Part-time or Full-time work?

allnurses Guide · Oct 22, 2004

Oh my gosh, advantages of part-time?! Being home with my kids. Being able to go to their sporting events or school events. Not feeling so tired that I don't want to make a nice dinner for my family. Getting to read a book for leisure. Staying up past 7 p.m. Decreased stress. I could go on and on.

I went to part-time after having my last child, who is 3. I was at home with my older kids throughout their childhood until I went back to school when I was 38 to become a RN. I worked full-time and burned myself out after that. After maternity leave of 6 months, I knew I would NEVER work full-time again and it is such a blessing.

My goal now is full-time mom. :)

Best wishes.

steph

friendlymulan2004 · Oct 22, 2004

WOW! Thanks a lot for the response!

We're almost on the same age bracket and I believe we have the same mind,too:p I just read the email from the human resources recruitment specialist and informed me that the Nurse Manager is looking for several part time nurses to work on the postpartum unit and only 1 full time position available. I will let you know what will happen next...

Any suggestions from our colleagues who works as a Fulltime nurse? :nurse:

Oh my gosh, advantages of part-time?! Being home with my kids. Being able to go to their sporting events or school events. Not feeling so tired that I don't want to make a nice dinner for my family. Getting to read a book for leisure. Staying up past 7 p.m. Decreased stress. I could go on and on.
I went to part-time after having my last child, who is 3. I was at home with my older kids throughout their childhood until I went back to school when I was 38 to become a RN. I worked full-time and burned myself out after that. After maternity leave of 6 months, I knew I would NEVER work full-time again and it is such a blessing.
My goal now is full-time mom. :)
Best wishes.
steph

RNKPCE · Oct 22, 2004

I worked 4/5ths as a new grad, then 3/5 after first child, 5/10th after 2nd child, 2/5th once my oldest got to middle school and more after school activities, and just this past April to per diem but working 2/5th most pay periods. I work evening shift.

The advantage when kids were young was little or no daycare. My mother in law watched my kids from 2-4:30 1-2 afternoons a week, then my husband was home. The need for her assistance dropped over the years due to afterschool activities, playdates etc. Now I have a high schooler and middle schooler and they either have practice afterschool, homework center, or my neighbor gives them a ride home. It was also great having a totally involved husband. I remember going on a girls night away and all my other friends had to call home several times to remind their husbands to do this or that. For me it was no different than a night at work. I have also worked on the same unit for over 15 years and am still not burned out. I occasionally missed some of my kids things over the years but being per diem now I can pretty much avoid missing most things. I remember one afternoon when my kids were young being at the pool with them with wonderful 80 degree weather and feeling so fortunate I didn't have to work full time.

I also wonder how the mom's who work full time manage it all. Although I think some are more organized than me because they have to be.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Oct 22, 2004

Due to fiscal and family reasons I am the part time bread winner..LOL! One, if I make full time wages, I really suffer in tax class! Also, I have a younger child (10) and need to be home for his saftey, activities, homework, food, and other mommy duties :)!

The only thing I would suggest by past experience, please get your part-time status in writing with how many hours you will work per week. I have been asked to work near full time (like one hour shy each pay period) recently when I thought it was understood that I am strictly part time (3 days a week total, 8 hour shifts..this is my max)...and they basically are using me beyond this agreement due to shortages and I don't recieve any benifits! Work me full time, I expect bennies...but they trick me each time...so really get this in writing!!!!

Second, make sure that you get your schedule in a decent time frame! I got my last months schedule 1 week before the month..and they schedule a month in advanced! Very hard to schedule Doc appointments, activies, errand running, days off with my husband (paramedic full time), and well...talking to my bank about my impending home loan!!!!

I have also been told that since I am part-time, they will pick my schedule for me...and if it doesn't fit my schedules at home, then I still must find a trade!!!!!! NO! I am part-time and should have a say in my schedule to some degree! I have my schedules ready 2 weeks or more in advance of them getting theirs out, and I give them a copy only to find out this holds little if no merrit to them. If you are particular about your days, again, get this in writing and come to an agreement about when you need to give them your schedules so they may make theirs.

Because I didn't get any of this in writing, I am basically out of luck...so if these matter to you...get it in writing before hand so that your employer and you are on the same page from the start, and they aren't put into a position to schedule you more than you should be! WISH I had!!!!!!

laurakoko · Oct 23, 2004

changed to PRN here after 2 babies in 2 years! It is awesome having the time, and the choice of when I want to work, and being home with them. They are only itty bitty once, and I don't want to miss it. I will work for the rest of my life. :) Making enough money to pay the bills, and buy diapers/formula.

lyceeboo · Oct 23, 2004

I'm full-time trying to go to part-time to save my sanity for myself and for my family. As a part-timer managment will try to guilt you into working extra shifts so that you could end up with full-time hours and part-time benifits. (What TriageRN said.)

The RN's I have seen go to part-time DO seem to lose some of thier status as far as managment is concerened. They are the last to be called in for thier yearly evals. if they get called in at all. One year our Nurse Manager finished our evals and raises went into effect while the part-timers had to keep reminding her that thier evals weren't even done. Managment DOES NOT understand the value of having happy, rested part-time nurses on thier units. (This is what I've witnesses time and time again.)

Family comes first! Good luck and congrats!

Due to fiscal and family reasons I am the part time bread winner..LOL! One, if I make full time wages, I really suffer in tax class! Also, I have a younger child (10) and need to be home for his saftey, activities, homework, food, and other mommy duties :)!
The only thing I would suggest by past experience, please get your part-time status in writing with how many hours you will work per week. I have been asked to work near full time (like one hour shy each pay period) recently when I thought it was understood that I am strictly part time (3 days a week total, 8 hour shifts..this is my max)...and they basically are using me beyond this agreement due to shortages and I don't recieve any benifits! Work me full time, I expect bennies...but they trick me each time...so really get this in writing!!!!
Second, make sure that you get your schedule in a decent time frame! I got my last months schedule 1 week before the month..and they schedule a month in advanced! Very hard to schedule Doc appointments, activies, errand running, days off with my husband (paramedic full time), and well...talking to my bank about my impending home loan!!!!
I have also been told that since I am part-time, they will pick my schedule for me...and if it doesn't fit my schedules at home, then I still must find a trade!!!!!! NO! I am part-time and should have a say in my schedule to some degree! I have my schedules ready 2 weeks or more in advance of them getting theirs out, and I give them a copy only to find out this holds little if no merrit to them. If you are particular about your days, again, get this in writing and come to an agreement about when you need to give them your schedules so they may make theirs.
Because I didn't get any of this in writing, I am basically out of luck...so if these matter to you...get it in writing before hand so that your employer and you are on the same page from the start, and they aren't put into a position to schedule you more than you should be! WISH I had!!!!!!

RNKPCE · Oct 23, 2004

I don't think all hospitals think lesser of their part time staff. I know mine certainly doesn't. As a matter of fact I think out of 32 RN's only 3 work full time with the majority working between 3-4 days per week. While writing this letter I got called by staffing office to see if I would work tonight. I have been called everyday except one, and the evenings I was already scheduled, to work this week. Each time I was either not home or said no. I work part time because I want to work part time. I dependable for those shifts I am scheduled for and am rarely sick. My friends hospital gets 1.5 times pay for call in extra to work. We get 10% extra or nothing if you are per diem like me. If I would get 1.5 times extra it might be more appealing. I still would have issues though with my family. I can't leave my kids stranded at school with no ride home. We are a unionized hospital which may be why there is less pressure to work more. Our work status is contractual.