Can I ask to work exclusively day shifts?

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I am going to start my nursing program in the fall. I know down the road I will be applying for my first nursing job, but I am a single mom. Normally, I wouldn't be picky about my work schedule, and I would just take what I can get-- especially on a new job. But my daughter will be about 3 when that time roles around, and I highly doubt I can work night shifts, 3p-3a, 7p-7a, or have a crazy schedule where I have a night shift and then a day shift.... Can I ask for exclusively day shifts since I am a single mom? I don't care what days during the week I get. I don't want to come off like I think I'm entitled to day shifts... What can I do?

P.S. I know a lot of single moms do work night shifts, but I don't have the support system to do so.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
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:yes:

I found her on social media through Google within five seconds.

OP, the Internet and the nursing community is small...change your username and your avatar ASAP.

In social media, I make it VERY hard to find myself and do an occasional Google search to make sure I am not linked to this website-you may find yourself wanting a safe space to vent, and you don't want anyone knowing who you are when you need that space.

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Hi!

I just graduated with my BSN two weeks ago and have offers at two different hospitals for day positions. I live in southwest Ohio and several of my classmates also have accepted day positions. There are more night positions available, however. Nearly everyone in my cohort has already been offered a job, as well.

Good luck!

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If your hours are that specific, maybe you can consider non-clinical roles in corporate or insurance. Nowadays, with a global economy, you're likely to see more and more jobs that skew towards international hours but it may be a more classic core hours structure than a clinical nursing position.

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Yes, you can find a job that will allow you to work day shifts only. I did within 2 months of getting my RN.

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If you think working weekdays is best for you, have you considered a non-nursing career such as; occupational therapy, speech language pathology, respiratory therapy etc?

I spent 17 years as a Respiratory Therapist .. and worked nights, weekends, holidays and had night call when working day shift.

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Specializes in Care Coordination, Care Management.

Why would you assume nursing is any different?

I worked as a CNA and I understand how 12 hour shifts work and rotating schedule. I never asked for day shift because the seasoned CNAs deserved them more than I did.

Anway, if you need to work strictly days, this will limit your job opportunities for reasons as mentioned, when job opportunities may already be limited because of your lack of experience. Of course, you can consider private practice or clinic settings, or something with a possibly flexible schedule such as home health. There are other jobs that are strictly days, but usually more experience than you will have as a new grad is required.

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Overly optimistic advice isn't very helpful, but neither is overly pessimistic advice. Without knowing where you live, I have no idea whether your chances of finding a day shift job are realistic or not. Where I work, you get hired for either days or nights- nobody rotates. I have a single mom friend who was given a choice of whether she wanted to go on days or nights once she completed orientation for her first nursing job. And for what it's worth, most of my graduating class found jobs within 6 months and I went to school in a competitive job market. People seem to get some sense of satisfaction from warning nursing students about how rough they'll have it getting a job but it sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and will figure out what you need to do. Ask around, people in your area will be able to tell you what's standard there.

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Specializes in Care Coordination, Care Management.

Obviously, it depends on location.

And for what it's worth, most of my graduating class found jobs within 6 months and I went to school in a competitive job market. People seem to get some sense of satisfaction from warning nursing students about how rough they'll have it getting a job but it sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and will figure out what you need to do. Ask around, people in your area will be able to tell you what's standard there.
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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Sometimes you get LUCKY. I've been a nurse for only 9 months only and have a day shift due to luck and me letting my DON and administrator know I wanted days enough lol. This is what happened, I quit the job I was working evenings at for a different job offering 12's from 7p-7a. My old job loved me and knew I wanted days but couldn't give me them since they were fully staffed. I had no hope and evenings were taking over my life, plus when you get mandated you have to work until 7 am !! :no: Well just this Friday my old job called me back and offered me a days position starting in two days!!! Theres a nurse leaving who's been there forever. I was like OMG YESSS GIMMIE. So I'm working doubles at my new job for two weeks. I was NOT going to pass up this RARE opportunity lol Btw I work in LTC. Work hard and let the right people know what you want and you might just get lucky too :up:

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I thought everyone rotated. All RN in my area require rotating. At least acute inpatient

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.
I thought everyone rotated. All RN in my area require rotating. At least acute inpatient

Nope, I've never worked at a hospital that had rotating shifts in 20+ years of inpatient nursing (in 3 states and several specialties).

In the last year, one hospital has started rotating shifts for new hires.?There are many hospitals in my urban area & so far, that one has been the only one to do that.

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TBH rotating seems ridiculously unnecessary and torturous, and I would never consider it unless I had literally no other options. I doubt I'll ever be in that bad a spot.

Where I live, nights are (sometimes) quieter and (always) come with higher pay, so people want night shift. My floor had a few day shift positions open, and more of the day shift keeps leaving so there's an open invitation to all of us night shifters to go to days. Nobody will take it, since night shift is comprised of either young people without kids who want the shift diff or old people who work simply because they can't afford to retire and really can't even handle night shifts, muchless days.

For OP: On my floor and several others in my hospital, new grads are hired into day shift often. It's all about the area.

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