Part time realistic?

RNperdiem, RN · Oct 9, 2012

I have been a very satisfied per diem nurse for the last 10 years. Before I changed to per diem, I worked full time in my unit for 3 years and a year before that at another hospital.

Conditions and management are excellent in my unit, and I hope to stay there a while.

I would not recommend going part-time or per diem until you have at least a couple of full-time years of experience first. Nursing school is only the beginning, and you need the time to develop a strong foundation of skills and the confidence to back it up. Experience is the only way to achieve that.

Hospitals vary in their practices, but I log on to the unit scheduling site and schedule myself for whatever shifts or days I want. If they don't need me, I can get cancelled or floated, but generally I don't. I work a lot of weekends and the odd night since it pays more and eliminates the need to pay for childcare.

I have to work one summer and one winter holiday.

The pros are the ability to choose your own shift and schedule, ease in combining work and family, and generally higher hourly pay.

The cons: Per diem, especially if they float exist on the outside of unit culture. It can be lonely. You will either need to be on someone elses health plan, or buy your own health insurance, same thing with retirement funds. Per diem are the first cancelled or floated if unit census drops. Per diem is considered a step off the career track unless it is a second job.

Morganalefey · Oct 9, 2012

I work part-time (24hrs/week) and like it very much. I work 3, 8 hr shifts and could do 2, 12 hour shifts if I were to work midnights. We do self-scheduling, so every month I write in the days I wouldlike to work. Now, I don't necessarily always get exactly what I would like, but my boss definitely does her best to accommodate everyone.

I do work every other weekend and every other holiday. At my hospital, everyone does that except administration and PRN nurses.

I am eligible for all benefits and PTO, but all I take is the retirement plan and the PTO, as I am covered under my husbands medical.

We do have several PRN nurses that seem to enjoy being able to pick exactly what they want to work and no weekends/holidays unless they choose. Unfortunately, they are the first ones to be called off work when we have low census, so if you need ot make a certain amount of money every week, PRN may not be a good choice for you. They also receive no benefits or PTO.

Hope that helps!

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Oct 9, 2012

I don't know that a hospital will hire a new grad on for PRN or part time. New grad nurses generally have to go through an extensive orientation on a full time basis for at least a month to six months depending on specialty. PRN and part time workers generally are experienced nurses who can hit the floor "on the fly" so to speak. As a new grad you won't be able to do that necessarily only working a day or two a week. It will be a painful process for you, and the facility. I'm not sure that you won't find someone who will hire you, but be careful what you are wishing for and don't try to run before you can walk. My best advice is go through an official new grad internship, get some experience, and then look at the options that best fit the lifestyle you want.

Nurse ABC · Oct 11, 2012

Our hospital hires new grads for prn and flex-time. It's actually harder for a new grad to start full-time at our facility because there just aren't as many full-time positions available. I work flex-time (not a new grad) but they flex me up to full-time whenever they need to which is quite often. I'm straight 12hr days, no weekends, and every other holiday. Each unit is different though. We have some units that work 8 hr shifts, every other weekend, every third weekend, whatever. It's up to the management how they run their floor. We have our own weekend crew which is nice. You would be required to work full-time during orientation at our hospital which lasts anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months depending on the area.

GeneralJinjur · Oct 11, 2012

I work in a high turnover facility that hires a lot of new grads. If you can get a full time position on one unit, your learning curve will be abbreviated compared to working prn and being floated to a different unit each shift. Over time, the prn nurses appear to be slow and stupid (beyond what we expect for new grads) and it's primarily related to always switching around. I have seen this affect them politically because their slow reputation prevents them from being hired into full time positions, though I do not believe it is a warranted reputation.