Switching to part time after few months of experience?

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Hello! I am a new graduate nurse and new to all nurses :). After I graduated, I had a lot of trouble trying to find a job as a new graduate RN, as many people do. It took months longer than I thought it would, and I was getting very worried and discouraged that I would not find a position before the dreaded student loan payments were going to be due! I was finally offered a position on nights full time on a Med Surg unit in a level 1 trauma center. This hospital was not my first choice, because it is a far drive, but I was just ecstatic to have a position and finally get some experience! I don't mean to offend anyone, but I knew since I started nursing school that Med Surg was not for me. When I was applying for jobs as a new grad, I did not even apply to Med Surg positions at first because I knew I wanted to be in other areas. I have been off of orientation for the past few weeks now, and I was just wondering if it would be a good idea or not to ask my manager to switch to part time around my 6 month mark.

My manager is fantastic and the team work is great, so I do not want to leave the unit in general until I reach at least the year mark if not 2 years. The patient population is very challenging because it is a very large level 1 trauma center, and I have been told by practically every nurse on the unit that some patients we get on the unit would be in an ICU in another hospital. The only thing that I do not like was that during my interview with the manager, I was told flat out that the most patients at night that I will have is 5, and every night it is 6 patients (7 if it is really understaffed, though that's more rare). These are higher acuity patients as well, so I get very nervous before the start of each shift.

The reason I am interested in switching to part time is because I am scared I will be burnt out. During nursing school, I had the brilliant idea of doing part time night shift PCT work with full time school, and I almost lost my mind. I was so burnt out, and I never want to get to that level again. I have already been feeling the effects of working night shift again. Though I am no where near the level of being burnt out that I was 2 years ago, I come home exhausted, and unless I have several days off in a row, I never feel like a truly "recover." Also, I do not really like the work I do on the Med Surg unit. Adult/Geriatric care never interested me. I already asked my manager to switch to days, which might take a while. Long story short, I was wondering if it would be a good idea to ask to be switched to part time on my unit after only a few months of experience as a nurse, or is that not a good idea as a newer nurse. Thank you for your advice! (And I don't mean to offend any Med Surg nurses! It's just not for me!)

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

Personally, I wouldn't. you need to put your time in. I think it is harder to work on time management so you don't feel burnt out if you work part time. It will get easier. I am surprised that if you are in a large level 1 trauma that you would have those staffing issues. I work in a large teaching hospital on an intermediate floor and we 4-5 patients, NEVER more. We have the same issue where some of our intermediate pts would be step down at other hospitals.

What is your preferred unit? I know it is a cliche about working Med/Surg, but it is worth it. Get involved with the unit, serve on a committee. Don't pull back. Find something that you can focus on that might get you closer to your ideal setting.

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If you can afford it, sure. I did the same for my first RN job. Five 8hour night shifts was seriously taking a toll on my mental health. I would just break down crying before shifts. Combine that with a 1.5 hr commute that I could barely stay awake for, and I was at my wits end five months in.

Fortunately, there was another new nurse who wanted to increase her FTE, so she took some of the hours I gave up.

Do you know of anyone looking to increase their FTE? It may be a bit less irritating to your manager if that is the case. Even if that is not possible, your health is important and I am sure they would want to work with you rather than lose you as an employee. Just be certain that they know you enjoy working there... it's just the full time nights that are not manageable.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

Look into other opportunities at the same hospital, I always enjoyed the various critical care units

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Hello! I am a new graduate nurse and new to all nurses :). After I graduated, I had a lot of trouble trying to find a job as a new graduate RN, as many people do. It took months longer than I thought it would, and I was getting very worried and discouraged that I would not find a position before the dreaded student loan payments were going to be due! I was finally offered a position on nights full time on a Med Surg unit in a level 1 trauma center. This hospital was not my first choice, because it is a far drive, but I was just ecstatic to have a position and finally get some experience! I don't mean to offend anyone, but I knew since I started nursing school that Med Surg was not for me. When I was applying for jobs as a new grad, I did not even apply to Med Surg positions at first because I knew I wanted to be in other areas. I have been off of orientation for the past few weeks now, and I was just wondering if it would be a good idea or not to ask my manager to switch to part time around my 6 month mark.

My manager is fantastic and the team work is great, so I do not want to leave the unit in general until I reach at least the year mark if not 2 years. The patient population is very challenging because it is a very large level 1 trauma center, and I have been told by practically every nurse on the unit that some patients we get on the unit would be in an ICU in another hospital. The only thing that I do not like was that during my interview with the manager, I was told flat out that the most patients at night that I will have is 5, and every night it is 6 patients (7 if it is really understaffed, though that's more rare). These are higher acuity patients as well, so I get very nervous before the start of each shift.

The reason I am interested in switching to part time is because I am scared I will be burnt out. During nursing school, I had the brilliant idea of doing part time night shift PCT work with full time school, and I almost lost my mind. I was so burnt out, and I never want to get to that level again. I have already been feeling the effects of working night shift again. Though I am no where near the level of being burnt out that I was 2 years ago, I come home exhausted, and unless I have several days off in a row, I never feel like a truly "recover." Also, I do not really like the work I do on the Med Surg unit. Adult/Geriatric care never interested me. I already asked my manager to switch to days, which might take a while. Long story short, I was wondering if it would be a good idea to ask to be switched to part time on my unit after only a few months of experience as a nurse, or is that not a good idea as a newer nurse. Thank you for your advice! (And I don't mean to offend any Med Surg nurses! It's just not for me!)

Med-surg is not for you?!?!?!:nailbiting: The nerve!!:unsure:

Seriously, I've read responses on this forum where ICU, nurses become offended, ED nurses become offended, LTC nurses become offended, and the various titles ranging from CNA, LPN, ASN, BSN, and even MSN (where it talks about MSN nurses as bedside nurses) are all offended. But I have yet to read about an offended Med-surg nurse. I've been a Med-surg nurse for many years, and it still isn't for me. I'm in it still because this particular position ensures that I don't have to do it more than once a week if I don't want...and it still pays the bills.

Offended??? Please...everybody uses Med-surg as a stepping stone for whatever reason.:smokin:

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Specializes in retired LTC.

There is NO GUARANTEE that you can just switch to part-time on your same unit. Keep that in mind as you have to remember that you work for the hospital and not just your unit.

Your manager is seeing that you're not happy, so part-time and a transfer could be a reality (even if that's not what you were hoping for).

Good luck.

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It is normal to feel disillusioned when you are new as a nurse. The trouble is, you need to gain a certain level of skill and confidence to do well as a part time nurse. Practice and repetition is what builds that skill. It takes a year or two of dedicated (and exhausting) full time work put in before things feel easier. Think of this as your final all-clinical year of school, where you get paid.

If you wanted to learn to play the piano, you won't get far practicing once a week.

I would hold off on asking for part time work. For a manager, it looks like you already have one foot out the door.

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