PRN Nurse and High school teacher? Insane?

Published

Ive been torn between nursing and teaching for awhile but ive decided that I should really pursue teaching because I have a lot of successful background with kids and LOVE working with them.

Here's the complicated part. I was accepted to the ADN program while i was still in the decision process. I start in the 2nd eight weeks (soon). I applied because I already have a BS in biochemistry and I thought it would be a good choice since I like helping people with what I know. I only need to finish the clinical part of the program so it seemed like the "open door" at the time.

Basically, what I'd like to know is will it be possible to work PRN as a nurse a couple times a month on the weekends and the same or more in the summer? Im not looking at nursing as a full time career anymore, but I really do think I will be good at it and would enjoy it as a second job to supplement my teaching income....if that's possible.

Does anyone else teach high school and do PRN nursing? Maybe that's just too much, but if not, i think i'll do the adn program and hop into the alternative teaching cert a year later than I planned.

Thanks for any insight !

Anthony

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I grew up wanting to be a teacher, and volunteered at a local hospital for four years during high school and decided to be a nurse. I specialized in pediatric nursing, allowing me to work with children, and even further specialized in adolescent medicine, allowing me to work withe my favorite age group. There are plenty of teaching opportunities in nursing. Some that I found included: designing an orientation program for the peds unit and managing all of the orientees, as well as childbirth classes.

When I was working on my MSN, they asked for people interested in being a graduate teaching assistant (GTA) for a med cal/pharm course, and I signed up. Did that for two years, and pursued a career in nursing education as a result of finding out that I loved teaching nursing.

There are way more opportunities for teaching in nursing than there are in high school teaching; however good teachers are desperately needed in both areas. Follow your heart and know that you'll be a good teacher wherever you decide to work.:twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, CVICU.

I know some nurses that do that. They teach during the school year and do agency in the summer. The only issue is that you will have to get some experience under your belt before you can go PRN or Agency.

My advice is this- try nursing for a couple of years and see how you like it before you decide to switch professions full time. There is a great need for nurses and you might find that you like it. While you are doing that, you can always do substitute teaching on your days off. If your heart is still into teaching then you can get your certificate and work PRN as a nurse.

OR go get your Masters in Nursing and become a nursing instructor :specs: We sure could use more of those!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I have one PRN job and can work as much or little as I want. Its great, the money is great and you can always say no if you are too busy with your full time job and family.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

sounds like a winner, any time you further your horizons you are sure to come out ahead

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Not a bad idea, but you'll have to take time to establish yourself in both professions to be able to master both jobs. I would guess you'd need at least two years in nursing and two years in education, then you can start mixing it up. If you've already been a teacher, then you'll have to take the two years in nursing and come back to teaching. I think it's doable.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Tele, MSN-education grad. 5/10.

Sounds like a great idea in theory. Nursing would be great to supplement income during school breaks, and you only need to work once a month prn. However, as a new grad myself I was told nurse managers will not hire a new grad nurse prn or part-time because of the expense of orienting them. If you only work very limited they don't get a good return on their investment.

I did find a hospital that offers full-time benefits but I only work weekends, 24 hours a week. It's wonderful! You could look into that especially if you graduate in May you could get your orientation done during the summer break. It took me 10 weeks to get through orientation.

Good luck!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the replies! Ive been so torn on whether or not to do this.

I tend to get stressed when i dont know how things will work out, but It sounds like maybe i should sit back and enjoy the ride while i finish the nursing program. Ive worked at a juvenile detention facility and as a sub teacher and LOVED both, so I guess the worst case scenario is that I could get some nursing experience and do substitute teaching until Im ready to become a full time teacher.

You guys are right, we need good teachers and also good nurses. It sounds like if i can be patient, I might be able to enjoy both worlds. That would be great!

I really appreciate the insight from all of you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I would bet that if you are willing to work in juvenile psych or detention as a nurse you would get hired the second you pass NCLEX. In my area there is quite a need and the pay will be probably $15 an hour more than the new grads that do the med/surge new grad programs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a nursing instructor and have several teachers as students. I have to be honest they have found nursing very difficult opposed to their initial degree.

If you love teaching, why not go to BS-MSN program and then you would be qualified to teach nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am a nursing instructor and have several teachers as students. I have to be honest they have found nursing very difficult opposed to their initial degree.

If you love teaching, why not go to BS-MSN program and then you would be qualified to teach nursing.

Im not particularly interested in the generic MSN option. When i go back someday for my masters, it will likely be specialized. My passion is teaching the science background,... but not necessarily nursing. Really, I am naturally gifted with high school aged youth, and I was hoping to go that direction for teaching more than teaching nursing. I like the hands on part of nursing, but i dont think i'd like to teach it.

The most difficult part of the nursing program for me will be the time commitment for clinicals. The actual bookwork part of it comes pretty easily. I nearly slept through patho and pharm. I have an unusual advantage with a biochem degree with concentration in human bio.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would think that it would be pretty difficult to teach during the week and do PRN on the weekends. I used to be a teacher, and I had a lot of grading/lesson plans to do on the evenings and weekends. There was little time for anything else. Summers are a great time for a second job, but keep in mind, as a teacher you will need to take classes to maintain your certification. You will probably have to take some classes during the summer.

I'm not trying to dissuade you. Science teachers are desperately needed. Have you tried making a list of the positives and negatives of both? I think you should probably pick one career now, and then you can go back for a degree in the second career if you are still interested. There are some pretty easy accelerated degree programs for teachers with degrees in other fields--especially science or math teachers. So, you could get your RN now, and obtain the teaching certification later without too much trouble.

Have you done any volunteer work or regular work on a hospital floor? I'd say that if you try working on a floor, and you still love doing both jobs (teaching and nursing), then you should go for it. However, if you are passionate about teaching, and not about nursing--then just go for the teaching certificate. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion