PLEASE I HAVE A QUESTION about nursing scheduales...

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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.

I just want to throw out there that in down areas teachers make more than nurses. It was mentioned that nurses make more...not always. I would make more money as a teacher where I live. I would get vacation time and holidays off. I would get sick time and summers off.

Teachers here bring home more than I do as an RN while having summers, weekends and holidays off and having reasonable sick time. They bring home more during the school year than I make ALL year.

So it is possible you will take a nice pay cut and work more hours.

I'll also agree with the idea you will need to work full time for a good couple of years IN a NICU to be able to work there per diem. In order to get into a NICU...you could have years of full time working just to land a NICU job.

So I would plan on working full time for many years, working nights and lots of holidays. Oh and on nights....I worked some portion of every single flipping holiday. My Christmas off meant I had to be in work and ready to go by 7pm on the 25th and I didn't get holiday pay time. That was my holiday off...joy.

If you want to be a nurse....go for it. But be prepared for it to not be what you want for a long time.

WOW, where do you live???? THAT'S AWESOME, lol. :) And thanks, I totally agree with everything you just said! A lot to think about. But the more insight I'm getting, that more excited I'm getting. I don't mind at all putting in hard work to get what I want. Thanks, one thing that has been very helpful, is everyone who has told me to be prepared in a unit I don't want for a long time, before I (if I) get what I want.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
matrn2074 has been reported

He says he is "prenursing" so username against TOS as well.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Tele, educator, FNP.

Dont give up your summer vacations!!!! Not worth it!

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He says he is "prenursing" so username against TOS as well.

Thank goodness. No wonder! Lol…I was like hmmm, I have yet to receive such an inappropriate response like that. There were several harsh nurses (which I needed) who responded, but all who were very respectful.:) Everyone is being so helpful!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
WOW, where do you live???? THAT'S AWESOME, lol. :) And thanks, I totally agree with everything you just said! A lot to think about. But the more insight I'm getting, that more excited I'm getting. I don't mind at all putting in hard work to get what I want. Thanks, one thing that has been very helpful, is everyone who has told me to be prepared in a unit I don't want for a long time, before I (if I) get what I want.

I'm in PA. We have a retired assistant super who still brings in 6 figures...retired. New teachers are looking at $40,000 a year. I saw $43,000 a year with several years experience. Nursing here is far crappier than teaching when it comes to pay and benefits.

But the reality is...if you want to be a nurse you should go to nursing school. The key is being realistic.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Tele, educator, FNP.

But... Yes nurses can work 1 day week, but it will take you a few years to get there unless you know a nurse manager willing to give you a part time as a new grad. Getting into NICU will also not be too easy, you will have more luck with med surg.

If I were you i would be a sub as a teacher, unless you really want to be a nurse and it's a lifelong dream type thing.

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I'm in PA. We have a retired assistant super who still brings in 6 figures...retired. New teachers are looking at $40,000 a year. I saw $43,000 a year with several years experience. Nursing here is far crappier than teaching when it comes to pay and benefits.

But the reality is...if you want to be a nurse you should go to nursing school. The key is being realistic.

Wow. And yes, that is uncommon, usually it's the other way around here! Come to California! I heard out here the average pay is like 65,000! My friends mom has her ASN and in her 3rd year she made 90000+! Incredible. But nurses truly deserve that pay for all they do! And thanks.

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But... Yes nurses can work 1 day week, but it will take you a few years to get there unless you know a nurse manager willing to give you a part time as a new grad. Getting into NICU will also not be too easy, you will have more luck with med surg.

If I were you i would be a sub as a teacher, unless you really want to be a nurse and it's a lifelong dream type thing.

Yeah, there's still something in me that is telling me to do it. Ever since I was younger I wanted to do it, but I took the teaching route!!!!! -_- I don't think I would want to do part-time right away either…I would feel like I wasn't learning anything. I definitely would want to get comfortable in the field first!:) Thanks for your insight.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
Wow. And yes, that is uncommon, usually it's the other way around here! Come to California! I heard out here the average pay is like 65,000! My friends mom has her ASN and in her 3rd year she made 90000+! Incredible. But nurses truly deserve that pay for all they do! And thanks.

New grads here make just over $21/hr...and raises are slow.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Tele, educator, FNP.

So cal new grads make about 30 bucks an hour Aprox.

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So cal new grads make about 30 bucks an hour Aprox.

Yes, all the job postings I saw were 32 starting to 55!!!! Really good money!!! :)

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New grads here make just over $21/hr...and raises are slow.

My sister is an LVN, and she just graduated...and she makes 21 an hour! Rn's start at about 33!!!!!!

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