What is PRN Nurse and Options for PRN Education?

Benjamin Martinez

Updated on:

What is PRN

What is PRN? PRN is an acronym for the Latin word “pro re nata,” which means as needed.  In healthcare, a PRN nurse does essential work that is only sometimes recognized. It’s critical to have PRN nurses because they can work around patients’ plans and have many different skills. They ensure that patients get good care whenever and wherever it’s needed. Stay tuned to this post, what is PRN for a healthier understanding of the subject.

What is PRN Nurse?

PRN nurses update medical data, monitor patients’ vital signs, give them medicine, do diagnostic tests, and monitor their vital signs. They substitute for regular workers when needed during high demand or staff shortages. PRN is generally an acronym for Pro re nata which means as needed or as the situation requires. PRN nurses can work in several places to use their talents when needed. PRN nurses must attend rigorous schools and obtain the same licenses as RNs.

In the preceding para about what is PRN reader will get good understanding about this profession.

Options for PRN Education

Options for PRN Education

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) offers different nursing programs, so you can choose the one that is right for you. 

Undergraduate 

Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing (Post-Baccalaureate): This 16-month course is for people who already have a bachelor’s degree and want to learn more about becoming nurses. The study covers nursing theory, clinical skills, pharmacology, and other more in-depth subjects. 

Master of Science in Nursing (BSN): The 32 months go by quickly, and you learn a lot, such as medicine, biology, anatomy, and community health. It only takes three years to finish what would typically take four years. This means students can start working faster than if they took the regular route. 

Graduate 

Family Nurse Practitioner Bridge Programme (RN to MSN): You can go from being an RN to an MSN in three years by taking the Family Nurse Practitioner Bridge Programme (RN to MSN). Once you finish the bridge program, you can move on to the MSN-FNP part of the study. Instead of pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing, they can build on their associate’s degree this way. 

Get your Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): For 24 months, students can work full-time and take this part-time study to specialize in family nursing. Through classwork and lab work, students will learn how to take good care of people of all ages. 

Master of Science in Nursing: Get your Master of Science in Nursing to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses Practitioner (PMHNP). Take this 24-month online study to learn about dementia, depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses if you want to become a nurse. 

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): The online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) course lasts 24 months. It’s mostly about leadership in groups and processes. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) would help you with this job. Are you interested? Your grades will be good in this class if you have these things.  

Pros of Working as PRN Nurse

Pros of Working as PRN Nurse

These are the great things about being a PRN nurse:

Fewer burnouts

It’s hard to be a nurse. It can be worth it because nurses do important and new work for their patients, but it can also wear them out. Working only when you need to can help you avoid stress and burnout. 

Be flexible

Take trips and only work on weekdays. You can also make your schedule since you can pick which times to work. People in healthcare with other duties, like having kids, taking care of others, or going to school full-time, are most likely interested in per diem work. On the other hand, having a PRN nursing job can give you more freedom and flexibility than other nursing jobs.  

Potential Earnings Rise

Most people who work in healthcare get paid about the same as others in the same field. They might get paid more per hour or bonuses if they work on holidays or weekends when many people need help. Certain places of work also let nurses work extra hours or do extra jobs, which gives them more chances to make money. 

Here in this article about what is PRN, we mention some of the pros of the nursing profession.

Conclusion

In the end, after reading what is PRN, we have a greater understanding of the topic. PRN nurses benefit the healthcare industry since they can help patients in many different places when needed. Patients will always get good care because they can step in during busy times or when staff is short. Because they like their professions, PRN nurses are less likely to burn out, have a better work-life balance, and earn more. PRN nurses have beneficial skills in the job market and can easily change to new situations. If you want a dynamic and flexible nursing job, the PRN path can make you happy at work and personal life.

FAQ

What does PRN mean for a nurse?

The Latin name “pro re nata” means “as the need arises.” If nurses don’t have set hours, they work when needed.

How are PRN nurses different from full-time RNs?

RNs who work on call do the same things as full-time RNs but don’t have set hours. You have freedom because they only work when needed. They can fill in when there aren’t enough staff or high demand.

Where do you need to go to school to become a PRN nurse?

As a registered nurse, you must get a license from your state, pass the NCLEX-RN, and work as a nurse for at least one year before becoming a PRN nurse.

Where can PRN nurses work?

A PRN nurse can work in many places, like private offices, hospitals, clinics, and care homes. They can work for hospitals and clinics independently or through nurse-hiring firms.

Why would someone want to work as a temporary nurse?

Many good things come with being a PRN nurse, like less stress, more freedom with your schedule, a better work-life balance, and the chance to make more money through higher hourly rates and bonuses for working during busy times. 

Sources:

https://nurse.org/education/prn-nursing

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/prn-in-nursing

https://www.directorthocare.com/what-is-a-prn-employee/