meaning ‘as the need arises’), a per diem nurse can work for multiple facilities,” writes the American Nurses Association (ANA). “Per diem nurses aren’t bound by a facility’s workplace policies regarding a minimum number of hours per week and have more flexibility in choosing work hours.”
Per diem nurses often work for a particular health system that places them at different facilities they operate within the area, but they can also work for other employers like home health agencies or community health organizations.
But keep in mind that since there are no standardized industry definitions for these roles, some facilities may not make a distinction between these titles.
PRN and per diem nurses are also not the same as travel nurses, who receive contracts across a larger geographical area for longer periods of time.
How much do PRN nurses make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not track salary data for PRN nurses specifically, but they do report that RNs overall earn a median annual salary of $97,550 per year. Like most RNs, PRNs are paid by the hour.
Still, PRN nurses may earn slightly more than their full-time RN peers. There are a few reasons for this. First, most PRN positions require nurses to already have several years of experience and therefore provide wages to reflect that. Second, higher wages help make up for the fact that PRNs do not usually receive benefits.
Specific wages for a position vary depending on the location and cost of living in that area, the type of employer, education level, years of experience and more.
Do they get benefits?
Most PRN roles do not provide benefits such as health and dental insurance, retirement plans, paid time off (PTO) or sick leave, but benefits vary substantially by employer. This can make working as a PRN nurse challenging for people who are the primary breadwinner in their household. However, it may be a great option for nurses who receive these kinds of benefits through a spouse’s employer, for instance.
Pros and cons of PRN nursing
If you’re not quite sure if PRN nursing is right for you, consider some of the pros and cons.
Pros
Cons
How can I become a PRN nurse?
The path to becoming a PRN nurse begins the same as any RN. You must earn a nursing degree such as an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), pass the national licensing examination, and apply for licensure in your state. Once licensure is granted, you can start working as an RN.
From there, you’ll typically need at least a couple of years of experience before you qualify for most PRN jobs. PRN nurses may float between different units and facilities, requiring a breadth of expertise that new nursing grads just don’t have yet. Plus, more experienced nurses that want to work less (either due to family obligations, pursuing a higher nursing degree or simply feeling burned out) are often the ones competing for PRN positions. Newer nurses usually just don’t have the experience yet to contend for these coveted roles.
- Earn a nursing degree.
- You need either an ADN or BSN degree to become an RN. Accelerated programs (ABSN) are also acceptable.
- Apply for an RN license in your state.
- You’ll need to apply for an RN license in order to receive an authorization to test (ATT) for the NCLEX-RN exam.
- Pass the NCLEX.
- Passing the NCLEX-RN exam is required for licensure.
- Complete any remaining licensure requirements.
- Some states have additional requirements such as submitting a background check or taking a jurisprudence exam.
- Gain experience.
- Once you’ve received your RN license, you can start looking for jobs and gaining experience.
- Look for PRN positions.
- Most PRN nurse positions require at least a few years of experience to qualify.
Frequently asked questions about PRN nursing
Do PRN nurses have to work holidays and weekends?
Not usually—PRN nurses have the option to pick up whatever shifts they want, which include regular day shifts as well as nights, weekends and holidays. This can vary by employer, though. Some employers may require PRN nurses to work a minimum number of undesirable shifts over a certain period to ensure that staffing needs are met.
Can PRN nurses work full time?
Yes. PRN nurses can pick up the shifts they want, meaning they can fill their schedule to work full time. Keep in mind though that shift availability varies by employer. A healthcare facility may not have enough shifts available to fill up a full-time schedule for every PRN nurse.
Can you work at more than one facility as a PRN?
Yes. Most PRN jobs assign nurses to one location, but you may be able to get one or more PRN jobs for different employers. Keep in mind that you must satisfy any minimum shift requirements for all employers you work for.
Can new graduates work as a PRN nurse?
The vast majority of PRN roles require at least a few years of experience (three or more is common) to qualify. While there is no rule that says they can’t, new nursing graduates will likely have a difficult time qualifying for PRN jobs.
Is PRN nursing the same as per diem nursing?
Technically no, but some healthcare organizations use these two terms interchangeably. PRN nurses usually work for one facility, whereas a per diem nurse may float between multiple facilities run by the same employer.
