New Grad Wanting....No NEEDING extra days, Am I wrong? (long post)

[jaznia15]

I am officially a new grad, graduated in May and received my license in June. I was blessed to have found a job before graduating and have actually worked there since May (nurse extern until I got my license #). I am going to be out of orientation after next week and I work the busiest floor in the hospital. We have the capacity for the most patients (66 but we are not supposed to go over 50) because we still have semi-private rooms (which should change in the next 2 to 3 years per Joint Commission standards). Nursing was my passion since before I graduated from high school and before it became the "best" job to get recession wise. I ended up getting pregnant my senior year of high school and I thought my dreams were shattered. But with hard work I was able to do the adult thing live on my own, work, and go to school obtaining my degree 4 years after graduating high school. Believe me it wasn't easy but I made it. I am giving this background information so that the readers can understand my new plight. Working two jobs at times and having to get student loans to make ends meet helped me get through school. But after getting my job I thought my check would be the only thing I would need. BOY WAS I WRONG. After benefits (total of $200), retirement (5%), and taxes are taken out of my check I have just enough money to pay bills and buy gas to get me to work. I have expressed this time my DON and ADON of my floor and also my educators who make my orientation schedule. Of course I could not get any extra days during orientation which I understood completely. But now that its nearing the end of my orientation the majority of these people are trying to encourage me to take the 4 patient route which most new grads do for a month or two after orientation is completed. The normal patient load is 5 patients and you cannot pick up extra shifts until you take on the full patient load which I have requested to do right after orientation. My DON is very supportive of me doing this but the ADON and educators are saying they don't want me to kill myself or burn myself out. I understand where they are coming from but doing my 3 days a week has me feeling stressed out the 4 days I'm off just because I cannot do ANYTHING because I have no $. I have been fortunate in that my food stamps will not get cut off until next month BUT I don't even have money to afford to buy groceries. I just want to do 1 extra day a week which is only 4 days a week and I don't feel this is unreasonable or a "burn out" situation. But am I moving too fast. I am not overconfident in the least bit but I do feel I am adequate enough to take care patients by myself with maybe a question or two here and there but this would be the same case if I had 4 patients to take care of. My biggest problem is that I'm a single parent which means I pay 100% of all my bills. I'm the only single parent out of the new batch of nurses most are married or cohabitating with parents or boyfriends. I just don't know what to do, I know after I get experience I could pick up extra shifts no problem but I need the extra shifts now! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[jaznia15]

I also should've mentioned that I worked as a CNA in a nursing home during my time in college before obtaining my degree. I worked two jobs the first two years while getting my core classes and worked two jobs the summers in between nursing school. I worked 10 to 16 days (the most I've ever worked) in a row with doubles somedays just to make ends meet so I'm used to working especially physical labor.

[Jules A, MSN]

I have always worked two jobs before nursing and as a new grad. Go for it if your supervisor will let you have the extra shifts and kudos for wanting to bust butt and get ahead for yourself and your child.

[jjjoy, LPN]

If you won't be able to pick up extra shifts right away, maybe you can come up with some other potentially-income producing activities for your days off?

How about child care for neighbor/friends' children? You get to spend time with your child and make a little money at the same time. Many moms would much rather leave their kids with another mom than a teenager and may be willing to pay a decent amount.

Hit some yard sales then sell on E-bay?

If you cook regularly, you could multiply the servings and offer pre-made meals for other busy moms/professionals who don't have time.

[pomegranate]

maybe pick up a prn job at a nursing home (they pay more) or a home health gig? that way you get extra cash without possibly overwhelming yourself at your main job.