PRN staff, short for “pro re nata” or “as needed,” play an important role in maintaining flexibility and efficiency across the healthcare industry. PRN nurses are employed (or in some cases contracted, more on this later) on an as-needed basis, usually by a staffing agency.
They help healthcare facilities maintain safe nurse-patient ratios during unexpected callouts or fluctuations in their census. PRN staff can bring more diversity, enhance expertise, and combat burnout, making them a valuable resource for your organization.
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First Things First, What are Per Diem (PRN) Nurses?
In short PRN employees are hired to fill temporary positions or gaps in schedules, they’ll cover staff for any reason, but the most common reasons are planned vacations, callouts, or an influx of patients.
For nurses, PRN agencies offer them flexibility most nurses don’t get as staff nurses. This is extremely valuable to nurses who are juggling commitments outside of work.
The Flexibility Advantage of PRN Staffing
Flexibility isn’t just for nurses, it’s also one of the biggest benefits to healthcare facilities that use PRN staff. Instead of being locked into a certain number of full-time staff members, calling staff in on their days off, or making them work excessive overtime, facilities can adjust their workforce to meet demand.
Imagine the last time you were managing staff during unpredictable surges in patient volume. PRN nurses and other healthcare professionals allow you to maintain ideal staffing levels, without the commitment of hiring new staff members.
The adaptability of PRN nurses helps maintain better patient care while alleviating the burden on permanent staff, reducing your facility’s risk of burnout. PRN staff can also step in during emergencies or last-minute callouts, which provides you with peace of mind and continuity of care.
How PRN Staffing Saves Costs
PRN staffing offers significant cost savings compared to hiring full-time employees. Full-time employees come with a lot of additional costs, like benefits, paid time off, and training costs. That’s already a lot of money saved, and we didn’t even mention the cost of recruiting, vetting, and running background checks. Think of all of the things your team could be doing with that time.
On the other hand, PRN staff are paid on an hourly basis. Agencies like Cascade provide their full-time PRN nurses with benefits and handle all of the recruiting and onboarding costs.
Using PRN nurses, facilities with tight budgets can balance quality care with their financial responsibilities. PRN workers reduce the need to pay overtime rates or scramble for last-minute replacements during staff shortages.
Enhancing Workforce Diversity Through PRN Roles
PRN staff come from a lot of different backgrounds which can help increase the diversity of your staff. They often bring fresh ideas, new perspectives, and unique problem-solving skills that they gain from working in multiple care settings.
Diversity isn’t just about backgrounds—it’s also about expertise. PRN employees have usually had a lot of different experiences and can share some of the knowledge they have gained from different patients with your team. The extra diversity and knowledge creates better decision-making and promotes a more inclusive work environment.
Combatting Healthcare Burnout with PRN Staff
Nurses are burning out faster than ever–it’s creating a significant issue in the healthcare industry. Nurses experience long shifts, high stress, and emotional exhaustion daily. PRN staff can help combat this problem by lightening the workloads and providing more support for full-time staff.
By incorporating PRN employees, facilities can reduce their overtime hours and make sure core staff maintain a healthier work-life balance. This doesn’t just improve employee morale but also enhances the quality of care patients receive.
Spotting and Addressing Burnout in Healthcare
What is healthcare employee burnout?
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. In healthcare, it’s often the result of demanding schedules, high patient loads, and the pressure to deliver optimal care. If it’s left unaddressed, burnout can lead to decreased job performance and compromised patient outcomes.
Signs and symptoms of burnout
It’s important to be able to recognize burnout. Some of the symptoms include:
- Persistent exhaustion
- Reduced motivation
- Increased cynicism
- Decreased job satisfaction
Spotting these symptoms early allows for timely intervention, benefiting both employees and patients.
Causes of Burnout in Healthcare
The main contributors to burnout include:
- Long working hours
- Emotional strain from patient care
- Lack of support and resources
Addressing these issues through PRN staffing helps distribute workloads more evenly and creates a more supportive work environment.
How to Hire PRN Staff Effectively
Here are some tips on how to choose the best PRN agency:
- Look for Trusted Partners: Partner with agencies known for their track record and client testimonials.
- Assess Candidate Quality: Ensure the agency provides qualified, credentialed staff. Keep in mind that 1099 agencies only contract their nurses, which means they have little quality control and can’t manage their staff.
- Evaluate Communication: Agencies should communicate clearly and respond promptly to staffing requests. This should be your preferred method of communication. Not just them having a way to communicate. Biases aside, we have had a lot of clients switch from using 1099 agencies to us because of how poor the communication was. Test out the agency by calling them at random times, and see how long it takes to get to the correct people.
- Review Onboarding Support: A good agency streamlines the onboarding process for seamless integration.
- Check Availability: Make sure the agency can meet your specific scheduling needs, even at short notice.
By selecting the right agency, healthcare facilities can build a reliable PRN workforce that meets their staffing needs effectively. Learn more about what to look for in a PRN staffing agency here.
The Future of Healthcare Staffing with PRN Professionals
PRN staff offers unparalleled flexibility, cost savings, and diversity, making them an important part of modern healthcare staffing strategies. They help facilities manage fluctuating workloads, prevent burnout, and maintain high standards for patient care.