Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) fulfill different, very important and strenuous functions.
Some of these significant tasks provide basic care and assistance with activities of daily living, for example:
- Assist patients with activities such as grooming, dressing, and even toileting.
- Provide active listening and recording of patients' health problems, and communicating this information to the nurses.
- Move patients to make them comfortable, or transfer them from one place to another.
- Support patient nutrition by assisting with feeding and preparing foods.
- Measure patients' vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature.
Many times, nursing assistants want to earn a higher salary, or they want to have more flexible schedules or to be able to choose, because they need to be able to combine family life with work, to be able to see friends and to have time off for the well-deserved rest they need. A very simple way to achieve this is through PRN jobs.
In medicine, the term PRN stands for pro re nata, which means as the need arises, and refers to the administration of a drug when it is needed in a specific situation.
But, what is a PRN Nurse? PRN stands for pro re nata. A certified nurse assistant pro re nata, or also called per diem, is a CNA who performs all the usual duties, but works shifts where he or she is needed.
PRN simply means that when the institution requires it, the CNA goes there. This can happen when there are absences of nurse’s assistants, for example when an employee is on maternity leave or when someone is sick. It can also happen when there are too many patients to care for and not enough support.
Advantages to Working PRN CNA Jobs
There are several reasons to work as a PRN, as mentioned before, a CNA working as a PRN makes more money, since there are fewer intermediaries and generally the institutions do not pay employee benefits (such as health, dental, retirement, etc.). However, it is estimated that a CNA makes on average $30,310 per year, but a CNA working shifts as a PRN makes significantly more per hour and depending on how many hours he/she works, will without doubt make more than the national average.
Another advantage is that it is possible to choose the schedule by accepting shifts that best suit the individual possibilities. This is a great advantage for a CNA, since shifts are often exhausting, and many times it is impossible to choose the schedules or the hours to work. When shifts are chosen, family life and work can be better balanced, as well as resting and social life. Many times a CNA leaves rest or social life aside because the work schedules are demanding, but it is very important to prioritize personal life in order to provide a better quality of care to patients.
It is true also for PRNs that there are more learning opportunities, as a normal nurse has a set routine and type of patients they see, but by working in different settings and with different patients and colleagues, there will always be a greater window of opportunity to learn. A CNA working PRN shifts can work in pediatrics, geriatrics, general hospitals, private practice, clinics, nursing homes, ambulatory surgical centers, or in a patient's home, and in all of these cases they usually work in a short period of time. It does take a lot of flexibility to accomplish this, but the learning curve is higher.
How CNAs Find Jobs Near Them
Can a CNA work PRN jobs? Yes, the good news is that a CNA who has regular shifts or a steady job can do overtime or overtime as a PRN to supplement their salary.
It is also possible that once a nurse retires, it is possible to continue working PRN shifts, thus keeping the license active. The only requirement to work as a PRN is one year of experience.
Now, it is important to know how to find the best shifts as PRN. There are many ways: many CNAs work with agencies, or contact the hospital in some way. At Nursa™, PRN shifts are easier to obtain, as a nurse's aide can search for shifts without having to be a direct employee of Nursa™ or the hospital. Nursa™ is an application for users to upload their certifications and search for jobs in the area of their choice. Job searching has never been easier, and the Nursa™ team is available to answer any questions that arise.
