PLEASE I HAVE A QUESTION about nursing scheduales...

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi, I was thinking of leaving the teaching field to become an RN! I've already got accepted into a BSN school, now the problem is if I'm brave enough to take that leap. I love the children and public schools, not too much complaints here. But, my only complain is having to be a full-time teacher, as there isn't very many (if any) part-time teaching jobs. My dream is to work in NICU!!!! and I was wondering if it is possible to become a NICU nurse and only work 1 day a week. Per-diem? Or even part-time. I don't need to work and my husband has great benefits...so I'm not too concerned about that. But, teaching just takes 50+ hours a week and it's sooooo tiring. So exhausting. Grading papers at home off the clock continuously. Can someone please tell me if it is possible to work 1-2 days a week in a specific floor/department without being a "floater"? I live in California and don't know too much of how it works. ALSOOOOOO biggest concern here...if I were to only work 1 day a week, would they still give me all the holidays?????? even if i'm only 1 day a week? Thank you all in advance for any help, opinions, and comments. It's greatly appreciated!!! :)

Beverly.

Good luck getting every Christmas off. Not gonna happen- even if you DO offer to work ALL the other holidays.

I think you have a VERY idealized view of a nursing career. Do yourself a huge favor (and I am being completely honest and serious here)- spend a 12 hour night shift shadowing a NICU nurse. Now, imagine doing this 3-4 nights/ week for a couple of years until you qualify for that dreeeeeam one night/week position.

I tried to ask a NICU department and few nurses if I could shadow, and they all told me that was very unlikely on any floor. Already tried that. Believe me, I'm desperate to shadow so I can know what it's really like. And thanks for the reply, I need the brutal honest truth, because all I keep hearing from other people is "you'll totally be able to do that in nursing", some being nurses.

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A good friend of mine is a NICU nurse and she laughed out loud when I showed her your post. She said you're dreaming if you think you're going to get a per-diem only position in the NICU, especially no Christmas shifts. You have to pay your dues and learn your specialty full time before they'd let you near that unit. Who wants a nurse who has "honed" their craft 1 day per week coming near their critically ill baby? Sorry to be blunt, but your priorities are all wrong if that's what you think nursing is going to be like. Keep your day job.

I don't know whether to find this offensive about my "day job" and all, or to just say thank you for the brutal honest truth, since I have absolutely no idea what nursing truly is. But teaching is one of thee hardest jobs anyone can have. It's not just a 36 hour work week. LOL I WISH it was that little of hours, with that much time off. If only!!!! It's a contracted 40 hours a week. That's just contract alone, that's not to mention all the staff meetings and political $*@! we have to deal with. 30+ kids that are out of control, not eating at home, getting abused, parents who don't care if they can even identify letters in the alphabet, kids who constantly curse you out, and/or get physical with you. All the lesson planning, BEFORE and AFTER school that we can't always do at home on our couches, IEP's, paper grading. Also, walking out of work at 6pm when we're getting to work at 7am…that sounds like about 11 hours to me. That's just one hour away from a 12! Except this is M-F (hence, why SO MANY teachers have left the teaching field to become a nurse)! Not to mention all the work we take home after 6pm when we're leaving work, to only come home to not starting dinner on-time or spending quality time with the family because we have so much grading to do. I'm not saying it's much more difficult than nursing by any means what so ever. I'm just saying it's not just a "day job" ;). Lol, I haven't worked a day job since I was in high school. And if you're a good Teacher, you're working roughly 60 hour weeks (most of us are), but only paid for 40! I also never said I wasn't willing to work ANY Christmas' at all…I wouldn't mind working them every so often, but to work every Christmas is such a horrible schedule to have, as my family comes first. I also never said I was hoping to graduate and immediately land a 1-2 days a week in a NICU job. I'm well aware of having to put in work and build my seniority, like any other work place! Sorry, maybe I didn't clarify that, and I really should have. I wouldn't mind at all putting in the work I have to, in order to get where I want to be. All I wanted to know was if there are nurses out there who work per diem or part-time in a NICU unit, not having to work EVERY Christmas. But from what I got from you, is that there is no such thing as a part-time OR per diem nurse. Bummer. Thanks for your input!

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I have to agree with the harsh realities that have already been stated.

