Can new grads work part time?

hopefulwhoop · Jul 15, 2011

That is location-dependent. It also depends on the manager of the floor/unit. There are numerous new grads on my floor working part-time.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Jul 15, 2011

I am just getting ready to start my science courses to hopefully start nursing school next fall. I am a career changer with a bachelors degree, but have been home mostly raising my family for the last 8 years.
In 3 years, when I am finished with school, my thought was to work 25 hrs a week or so (preferably two 12's so that I can still be there for my family. I just read on another thread, however, that new grads can't work part time. Is that true? Or is it location dependent? I am in an area where the job placement rates for our local nursing schools are in the high 90's or even 100% within six months of graduating. So there are a lot of jobs here.
Thoughts? I need to know whether I need to adjust my expectations for after graduating.

Depends on where you work, but if jobs are abundant in your area you should have no problem finding a .6 (three days a week, every other weekend) job in LTC.

DemonWings · Jul 15, 2011

I wish!! I would love to be part time, but if in my area the new grads go through extensive orientation which is full time, two 8s and two 12s a week. Also I had to sign a contract that said I would have to refund the cost of my orientation (10K i think) if i left the hospital OR went to part time in the next 3 years.

Hopefully since your area has multiple jobs availble you will find something that works for you

tma0312 · Jul 15, 2011

I wish!! I would love to be part time, but if in my area the new grads go through extensive orientation which is full time, two 8s and two 12s a week. Also I had to sign a contract that said I would have to refund the cost of my orientation (10K i think) if i left the hospital OR went to part time in the next 3 years.
Hopefully since your area has multiple jobs availble you will find something that works for you

WHAT?? A contract to refund the cost of your orientation if you leave?? No way, no how, not ever would I do that!

Maybe if it was a tuition reimbursement, I would, but a place of employment should be responsible for the cost of orientation, period. Has anyone else heard of this?

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Jul 15, 2011

I was a new grad hired as per diem. So it just depends on the employer. THough through orientation I put in full time hours.

jlpsu · Jul 15, 2011

I wish!! I would love to be part time, but if in my area the new grads go through extensive orientation which is full time, two 8s and two 12s a week. Also I had to sign a contract that said I would have to refund the cost of my orientation (10K i think) if i left the hospital OR went to part time in the next 3 years.
Hopefully since your area has multiple jobs availble you will find something that works for you

Are you in a nurse residency program? Or is it just typical orientation that is that strict in your hospital?

I am already looking into my (hopeful) program's tuition reimbursement policies to see if there is a minimum number of hours required...and what that is (since I'm sure there is a minimum).

I've talked to a lot of local nurses who tell me that a lot of people work part time at the hospitals. I am in Pittsburgh, and according to the nurses I talk to, I should have no trouble working part time when I get out of school. Granted, that's 3 years from now and any number of things can happen, but all things equal - I should have no trouble.

What area are you in?

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Jul 15, 2011

WHAT?? A contract to refund the cost of your orientation if you leave?? No way, no how, not ever would I do that!
Maybe if it was a tuition reimbursement, I would, but a place of employment should be responsible for the cost of orientation, period. Has anyone else heard of this?

oh yeah, I've heard of it. When the economy tanked, requiring new grad to sign contracts was pretty common in my area.

Blondenurse83 · Jul 15, 2011

I was able to work part time (not by choice, it was all I could get!) on a rehab unit as a new grad. I would say it's definitely possible! :)

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2011

WHAT?? A contract to refund the cost of your orientation if you leave?? No way, no how, not ever would I do that!
Maybe if it was a tuition reimbursement, I would, but a place of employment should be responsible for the cost of orientation, period. Has anyone else heard of this?

It's pretty common from what I've seen for hospitals offering a residency-type orientation to require the new grad to sign a contract with a penalty of some sort for leaving before the set time is up. The hospital DOES take responsibility for the cost of orientation...unless the new grad decides to bounce early.

noc4senuf · Jul 15, 2011

Being a DON in LTC, I do hire new grads but for nothing less than a .6

This is because I don't think they can get a routine, hone theri skills or know what to do with a smaller position.

DemonWings · Jul 15, 2011

It was kinda scary to sign that contract knowing that in three years anything could happen, but All the hospitals in my area (southern California) have their new grads sign these contracts.

And it is a residency program of sorts, you do two classroom days (the two 8s) Then two days on the floor, the orientation is 24 weeks (i think??) and you have 4 different preceptors each having a different amount of experience, first you are with a semi new nurse (1-2 yrs exp) then 5-8 yrs then 10 yrs then 15+. I guess it sucks to have to sign the contract but I was desperate for the job, especially since it was straight into the ICU as a new grad:)