Are you feeling the burnout as a nurse?
You are not alone.
Healthcare professionals experience the heavy stress and burnout that come with their profession from the beginning of their careers. However, if you are thinking about leaving the bedside completely, there is a powerful alternative for you: a transition to PRN jobs.
A staff nurse to PRN transition is a career hack for clinicians who love what they do but need to reclaim their:
- Time
- Mental health
- Passion for patient care
This is not about quitting anymore; it is about a strategic career evolution.
Whether you want to improve your schedule, start a side hustle, or simply breathe again, a PRN role might give you the freedom to do so.
Keep reading to discover more about how to make this switch, reduce friction when doing it, and help more people with that transition.
Why are more nurses making the switch to PRN?
In healthcare, moving to PRN isn’t about working less; it’s about working smarter.
This means that with the same number of hours or fewer, you can make the same money or more, and sometimes even help more patients and gain more experience by being exactly where you are needed.
The bottom line?
A 36-40 hour grind isn’t the only way to be a dedicated professional, and you have more options than simply resigning.
You can be a “hybrid” nurse with PRN
Some nurses start with a hybrid approach. This means that you can be a PRN nurse in your current healthcare facility and look for higher-paying shifts with PRN platforms to supplement your income.
This way, you get to stay where you already know the system, the staff, and the floor layout.
Sounds good?
It’s possible: many large facilities accept that their professionals may make the move to PRN, as it can benefit the facilities, too.
The guilt when leaving your staff position
For many nurses, feeling like they are abandoning their team and the responsibilities that come with the job is a barrier to making the switch to PRN. You might feel just how important you are to your patients, to the rest of your team, and put off making the change because of that.
However, if you remain in a PRN position in your facility, you are staying in the fight. You can actually help your facility by not completely leaving.
By staying in a PRN position, you are keeping the knowledge, experience, and skills with your facility.
A well-rested nurse is a bigger asset to the patient
Don’t forget that burned-out nurses pose a safety risk for patients. On the other hand, a well-rested PRN nurse can help patients better and even be in a better mood.
If you take control of your own well-being, you show up as the best version of yourself. You do it for your patient, for your coworkers, and for yourself.
What do you need to check before submitting your PRN notice?
If you are convinced you want to make the change, check your facility’s specific policies:
- Minimum requirements: Most facilities require you to fill a specific number of shifts per month to maintain PRN status. Check for your facility’s requirements before asking for PRN status.
- Benefits: As a PRN employee, you will likely lose your health insurance coverage. Check out other options, like with your partner’s insurance, supplemental plans like Hooray Health, or COBRA, before making the move.
- Taxes (1099): Handling taxes is different for 1099 contractors. You will need to set aside money for the IRS and track your work-related expenses.
Once you have checked how to make the change and understand what it involves, you can make a plan to move to PRN.
The difference between resigning and changing your status
Be careful with the wording you use when approaching human resources: terminology matters. It may be that you are simplifying your schedule for all parties, but for your facility, it may mean a specific set of paperwork.
You will likely have a status change where you give up your benefits, but you will stay and keep your:
- Payroll
- Employee ID
- Login credentials
Some health systems may not allow a change in status and instead require you to resign officially so they can re-hire you as a PRN employee. Don’t panic, but it’s important to remember that this is a possibility.
Pitch your move to PRN to the nurse manager
Remind your manager that you can solve their biggest headache: the cost and time of orientation. You will stay as a PRN nurse with a different schedule, and the facility won’t have to train a brand-new grad for 12 long weeks to replace you.
Frame it as: "I love this team and want to keep helping, but I need to move to PRN status to maintain my work-life balance."
Useful templates to make the move to PRN
Here are 3 different templates for how to pitch your decision to move to PRN work in your facility.
Template 1: The status change email (Low friction)
Best for: Nurses who have a strong, casual, and trusting relationship with their immediate manager. This is a short, professional draft focused on initiating a conversation rather than a formal exit.
