The tried and true medical phrase for PRN is heard often. Whether it's a reference to prescription medication, or regarding a shift for a registered nurse, we've likely all heard it. But how many of us actually know what it stands for?
PRN is the medical abbreviation used to refer to a medication to be administered or taken on an "as-needed basis". Similarly, a PRN shift for an RN means the RN is working a shift "as needed". It's not one of their regularly scheduled shifts in other words. It's a shift that they will fill in to compensate for a staff vacancy or call-in.
If you took the words "as needed basis" and formed an acronym of them, it most obviously would not be PRN. Nevertheless, PRN is an acronym. It's an acronym of the Latin words: pro re nata. Pro re nata in turn means as needed, and from there you can see how we arrive to using PRN in everyday medical terminology.
What Are PRN Nursing Jobs?
PRN nursing jobs are shifts that are posted on the NursaTM platform. These posts are by healthcare facilities of all types that are in need of a clinician to cover a specific shift for a variety of reasons. Sometimes they have a staff member call in sick, while others are dealing with staffing shortages and need a nurse to cover several different shifts in order to maintain quality patient care standards. Furthermore, PRN nursing jobs are available in a variety of work environments.
PRN Shifts Are Available for More Clinical Professions
Now that we've established what PRN means and what it stands for, let's address the general assumption that PRN only applies to medications and nurses; mainly RNs, LPNs, and CNAs. PRN nursing is getting a lot of press throughout the pandemic, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, what isn't getting a lot of press is that facilities also facing staffing shortages in other clinical professions namely, nurse practitioners (NPs), speech language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs), and physical therapists (PTs) as well.
NursaTM Has PRN Shifts for Many Different Clinical Professions
We are a platform that uses technology to place clinicians in PRN shifts and jobs across the nation. Whether your community is large or small, you can browse our available PRN shifts in real-time to see what the demands your local or nearby medical facilities have and whether or not you can meet any of those demands.
We have PRN jobs for RNs, LPNs, CNAs, SLPs, and NPs right now. We've been the bridge between nurses and PRN shifts for a while. Moreover, NPs, OTs, PTs, and SLPs are also joining the ranks of medical professionals who use NursaTM. Furthermore, we need even more!
Demand for Travel OTs and PTs Increasing Nationwide
The demand for therapists both occupational and physical is increasing at a rate above even that of RNs (which is at 7%, considered a faster rate than average). Veritably, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, "Employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 16 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Occupational therapy will continue to be an important part of treatment for people with various illnesses and disabilities, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, autism, or the loss of a limb."
Moreover, the need for PTs is actually a bit higher than that for OTs, with the PT demand projected to increase at 18% according to the BLS.
Skilled nursing facilities and long-term care homes post available PRN shifts to NursaTM with a high frequency and often are most in need of qualified OTs and PTs.
Demand for Travel SLPs Increasing Nationwide
SLPs are in increasingly high demand. In fact, according to the BLS, "Employment of speech-language pathologists is projected to grow 25 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the large baby-boom population grows older, there will be more instances of health conditions that can cause speech or language impairments, such as strokes or dementia."
According to the BLS, SLPs nationwide have a median income of $80,480 annually or $38.69 per hour. When SLPs join NursaTM to find PRN SLP jobs, they often find the hourly compensation for a PRN shift is actually higher than the hourly wage they earn through regular full-time or part-time employment.
Demand for NPs Increasing Nationwide
Astonishingly, the demand for NPs outshines even the demand for SLPs. The BLS reports, "Overall employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners is projected to grow 45 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will occur primarily because of an increased emphasis on preventive care and demand for healthcare services from an aging population."
When faced with that statistic on the demand for NPs, is it any wonder that at NursaTM we are seeing more and more healthcare institutions in need of NPs to work PRN?
Download NursaTM - Your Skills Are Needed
Bottom line after reading this is the following: If you are a medical professional and have any doubt of your value and necessity to your community, you can safely put those doubts to rest immediately. Your work is important, and there is absolutely a demand for what you do.
Many of our PRN clinicians find relief from some of the common burnout themes in their full-time positions by working PRN shifts. The opportunities PRN work provides not only to earn more, but also allows you to change your working environment, to meet new people, and to take control over your professional career.
Download NursaTM today, and see what is out there, looking for you!
