What to do?

I would get a casual position. I always have one myself. The requirements are easy to meet, and don't forget the benefit of having your foot in the door somewhere else if things really go south at the clinic. I think having a second job is worth it for the job security alone.

Both of the casual jobs I've had only required two shifts every six weeks - so you could either work one shift a week for two out of six weeks and have four weekends totally off, or knock it out in one weekend and have five weekends off. I don't think either one of those is much of a sacrifice.

You do realize that every nursing specialty utilizes critical thinking? No offense but to imply that the more hands-on experience is all about task work and no brain work is insulting.

No ICU with a decent manager is going to hire a new grad to work there PRN. Hospitals spend thousands of dollars on several months' long training and they expect a couple of years of full-time experience.

Med-surg is a big if since you don't have any acute care experience.

You do realize that every nursing specialty utilizes critical thinking? No offense but to imply that the more hands-on experience is all about task work and no brain work is insulting.

Man you people are touchy. Nobody said anything about hands-on skills jobs being a monkey's job. Nobody insulted anybody.

And yes, I keep hearing in interviews how Critical Thinking skills are the priority. Nobody has yet to mention to me how great it is that I can change a catheter or complete a head to toe assessment or do a wound dressing or wipe a butt.

But I do keep hearing (especially in the job that just hired me) that my critical thinking skills and ability/desire to use them was the deciding factor in hiring me. I'm assuming that will continue in our profession as I feel hands-on skills can be taught/learned a lot easier than critical thinking skills.

Hence the question/conversation.

Man you people are touchy. Nobody said anything about hands-on skills jobs being a monkey's job. Untwist your panties and chill out.

And yes, I keep hearing in interviews how Critical Thinking skills are the priority. Nobody has yet to mention to me how great it is that I can change a catheter or complete a head to toe assessment or do a wound dressing or wipe a butt.

A monkey's job?

Mmmhhmmm...

You do realize that every nursing specialty utilizes critical thinking? No offense but to imply that the more hands-on experience is all about task work and no brain work is insulting.

No ICU with a decent manager is going to hire a new grad to work there PRN. Hospitals spend thousands of dollars on several months' long training and they expect a couple of years of full-time experience.

Med-surg is a big if since you don't have any acute care experience.

I did not find anything insulting about his question, it is a legitimate question. Princess bride if I'm not mistaken, you are a new grad- so I'm not sure where all your experience is coming from to say what a manager in a department you don't work in, nor have experience in, would want or say. It sounds like you are still upset and taking it out on others due to not getting a NICU spot. I've read several of your posts and am very taken aback by your attitude and cavalier nature towards others, plus the sense of entitlement. OP asked a very good question, and those of us with years of experience can give him a legitimate answer.

Where does it say OP is a new grad? If you are a new grad OP, I would spend a year or so in an acute care setting- ER, ICU, med Surg- it will help you when triaging pts if you can visualize what is going on. If you are not a new grad I would most definitely keep a prn job to keep up skills- managers appreciate well rounded candidates.

Goodluck op!

I did not find anything insulting about his question, it is a legitimate question. Princess bride if I'm not mistaken, you are a new grad- so I'm not sure where all your experience is coming from to say what a manager in a department you don't work in, nor have experience in, would want or say. It sounds like you are still upset and taking it out on others due to not getting a NICU spot. I've read several of your posts and am very taken aback by your attitude and cavalier nature towards others, plus the sense of entitlement. OP asked a very good question, and those of us with years of experience can give him a legitimate answer.

Where does it say OP is a new grad? If you are a new grad OP, I would spend a year or so in an acute care setting- ER, ICU, med Surg- it will help you when triaging pts if you can visualize what is going on. If you are not a new grad I would most definitely keep a prn job to keep up skills- managers appreciate well rounded candidates.

Goodluck op!

Thanks. I am a new grad (May 2015). I've been an EMT-B and Advanced Clinical Sonographer for 16 years prior to becoming a RN. I actually feel really comfortable with my limitations and my ability to do critical thinking tasks such as triaging and helping to develop programs such as clinic triage nurse protocols.

I tried to get into acute care with little luck. Due to circumstances out of my control (the wrong last name for example) that were discussed in another thread. The ED manager here has flat out told me that she would love to have me in her ED but she keeps being forced to hire others because they are in the union and I'm a non-union hospital employee. Oh well, that's life.