Subject: Discussion: Potential Status Change for [Your Name] / Exploring PRN Options
Hi [your Manager's name],
I hope you’re having a good week.
I am reaching out because I would like to schedule a brief meeting with you to discuss my current role at [the place you work]. I love being a part of this team, and I deeply value the environment we’ve built here.
To better balance my personal commitments and ensure I can continue bringing my best self to work, I am looking to transition from my full-time staff position into a PRN role. I want to emphasize that my goal is to stay on the unit and continue supporting you and the team.
Could we find 15 minutes this week to chat about what this transition might look like and how we can make it as seamless as possible for the unit?
Best,
[Your name and credentials]
Template 2: The formal PRN request letter (Standard)
Best for: Facilities that require formal HR documentation or have an old-school administrative culture. This PRN resignation letter template includes a clear statement of intent and specific availability.
Dear [your manager's name],
Please accept this letter as a formal request to transition from my current full-time position as a [your job title] to a PRN status, effective [the date, usually a 2-4 week period].
I have immensely enjoyed my time working full-time on this unit. I sincerely appreciate the staff and management for fostering a supportive clinical environment that has contributed to my professional growth. It is exactly because I value this team so highly that I want to transition my status rather than leave the facility. Moving to a PRN role will allow me to maintain the work-life balance I currently need while still working alongside my colleagues.
Moving forward, I can commit to fulfilling the standard PRN requirements of [insert the hours your facility accepts]. While I will need to maintain a firm boundary around this baseline availability, I am highly flexible within those parameters and want to coordinate my shifts to best support the unit’s highest needs.
Thank you for your continued leadership and for considering this request. I am eager to discuss the logistics of this transition to ensure it is as smooth as possible for you and the unit.
Sincerely,
[Your name and credentials]
Template 3: From resignation to transition to PRN
Best for: Rigid HR systems that require a technical resignation from a staff role to legally change your employment status. This protects your re-hire eligibility by clearly stating your intentions.
Dear [your manager's name] and Human Resources,
This letter formally informs you that I am resigning from my current full-time position as a [your job title], effective [date 2-4 weeks from today].
Please note that this resignation is strictly an administrative formality to facilitate a status change. As [your manager’s name] and I discussed, my intent is to remain on payroll and immediately transition into a PRN (per diem) role within the same department.
This decision is driven by a need to adopt a more flexible working arrangement, not a desire to leave. I am incredibly grateful for the mentorship, support, and clinical experiences I have gained here, and I am highly motivated to continue contributing my skills on a per diem basis.
Upon transitioning to PRN status, my availability will be [number of shifts] per month, in alignment with the facility's PRN requirements. I am flexible in how those shifts are distributed and look forward to working with management to fill the gaps in the schedule where I am needed most.
Thank you for your support and guidance in making this transition seamless.
Warm regards,
[Your name and credentials]
How to build your new schedule once you go PRN
When your PRN notice letter is accepted, the real fun begins.
Don’t let the calendar go blank
You will require a new mindset to work PRN shifts. You need self-discipline to ensure you are working enough to meet your financial goals. Your schedule will now become a puzzle you get to solve.
Use Nursa to top off your income
Nursa makes the magic happen. Your home facility can help you knock out your baseline shifts and maintain your clinical comfort zone.
Then, you can use a PRN app like Nursa to make more income. In the case of Nursa, we connect you directly with high-paying shifts in your area.
You can get the stability of your healthcare facility and the financial boost of independent per diem work.
A customized professional nursing portfolio
If you start taking nursing shifts in different facilities and gaining different experiences, you are building a customized professional nursing portfolio. You can actually gain more experience by working PRN shifts.
Take control of your nursing schedule
Save your career from burning out. A transition to PRN is not a step back, but a step into the future. Change the way you work, understand your options, and communicate clearly with your manager.
Build a life that actually works for you.
Fill your calendar with the shifts you actually want and will enjoy.
Sign up with Nursa today and start building your own nursing schedule.
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