New Grad In Need of Good Advice

Orange Tree · Apr 11, 2011

If you're going to work full time, it would probably be better to work full time in one place. A lot of places don't hire new graduates part time, either. As for the other questions, they are all about personal preference. I would hate to be to work at 7AM, but you might love it.

bubblymom373 · Apr 11, 2011

Days - Minuses- Bosses, family, MD phone calls, lots of orders resdent gone to activities or therapies have to hunt down to give meds. Pluses- Usually able to get in contact with MD during office hours, lots of staff to help if things start going bad, abliity to get meds from pharmacy with little trouble.

PM- Minuses- When attempting to contact MD usually get on call who doesn't know resident, families with concerns that they want addressed now and no boss to refer them to, admits that come at 1600 with orders that need to be clarified and MD gone, Pharmacy that closes at 1700, no extra help if things start going bad.

Pluses- Bosses leave at 1800 so no calls from them, residents easier to get meds to due to less activities, last 2 hours of shift usally slower due to residents being in bed. Usually younger staff on this shift

Personally I prefer nights but that can be scary for new grads due to usually you are the only RN in the building.

How many hours you work would be personal preference.

jesuslovesme · Apr 11, 2011

Thanks for the great responses

happyinillinois · Apr 12, 2011

Take 7-3. 3-11 shift you have families calling/visiting with lots of questions, unable to get ahold of physicians, supervisiors etc., no/little activites for residents so they get really anxious, SUNDOWNING. Youalso miss dinner with your friends/family every time you are working, parties, tv shows etc. I'd take days in a heartbeat!

athoes · Apr 12, 2011

I've been working for a couple of months. 3-11 shift in a medical rehab. I originally wanted 7-3 but they didn't have openings. I've come to really like 3-11. At my facility, we just call the dr. directly if we need something so that's not a problem. Of course, we try to just make one call for all the floors unless it's an emergency. I started out part time and was working another part time job at the same time on a different shift and it just go to be too much. The learning process is much slower if you don't work as much. I just started full time and I wish I had been able to from the beginning. I think if you can get full time, do it and then drop down to part time later if you want to. As a new grad, you want to get as much experience as you can so when you aren't working so much, you know what you are doing. I worked one 11p-7a shift and I would not recommend it. You don't learn anything besided paperwork.

Also, I'm young so I like the 3-11 because you can go out any night of the week and it's not a big deal because you can sleep in. I think for a new grad, 7-3 or 3-11 would be good experience.

jesuslovesme · Apr 13, 2011

I will stick with 3-11 shift full-time, I will gain experience and don't have to worry about having another job to concentrate on.