Two Jobs in the OR. Is It Possible?

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Hey Fellow OR Nurses,

I have applied for a PRN position at a surgery center at a hospital two blocks from my current home. I also have my full-time position with my current hospital which requires an extensive amount of call time (which I don't mind) (i.e. June is 17 days but I picked up 3 days from another service) but that is my main reason for searching for another PRN position. I requested the Sat/Sun shifts but is this possible? There is at least 10-13 days I am not on call and at least two weekends per month. Is this a wise thing to do?

I am in the midsts of buying a new home and paying down what is left of my student loans. I just wonder if anyone else is doing something similar and if so how do you manage? I have no children, just a dog and a husband who don't mind the extra income as well. I love the call and to practice enough to gain valuable experience in this nursing specialty. I would love to take a PRN position and just tell them what weekend days I am available but I know that is my ideal fantasy in a not so ideal nursing world especially in surgery. Any food for thought?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

How long have you been working in the OR? If it's less than a year, I would not recommend another job. The reason is that it takes at least a year to be fully competent in the OR. Additionally, I would seriously evaluate your time commitment. 17 days of call within a month is a lot of call. Maybe you haven't spent a lot of it working, but that can change. With only 10-13 days and 2 weekends of just you time, I'd be hesitant to give that up. You're already teetering in the work-life balance area. Taking on more very well could lead to serious burnout, and then where will you be? I was well on the way to burnout with just the schedule you have without the PRN job. You need to take care of you, and it's not just the financial aspect.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

People are different but Rose is right, that is a lot of call. I give you credit though, I hated call. I finally have an OR job where I don't have to take it, thank goodness!

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

Im giessing you live in the south so you don't make a ton hourly. I used to work alot and finally burnt out after 8 years. Now I just work 6 or 8 months a year as a traveller with only 36 hours a week whwn I am working. I just maximize my income by taking the highest paying job, usually in CA.

Is your plan doable? Yeah

Is your plan sustainable? No

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