Help! day VS night shift, 8 hr VS 12 hr if want PRN later.

RoxanRN · Jun 10, 2005

What is the shift I should choose for my full-time job.?
I just started my new grad intership in ICU. As you know, new grad starting salary is mimimum. Due to much higher income tax as a single person and lower payscale, I wouldn't earn much if I do only full time job. I have to do PRN or part-time some other place!!

As a new grad, you will probably make more than you think you will (at least compared to tech pay). And there are ways to help off-set the income tax thing. Starting pay varies place to place. As a new grad, I made the same salary as any other in-coming RN (except they got a bit of experience pay - it's not much where I work).

After orientation is done or very soon, I will get to choose my permanant shift. I will never want to work weekends except for PRN. I want the shift that give me chance to find another PRN job (I don't care whether PRN is MS or ICU). I really want to work night shift for my full-time job due to $4 dollar shift differential but I think othe hospitals won't need a lot of PRNs at night, right???

Wanting to work nights probably won't be a problem. It's generally slower paced than days as you don't have as many doctors to deal with (at least face-to-face) and most procedures are done during the day. If you want to work in a hosptial, expect to work weekends. There are very few (if any) rotations in any department which do not include weekends. If you don't want weekends, check into OP surgery, clinics, etc.

8hr shift may be a bad idea because I will have less days to work PRN somewhere else.

Only you can make that decision. Don't over-extend yourself........

Just curious? In case I cannot find ICU PRN, I wonder if they will let me do the floor with if I have only ICU experience.

With only ICU experience, you can work most any MS or other department you want.

In fact, if I couldn't find anything PRN, I even consider go back to do my techs job PRN. At least, I can get $110/ day after tax..HA! HA!

Most places probably won't hire you as a tech as you over-qualified. The chances of you not finding a nursing job, though, are slim - unless you are picky and not very flexible with scheduling preferences.

enfermeria · Jun 10, 2005

Thank you RoxanRN2003. for your advice. It is very helpful. But there is one point that is not answered. Will there be a lot of PRNs for night-shift and weekend in other hospitals? My point is if I choose to work night shift for my full-time job, it is might be more difficult to find PRN somewhere elses.

RoxanRN · Jun 11, 2005

Thank you RoxanRN2003. for your advice. It is very helpful. But there is one point that is not answered. Will there be a lot of PRNs for night-shift and weekend in other hospitals? My point is if I choose to work night shift for my full-time job, it is might be more difficult to find PRN somewhere elses.

You'll have to check the facilities in your area. Some use PRNs heavily, some use agency, some have their own extensive resource/float pool. The advice I will emphasize, though, is don't over-extend yourself by working full-time AND PRN elsewhere. Ration the use of your 'full time' off. Leaving my part-time/PRN job (12-36 hours a month) was the best thing I have done for myself in a long time.

PJMommy · Jun 11, 2005

I seriously doubt you are going to find a non-weekend shift as a new grad in ICU. Sorry...where I work, everyone does their fair share of weekends - even those with 20 years at their position.

If you work ICU full-time, you can check into long-term/rehab acute care facilities for your PRN job. A lot of our RNs work PRN at facilities like these -- the patients are often on vents so they want ICU experience to work there. And yes, they have a lot of night-shift available. I'd also caution you that many places will not hire you for PRN work until you have a year experience as a RN.

enfermeria · Jun 12, 2005

I seriously doubt you are going to find a non-weekend shift as a new grad in ICU. Sorry...where I work, everyone does their fair share of weekends - even those with 20 years at their position.
If you work ICU full-time, you can check into long-term/rehab acute care facilities for your PRN job. A lot of our RNs work PRN at facilities like these -- the patients are often on vents so they want ICU experience to work there. And yes, they have a lot of night-shift available. I'd also caution you that many places will not hire you for PRN work until you have a year experience as a RN.

Actually, to work ocassionally on the weekend is absolutely fine to me. I don't mind rotating.

