Is It Crazy to Have 3 Part-Time Jobs?

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Hello, all! I'm back for some advice. I work nights on a med-surg unit and absolutely, positively HATE nights. There's no chance to go back to days for quite a while, and I've reached the end of my rope. I have the opportunity to work a couple of part-time jobs, but one of them wants me to stay with med-surg until I get a year of experience, then they will put me on full time. That would mean a med-surg job part time, and the other two jobs part time. I've been soley working med-surg for seven months. I don't want to outright quit the med-surg because so many jobs require a year of med-surg experience. But am I insane for taking three part time positions? One of the positions is only temporary. After my year in I'd switch to the job that said they'd give me full time. I want to experience other areas of nursing as I suspect the hospital isn't for me. Any thoughts?

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I don't think it's crazy, you are only trying to reach your goal. It sounds difficult though, just don't get yourself burnt out! Good luck!

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Specializes in Neuro.

Working multiple jobs is really complicated sometimes. Before I started nursing school I had 2 part-time jobs in home health. I meticulously arranged my schedule at both companies so they wouldn't overlap, but it never failed that one or the other would change my schedule on me (like, when I came into work **that morning** I was informed I was working until 2 instead of 12, but I had an appointment at the other company at 1). Both companies knew I worked for the other (due to a lack of hours, I had to pick up the second job, but due to owing the first company a year of my time, I couldn't quit all together). I found the juggling act to be more trouble than it was worth.

I'd say if you know what your schedules will be in advance and are 100% positive they won't change at the last minute and you feel you can handle it, sure. But I have found that many times the part-timer's schedule depends on which days the full-timers are off, so you may wind up with irregular scheduling that can throw your plan out of whack.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I have done the multiple job thing before too. I treated one as the primary, they got first dibs on my schedule. Secondary one filled in the other days. They both knew I was working another job and that I may not be available if they tried to swap my days. If one swapped me off and didn't need me, I could usually pick up at the other. It worked fine for me, and didn't last long because one picked me up full time.

Something to consider, do you get insurance/vacation/any benefits at either one as a part timer? My current hospital ONLY pays insurance/benefits if you are full time. If one does and one doesn't, I would give the one who does the priority in scheduling.

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Hey I know what your going through... I was working full time evenings at a nursing home and then picked up 3 days a week at a clinic,, which is now 5 days a week. Then I found this other job that i really wanted.. but u basically picked your own availability.. so for the month of march i was working all 3 jobs... it wasn't so bad until my schedules started overlapping. I have taken a 3month absence from my full time nursing home job to see if I like the new job.. so if not I wont loose my senority at the nursing home.. good luck

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Specializes in ICU-Stepdown.

Insane? No, but you probably will be a little 'touched' by the time you're done :)

When I received my letter of acceptance to nursing school (RN) I had just purchased my house (was a few days before my very first mortgage payment), my classes were going to be night (two nights a week, and clinicals on weekends), my job (hauling fuel in tractor/trailers -I hauled bulk fuel to phosphate processing plants) of four years let me go with the statement "we don't need no college boys". -While I would be the first to explain that my (ex) boss could certainly have benefitted from an english course, I was in deep and wasn't sure where to turn. I held down three part-time jobs until I had progressed through the 'GI' portion of the program, and was able to hire on full-time as a PCT -and then held my regular job, and a part-timer (pool position) at another facility until just before I graduated.

You aren't alone. But you are going to be rather busy.

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

Just make sure they don't feel it is a conflict of interest, if you are working for a different hospital or provider agency.

I think it will be busy, but there's no way to see whether it will work for you until you try.

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I am currently doing the multiple job thing also. Before nursing school I would have never dreamed of working two jobs, now I am doing it. I work 7 days (5 weekdays at an ALF, and weekends at LTC). People criticize, but my pay outweighs the negativity LOL!!

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Specializes in SICU.

It's certainly doable, but you're gonna be SUPER busy!!

Good luck, and don't let yourself get burnt out!

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