Can I ask to work exclusively day shifts?

chacha82, ADN, BSN · May 24, 2016

If you want exclusively days you could look at doctor's offices or urgent care centers. Maybe also LTC 3 - 11. But in the area I live, those jobs are hard to get and the coveted clinic positions get filled by experienced nurses who have worked many years.

I am in my first year of nursing. I was hired for nights on a BUSY tele floor. The market is tough for new grads. I graduated from an ancient hospital program. It was an excellent school but with no BSN I took what was available.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · May 24, 2016

No, I understand everyone. I haven't taken offense. I'm a planner, even though this is a while down the road, knowing this helps me. I want to make sure asking a potential employer if "day shifts would be available to me", wouldn't make me seem entitled or cause an opportunity to close. Thank you all! Very helpful!

It would absolutely cause an opportunity to close in my area. All new hires are expected to work rotating shifts around these parts. I graduated from nursing school 9 years ago and most of my classmates who are still working bedside are still working rotating shifts. The ones who aren't are working permanent nights. The only nurses on my old floor who have permanent day shift positions have been around for 10-15+ years.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · May 25, 2016

Some of my local LTCs hire straight 7a-3p nurses. School nursing, public health nursing, clinic nursing are generally days only, but jobs can be scarce and/or difficult to obtain as a new grad. You may be able to find work in areas like private duty or home health, but I really don't advise new grads to take these jobs. New grads need backup.

No hospital I've ever seen hires anyone for straight day positions; they're nearly always taken by senior employees before thd job is even posted externally. I get what concerns you, as a mom myself...unfortunately I don't have a better answer.

Julius Seizure · May 25, 2016

Yes, you *might* be able to find a straight days position as a bedside hospital nurse. However, if you have your heart set on a specialty, like pediatrics, you may just have to choose which is more important to you: the dream job or the dream schedule. There is always a compromise.

nurse2be13 · May 25, 2016

In a perfect world...

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · May 25, 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?

I didn't have to get out of nursing to get a day job. I work endo in a stand alone facility and PRN in an elective surgery OR. I work days, no weekends, no holidays. Hospital jobs are not the only path for nurses.

OldDude · May 25, 2016

I didn't have to get out of nursing to get a day job. I work endo in a stand alone facility and PRN in an elective surgery OR. I work days, no weekends, no holidays. Hospital jobs are not the only path for nurses.

And you were hired as a graduate nurse into these positions?

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · May 25, 2016

Depends on the policy of the hospital you get hired and the department. Everywhere I worked it was seniority based. I've worked at hospitals where they told me expect to wait 7 years for a day shift in the ICU and I've worked at hospitals where you came off orientation and they had openings for days. Hard to tell you what your scenario will be.

enuf_already · May 25, 2016

I'm sitting here reading these posts wondering if people really think clinics are 9-5 jobs? Yes, the majority are day shift M-F, but some start at 7:30 and the nurse leaves after the last patient is seen (which could be 7pm). These clinics also run 5-6 days a week so forget picking the kids up by 6pm from daycare.

Some peds clinics and doctor's offices-during cold and flu season-work late hours (until 11pm) and some see patients 6-7 days a week.

The reality is that 9-5 job description can change, depending on the needs of the clinic.

OP, good luck in school. You will have this figured out by graduation.

NOADLS · May 25, 2016

You can ask for whatever you like, but if you ask for something that isn't in line with the industry standard, it will hurt your chances of getting hired. By only being able to work that one shift, a lot of places won't give you a second look. Of the places that will consider you for hire, you'll have a lot of competition because of other people in similar circumstances.

In larger facilities, day shifts are sought after and tend to be given out to the most senior employees. Someone brand new will likely have to wait a few years to be considered for day shifts. The facility I work at (and this one isn't even that big) has a waitlist of 10 employees (all classifications) looking to switch to day shifts from their current shift.

Maevish, ASN, RN · May 25, 2016

You can ask all you want:yes:. However, if there are no day shift positions available where you're wanting to work then there's not much that can be done about that.

Care.com has helpful folks on it and you can do a background check if you desire on whomever you want to watch your child. I've actually gotten jobs there in between travel assignments and it's great!

Most people don't want to work nights, but if you're a new grad, then that's where you'll most likely go at first. I don't know how they've done it without family around etc, but a lot of my classmates were single parents through school (and not wealthy) and they made it work. It'll be rough, but unless you find the miracle job right out of school, which most of us don't, prepare for night shift.

I don't think people are trying to be downers here, but it can be hard to find a staff job even with experience (I know, because I've been looking for a year). However, I've never worked at a hospital where I've been required to do different shifts other than the one I was assigned, apart from orientation. I know there are places that make nurses do that, but everyone I know has done alternate shifts by choice (and I don't know how they swap back and forth all the time!).

xo

OscarTheOwl · May 25, 2016

I have very little support child care wise and I don't think I ever thought about asking for a day shift position because of that. I had to pay half of my salary it seemed like (sometimes literally) for day/night care but I made it happen.

Its good for those considering the nursing profession to be given the reality of today's job market, because people really simply do not know. If I would have done my due diligence and researched before hand, I would have probably chosen a different career.

Just because it sounds desirable to work 3 shifts a week doesn't mean you won't be away from your kid for long stretches of time, because you will.

If in 3 years you still don't think you can do nights/rotating, just don't apply to jobs that state those are requirements. Every job I've ever applied to lists the shift requirements and it makes me scratch my head when people knowingly apply for such a position and then request the opposite.