does day shift exist?

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Hi everyone,

I am currently an adult stroke RN looking to transition to womens health/L&D. It seems in my area (Los angeles) that day shift positions are near impossible to get if new to the specialty. I have over 5 years experience with adults with my PCCN certification. I already did night shift as a new grad for 1 year and it literally was making me sick being on nights. Plus my husband leaves at 2am for work 6 days a week, so my kids need me home at night. Am i crazy for looking for a day shift position? do these even exist for transitioning nurses? anyone start on day shift?

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Generally, day shift is the more desirable shift, and it's filled by night shift nurses who move to days after gaining seniority. So I would not hold out hope of getting a day shift position in L&D.

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I started as a new grad on day shift in OB.

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Specializes in OB.

Does it exist? Yes. Have people done it? Yes. Is it possible you won't be able to find that for yourself at this moment in time in your location? Unfortunately, yes.

I've had to start over on nights in new positions because that's all that was available and the job was otherwise a good opportunity. It all comes down to weighing the pros and cons of each scenario.

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Specializes in RNC-OB, C-EFM; obstetrics, IT, Telehealth.

I also started as a new grad on day shift in L&D, in LA.

It exists. Take NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation) now, it will show how serious you are about the transition as you start looking that you hold current NRP certification. ACLS if you don' have it, also. Some (not all) places require ACLS. Doesn't hurt to have it. Find an AWHONN Fetal Monitoring course, the basic one, (there's basic and advanced) and take it, so you can show that you have started to learn the field. Lisa Miller's Pocket Guide to Fetal Monitoring will get you started learning the physiology behind fetal monitoring and why the patterns tell us to be concerned or reassured regarding fetal well being. Another idea is to take any courses for nurses on breastfeeding, skin to skin at birth, anything that prepares you to help with breastfeeding. These, along with your critical care background, are things that will make you a strong candidate.

Many older nurses who planned to retire but watched their retirement savings accounts plummet in value in 2008 and had to hold on are retiring now, and there are day shifts available. Few and far between, but they exist. There is a huge cohort of nurses 65 and 70+ who kept working but are beginning to retire. There are nurses who love their nights, and nurses who love PMs, and not everyone is waiting for a day shift. You can do it.

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On 6/10/2019 at 11:23 AM, strokeRN1 said:

Hi everyone,

I am currently an adult stroke RN looking to transition to womens health/L&D. It seems in my area (Los angeles) that day shift positions are near impossible to get if new to the specialty. I have over 5 years experience with adults with my PCCN certification. I already did night shift as a new grad for 1 year and it literally was making me sick being on nights. Plus my husband leaves at 2am for work 6 days a week, so my kids need me home at night. Am I crazy for looking for a day shift position? do these even exist for transitioning nurses? anyone start on day shift?

How did everything work out? I am in a similar situation. Hard decision.

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