Looking For a Weird Kinda Schedule

[EquuszARNP]

Hiyas:

OK, I'm still a student, don't eat me. But I'm expecting to be a licensed RN by March and I'm trying to do some forward research about the kind of job schedule I'm going to be shooting for the first year.

I have 18 years experience as a paramedic, and I work offshore as the medical officer for an oil-exploration ship. I'm the only medical provider for 50+ crew and I have an expanded scope: I suture, prescribe and dispense primary care meds, etc, under standing orders from a physician director. The schedule is 5 weeks on/5 weeks home.

Thing is, I make about the same as I would on a new-grad RN salary (provided I can find a job). My company's not going to pay me much (if any) more $$ once I get my RN, so what I would really like to do is find a place (or places) to work as an RN 2 or 3 shifts per week during each 5 weeks home. That would really let me get ahead: doing this for a year would eliminate a bunch of debt and also get me RN experience to open up some higher paying doors and make the transition to full-time RN at home.

The thing is, it couldn't be a regularly scheduled part-time position, since I'm completely unavailable every other 5-week period. I think the days of being able to walk into any facility and name your own schedule are over. Can anyone advise if schedules like this are possible? Is this what the "float pool" is? Any other suggestions? I'd especially like to hear from any of you working in the PNW (Oregon and/or Washington).

I'm also close to finishing my B.S. in Psych with a goal of getting into one of the distance FNP programs like Gonzaga or SLU. But that's down the road yet.

Thanks!

--Equusz

[josinda421]

wow, sounds like you've got alot of exprience. I think the best thing for you is Agency job. You can work your 3 days a week 12hour shift and decide when you would like to work again. OR you can also contract with an Agency. SOme agencies have contracts that last a month or six weeks and you can decide when you want to take on the next contract.

[EquuszARNP]

I thought about agencies, but it looks like none of them will take a new grad?

[Jules A, MSN]

With your experience you should be able to talk yourself into a PRN position even as a new grad. Our casuall nurses are required to do 3 shifts a month but they are pretty laid back especially after they know and love you. Good luck.