Do you have to work full time when you get done with school?

NVrst5d · Aug 3, 2007

Hi - I'm wondering if you have to work full time when you finish school. Do hospitals ever hire a new grad for 8 hr night (11-7) shifts for like 24 hours a week? I don't want to work full time because I have kids.
Thanks in advance for all your responses. :)

Hello! I am sure you can find someone who understands your situation and will tell you in your interview what is available. They might do like 2 12 hour shifts if all your looking for is 24 hours. Tell them you have been in school and you've missed time from your kids. If they don't do 8 hour shifts, then move on. Don't settle or you will be miserable! Good luck!

ukstudent · Aug 3, 2007

Some hospitals might, but all the hospital that I know will not hire new grads unless they work full time for at least a year. It takes about a year of working full time to become comfortable in whatever area of nursing you go in. It is possible that you could find a hospital that will allow you to work 5 x 8hr shifts a week.

BookwormRN · Aug 3, 2007

My facility was more than happy to hire me for 3 evening shifts a week (3-11). True-it might be easier as a new grad to work full time, but with a family, that would be too difficult for me.

fultzymom · Aug 3, 2007

Many people work only PRN or contingent, whatever the facility calls it. At our hospital they go by percentages. You have to work 50% to qualify for benefits which would be like 20 hours per week I think, which would amount to 40 per pay period.

moongirl · Aug 3, 2007

what I have seen is that even if you get hired for a part time position, you may have to work full time thru your orientation time- possibly 4-6 months. Trying to get enough experience when you first start out doesnt happen if you are only working 3 days a wekk.

nursenpnk, RN · Aug 3, 2007

I am not trying to discourage new grads from working part time, esp if you have a family, but I know that for me working full time was very beneficial because it helped me to really reinforce what I had learned in school, learn new skills on my particular unit and get acquainted with the facility and staff, I work three days a week granted its 12 hr shifts and that is working out well for me, however i do not have kidders and i know that lil ones make going to work a lil bit harder. Best of luck to you, hopefully you will find a hospital that will meet your needs, that is the wonderful thing about nursing, it is pretty flexible esp after you get that first year in, doors start to open :-)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2007

Good luck. Finding a unit that still does 8 hour shifts might be a challenge as many have gone 12-hours. But it certainly isn't unheard of. Here we have many part time people, including new grads.