Job Interview Tuesday - Night shift PRN or Part time

[KG MSN RN CCRN CEN, MSN, RN]

I have a job interview on Tuesday for a job as a PCA in the ER. The head of HR said that she has PRN and part time (24 hrs/week) available night shifts. I have never had to work a night shift, and never worked while in college. I will be full time in school, with classes such as: care of the adult (med/surg), nursing research, and concepts of community, with one med/surg clinical. How hard is it to work night shift PT while in school? I would prefer working saturday and sunday so I don't get my days/nights too mixed up during the week. From your experience, how hard was it, and was the experience worth the fatigue?

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I love part time nocs!! I worked per diem as a CNA when I was a student taking prereqs and during my LVN program. I now work per diem as an LVN while I'm finishing my RN prereqs. While I work any shift, I really do love nocs!!!

So many nurses in AN said nocs are better for new grads and I totally agree. I love the pace of nocs. I stay busy but not super overwhelmed.

I like per diem as opposed to part time because I can kind of pick when I want to work and I can work less when I need to due to school.

The only draw back is the circles under my eyes I think from not sleeping at the same time each day.

The way I make nocs work is that I only focus on sleeping and eating before I go in at night and when I get off. Those are my priorities. I do laundry and cook in advance. Plus I only do nocs when my son is at his fathers for the weekend.

[KG MSN RN CCRN CEN, MSN, RN]

Thanks for sharing! So you are saying that PRN positions are better for having more freedom when creating your schedule? That would be great because I will most likely only be able to work weekends. If PT positions would allow me to do my two 12 hr shifts on the weekend, then that would be great also. I don't need money or anything. I am just looking for experience that will help me in the future.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I've been fortunate to have per diem jobs that allowed me to decline shifts that don't work for my schedule without repercussions. So, yes, per diem has been very flexible.

If I could get a set schedule of 2 x 12 hr shifts on weekends or 3 x 8 hr shifts that fit my schedule that would probably be better....but short if that, I really like working per diem. They need me enough that I get enough work and it works around my schedule.

[SweetSouthernLove, ASN, BSN]

I work part-time night shift and it can be time consuming. In my job, we have self-scheduling where you schedule the days you would like to work but ultimately staffing and the NM have the say of what days they need you based on what the unit needs at that time. I would definitely start out PRN if you don't need the money. If you can get a fixed schedule then do that and nothing else, some people work because they need money and benefits, if this isn't your situation just use it purely for experience purposes. Don't overwork yourself - you will get some experience this way and still have a decent amount of time to recover. Working 12 hour shifts even part-time each week is demanding and with a full-time course load it is extremely time consuming. I have two girlfriends who do this and they literally have time for nothing else - not even their families. I say PRN is the way to go.