Working Two Jobs...

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing / CV/STICU.

So I've been working as a new grad / orientee in Emergency Dept. for about a month now and I have my weekend open to try to work another job, preferrably RN job related. Any suggestions?

I don't have much experience yet as a nurse. Do you think I can work as a nurse just for the weekend (saturday,sunday), considering that I only have a month of experience?

Is working two jobs a real hassle?

I'm single. No kids. Still living with the folks. What do you think?

Right now, I'm doing AMs because more preceptors are available, but after my 90 day introductory period, I'll be working my true shift which is PMs with night rotations.

Any input/advice you can give me would be outstanding.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept.

I have found it very hard to find a second RN job with little experience. I graduated in May, passed boards in June and have been working full time since. I was off orientation as of Labor Day. I looked at numerous places and applied, but the general consensus that I have received is that they want PRN and Part Time staff to have at least one year of experience.

(Although lately it seems like there is enough overtime offered at my hospital that I don't need to look for a second job).

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Specializes in Cardiology.

I think most people in your situation would benefit from waiting until they have more experience under their belt. Besides that, everyone needs some time of to "decompress" from work. Don't run head first into burnout.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

My NC area requires 1 year for PRN work. In my hospital, you can apply for a second part time position like you are interested in, in a different area. Call HR, this may be possible for you. But, people who hold a second position are the first cancelled because of OT.

Good luck

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

Most hospitals require a year F/T for a position like that. How about O/T at yout F/T hospital?

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You need to see what your HR policies are about this. Often, employers require that you "get permission" or at least let them know that you have a second job. Because most jobs require you to be available to them, it can interfere with your other job. I have seen this get really ugly for people when two jobs are trying to schedule at the same time. You may need to take mandatory training at one job while you are scheduled to work a regular shift at your other. It can get hairy. Your best bet for now would be to ask for extra shifts at your job. I have rarely seen people turned down for extra shifts unless the census was too low. Once you have experience under your belt, you could try agency work as a second job. With agency, you won't have all those mandatory classes that a "regular" employer would have. And you won't be expected to come in for high census. Plus you can make your own schedule and don't have to try and worry that your boss is going to go back on her word and schedule you a day that you are already working at the other job.

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Don't rush into a second job just yet. You have only been on your first job for a short time.

There is a "honeymoon" phase a lot of nurses go through where everything feels great, the unit is fabulous and they are finally getting to do what they learned in school. Over time, the "lows" come. The first year blues hits some harder than others, and you will need your downtime and outside life to keep from burning out.

If money is a big issue, consider picking up shifts or part-shifts at your workplace, but doing that does not put a commitment on you that a second job will.

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Specializes in Rural Health.

I've been working 2 jobs since I was 6 months into being an RN. My PRN job has been AWESOME to work with my schedule at my full time job - they work around my requirements there w/o a problem. I work anywhere from 4-24 hours per week for them, it just depends on what else is going on in my life that week. Full time job is 4 weeks ahead in schedule than PRN job, so scheduling is rarely an issue for me at either job. Besides full time job I self schedule and my schedule buddy and I usually work out our schedule 2-3 months ahead of time....especially when we are talking vacation time......

Both are ER's and the charting is identical and both are pretty small scale ER's so that helps too. PRN job sees more patients though and has somewhat higher acuity, so it helps me in my full time job because my full time job is very rural nursing.....we either don't get it or we don't keep it.

I don't suffer from too much burn out - when I get burned out, I don't work for a week or two at PRN job......then I'm good to go.

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Working at two different hospitals can be a plus! You are single, been working 1 month? After about a year, think about hitting the road and travel as a nurse! You will love it, meet new friends, see how other hospitals fuction, and build memories. Go for it!!

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Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.

Hold the phone! Don't overload yourself prematurely, even if you can find another job that doesn't require experience. A month in the ER just isn't enough time for a new grad to know how things can be, day in and day out, for weeks on end. You might be so exhausted by the time the weekend rolls around that you couldn't even bear the THOUGHT of having to get up to go to another job. Also, unless you are guaranteed no weekends once you are off orientation real life will set in to your schedule. Then you will be working weekends and OT like everyone else.

Don't rush anything. Use this time and at least the next year to learn what it is to be an ER nurse. There will be multiple certifications that you will need to obtain, too, and preparing for them can be time-consuming. Learn one job, and learn it well. Then branch out, if you want.

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