New RN in need of Advice

[SammyRN2012]

Hi RN's

I need some advice. So I am a new RN who just graduated and passed the boards. I worked full time in nursing school and excelled academically and in the clinical setting without any issues (I have a 3.6 GPA). I will be continuing on for my RN-BSN and will be done by next year. As you all know, the job market is very tough for new RN's. I was just offered a per diem position in a rehab facility close to my home which is where I really wanted to work. After thinking long and hard, I've decided to currently keep my full time position, while taking on this new per diem position on the weekend (as needed). I don't have the luxury of leaving my full time job because I have a mortgage and bills to pay. I am also taking 2 online nursing classes this fall. The rehab facility is wonderful, and supports new RN grads with a great training program, and I will have a mentor/ preceptor throughout my first year. Training will be full time for 1 week ( I will use my vacation time at my present full time job), and then they will work with me to setup a schedule to complete the training there on. I understand that new RN's ideally should work full time the first year to get the hang of things, but I think this will work for me. I am a fast learner, and did extremely well in my clinicals. My current job is very relaxed, and non stressful so it's not an issue which is why it makes this so much more feasible. Some people think it's great I'm doing this, other people think I'm nuts. The way I see it is that people thought I was crazy doing the nursing school/working full time thing but I proved them wrong. My goal is to at least get some experience while I'm finishing my BSN. Any thoughts? Advice? Thanks!:

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

You have found a job as a nurse. That is good....many have not found positions. Your first year after school will be challenging if you worked full time and probably more so part time. This will not be a walk in the park.

If this is what suits your needs....I wish you the best! Do what is good for you. Good luck

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

It is a perfectly fine plan. Who knows, hours may open up sooner than you think..............

[mdgale]

havinggraduated myself with my associate’s degree 10 years ago i know yourfrustrations. then anyone with rn behindtheir name could simply walk into any area of nursing they fancied; icu, l&d, or, homehealth, etc. times they are and havechanged. no longer do associate degreednurses have the ability to walk in jobless and walk out with an offer letter inhand.

i am glad that you have secured aposition with a local rehab facility. youstated this is the type of work that you would like to do so; i feel you are onthe right track. many times prn positionsturn onto ft positions and very shortly, i might add. i would work this on the weekends for now, beingmindful that a bsn program will take time in the evenings. you won't have the weekends available to utilizemuch for studying.

that being said, iwould anticipate a ft position coming open in the next few months. at that point you might be able to relinquishyour ft position and work ft for the rehab facility, thereby gaining more handson nursing experience and also focus more on your bsn program.

bestwishes and please post when you receive a ft position.

m. gale, rn, msn, rac-ct

nursing consultant