Have you been thinking about picking up per diem or PRN CNA jobs nearby? Learn more about how you can shape your career with the inclusion of PRN CNA shifts.
Make the most of your capabilities, competence, and passion for caring for others in the healthcare field by working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) reports that the nationwide median annual wage for certified nursing assistants as of May 2019 was $29,660, or $14.25 per hour. That data, however, is taken by crunching wage information from a variety of economic power states such as New York and California where CNAs make $17-$18 hourly, and states on the lower end of the spectrum such as Louisiana and Alabama where they make $11.
This data is good for a baseline and it's even good for having realistic expectations in mind, but what it isn't good for is setting limits on your earning potential. At NursaTM, we believe in the truths that our healthcare professionals, RNs, LPNs, and CNAs should be valued, and can earn more. We are a PRN nursing agency committed to connecting clinicians to the healthcare environments where they are needed the most and can earn high-paying wages.
Here are three ways that you can pick up CNA jobs close to home. The key to each of these three things is that they involve working "pro re nata". That is a Latin term usually abbreviated as PRN, which means working on-demand.
1. Work Full Time as a CNA and Pick Up PRN Shifts on the Side
This is the most ambitious option available to you, yet it doesn't need to be done in a way that makes you burn out fast like a fountain firework. Let's go through the options.
If you're working eight-hour shifts four or five times a week, that still leaves you with two to three other days a week where you aren't working. Or, if you've got the stamina and are pulling three 12 hour shifts that leave you with four days a week that you aren't on the job.
As already stated, you don't have to work every single day of the week and never have one-off. Consider doing something that feels like you can stick with it instead. Pick up an extra PRN shift at your same facility, or another one near you every other week. Or if that still feels too much, once a month.
The great thing about PRN shifts is that if picking up an extra shift every other week is too much, you can easily adjust down. Bonus for you, you can adjust up and PRN every week. The point is to listen to your body, take care of yourself, and do what is manageable.
2. Work Part-Time and Pick up PRN Shifts on the Side
If working full time as a CNA and working CNA per diem shifts seems like too much nursing work for you, then give yourself variety. Work another job part-time, but hold on to your CNA credentials and pick up CNA on-demand shifts as it fits into your schedule. Alternatively, work a steady CNA job part-time while doing the PRN gig on the side but at other facilities to change up your scenery and coworkers. Diversification of your work setting can be a big boost if you feel in a rut.
3. Make Your Career as an On-Demand CNA
This one is perhaps the most daunting because it requires self-discipline, self-care, and planning, but could also be the most financially rewarding. Create your own schedule every week, and work only at the facilities or homes that you want when you want and where you want. If you want to work eight-hour shifts for seven days straight and then take seven days off, there is every possibility to do exactly that.
Pro Nurse Tips to Working PRN Successfully
- Give yourself a variety. You don't have to work PRN shifts at the same facility every single time you pick up a shift. CNA's fill such an integral part of so many healthcare environments that you might be surprised at how many medical facilities or agencies near you and employing CNAs there are.
- Plan your week ahead of time. Of course, you can spontaneously decide one day or night that you'd like to pick up a shift, but that's not the only way to go about it. Sit down before your workweek starts and take a look at your schedule. What days or hours do you have personal and family obligations? After you schedule those when are the gaps?
- Test a work culture before leaving your current job. You can also use PRN shifts as a way to test drive a car before you buy it. If you're thinking of leaving your current job, PRN shifts are an excellent way to get a feel for the people, the management styles, and the work atmosphere at another place without totally giving up your safety net.
Want more information? Learn the differences between CMA vs CNA.
Download NursaTM to Simplify Searching for PRN CNA Jobs
We are dedicated to simplifying the process of healthcare professionals looking for PRN shifts to supplement their income and boost their financial well-being. Because of that commitment, we have created a smartphone application that allows our clinicians to do complete the entire process from job search to landing the job all within our platform.
It's sleek and easy to use. We provide all our users with a secure digital portfolio that can house all their qualifications and compliance documentation. Scrolling through available PRN shifts at facilities near you is a snap, and with the press of an icon, you can apply for the shift, you can submit your certifications electronically, and you can even ask questions through our chat interface. You can do it all with us, and it doesn't cost you anything.
Download NursaTM today, register your professional profile, and get started maximizing your earnings right away.
