If you’ve spent any time in nursing, you know flexibility is everything. Some weeks you want to hit the road and take on a travel nursing contract. Other times you’d rather stay close to home, recharge, and pick up a few shifts on your own terms.
That’s why more travel nurses are turning to PRN work between contracts. It helps fill income gaps, keeps clinical skills sharp, and gives you freedom to decide when and where to work
At Matchwell, we hear from nurses all the time who are finding this balance. They’re working with their nursing agency for travel contracts while using Matchwell to stay connected to local shifts that fit their schedule.
Why More Travel Nurses are Mixing PRN Work with Travel Contracts
Supplemental Income for Financial Stability
One big reason travel nurses are adding PRN work is to smooth out the financial ups and downs between contracts. The pay from travel assignments is great, but the time between them can be unpredictable. Picking up PRN shifts keeps income steady without the commitment of a permanent role.
Tip: Give yourself at least a week between contracts before picking up local shifts. That window gives you time to rest, catch up on life, and then ease back in if you want extra hours.
More Schedule Flexibility, On Your Terms
One of the biggest upsides of combining travel nursing and PRN work is having more control over when and how you work. You get to decide how full your schedule is and what kind of pace makes sense for you at any given time.
Some clinicians like to stack PRN shifts close together to make the most of a break between contracts. Others take a lighter approach, using PRN shifts to stay active and earn a little extra without diving straight into another high-intensity assignment.
You can shape your schedule around your priorities, whether that’s paying down loans faster, spending time with family, or just catching your breath after a long contract.
Ability to Sharpen Your Clinical Skills in Different Settings
Working PRN gives you the chance to practice in a variety of environments without committing to a long-term contract. Each facility has its own pace, team dynamics, and patient mix, so every shift helps you adapt, grow, and refine your clinical expertise. You might float between hospitals, outpatient clinics, and long-term care facilities, gaining exposure to new systems and workflows while strengthening your confidence in different clinical settings.
Challenges of Balancing PRN Work and Travel Nursing (and How to Manage Them)
Balancing both types of work takes some coordination. It’s worth it, but it helps to go in with a plan.
Challenge: Burnout (Protect Your Energy)
Saying yes to every shift might look good on paper, but burnout hits fast when you don’t schedule recovery time. The CDC has found that fatigue leads to more mistakes and less job satisfaction overall.
Try setting boundaries before you even start booking shifts. For example, limit yourself to three or four PRN shifts per week between contracts. If you find it hard to slow down, use your calendar to block time off the same way you’d schedule work. Protect that space for yourself.
Challenge: Overcommitting (Avoid Scheduling Conflicts)
PRN shifts are meant to be flexible, but schedules can change quickly when you’re working across multiple facilities. To avoid overlap, keep all your upcoming shifts and contract dates in one place so you always have a clear view of your schedule. A shared digital calendar or scheduling app can make this easy. Before you pick up new PRN shifts, check in with your nursing agency to confirm your next travel start date.
Challenge: Organization (Keep Credentials & Paperwork Updated)
Between different facilities, states, and assignments, paperwork can pile up fast. Staying organized keeps things simple and helps you stay ready for whatever comes next. Keep your important documents like licenses, BLS card, TB test results, and flu shot records stored digitally so you can access them anytime.
For PRN work especially, having everything in one place helps you pick up shifts quickly without delay. Matchwell’s platform makes it easy to upload and manage your credentials directly in your profile so you’re ready when opportunities open up.
Tips for Making PRN and Travel Nursing Work Together
If you’re planning to mix travel nurse staffing with PRN shifts, a few simple habits can help make the balance easier to maintain:
- Plan your year around your energy, not just contracts. Build in time to rest and reset. PRN work will still be there when you’re ready to jump back in.
- Communicate early and often. Let your nursing agency, local facilities, or PRN contacts know your general timeline so they can plan around your availability.
- Be mindful of taxes and overtime. Track your hours and locations to stay organized when it’s time to file.
- Use downtime intentionally. PRN work is perfect for filling the space between travel assignments, but it doesn’t have to fill every single day. Pick up the shifts that fit your goals.
- Keep learning. Each new facility and patient population is a chance to grow your skill set. PRN shifts are a low-pressure way to keep building experience between longer contract
Matchwell: Your Partner in Building a More Flexible Nursing Career
There’s no single blueprint for a nursing career. What works best is the version that supports your goals, your lifestyle, and your energy.
Working with a nursing agency for your travel contracts and using PRN shifts through Matchwell between assignments can help you create that balance. You can stay in control of your schedule, keep your skills sharp, and still have space to rest and recharge.
Matchwell makes PRN simple. You can browse open shifts directly in the app, see pay rates upfront, and work where and when it fits your life. It’s a way to stay connected to nursing without giving up your freedom.
That’s what makes PRN such a strong complement to travel nursing. It gives you flexibility and stability at the same time. Whether you’re between contracts, testing out a new facility or acuity, or just want local options, Matchwell helps you work on your own terms.
More clinicians are realizing they don’t have to pick one lane. You can build a career that works for you. One shift, one contract, and one well-earned break at a time.