Part-time nurse in the beginning?

verene, MSN · Dec 22, 2016

It depends on where you get a job. It can be easier to get a job as a full-time nurse when a new grad. Many places even if hiring for part-time or on-call status do require full-time hours during orientation. This may depend on lot on the management of the unit or facility you end up working for - some may accommodate a part-time orientation schedule others will not. If holding out for a part-time position with part-time orientation it may take you longer to find a position that will work with you, but it is probably not impossible to find.

AshleyBVA · Dec 22, 2016

It depends on where you get a job. It can be easier to get a job as a full-time nurse when a new grad. Many places even if hiring for part-time or on-call status do require full-time hours during orientation. This may depend on lot on the management of the unit or facility you end up working for - some may accommodate a part-time orientation schedule others will not. If holding out for a part-time position with part-time orientation it may take you longer to find a position that will work with you, but it is probably not impossible to find.

How long does orientation generally last?

verene, MSN · Dec 22, 2016

How long does orientation generally last?

Depends on the facility. In a hospital 8-12 weeks is typical. If doing a nurse residency program it may be the 8-12 week orientation, and then continued mentorship for the first 6 months to a year. (Depending on the program after orientation it may be possible to work part-time in the nurse residency). In other kinds of healthcare facilities orientation may be shorter.

AshleyBVA · Dec 22, 2016

Depends on the facility. In a hospital 8-12 weeks is typical. If doing a nurse residency program it may be the 8-12 week orientation, and then continued mentorship for the first 6 months to a year. (Depending on the program after orientation it may be possible to work part-time in the nurse residency). In other kinds of healthcare facilities orientation may be shorter.

Thank you so much, this is so helpful. I was thinking that the orientation period would be much longer (6-12 months), but I think I could pull off full-time for 8-12 weeks, and then hopefully transition into part-time hours. I appreciate your input!

Farrah 34 · Dec 22, 2016

Depends on the facility. In a hospital 8-12 weeks is typical. If doing a nurse residency program it may be the 8-12 week orientation, and then continued mentorship for the first 6 months to a year. (Depending on the program after orientation it may be possible to work part-time in the nurse residency). In other kinds of healthcare facilities orientation may be shorter.

Wow I didn't know anything about the orientation nor the mentor ship! Are we get paid during that time?

verene, MSN · Dec 23, 2016

Wow I didn't know anything about the orientation nor the mentor ship! Are we get paid during that time?

I am basing this response on the one hospital that I've worked at, other facilities may differ significantly. At that hospital new grads could be hired into a nurse residency program. Not all units participated, but many did.

For those units that did participate new grads had 8-12 weeks or so of 1:1 training with a preceptor. After the orientation, the new grad would carry a full patient load on their own. However, they would also be assigned a mentor or mentors on their normal shifts. Mentors were typically very experienced nurses who have the desire to educate new nurses and to be resources to their floor. They are paid a small incentive (50 cents/hour) additional for shifts which are worked with their mentee. Mentors acted as the first-line go to person for the new grad on the floor during the shift, and also held periodic check-ins (usually 30 minutes before or after a shift) to check-in with the new grad and offer support as needed.

During the first year new grads would also have continuing education. My understanding is that this education was 2-4 hours a month of either classroom or skills lab time focused on building knowledge and skills (particularly specialty skills) that would not have been covered in nursing school.

Anyone in the residency program is compensated with full-wages and benefits. I do believe that new grads entering the residency program at this particular hospital must commit to at least 1 year full-time employment in the specialty they are hired into, typically on either evening or night shift.

Other hospital residency programs may differ in set-up and contractual obligations. I think another one of the local hospitals had a longer orientation period (up to 24 weeks?), but allowed part-time work after orientation. New grads also had to sign a 2 or 3 year contract with that hospital and if they left before it was up would owe a substantial fine.

Google "RN Residency" and the names of local hospitals for your own location to see how they work in your area. Every hospital is a little different in how they run their program.

Farrah 34 · Dec 23, 2016

I am basing this response on the one hospital that I've worked at, other facilities may differ significantly. At that hospital new grads could be hired into a nurse residency program. Not all units participated, but many did.
For those units that did participate new grads had 8-12 weeks or so of 1:1 training with a preceptor. After the orientation, the new grad would carry a full patient load on their own. However, they would also be assigned a mentor or mentors on their normal shifts. Mentors were typically very experienced nurses who have the desire to educate new nurses and to be resources to their floor. They are paid a small incentive (50 cents/hour) additional for shifts which are worked with their mentee. Mentors acted as the first-line go to person for the new grad on the floor during the shift, and also held periodic check-ins (usually 30 minutes before or after a shift) to check-in with the new grad and offer support as needed.
During the first year new grads would also have continuing education. My understanding is that this education was 2-4 hours a month of either classroom or skills lab time focused on building knowledge and skills (particularly specialty skills) that would not have been covered in nursing school.
Anyone in the residency program is compensated with full-wages and benefits. I do believe that new grads entering the residency program at this particular hospital must commit to at least 1 year full-time employment in the specialty they are hired into, typically on either evening or night shift.
Other hospital residency programs may differ in set-up and contractual obligations. I think another one of the local hospitals had a longer orientation period (up to 24 weeks?), but allowed part-time work after orientation. New grads also had to sign a 2 or 3 year contract with that hospital and if they left before it was up would owe a substantial fine.
Google "RN Residency" and the names of local hospitals for your own location to see how they work in your area. Every hospital is a little different in how they run their program.

Thank you

i appreciate your answer

Extra Pickles · Dec 23, 2016

this is one of those times when It Depends can have a huge variance from one facility to another. To provide a contrast to what verene has posted, in some hospitals 4-6 weeks is it for orientation. Some facilities, many in fact, will not hire part-timers because it takes too long to get a new grad up to speed and once there if they drop to part-time don't keep building on their skills because they just don't work enough hours and before long they are dropped from employment altogether. SO much depends on where you might work and the needs of the facility.

I have personally never heard of any orientation being part-time. It's full time and then the expectation is you would work full-time. Exceptions to that would be an experienced nurse who can go through just the basic policy-and-procedures orientation and then be on their own fully when they get to the floor. For them part-time makes sense. For a brand new nurse it does not, it takes time get up to speed. Nursing school only teaches you how to safely start as a beginner nurse, it isn't going to make you qualified for anything other than to get a job where you can learn to be a nurse, hope that makes sense to you.

chacha82, ADN, BSN · Dec 24, 2016

I think one girl from my class was hired for part-time as a new grad, but she had to do the new grad orientation which is usually full-time hours.

Part-time positions where I work are not given to new grads. You orient full-time (I was July - October) and completed a New Grad program of a year that is a meeting once a month. Not every place is like this but it made me feel very supported throughout my first year. Your best bet if you choose nursing is to be prepared to work full-time a year or two, then go part - time.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Dec 25, 2016

I would definitely work full time after graduating. You have so much to learn & get acclimated to that part time or PRN just won't give you the experience. Not to mention some employers might not higher a new grad into that position.