Should I take a part time position as a new grad??

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · May 13, 2011

in general i would not recommend that a new grad land a part-time job unless he/she has no choice. however, you are returning to a unit that knows you and will more than likely support you greatly. as you have said, this can be your foot in the door so that you can move to into a full-time position. so, yes, i think you should take the job.

keep in mind this does not prevent you from continuing to search for another position until you are offered a full-time position. in fact being part-time will allow you the flexibility to keep looking while you are being paid!!! besides, being employed may land you a lot more job interviews in the future then remaining unemployed as a new grad. gl!

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · May 14, 2011

PT is better than nothing and most likely your training will be FT hours until they turn you loose, alot of networking and proving your worth can happen in those 3-4 months!

NoviceRN10 · May 14, 2011

I don't see why you shouldn't take the position, unless you need fulltime pay? I have been working fulltime for a year now and am ready to drop to part time .

BosRMT · May 14, 2011

I think it would be a great idea, at least in Ontario when a hospital hires they hire within the hospital first and then open it up outside so I think it would give you an up on new jobs where you are as well as it counts as experience

diva rn, BSN, RN · May 14, 2011

By all means, in this job market, in this economy....grab it. I know of new grads who have been looking for 2 years to get ANY offer..part time/per diem....any thing...so GO FOR IT

Then work very hard and make it known to all that you will be happy to cover extra shifts and of course make it known to HR and your manager that you would like to be hired for the first full time opening.

Good luck. I think it's a good opportunity.

CrazyGoonRN · May 19, 2011

If I were you I would take it in a heartbeat. I graduated in Dec and got my license in January. I applied all over and got an interview a month later. Then heard nothing for another month and finally got a job offer for a PRN position. I snaped it up even though I wanted full time. Even though PRN gets no benefits I really like the job and I get full time hours just about every week. I also get $3 more an hour for being PRN. I have only worked there 2 months and they have already offered me 2 different full time positions, but for now PRN works best for me. When they are looking to fill a full time position they ask the PRN nurses and part time nurses first before hiring a new person. There are a lot of new grads having a hard time finding a job and would take a part time position in a heart beat. Part time or not it will still be nursing experience that you can put on your resume and money to pay bills. :)

nicole1073 · Sep 23, 2011

I was glad to see this thread. I am also a new grad (graduated in June 2011, licensed in July) and have been searching ever since. I interviewed at a med surg unit on 9/13/11 where they had several positions open, some FT and some PT. I was hoping for FT but yesterday got the call with the good news - I got the job - but they offered me the PT spot. It is 2-12's so only 24 hours per week. I am hoping that I can move into FT sooner than later by getting my foot in the door. The downfalls of PT are of course less pay, but also the hospital charges a higher rate for health insurance for part timers. I am praying to be able to pick up some extra shifts once I complete orientation.

Do most hospitals orient new grads on a full time basis - and then you move into PT when you have "graduated" from orientation?

dudette10, MSN, RN · Sep 23, 2011

If they are orienting you FT--or at least the same number of days as a FT new grad--take it.

Valhalla_Pure · Sep 23, 2011

Take it. Almost all work for new nurses in Vancouver, BC is casual work. I worked casual for almost a 8 months before getting a full-time position. You can always pick up extra shifts on top of your part-time hours, provided extra shifts are available. And you should be oriented full-time.

One1, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2011

You can also ask if you would be able to pick up open shifts once you are off orientation. Many workplaces have these which allow you to boost your hours from PT to FT.

NurseinNY, LPN, LVN · Oct 1, 2011

I will re-iterate what others have said and say - take it! Honestly, if everything else about the position is great then I think it's a no brainer. When a full-time position opens up you will have a much, much easier time getting it. It's a foot in the door, and it's experience - any experience is better than no experience. Good luck!