Can I ask to work exclusively day shifts?

Fiona59 · Jun 4, 2016

I guess you won't ever work in Canada. All inpatient lines rotate.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2016

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

I've never rotated, and never worked at any facility that required it.

Elaken · Jun 4, 2016

The only way to answer this is to research the areas you want to work. I work in a large 5 hospital system and I have never heard some of these things people are talking about. No permanent day shifts, rotating night/days, having to be willing to do other shifts when needed?? I am a new grad float nurse on days. I would only ever be put on a night shift if I chose to sign up for an extra then. Out of my fellow nurses in new grad class I would say the majority are nights with several of the days (like me) having already worked in the hospital as an aide so we had an in. But many no experience new grads got days.

I also live in an area with a large university, about 5 community colleges, and several for profit schools churning out nurses and I don't know anyone who didn't find a job. Yes, some have to do LTC or home health (usually the ones who didn't have their BSN) but jobs are out there.

Aristillus · Jun 4, 2016

There are nursing jobs which are day shift only. Outpatient surgery, dialysis, etc. I would suggest you look into that. But if you want a job on a unit which has rotating shifts and ask for exclusive days, you might be perceived as not a team player. In my unit, permanent day shift assignment is based on seniority. In other hospitals where I've worked, there's no such thing as permanent day shift and everyone had to either rotate or work nights. So before you make such a request, I would suggest you do a little investigating and find out how this is handled at the place where you want to apply for a job. As a new nurse you really don't have a strong hand experience wise and to then make what might be considered an unreasonable request could well be a deal breaker.

versican · Jun 5, 2016

I got a part time days-only on med/surg. I job searched after graduating and specifically was looking for a days-only shift. I'm in an area where there is a nursing shortage, so that helps find day positions. (I work weekend & holidays too...but days).

rzyzzy · Jun 6, 2016

You can ask for whatever you want but a few things to consider,
Why are you going into a field that is known to have round the clock shifts and ask for special treatment?
Who do you think should work the evening and night shifts? The experienced, long term employees?
As a seasoned employee whose kids are older I do try to help out any coworker with younger children but I would have a hard time with any new employee who expected what has taken me years of night shifts to obtain.

And I'd like to thank you for demanding days! Because so many nurses demand days & no weekends, In my area, nights pay $5 an hour more, and weekend nights pay $7 an hour more. I'm quite happy to work my entire career without ever working days..

JayHanig · Jun 8, 2016

I've worked all three shifts and I think you're looking at this only from your own point of view. Not every nurse sees the evening or the night shift as something they got stuck with. Each shift has its advantages and disadvantages and how you look at it depends on how you value each factor relative to the others.

First shift allows the resemblance of a normal life. I assume you value that above all other considerations. But think about this: 1) No shift differential; 2) You have to get up at an ungodly hour and then fight traffic to get in on time; 3) The entire administration is there to gum up your day. 4) You have to feed your patients, a major PITA and source of patient complaints. 5) Distributing meds is a huge part of your shift.

Second shift offers sleeping late and staying up late. You can get personal things done during the normal business day, at least in the mornings. And there is a shift differential that is enough to be worth considering. OTOH, there is still too many bosses walking around to suit me, you have to feed your patients and we got the lion's share of our postops on second shift.

Finally, there's the third shift. Doctors generally don't come and write orders so you don't have to watch the charts so closely. The pace is slower. The shift differential is significant. Beyond the house supervisor, administration (like Elvis) has left the building. You don't have to feed anyone. Medications are at a minimum, compared to the other two shifts.

The negatives are there, just the same. Your social life is pretty goofed up. Staffing is the worst on nights; you may have to take more (who am I kidding: you will take more) patients. First shift thinks you just sit all night and do nothing. Patients do not sleep all night. You get stuck with the piddly tasks of the unit, since the other shifts think you don't do anything.

The point of this epic document is that one man's garbage is another's treasure. Maybe the cash makes a huge difference to the nurse. Or maybe they don't do well under the thumb of administation (like me!). Not everybody is stuck with a shift. They may *want* to work that shift. I know I never was just assigned to one; I worked the shift I requested and that was that. If I was already working one shift and wanted to switch, I may have had to wait for an opening but that was never that long. A few weeks at most.

pookashellz · Jun 8, 2016

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?

this! do COTA or PTA. Both are two-year programs at community college. COTA is slightly more in demand than PTA at the moment in most geographic areas, and both are more in demand than nurses; also, comperable pay and a normal work schedule without being forced to work nights!

Kssrn404 · Jun 8, 2016

I was just hired for FT days. I feel pretty lucky that this hospital has night positions and day positions. That doesn't mean that occasionally( once a month I'm told) I won't be asked to pull a night. I'm fine with that as long as I have day status. You can ask for FT days depending on where you are and the type of facility you're working in. I'm in the Southeast.

GaJenRN · Jun 23, 2016

I live in Columbus Ga and I graduated this past May. I went to interview at a level 2 trauma hospital and told them I had to have day shift. They were very impressed with my interview and called the next day and offered me ER day shift. My classmates were shocked that I got that job because only a few of us were hired in the ER as it is a highly desirable job for new grads. So yes it is possible to get day shift and there is nothing wrong with asking! My advice would be to make sure you interview well. Do your research on interviewing and practice before you go! I was never made to feel like I shouldn't ask for day shift and that I need to work night shift to pay my dues so you shouldn't have to be made to feel that way either.

Lisari · Jun 28, 2016

I was just hired for my first nursing job and I was hired for day shift. I don't think it is impossible, I think it just depends on what is available at that time. Plus my shift time was more important to me than where I worked so that was what I looked for when applying.

emusdavis · Jun 28, 2016

I think a lot of it has to do with the jobs you apply for. I was in a similar situation- needing straight days because of caring for a dependent parent. Straight out of nursing school I worked days... and my job after that was straight days also. I will say I was very lucky, and I did work all the holidays etc. that was needed because I was fortunate to have day shift. A lot of my friends started on evenings.. 3-11, nights, and a few on days. Currently I am a day/night rotator. I work 75-80% of my shifts days, and usually 2 shifts a month of nights. Its not bad.