New grad nurse - purposely work part time?

[SoCal student]

I'm graduating (BSN) in a few weeks. Don't regret going to nursing school, but I know it's not what I want to do forever (this applies to healthcare in general). I have various other interests. The problem with these interests is that they could never sustain a livable wage. My wife and I are financially stable and will likely remain that way, as long as I can bring in at least 40k.

So, I'm really interested in just nursing part-time from the get-go. I'm interested in public health, psych, non-profit (I suppose "less traditional" (read: hospital) fields?). Between the amount I can bring in doing my passion (i'll leave it purposely vague since it doesn't matter what it is) and working part-time, I'm pretty confident I could easily make enough to live happily.

Now, the question is: is getting part-time work (in those fields) as a new grad feasible? Is it something that NEVER happens? Is it likely?

In all honesty, if this worked out, I would likely leave nursing once the other stuff picked up enough to sustain my quality of life.

And, please, I'm not looking for anyone questioning my decision to enter this field in the first place (if that's the direction your response takes, you're not the kind of person I'm looking to for answers) - just hoping a few people might be able to address this particular situation. Thanks!

[33762FL]

"

it is pretty dubious that part-time nursing is going to pay 40k/yr in most places unfortunately."

you can absolutely make $40k working pt as a brand new nurse at my facility, and it's not even in a big, desirable city. you can make more than $40k if you pick up extra shifts. and we've got openings...

[SoCal student]

Thanks for all the comments - though varied, I find them very helpful. I have done my own research on it, but it seems Allnurses is really the best place to go for answers as going to the source (employers) usually yields purposely vague information.

One thing: I was talking about hitting a 40k/yr mark in order to be content...this would be total, as in Nursing + what I do on my off days. I can bring in about 15-20k a year (ok, there you go, I'm a musician - between gigging a couple nights and engineering others at my home studio, that's what I could make - peanuts!). So, I would be hoping to make about 25k working part-time.

I figured it was likely that I would need 1-2 years of full-time work in order to get myself into a more flexible position. It's just true that that's not what I want to hear right now. At the risk of sharing TMI, I recently suffered an extremely tragic loss just a few weeks ago (almost dropped out of school with 6 weeks left because of it), and I'm definitely still in 100% "life's too short, do what you love" mode - still hurting immensely but you have to appreciate the clarity somethings in life can bring, even if they're terrible.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

In my opinion, you'll do yourself a huge disservice working part time initially. As previously mentioned, you need those hours to become competent, at least in the first year, but arguably in the first two years, especially if you're working in a highly specialized area where you didn't get much clinical experience in school. My first two years as a nurse I worked a lot of overtime, and I feel that years later I still have an edge over people that started around the same time as I. If you only do something like 1 twelve hour shift a week, that can give you up to 13 days in between shifts. When you're learning clinical judgement and a new routine, that's too much time to be off.

[PeaceonearthRN]

Or, you could take 3 twelve hour shifts! :):yelclap:

[Despareux]

Most jobs available in my area are only hiring part-time. Full-time seems to pop up on a rare occasion. I'm hoping to work part-time somewhere and contingent elsewhere for a varied experience.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

I wouldn't suggest it, at least not for the first year or two. Most nurses do not start to feel confident until after their first year, and that's full time; you need to get as much experience as you can. If new grad orientation is three months, they are not going to extend it because you want to only work part time...there aren't a whole lot of "I wanted so I got it" as a new grad as it is...

[DutchRN09]

Orientation was FT, job is 0.8 FTE but not 40K. Going to 0.6 FTE after 2.5 yrs and Baylor package. So its possible, but may take a little while.

[LollygaggerRN]

Hey, SoCal-It can be done. Maybe not in a hospital- but you said you didn't want that anyway.

I am a new grad (Dec 11) and this is what I have put together: I work in a school two days a week during the school year, which is 15 hours per week. I am also the facility nurse for an assisted living facility that serves people with chronic mental illness. That job is 10 hours per week and I can go in whenever I want.....just need to get the work done. Also, I have an on-call offer on the table right now and am interviewing for a part time ASC PACU position this week. So, I will have three part time jobs.

I think I am the luckiest new grad ever. My jobs are going great. I am learning a lot, have tons of autonomy and am getting some very diverse experience. But, I think it is also true that my bachelor's in psychology and background in casemanagement is likely what really got me my jobs and the reason I have been able to navigate through them rather easily so far.

It will be interesting to see what you can pull off. When you start looking outside the box there is lots of part time work. By the way....I found all of my jobs except the school off of Craigslist! I never in a million years thought that would happen!

Good luck!!

[CCRNDiva, BSN, RN]

I was unable to secure a part-time position as a new grad but I was able to go to part-time after a few yrs. Recently, I found it next to impossible to find another part-time position even with several yrs of experience. One position I interviewed for was PT but once all the call hrs were included, I would have been working FT w/o FT benefits. I was told by several directors that they don't like to hire PT because they invest a lot into orientation and they don't reap the reward unless you work at least a year full time. I really wanted to leave my previous employer and was offered a position with great pay and benefits so I'm back to FT.

[One1, BSN, RN]

Yes, it is possible, but orientation will most likely be full-time as you will be following your preceptors' schedules.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I've been a RN for about 20 months now. I started part time in behavioral health and have been ever since. My orientation week was full time and my orientation was more than half time. Since being off of orientation, I've been half time which works out well for me. You can always pick up extra shifts to help you reach your 40 thousand year goal. I made 30 last year so if you work half time you may need to pick up a few shifts here and there but it can be done! Good luck!!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

you may also want to consider that most public health, school nurse, and some other jobs require a bsn.

sounds to me as if you should bite the bullet and do a year of full time (which could be 3 12's) and then take per diem/casual/agency slots at a couple of facilities so you can work as much or as little as you need to. agency work will likely pay you better on an hourly rate than working for the hospital directly, and you can still choose when and where to work.

one more caveat: per diem doesn't usually include benefits (if that matters to you) and isn't necessarily an answer to a maiden's (or gentleman's) prayer in terms of work. one grim year i worked a total of 6 shifts in three months. but other years, plenty o' time. if you can deal with that sort of flexibility (on the hospitals' parts as well as yours) then you have a reasonable plan.