Where I feel my RN weaknesses are is in the hands-on skills and I just don't have much hands-on practice/time.

Not sure what that has to do with anything, but to stir drama and violate a TOS.

It is a fact that the ICU pours many weeks of training into new grads (which the OP is) and are not likely to want someone to go PRN after all that training. Those spots are usually reserved for experienced nurses who require minimal training.

I did not find anything insulting about his question, it is a legitimate question. Princess bride if I'm not mistaken, you are a new grad- so I'm not sure where all your experience is coming from to say what a manager in a department you don't work in, nor have experience in, would want or say. It sounds like you are still upset and taking it out on others due to not getting a NICU spot. I've read several of your posts and am very taken aback by your attitude and cavalier nature towards others, plus the sense of entitlement. OP asked a very good question, and those of us with years of experience can give him a legitimate answer.

Where does it say OP is a new grad? If you are a new grad OP, I would spend a year or so in an acute care setting- ER, ICU, med Surg- it will help you when triaging pts if you can visualize what is going on. If you are not a new grad I would most definitely keep a prn job to keep up skills- managers appreciate well rounded candidates.

Goodluck op!

And if you read some of his other posts and his profile you will see he has graduated in May.

Eta: lol. You joined less than two weeks ago and already want to stir the pot.

Not sure what that has to do with anything, but to stir drama and violate a TOS.

It is a fact that the ICU pours many weeks of training into new grads (which the OP is) and are not likely to want someone to go PRN after all that training. Those spots are usually reserved for experienced nurses who require minimal training.

Again, you are a brand new nurse and cannot speak to what a manager wants or hires- try to stay in your lane when giving advice. As far as stirring the pot, you do that quite well as evidenced by your previous posts. You were very rude to OP when all he did was ask a simple question, totally uncalled for.

OP- I know you may feel comfortable with your prior experience, but being a nurse comes with different experiences and responsibilities that you've had with prior positions. I know you want to have time for your personal life, but a year under your belt with acute care experience will benefit you exponentially in the long run. You could also speak with the managers of acute units you are interested in to see how they feel about you training and then just working PRN. It can't hurt to ask! As per my experience, I worry you are hurting your career in the long run by not having bedside experience straight out of the gate. Good luck to you though, and I hope everything works out for you and your family!

Hi Ruger, I do not know what you family situation is but I know that when I worked full time and my husband was stay at home dad with my first child it was important to spend time together. Working one full time job would of course leave you with with little time for your family if you were to pick up extra work somewhere else. You should probably discuss this with your partner.

Of course once you are off the bedside you will use different skills. But - you can re-learn things. I did not work in bedside nursing for a while and when I went into home hospice I had to re-fresh some of my skills - for example it had been many years since accessing a port or a foley. But - it was no problem at all to get back into it.

Of course you are more versatile in terms of marketing yourself when you do more than one job but on the other hand you also want to spend time with your family...Make a list with time you have after full time work and discuss it with your partner.

I appreciate the advice and input. That's how I look at things as well (Can't hurt to ask).

Looking for opinions.

I've recently accepted a position as a Clinic Traige/Family Practice RN. As any clinic job, the hours will be exceptional. I'll finally get to spend time with my family every day.

I'll get to utilize and sharpen my critical thinking skills when triaging patients. However I'm afraid I'll not be maintaining my hands on skills. I'm debating on picking up a casual med/surg or ICU position that I can pick up a weekend shift here and there to keep up on my hands on skills.

Now, from a hiring managers point of view, do they really care that a nurse has years of experience in a hands on position or do they care more about a nurse with years of critical thinking experience?

I'm thinking in a few years we may move and I want to help myself with marketability. Is the causal position wise or should I say "forget it" and enjoy the weekends with my wife and boys?

While you will strengthen your critical thinking skills at any nursing job you obtain, nothing compares to the critical thinking skills obtained in acute care, particularly critical care where patients are sick with complex illnesses.

In my experience, casual med/surg and especially ICU positions are reserved for nurses with at least a year of relevant experience. I have seen per diem med/surg positions open for new grads, but I believe there is an expectation of several shifts a month. Training a new graduate nurse, even a nurse with prior healthcare experience, is costly.

I think what managers care most about is hiring staff who they can train and will adapt well to the unit. Sometimes this means a new grad who they can mold and sometimes this means hiring a nurse with a couple years of experience who won't need an extensive orientation and is already knowledgeable about the specialty.