Night shift diff

[KWbeliever]

Looking for advice on how to handle this situation. I am currently a FNP w 1 year experience in community health center and 5 years experience as CVICU RN. I was recently hired to work with a hospitalist group. The hospitalist program is new at the hospital and they currently are looking to hire at least 4 NPs/PAs but now only have 2 ( I am the second). I prefer to work nights and communicated this in my interview, however, they insisted that I would have to work days for a while until I am trained and they hire more staff. Upon taking the job, during my first week, I was discussing w the MDs that I prefer nights and will work them once we are staffed. The MDs were excited and the medical director immediately approved for me to start nights because there was such a need. I agreed and emailed the clinical manager that I would be working soley nights and inquired about the night shift diff. After 5 days, she emailed me back and stated simply "no night shift diff". I could kick myself b/c hindsight, I have learned I should have negotiated this scenario and had it written in my contract, however, it never dawned on me that they would not pay a shift diff and it was made clear that I would be working days for some time. I feel taken advantage of and cannot get comfortable w not being compensated for working nights. My question is how do I discuss this issue w my clinical manager w/o getting on her bad side, but also making it known that I should be compensated. I feel like she knows I prefer nights so she is not going to be willing to pay me. Key points are

1. there is a need for nights and no one wants to work them-I do

2. From my understanding, it is standard for nocturnists to be paid night shift diff and had the position been posted as nights, a shift diff would have been offered..that was my experience when interviewing at other hospitals, and I know of NPs in same hospital system being compensated

3. Help lure more experience NPs (they are having a problem w currently) that do not want to work nights b/c I would be doing that

4. Retention-they are not going to want to spend the time training me and then I ultimately leave to go to a facility where I can work nights and be compensated

[futureeastcoastNP]

You could tell them you wanted to work nights because you knew the extra salary from the diff would help you with your loans. If there is no extra, you would prefer to go back to days. They may change their mind at that point.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

I've always had differentials for nights and weekends as well as time and a half for holidays. However, I've always been a hospital employee ever since I started working as an NP. Do you work with a hospitalist group? What I would do is call hospitalist groups around the country and ask what their policy are regarding nocturnists. If the industry standard is a higher pay, then that's more than enough argument on your behalf to receive the differential.

[SL2014]

Most do offer a shift differential. I agree with the first person who responded. State that you wanted to work nights because you need a shift differential and if they do not offer it you would like to go back to days.