What does "contingent" mean?

Please forgive my ignorance, but I'm trying to find an entry-level position in a hospital before I start school. I see some positions listed as "contingent", and I have absolutely no idea what that means. I haven't applied to any of those positions for fear that they may not offer enough hours for me to be able to live on. I'm probably way off, so if someone could shed some light on what it really means I'd truly appreciate it!
Contingent generally means PRN--meaning you are not guaranteed hours and there are no benefits available.

I wasn't sure what it meant so I looked it up.I gather that it is not yet confirmed.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~–adjective1.dependent for existence, occurrence, character, etc., on something not yet certain; conditional (often fol. by on or upon): Our plans are contingent on the weather. 2.liable to happen or not; uncertain; possible: They had to plan for contingent expenses. 3.happening by chance or without known cause; fortuitous; accidental: contingent occurrences. 4.Logic. (of a proposition) neither logically necessary nor logically impossible, so that its truth or falsity can be established only by sensory observation. –noun5.a quota of troops furnished. 6.any one of the representative groups composing an assemblage: the New York contingent at a national convention. 7.the proportion that falls to one as a share to be contributed or furnished. 8.something contingent; contingency.

Some hospitals use "contingent" as their term for "prn" or "per diem" positions -- meaning there's no set, guaranteed number of hours; they ask you to work when they need extra help. Not a good choice if you need dependable, stable income and standard benefits. On the other hand, it's better than nothing (which, in the current employment climate, is saying quite a bit) and it gets your "foot in the door" at that facility -- you would generally get preference when a full-time position becomes available.

Quote from Super_RNContingent generally means PRN--meaning you are not guaranteed hours and there are no benefits available.

Quote from MsPebblesAhh, exactly as I thought. I definitely need a steady paycheck, so I guess I'll continue to skip over those positions. Thank you for the response.

Quote from MsPebblesAhh, exactly as I thought. I definitely need a steady paycheck, so I guess I'll continue to skip over those positions. Thank you for the response.

if the hospital does research/grants it can also mean "contingent upon funding".

Quote from ItsTheDudeif the hospital does research/grants it can also mean "contingent upon funding".

Contingent means work that other nurses do not want, when they do not want it and where they do not want it.It also means that the person taking the "contingent" job is treated like a disposable entity or worse just treated like dirt.Contigent work is the worst assignment possible under the worst possible conditions and sometimes not even possible at all.

Quote from MsPebblesAhh, exactly as I thought. I definitely need a steady paycheck, so I guess I'll continue to skip over those positions. Thank you for the response.

Quote from erroridiotContingent means work that other nurses do not want, when they do not want it and where they do not want it.It also means that the person taking the "contingent" job is treated like a disposable entity or worse just treated like dirt.Contigent work is the worst assignment possible under the worst possible conditions and sometimes not even possible at all.

Quote from erroridiotContingent means work that other nurses do not want, when they do not want it and where they do not want it.It also means that the person taking the "contingent" job is treated like a disposable entity or worse just treated like dirt.Contigent work is the worst assignment possible under the worst possible conditions and sometimes not even possible at all.