Mandatory Night Shifts?

[RedHead85]

I'm still a pre-nursing student, but have been wondering about this. Are night shifts ever mandatory, especially as a new grad?? I know that pay is higher for nights and there are other benefits, but it is possible for new grads or even just RN's to pick their shifts? I'm scared to think that night shifts would be mandatory because I don't think I'd be able to handle it. My body does strange things without sleep and I can't seem to focus/be alert, which completely scares me when I think I would be responsible for patients at night. I know I sound like I wuss and people get use to it, but I'd really like to work days. Any input on how scheduling usually works for new grads? Are day shifts even available? Also, are shifts usually scheduled in a row? I guess I'm just confused on who decides the hours- the RN or the supervisor, and do you as the employee have much say?!

Thanks in advance..this forum is awesome :)

[SmilingBluEyes]

Not all new grads have to start on nightshifts. And not all have to stay on them for years and years, either. It would depend on how picky you are about hospital/unit you prefer to work in. So-called "specialty areas" like OB, you can expect you will have to work nights (sometimes for years) before a dayshift position opens up----this is because nurses tend to stay in OB units for many years (where I work, some have been there in excess of 20-25 years!) and seniority usually rules most places. There are other units, like ED, Med-surg and CCU/ICU that have day shift positions open and you may luck into one of them. However as a new grad, look for a place that offers excellent orientation/residency (at least 6 months' duration if at all possible) before accepting any position. New graduates need plenty of time to transition from novice nurse to experienced one----and the more time you have, the better.

Good luck and don't lose hope----lots of dayshift positions await the resourceful new graduate. I wish you the best.

[gitterbug]

New grads here have rotated thru all 3 shifts before being assigned to a

regular rotation. It is usually no problem since they do not work weekend thru orientation. The only time it is different is when they are going to work a unit that only does 12 hr shifts. I know when a new grads chooses night shift, for the first 6 months here, they have a buddy who can help them if they get into deep water, plus there is always the supervisor to call.

[CHATSDALE]

worked a lot of night [years] body never did make adaptation but it was what i needed with the babysitting arrangement

one nurse had applied for days only to be told that she would be put on a waiting list while she worked nights,,not a happy camper when they hired a new grad for days...head nurse told her there was nothing she could do, went to don, same story but was told she would be put on the top of another waiting list..put in two weeks notice and was put on days before the week was out...the other nurse was put on another floor and quit before orientation was over

do what is best for you...if they don't have an opening for days work somewhere else and reapply periodically