Working as a Nurse

[Krankenschwester_2]

I'm wrapping up my BA in History right now. Next fall I will be enrolling in an ADN program. After I'm through with that I would like to work as a nurse part-time (is this possible???) while getting my PhD in History. Eventually I'd like to be a nurse part-time and adjunct faculty at a university teaching German History (and mainly researching and publishing German History). Is this too much, that is to ask to work part-time on my terms:mortarboard: ? Will hospitals accomodate my academic interests and allow me to work part-time? I have to drive over two hours to the closest university that allows PhD work. Thankfully, most of it will be in the form of research and not classroom settings.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

I moved your post to the Nursing Career Advice Forum for more responses. As a fairly new grad who has looked for part-time/second jobs, I think this is the problem you may encounter:

For a nursing unit to train and orient a new grad, it involves significant expense. For that reason, they want the new grad to make the commitment to work full-time to make it worthwhile. This is why part-time positions are often reserved for experienced nurses.

The great thing about nursing though, is that it's a huge field and pretty much anything is possible if you look hard enough. Here at Allnurses, we've seen nurses who have all kinds of second careers.

[HealthyRN]

You will probably not be able to find a part-time position as a new grad. Most part-time positions are open to those with at least a year of experience. However, if you can work full-time until you are through orientation, you may be able to negotitate working part-time with your employer. I would think that most would not want to lose a nurse that they just spent significant time and money training.

I think that you have wonderful career goals, but what is your interest in nursing? Is it something that you've always wanted to do or are you just hoping to supplement your income with a job that offers a "good" wage? Keep in mind that nurses usually work 12 hour shifts. Is this something that would work well with a professor's schedule? Keep us posted on your decision!

[txlvn03]

I think it is at least possible to get a part-time job as a new grad. I did but not in a hospital. It was a more specialized care center. Just keep looking. God could have something just waiting for you.