Can they just switch me from days to nights?

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I am a new graduate in a program at my local hospital. When I got the position I was told I would be working nights. However, now (6 weeks in) it seems a lot of people are leaving day shift and my nurse manager told me I will now be on days. I do not want days, I will have to pay for childcare. Should I confront her or is this typical for a newgrad program?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, School Nursing, OB.

They can usually do whatever they want to meet their needs. Did your contract specifically say nights? Maybe she just assumes you'd rather have days. I'd let her know you need nights and maybe she'll work with you.

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There's no law saying she can't change your schedule (although if the notice is short enough, sometimes state laws may apply). If you signed any contract, read it closely.

If the switch is a deal-breaker for you, polish up your resume, look for job openings in advance, and tell your boss that you can't work day shifts. Maybe she'll back down if it's a choice between losing you or keeping you on nights only. Don't count on it though, unfortunately.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Are you part of a union? I assume not, because most union contracts prohibit moving nurses to a shift that's different from what they were hired into, without their consent.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Talk with your manager and let her know you really need to stay on nights. Maybe she will keep you on nights. She may have assumed that you wanted to move to days. A lot of people with kids tend to want a day schedule, but if you explain nights is best, maybe she will keep you where you want to be.

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Specializes in Burn, ICU.

Even in my union hospital, "staffing needs" trumps the shift we are hired for. When we have a hole on one shift, my manager usually looks for volunteers and then (barring any volunteers) moves the person with the lowest seniority to the needed shift. Doing stuff by seniority is very set-in-stone at this hospital.

I agree, it can't hurt to talk to her about it, but I don't think it's uncommon.

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Specializes in school nurse.

If you can at all make it work, most people end up wanting desperately to get off of nights and have to wait a long time. Also, nights aren't the optimal setting for a new grad...

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On 3/15/2019 at 11:40 AM, GamerRN said:

I am a new graduate in a program at my local hospital. When I got the position I was told I would be working nights. However, now (6 weeks in) it seems a lot of people are leaving day shift and my nurse manager told me I will now be on days. I do not want days, I will have to pay for childcare. Should I confront her or is this typical for a newgrad program?

You should definitely ask about it. There may be other people who want day shift and can be moved instead.
And hopefully this is not the case, but flipping someone's schedule is a fairly common tactic for encouraging an undesirable employee to quit.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Six weeks in as a new grad you don't want to be 'confronting' anyone.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Any chance that management sees a clinical NEED to switch you to day shift for more clinical experience & training?

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Specializes in PICU.
16 hours ago, meanmaryjean said:

Six weeks in as a new grad you don't want to be 'confronting' anyone.

This exactly.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I agree re: confronting. However, a respectful conversation is not a confrontation. Talk to your manager about it.

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