Negotiating schedule as student nurse

[PocketSize, BSN, RN]

SORRY FOR THE LONG READ!

Hi all,

I'm due to start 2nd semester of nursing school next month. One of my goals this summer was to land a hospital job (which I've recently done). It will be in the unit AND hospital I'd like to work in when I graduate so I'd be stupid to pass the opportunity up! It is a 20hr/weekly position, part-time where I'll be working 10hr days every other weekend, alternating 2 week days on weeks where I have weekends off.

I'm due to start orientation in 2 weeks and would like advice for negotiating the schedule. We do self schedule and that sounds easy BUT my lecture/clinical schedule is all over the place!

I'd be working 10hr evenings but sometimes lectures end at 5pm so it'll run into work shift time. I called my supervisor to clarify what days she was actually looking for when I learned that I will NOT be able to work every Fri/Sat (the most convenient days for me). She was firm when she said every other Saturday and a weekday.

How do I go about negotiating my days? I WANT to work weekends! LOL. A lot of people want weekends off. Any advice is appreciated. I haven't quit my current job yet and I want to be sure this new position will work out before I talk to my current boss. Either way, I plan on going PRN at my current job. The only problem is this will put me in trouble financially.

If the new position is not willing to accommodate my nursing school schedule, I'll have to turn down the job which would KILL me since it'll get my foot in the door but I will also be out of money without a regular 2-day/week work schedule.

Thanks again for any words of wisdom.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I would ask if you could have set 2 days on the weekdays, then negotiate your schooling to accommodate.

I am not sure what else could be done.

I would tread carefully as if this is the facility/unit you hope to work, be mindful of how you go about it.

Have you tried to speak to the manager regarding the fact you are in nursing school, and if it is feasible to have a set schedule beyond the every other weekend?

[Miss Infermiera2b, BSN, RN]

I work as a medical scribe in the ER. During nursing school I will work overnights on the weekend and possible the end of the week too, depending on my schedule. If you could get a job in the ER, it's very flexible.

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Most of the techs in my er are in nursing school. Their work schedule is based around their class schedule. That's how my manager does it because guess who we hire when they pass the boards? 😀

And yes, we've had techs who worked weekends only.

[mirandaaa]

Just politely explain your situation and ask if there are any options that you can discuss. Maybe see if they could hire you as PRN for the time being or see if there is another unit with a different schedule you could try.

I hope you get it figured out!

[Jaykalkyn, BSN, RN]

Does the new job know that you are in nursing school and that you aren't quite sure what your clinical schedule will be? That is how I approached my ECB job in the ED. I let the manager know that I do not know what my schedule will look like once school started back and she was willing to work with me. Just ask, you never know until you do.

[myelitenurse2b, LPN]

Perhaps 5hr shifts ... up to 20 hours is open for anything less than...

[cdsavannah59, CNA]

Working as a student nurse, I would assume that you were hired as a Pct student nurse. Self scheduling sounds easy as you said, and it can be if the others that work in same position work out a schedule that works for everyone in your position. So you need to speak with them and work out the details. Otherwise if they are not agreeable it is usually who gets to the self schedule first and then you have to select something that might not fit with your school schedule. I work as a PCT and had a great schedule because me and other tech have agreed preferences on the days we like to work. Where I work its first come first choice when schedule opens to preschedule your work days , preschedule is set for six weeks each schedule period. We recently hired a new tech for our shift because the other tech took a desk job, so lately I have had to work on days that were usually my day off. I'm hoping to speak with her soon so we can come to an agreement on what days we want, otherwise I'm logging on to self schedule the minute it becomes available and taking what I usually do. Best wishes in your nursing career.

[EDtech89]

If you were hired as a student nurse (Nurse tech/PCT) they should know that working around school is a requirement. The reason they have these positions is to keep you once you become a nurse...it saves them a lot of money in hiring a nurse and training them, and also gives you the security of a job when you graduate. I work as a nurse tech in the ED and I am also entering my second (CRAZY) semester in a couple weeks. I will be working every sunday and Monday, and I am able to pick up extra shifts as needed. Ive never been told no for work as a tech lol...that sounds crazy to me. Definitely speak with your supervisor

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

It's a double edge sword since a lot of students want that time period too. I would aim to be flexible as much as you can and open up Sundays too if you can. Ask if you can contact other people too. I would also take a peak and see if the school has multiple lecture times and try to condense the schedule. Such as work Monday/Wednesdays and school Tuesday, Thursday. It is no guarantee though. I was fortunate to be the only one in school as a unit clerk/paramedic. I did both.

[PocketSize, BSN, RN]

Thank you so much for the answers guys! It actually all worked out.

Yes, a lot of people on the unit are in nursing school so they've been very accommodating. All the best to everyone in the current semesters :)