Working for 2 hospitals: How to do it?

ERjodiRN · Mar 14, 2009

i've worked two jobs before, and it didn't work out too well....and i only lasted 6 months at it. the schedule at my per diem job came out before the sched at my ft position did, so i was never able to give my days of availability on time, and therefore stuck to choose between only the days they NEEDED the per diems to come in...which ended up putting me 8-9 shifts in a row between the two regularly. all i was doing was sleeping and working. i lost a ton of weight, and my poor dog never saw me and was getting no exercise. some people are able to make it work, and i applaud them. i just had a 6shift in 6week commitment that could only be filled by working so many in a row. you might be hard-pressed to find a per diem position as a recent grad with only 6 mos experience. i know some places will accept it, but most require more exp. for those positions, mainly because you just aren't working often enough to get an adequate orientation (i.e. a lot of time lapses between your shifts sometimes and it's easy to forget things) or be able to keep up with the pace, having only the med surg exp. but i highly implore you to branch out. icu and er units are great for learning and broadening your horizons. if you want something that is always changing and fast-paced, challenging environment....go er. if you're looking for a bit more controlled environment, but equally challenging, go icu.

meluhn · Mar 14, 2009

You would be better off finishing up the year and then leaving. When you do critical care you will have alot of extra learning to do on your own time as well as at work--long orientation, acls, tele, etc.

litbitblack, ASN, RN · Mar 14, 2009

im in 2 dept at the same hosp prn and i am also prn at a long term care facility. its getting dicey as all the schedules seem to come out at the same time and i don't want to spread my self to thin but then i don't have to work any weekends if i don't want and i like that

NeosynephRN · Mar 14, 2009

I am not sure that the second hospital would hire your PRN in a specialty area in which you have no experience. Usually PRN people need to be experienced enough to "jump right in". Maybe I am wrong in your area, but that is what I have seen.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Mar 14, 2009

I would wait a year until you are more confident. Of course, only you know yourself, but, sometimes, the differences in policy/procedures, equipment use, computer documenting (if done), paperwork, etc...can really be confusing. I am a clinic nurse who also does per diem on the floors in the same hospital and the difference can be night and day.

I am an LPN, so, my scope of practice and responsibilities are different, so, it was easier to blend in on the floors because I am always giving basic medications, hanging IVs, and administering basic care. But I would probably be a bit more overwhelmed if I had additional responsibilities that required more documentation. Just proceed with caution and don't let one job make you lose another. Bottom line is with the license, if things get dicey enough, or a mistake is big enough, you can lose everything.

Jules A, MSN · Mar 14, 2009

You can always check into it and see if the other hospital has something that would be a good fit for you. Both my jobs are part-time so that makes it a lot easier, imo. I have one for the awesome benefits and my PerDiem job for the awesome $$. Good luck!

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2009

I would not do that unless both jobs are part time.....First you are a new nurse...you do not want to get yourself fatiqued that is when you can easily make a mistake.....you will have to keep 2 sets of policies in your head...that could be difficult....they would not most likely hire you as a per diem,,,and then train you in a specia;ity area unless you were taking a full time position,,,,wait awhile.....I have had 2 jobs for 11 yrs now and it sometimes a juggling act...also remeber that both of your jobs may have weekend requirments that may have you working most if not all weekends,,,not to mention any holiday requirements think about it

2bnurse_it · Mar 15, 2009

well, I guess what i want to know is with 6 months exp under my belt... am i STILL CONSIDERED a NEW GRAD?

What would I apply as?

there's alot of new grad training and stuff, but since i graduated July 2008, got my license OCtober 2008, and worked since October, am I still a new grad?

thanks for all your advice.

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2009

Yes, under the eyes of administration you are still considered a new grad. I advise you to get more experience, get more comfortable on the floors. Most hospitals I know will not accept a new grad as a per-diem into a Critical Care Unit because the orientation is very intense and can only really be done if you work full-time.

I used to work med/surg for four years and now i work ICU and let me tell you it is a whole different world. You really have to know your stuff as an RN, so finish up, get comfortable then try to transfer internally to your current facility's ICU, then once you have a year or two of exp. you can find yourself another nice PRN job in another ICU or ER

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 15, 2009

You will find that the new hospital wants you to be full time for orientation unless you are experienced, and two full time jobs are almost impossible. I actually did it once for 6 weeks, and you'll be ready to jump off a bridge by week three. Learing a whole new set of people and policies is much more stressful than just extra hours in a job you know and ICU is twice as bad. I wouldn't even think about it- finish your year and then apply. Insanity is not a positive quality in a jobseeker.

If they offer you the new grad orientation take it- you'll be grateful for the review, and you'll learn everything from the ground up their way. It will make things much easier.