On a broader note, new grads in CA have it ROUGH. I have extensive prior healthcare experience, including military medicine, where my scope of practice was wider than it is now as an RN. I have put in over 800 job applications since March. Because of my prior experience, I have an infusion job, which right now, is about 6 hours a week, and could end at any time, as my patient is in poor health. I am also working health fairs, about 4 hours every 2 weeks, at $20/hour in the San Francisco area. With a BSN. NO hospital work yet, and I have applied for TONS of positions. Everything within 5 hours of me, which would mean spending half of the week away from my family, if I am lucky enough to get 3 12 hour shifts together each week, so that I can get that coveted "acute care experience" that is absolutely, 100% required for any hospital position. Because I do at least have these jobs, and will be doing some flu clinics this fall, I am able to narrow my hospital job search to departments I like, but they're extremely popular, highly sought-after units, and I would be damn lucky if something pans out, frankly. It is eating up ALL of my free time, aggressively applying for jobs and following up on every single tiny job lead I hear about. I have worked my connections, and even with very good connections (one very high up at Kaiser, for example), I STILL have to have experience in acute care. Plus, I am working on getting all of the certs necessary to be eligible to apply for these units. That'll be a good $1500-2000 just for that.

Right now, new grads will pretty much take anything that will take them. You can forget about NICU for a few years, because you'll need experience, NRP, PALS, possible your CCRN, plus a ton of experience to even have your resume get to human eyes (robots scan our resumes, and many of them never even reach a human). Don't count on any particular holiday off, getting off work on time, getting the shifts you want or even as many hours as you want if you're new and per diem. Many new grads get frustrated at the lack of hours when per diem because they have zero seniority. So they're not getting the experience or consistency they need, let alone enough income to pay the bills (which doesn't sound like a big concern for you).

Check out the NICU forum and the First Year of Nursing forum. You'll get a tiny taste of what I mean.

Wow, that's a real bummer. Sorry to read that! :( Good-luck to you. I definitely don't mind putting in a few years of course to get to where I want to be, or however long it takes. I should have mentioned in there I know I have to build my seniority to get to where I want. My main concern was just, if per diem exists with not having to take in ALLLLL the holidays every year, like as in we're not just everyones extra mat. :) But thanks for letting me know about Cali, had no idea competition was that stiff. I really hope it works out for you, I'm sure it will!!!! :)

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I think your dream is pretty unrealistic. If money isn't an issue then you might be better served by quitting your regular teaching position and just doing some private tutoring. That way you could set your own hours.

As far as the NICU, you could ask if the hospital allows volunteers in that area. Some places allow volunteers to assist with feedings and hold/comfort the less sick babies who's parents aren't available.

It might be the best of both worlds.

Thanks, definitely after reading this post and all the unhappy work scheduales they are enduring, teaching doesn't sound too bad after-all, haha. Your advice is actually a very good idea! Thanks, I think I'll be looking into part-time teaching too, as soon as any come up available. :) Thanks for your post!

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Agree with this post....this may be your best bet.

As others that are in your area and have longevity in this business, I think you needed a few reality-based posts; you also seem very appreciative of them :yes: , so here's another one:

In this market, you have to take what you can get; also, nursing is not a profession where you can just come out of school and immediately slide into a position and work with such flexibility that one day a week would be feasible; you are a novice-nursing wasn't like that many years ago, and is certainly not like that NOW. :no:

No nurse manager is going to want a nurse to work one day a week; they need people at the bedside, especially in such a specialty as critical care; heck in any specialty; it is expected that one is to commit to a full time position, or at least 20 plus hours/week, especially those with no experience; they are hiring for the sole purpose that the expectation is that you are available to do bedside experience at least 3-5 days/week, no more no less; and that's anywhere, not just your dream position.

You may have to seriously rewire your plans; you may not end up in your specialty of choice for many years; can you see yourself in this business if don't get that position? That will be your answer to whether you want to be in this business.

