How long should I work a full time schedule

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Hi everyone - How long does a new nurse need to work full time (36 hrs) before they can switch to part time (24 hrs or less)? Or, how long is it recommended they do so?

Also, if you work the night shift, does scheduling try to group your days together like Mon, Tue, and Wed or could they be all over the board (Mon, Thu, Fri)? Just curious.

Thanks in advance for all feedback!

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Specializes in Critical Care,Recovery, ED.

It totally depends on your employer. It can be all over the place on both your questions.

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I would recommend at least 2 years in your area. I worked 3 years on my unit before I worked per diem. Skills and judgement, and confidence are gained only by lots of experience.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I have only ever worked part time...approx. 24 hours a week. I have a family to consider and have no desire to work more than part time. Perhaps full time hours would help as far as experience, but I value my sanity more!

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I have only ever worked part time...approx. 24 hours a week. I have a family to consider and have no desire to work more than part time. Perhaps full time hours would help as far as experience, but I value my sanity more!

Amen! I'm a new RN myself (just graduated last spring) and work 24 hours a week. You can find jobs for new hires that are only part time.

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Have you seen any new grads working L&D part time?

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I hate it when scheduling schedules me for more than 3 days in a row. I prefer having a shift here and a shift there. I don't like working shifts in a row. I start feeling exhausted and burnt out that way.

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Specializes in NICU.

I work night shift and we self schedule, so you pick whatever you want ..... a lot of people like doing 3 in a row, but some people like it split up a bit.

As far as how long it'd be recommended to work full time before going to part time is probably pretty individual and you have to look at what you need.

Honestly, for me, I couldn't go part time yet and I never even thought of it as a new grad. I've only been a nurse on my unit for a year and a half, working full time, and I am just now starting to get somewhat comfortable. If I had started out at part time, then it would have taken quite a bit longer to start feeling comfortable.

L&D is already a tough place to start out in as a new grad just because there is SO MUCH to know. The orientation for L&D is extensive, at least at my hospital. Then once you're on your own, you are still learning ..... a lot, for a long time. So working part time could be done, but just know that it'll just take that much longer to feel comfortable ...... I'm talking years and years, especially in an L&D setting.

Just my :twocents:

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My first RN position was part time, 8 hr shifts. That's all I could get in Peds. Every now and then I'd pick up an extra shift.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
Have you seen any new grads working L&D part time?

I work Med/surg, but know quite a few nurses in L&D that work part-time and yes, even when they were new grads or had never worked L&D before. Of course, our facility is VERY small-not crazy busy like larger facilities...

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