Advise please, (Long)

[FreezeRN]

I graduated from nursing school a little over a year ago and have been working on a tele/stepdown floor. I had originally hoped to get a job on an oncology or palliative floor at the hospital I am currently working at. However, none were available at the time since most of my clinical experience in school was on a tele unit I decided to go that direction. I have recently been getting an itch to move to oncology specificly but maybe palliative. I have asked a coworker who recently left the unit I work on how I should go about it. She told me that I should apply for the position I want and then let the nurse manager of the unit I would like to move to contact my current manager. THis is how I would plan on proceeding but currently there are no night shift positions posted. (I have to work night shift so that work doesn't conflict with school) Would it be inappropriate to email the oncology nurse manager with my desire to work on his unit on night shift? There are currently two day shift positions available but as i said before I need to work nights.

[abundantjoy07, RN]

I don't think there is anything wrong in expressing an interest to the oncology nurse manager. Let him/her know you are interested and your preference to work nights due to school.

You never know, they might just be after another night nurse and haven't gotten around to posting it yet.

Sometimes, they will hire you just to have another nurse to fill in during those high census/low staffing days.

I don't think politely inquiring about an open position is a bad thing at all.

Good Luck.

[Mijourney]

I agree. Put your bid in for night shift and all the nurse managers can do is say not right now but we'll keep your application on file for the first available. Then periodically keep in touch with the oncology nurse manager.