Thanks, I agree with all you said. And I wouldn't mind putting in my work before I can land with "dream job" if ever given the opportunity. You gave some good perspective on that, don't think I can work anywhere else for several years without getting where I truly want to be. You're right, rewiring my plans is probably the best. There's a lot to think of. Bottom line, I wouldn't mind putting in SOME Christmas', working night OR day (there's no preference, don't know why a previous poster emphasized on that), or some weekends, and putting in work. All I pretty much wanted to know if I would have to work all holidays as a per diem, and if there is such thing as a part-time NICU nurse, but according to everyone else there isn't? hmm? But thank you, and thanks for your sincere advice and opinions. Definitely going to think about that comment you made "you may not end up in your specialty of choice for many years; can you see yourself in this business if don't get that position? That will be your answer to whether you want to be in this business." Super helpful, thank you.:)

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Specializes in Oncology.

The fact that you responded to all these posts without biting back even once tells me that you'd probably make an awesome nurse! ;-)

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
I don't know whether to find this offensive about my "day job" and all, or to just say thank you for the brutal honest truth, since I have absolutely no idea what nursing truly is. But teaching is one of thee hardest jobs anyone can have. It's not just a 36 hour work week. LOL I WISH it was that little of hours, with that much time off. If only!!!! It's a contracted 40 hours a week. That's just contract alone, that's not to mention all the staff meetings and political $*@! we have to deal with. 30+ kids that are out of control, not eating at home, getting abused, parents who don't care if they can even identify letters in the alphabet, kids who constantly curse you out, and/or get physical with you. All the lesson planning, BEFORE and AFTER school that we can't always do at home on our couches, IEP's, paper grading. Also, walking out of work at 6pm when we're getting to work at 7am…that sounds like about 11 hours to me. That's just one hour away from a 12! Except this is M-F (hence, why SO MANY teachers have left the teaching field to become a nurse)! Not to mention all the work we take home after 6pm when we're leaving work, to only come home to not starting dinner on-time or spending quality time with the family because we have so much grading to do. I'm not saying it's much more difficult than nursing by any means what so ever. I'm just saying it's not just a "day job" ;). Lol, I haven't worked a day job since I was in high school. And if you're a good Teacher, you're working roughly 60 hour weeks (most of us are), but only paid for 40! I also never said I wasn't willing to work ANY Christmas' at all…I wouldn't mind working them every so often, but to work every Christmas is such a horrible schedule to have, as my family comes first. I also never said I was hoping to graduate and immediately land a 1-2 days a week in a NICU job. I'm well aware of having to put in work and build my seniority, like any other work place! Sorry, maybe I didn't clarify that, and I really should have. I wouldn't mind at all putting in the work I have to, in order to get where I want to be. All I wanted to know was if there are nurses out there who work per diem or part-time in a NICU unit, not having to work EVERY Christmas. But from what I got from you, is that there is no such thing as a part-time OR per diem nurse. Bummer. Thanks for your input!

Thank you, too, for responding maturely! Much appreciated on the internet :D I absolutely did not intend to mean that "day job" is an insult. Yes, teaching involves many more hours than the 40 you're expected to put in. I was married to a teacher for 16 years. I'm WELL aware of how much work it is! But your original post (which is what I was responding to) was full of hope of landing a non-existent NICU position that is unrealistic. I don't believe in leading people in to false hope.

If you truly want to leave teaching, that's understandable. It IS lots of work beyond the expected school hours. But nursing, you'll find, can be the same way. Only you don't get to take paperwork home with you. You'll be on the floor early, before shift, to get report from the previous nurse. You'll be there after your shift ends, waiting to give report to the next shift or in the middle of a procedure with a patient, or finishing paperwork on the computer, attending mandatory meetings, etc. And you're on your feet for the majority of the time. Patients treat you like you're their servant/maid/waitress, etc. You're the scapegoat for the doctor/specialist/manager, etc. So, you'll find it's probably not going to be that much better than teaching, in terms of respect.

Best of luck to you in whatever you decide to do. I truly do understand the burn-out with teaching. I just want to make sure you know the grass isn't always greener on the other side :D

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The fact that you responded to all these posts without biting back even once tells me that you'd probably make an awesome nurse! ;-)

Haha, thank you!:) I take everything with a grain of salt. I always set out a goal or mission, and I see things as always jumping out at me or discouraging me, but if those things have nothing to do with what I set out to do, have to do, or what needs to be done….it seriously just over my head for sure, lol. I don't take anything personally either!:) And thanks for your ENCOURAGING opinion!;)

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Thank you, too, for responding maturely! Much appreciated on the internet :D I absolutely did not intent to mean that "day job" is an insult. Yes, teaching involves many more hours than the 40 you're expected to put in. I was married to a teacher for 16 years. I'm WELL aware of how much work it is! But your original post (which is what I was responding to) was full of hope of landing a non-existent NICU position that is unrealistic. I don't believe in leading people in to false hope.