Before becoming a nurse, I had been working as a tech in ICU on the weekend and I have no social life. My hospital has Baylor system,(two day for 38 hours), which attract people to work weekend. We have adequate staffs (mostly nurses with family and children) on the weekend.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 12, 2005

I highly suggest that you complete your orientation and then see what you can handle with your schedule. You are going to have quite a bit of studying to do, as well as paperwork to keep on top of things.

Not sure exactly where you are working, but an RN salary is in no way similar to that of what a tech makes. Remember that you have deductions for your taxes now................that you did not have before.

RoxanRN · Jun 12, 2005

Actually, to work ocassionally on the weekend is absolutely fine to me. I don't mind rotating.
Before becoming a nurse, I had been working as a tech in ICU on the weekend and I have no social life. My hospital has Baylor system,(two day for 38 hours), which attract people to work weekend. We have adequate staffs (mostly nurses with family and children) on the weekend.

Plan to work regularly on weekends (ie: at least every other). A medical person's social life if what they make of it. Friends/family will come to understand the wacky time/days.

My 'base' rotation for two weeks (by my choice - we self-schedule) is Sun-Thu-Fri, Mon-Tue-Sat (12 hours shifts). I have the opportunity to tweek this as needed for staffing and/or personal reasons and to pick up any extra day(s) I chose (36 hours/week is considered full-time).

zambezi, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2005

I too would say that you should expect to work at least every other weekend (we have a weekend differential in addition to the NS diff). At my hospital, picking up an extra shift is not usually a problem...especially on nights (or even days at this point). I think that you should focus on getting through orientation first..I would go for 12 hour shifts...at least then you will have time off to pick up extra if you want it...with 8s you have to work at least 5 days a week, not leaving a lot of time for extra. If you are picking up extra you can specify that you want to work 8, 10, or 12 hours (at least where I work)...

KimberRN1 · Jun 19, 2005

Around here you can't get a PRN job unless you have one year of nursing experience period......in other words a new grad can't get a PRN job....Every hospital around here has that requirement.. Check PRN requirements in your area...As a new grad if you get weekends off...tell me what hospital you work at because I'm moving there!....Nurses who have worked on my unit 25 yrs work every other weekend....At first I was like ugg weekends, but actually it's not bad...it's laid back as management is gone...lol.....Our nurses also rotate holidays...if you were off Christmas last year...you work it this year, and it's the same for the rest of the holidays...but hey...if you want to make extra money volunteer to work the holiday for someone and get holiday pay!....

Also, if you can work PRN this year somewhere you probably can't do it at your hospital of full time employments as you can't be a full time employee and a PRN employee at the same place....

When we get hired we decide if we're going to work 3 12s at 36hrs or 2 12s and 2 8s for 40 hrs.....We also knew we were going to night shift after orientation, all new grads do......I chose 36 hrs because I only have to work 3 days vs 4 days for only 4 more hours.....

I think as a new grad your best bet for more pay is going to be picking up extra shifts in your unit for overtime pay.....I really don't think you're going to be able to get a PRN job this first year but maybe it's different where you live....

NrsBtrfly2005 · Aug 24, 2005

Good morning,

I am a new grad (RN) in SWFL and am currently finishing up the internship/orientation. In our 3-unit ICU, we are pretty short-staffed, so some new grads are being offered day and night-time positions. I chose to work nights due to the $4/hour shift diff. Also, nights seem to be without as many interruptions, which (in my opinion) creates a better environment for the new ICU RN to learn. Also, the entire staff (whether you have 1 or 30 years of experience) is required to rotate weekends and holidays. Yes, as new grads, I am sure we will get the brunt of it, however, everyone is expected to take their turns.

In our area, you cannot work PRN as a nurse (anywhere) without having atleast 1 year of experience. This makes sense because our PRN program allows you to float between departments, sometimes within all 3 of our hospital campuses. In my opinion, it is important for you to have experience before taking on this task because when you get to a unit, they don't always have time to train you, so you should have atleast some experience to make it through the shift! :uhoh3:

To make extra money, I agree with the other posts in that you should pick up extra shifts on the unit. If you hospital is anything like the majority, your unit should have plenty of opportunities for overtime.

Best of luck! :balloons: