“Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.” — Jana Kingsford
Healthcare Worker Moms: How to Make PRN Work For YOU and Your Family
Being a working mother is full of challenges. I maintained a full-time job working 40 hours a week when Blake was younger, and it wasn’t until Logan was about 6 months old that I made a change. The change was out of necessity, but turned out to be a blessing. Logan was born in April 2020 – a covid baby. I returned to work after maternity leave, and Logan started daycare. Matt and I were both considered “essential workers” and we figured out that didn’t jive very well with a baby in daycare that closed every other week due to covid cases. Also, Blake was at home doing remote learning since school was not back in person yet. This was around the time Matt was starting his pressure washing business, which kinda took off since people were stuck at home bored and decided to fix up their house! We had a long talk and look at our budget, looked at cost-cutting ideas, and made the decision for me to go from full time to PRN. If you’re not familiar, PRN basically means that I work “as needed,” like a flexible part time. I pick my hours, sometimes I work 4, 8, 12 at a time. Sometimes I work during the day, evening, or night. I work as much as I want/can or as little as I want (as long as I maintain the minimum requirement which is minimal). The downside to being PRN is you lose all benefits – no paid time off, no health insurance, etc. You only get paid when you work. At the time, I had health insurance on myself and the boys through through my job, so we had to get private health insurance. It was a little costly, but overall doable and we made it work.
Now 4 1/2 years later, I’ve found so many benefits to being PRN. The world is somewhat back to normal, and I could go back full time but the benefits of being PRN far outweigh full time for the time being. PROS: I make MORE money than I did working full time – working less, I never have to miss my kids’ activities, I don’t have to worry about vacation time getting approved/denied, and I don’t have to work the big important holidays (I do have a holiday requirement but I usually take care of that by working 4th of July or New Years or something like that – I haven’t worked Christmas or Thanksgiving in over 5 years). CONS: No paid time off – I only get paid for what I physically work, no health insurance, no guaranteed hours.
How I Make the Cons of PRN Work for Me
While being PRN has its benefits, it also comes with a few challenges. But I’ve found ways to make the cons work for me and my family. Here’s how I manage:
No PTO? Save Up My Own “PTO”
One of the biggest cons of PRN work is no paid time off. But I’ve found a way to handle it: I keep a small savings account specifically for unexpected time off. It’s not a huge amount, but it gives me peace of mind knowing I have a cushion if I need to take a day off.
I transfer $25 per paycheck into this account. I rarely call out, so I don’t dip into it often. However, if we have a vacation planned, I’ll work a little extra leading up to the trip. I also have a goal for how many hours I need to work in each pay period to meet our budget. Typically, that’s about 24 hours every two weeks.
If we plan a trip, I’ll either cram those 24 hours into one week or work a little extra each week leading up to it. And I like to think of the money I make as “fun money.” I’ll do some “nurse math” when planning trips—like, one extra 12-hour shift equals two nights at a hotel. Or 36 hours can cover the cost of a cruise. It helps me stay motivated and makes budgeting for family adventures easier!
No Health Insurance? Add It to My “Nurse Math”
Health insurance is another challenge with PRN work. Many nurses stay full-time just for the benefits. But when I had Logan, I realized that hospital-based insurance wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be. After a lot of number crunching, we found that staying PRN with private insurance actually works out better for us financially.
Here’s the thing: adding the cost of health insurance into your “nurse math” makes a big difference. You also have to factor in the money you save by not using daycare anymore. When you compare the costs of health insurance versus what you’re saving in daycare and other expenses, it often balances out. If your partner has a job that offers insurance, check that out too—it might be worth it, even if it costs a little more than the insurance through the hospital. At the end of the day, it’s all about balancing costs and benefits.
No Guaranteed Hours? I Plan for Flexibility
At the beginning of each 6-week period, my manager sends out the “Needs List” with available shifts for PRN staff. There’s usually no shortage of hours to pick up, so I don’t worry too much about meeting my minimum. But as a seasoned PRN nurse, I’ve learned to plan my hours a little differently.
I don’t pick up all my hours at once anymore. With kids, things come up—sick days, unexpected schedule changes, and Matt’s growing business are all factors that can mess with my plans. So now, I pick up my hours week by week. It sounds a little scary, especially for someone like me who loves to plan, but I’ve learned that it’s actually pretty easy to get the hours I need.
I have a list of coworkers who are often willing to give up shifts. And if no needs are listed on the schedule, I start texting my coworkers to see if they want time off. We also have a Facebook group where I can post my availability for the week. It’s been rare for me not to get as many hours as I want.
Staying on Top of Education
One thing I’ve had trouble with as a PRN worker is staying on top of my continuing education requirements required by the health system. We’re allowed 3 hours per pay period to do education at home, and we get paid for it. I’m chronically behind on my education, so I take advantage of this policy and try to get some education hours in toward the end of the pay period if I’m needing a few extra hours to meet my budget goals.
Final Thoughts
While being PRN comes with its own set of challenges—like no PTO, no guaranteed hours, and managing health insurance—the flexibility it offers is invaluable. By planning ahead, staying organized, and doing a little “nurse math,” I’ve been able to make the most of my PRN schedule and find a balance that works for my family.
PRN isn’t for everyone, but for me, it’s been a way to maintain a fulfilling career while having the flexibility to be there for my family when they need me most. It’s all about finding what works for you, your budget, and your lifestyle.
Scrubs and Motherhood 