More than one job at once

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 10, 2017

What kind of job are you working now?

OR usually requires an extremely long orientation and no ICU in its right mind will hire a new grad in a part-time or contingent role. CRNA schools require a minimum of one year of full-time ICU experience...part time won't cut it.

You need to pick and choose.

Alexxoxox, BSN · Jul 10, 2017

What kind of job are you working now?
OR usually requires an extremely long orientation and no ICU in its right mind will hire a new grad in a part-time or contingent role. CRNA schools require a minimum of one year of full-time ICU experience...part time won't cut it.
You need to pick and choose.

I currently work as a CNA in a Med-Surg unit. I am set to graduate as an RN next May. I am just not sure which path I want to take to become an APRN.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 10, 2017

How difficult would it be to have 2 part-time RN jobs while also going to school? I want to become an APRN, but am unsure if I want to become a Surgical APNP or a CRNA. Both require different RN jobs. Would it be difficult to have a part-time OR job and a part-time ICU job( to see what interests me more), both while going on to school for my RN-BSN online?
I am currently single with no children, so I do not have family commitments to worry about.

Finding someone to hire you in both capacities part time is not likely, especially as a new grad. I think you're going to have to pick. Why don't you see what shakes out as far as job opportunities when you finish school?

RNperdiem, RN · Jul 10, 2017

Part time OR and ICU jobs are hard to come by( a lot of places offer per diem instead). If you have no experience in those particular areas, then part-time is really hard to come by because the orientation is extensive and it really takes a couple of years of full-time work to become competent.

Coordinating schedules could be a problem. OR often requires call.

Apply for jobs and see what is available.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 10, 2017

I currently work as a CNA in a Med-Surg unit. I am set to graduate as an RN next May. I am just not sure which path I want to take to become an APRN.

You are putting the cart before horse. Worry about boards and getting your first job first.

chacha82, ADN, BSN · Jul 12, 2017

Very. Usually one of the jobs ends up being the "less than," in that there are less meetings and demands, while the other one seems to encroach on everything.

OR is very difficult to break into if you don't have experience. Where I work your preceptorship is at least half a year, plus classroom time. So...they are not going to invest that type of training for a part-time position. I'm not saying don't do OR or ICU, but it may be hard to find a part-time position in either as an inexperienced nurse. If you have experience or have worked per diem OR or ICU, that could be a different story.