If you truly want to leave teaching, that's understandable. It IS lots of work beyond the expected school hours. But nursing, you'll find, can be the same way. Only you don't get to take paperwork home with you. You'll be on the floor early, before shift, to get report from the previous nurse. You'll be there after your shift ends, waiting to give report to the next shift or in the middle of a procedure with a patient, or finishing paperwork on the computer, attending mandatory meetings, etc. And you're on your feet for the majority of the time. Patients treat you like you're their servant/maid/waitress, etc. You're the scapegoat for the doctor/specialist/manager, etc. So, you'll find it's probably not going to be that much better than teaching, in terms of respect.

Best of luck to you in whatever you decide to do. I truly do understand the burn-out with teaching. I just want to make sure you know the grass isn't always greener on the other side :D

I totally respect your opinion! Thanks for your responses! I really should have been a little more descriptive though, haha. And I'm glad I know you were married to a teacher, you know exactly where I'm coming from. lol! ;) But it's true, grass isn't always greener. I really wish I could shadow a nurse. -_- And in a perfect world, there would always be jobs available to new graduates of any field to pay previous student loans (another iffy problem I have)! I totally wouldn't mind working few years to get where I want. But to be honest, I would only be able to work with kids and infants. I couldn't do adults for longer than 5 years, and it's scary to think I would leaving teaching (which I still love) and might have to work with adults forever, if I never land that specific job I want! And no offense taken ;) I figure, hey, if someone took the time to write back to my post…I'm totally grateful! :)

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
I totally respect your opinion! Thanks for your responses! I really should have been a little more descriptive though, haha. And I'm glad I know you were married to a teacher, you know exactly where I'm coming from. lol! ;) But it's true, grass isn't always greener. I really wish I could shadow a nurse. -_- And in a perfect world, there would always be jobs available to new graduates of any field to pay previous student loans (another iffy problem I have)! I totally wouldn't mind working few years to get where I want. But to be honest, I would only be able to work with kids and infants. I couldn't do adults for longer than 5 years, and it's scary to think I would leaving teaching (which I still love) and might have to work with adults forever, if I never land that specific job I want! And no offense taken ;) I figure, hey, if someone took the time to write back to my post…I'm totally grateful! :)

How about Nurse Education? Of course, then you have to deal with nursing students being upset that the answer they chose was the most correct on the exam...LOL

You might be able to get part-time work in a pediatric practice (not sure how the pay is for that type of work in CA). Are you thinking of doing an accelerated RN program since you already have a degree?

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How about Nurse Education? Of course, then you have to deal with nursing students being upset that the answer they chose was the most correct on the exam...LOL

You might be able to get part-time work in a pediatric practice (not sure how the pay is for that type of work in CA). Are you thinking of doing an accelerated RN program since you already have a degree?

Lol, true. Haha I don't know if I would teach, I'd rather work and feel like I was making a difference in peoples lives! Otherwise I'd just stick to teaching -_-. I love it, don't get me wrong. I'm torn, but if I'm going to spend long awful hours, I'd rather spend them caring for people!!! The program, ODDLY, is a 2 1/2 year for me for the last 2 actual nursing years, BUT classes are only 3 days a week!!!!!!! Clinicals are clinicals though! What state are you in? How is job competition out there?

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I doubt anyone would argue that teachers only put in their clock hours (or at least no one who knows a teacher personally would think that!). At least as nurses our salaries tend to be a bit higher. I'm glad you clarified that you understand needing to put in the time. The impression in your OP was that you thought you'd slide right into a cushy job with no holidays and work whatever days you wanted upon graduation, which is definitely not reality! :)

Have you taken a look at job postings in your area? It might be good just to get a sense, and do this periodically. I have seen per diem positions in all units, NICU included. I agree that peds might be good to explore as well. Be aware that peds includes "kids" up to age 17 (occasionally beyond that), so it wouldn't just be the small ones you'd be seeing there.

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