Full time or Casual

Unless you're set for life, steady income and knowing your schedule ahead of time is much better than the uncertain.

Full time...you need the day in and day out exposure to varied experiences in order to hoan those new skills!!

I say when starting out as a new grad nurse no! I would get all the experience and stay a breadth of current trends in your are of practice like getting certified and attending workshops or seminars. After a few years working in the NICU I went straight agency and travel. Before the buffoonery with insurances I purchased my own insurance and retirement. I was not going to be at no job's mercy. I worked when I wanted too I did travel assignments taking a month off in between. Life was good! Then my area started to dry up and I ended up having to take a staff position. I thought the world ended but it was all good I pursued my BSN and now I am in the FNP. I realize my area of nursing is very fickled, NICU gets busy then slows down and so forth. If you work in Labor & delivery, ICU ER and OR you can pretty much write your ticket. I am currently working part time now and only do my scheduled days. I prefer to do registry more because again the freedom. I honestly work benefits is an oxymoron but keep an open mind think outside the box to make your life easier. :-)

I don't know anywhere that would hire a new grad to work PRN.

As a new grad RN, I was thankful to have a full time job. I was able to learn a lot more and was able to practice on a lot of nursing skills. Consistency really helped me as a new RN on the floor. I can't imagine having a different schedule, different preceptor, different floor, different co-workers, etc. every time that I'm working.

But after 9 years of bedside nursing, I really love being a per diem traveler. Consistency doesn't really matter much now because those 9 years gave me the knowledge and skills necessary to perform as a safe and efficient nurse. I could work on any floor, with different co-workers, and on different shifts. I could pick the schedule i want, plus i only have to work 1 weekend and 1 holiday. No scheduling rules. No pressure. Stress-free! However, as a new nurse, casual status/traveler may be stressful. I know one new grad RN who worked full time for a year and switched to PRN. She loves it!

Thank you for the replies. Maybe it's different here in Canada. We are often hired casual as new grads. But the work hours offered equal full time or greater. We receive benefits as well. I am told that after finishing my final practicum in the ER, that I may be offered a job there. I like the prospect, but if I choose casual, I could also work on another unit like mental health, which I quite like. Or I could work full time hours in the ER. Or I could work the shifts I choose (that are left over from FT/PT). I like the idea of getting experience working on different units, but wonder if, as you you say, a set schedule would be nice too.

Where I work, new grads are not hired for casual positions. If the hospital is going to put forth the effort of orientation, it is for full-time staff. Casual nurses are given minimal orientation.

There is some flexibility for full-time staff if there is self-scheduling.

I have worked per diem since my children were born. It works because my husband works full time, carries the medical insurance, and my pay is extra, not money we depend on. I fund my own retirement account.

Per diem is not for you if you require a certain amount of money each month, need the medical or retirement benefits, or are career oriented.

Hmm. I'm going to have to look into this further. I'm told the vast majority of our grad nurses are hired casual. I am going into masters so I thought this would be a good fit. But you are right. Not sure how that fits in with preceptorship/orientation programs.