Can I get part time (1 or 2 shifts/wk) as new grad?

[lbarnes1]

I am a part-time nursing student (RN in about 2007), but I think of myself primarily as a stay-at-home mom. Eventually I will want to work full-time, but not until my young children are a lot older. Hub has good job and I don't foresee having to work full-time, and I do really feel that I am needed at home as he does NOTHING at home and one son has some learning problems.

After graduation, I would like to work only about 1 shift per week, definitely not more than 2. What areas will this be possible? I am willing to do anything (except psych or corrections which scare me), but will any facility be willing to train me when I don't even want to work the 20 hours or so per week that is considered part time?

If I offer to work every other weekend, and since I won't be working enough to qualify for benefits (don't need), do you think I can get hired? I know I cannot work on a float basis or agency, because I won't know what I'm doing enough as a new grad. Would a hospital unit be willing to orient me just to have someone on staff who could be called in occasionally? (I could work full-time during an orientation period if it didn't last more than a few weeks.)

Anyone else attempt to work VERY part-time as a new grad? I would really appreciate hearing about situations you've heard of and all suggestions.

[QuilterLPN]

I am also a fairly new grad, I graduated (ADN) in June of this year - I had a job lined up before I finished school. (I spent alot of clinical time in this particular facility, and they said they would put me to work as soon as I finished my boards). I am a casual-status employee, for exactly the same reasons that you want to be. My husband is in law enforcement, and works a wacky schedule. We have 3 kids under the age of 12 at home. I want to be a present parent - most of the time! So, my manager was willing to have me orient part-time (most folks orient full-time, and that really is a good thing as far as getting time-management and skills and computer stuff understood). But now that I am off orientation, I am working pretty much when I want to work. Our facility has self-scheduling, and put down the days that I want to work, and maybe I get to work those days, and maybe not. I am working approximately16-24 hours a week, which is what I wanted.

So, you may not get exactly the department that you want, or the shift that you want at first being a new grad. And you may need to orient full time. But if you can get the right position, it is possible to work 1-2 days a week.

Good luck with school. I've been having school withdrawal this fall - first fall in years that I haven't gone back to school (I did school part-time too).