Day shifts hard to find for new RN grad w/i no seniority?

kayern · Apr 30, 2011

Don't fool yourself and think the night shift has more downtime. Whatever shift you work, each has its pros and cons. For example, working days you need to coordinate care with tests, procedures, three meals and visitors, but working nights you need to coordinate care from time time you get out of report (approximately 0730-0800) and do all assessments, teaching, dressing changes, etc before midnight because you don't have the luxury of going in at 0200 and teaching/changing dressings, etc.

With that being said, I have hired new graduates on the day shift and some do extremely well and some don't and we transfer them to nights.

Your bachelors degree in another field probably won't help as much as you're anticipating. I too had a bachelors in another field and started on nights. I had three small children at the time and it worked! three 12 hour shifts. I slept while they were at school and was able to meet the bus, take them to after school activities and have dinner with them. They also developed a wonderful loving relationship with their day, who played MOM on weekends while I slept. It works if you want it to work.

Good Luck

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 30, 2011

from what i understand, some hospitals (especially magnet hospitals) require new grads to gather work experience in med-surg for at least two years experience before moving on to other units.

*** actually it is the oppisit of that. the idea that icu or other specialities need to spend a couple years getting "experience" before moving on is very out dated and not supported by evidenced based practice. i think magnet hospitals are the least likely to continue such outdated practices, though i am sure some still do.

my questions are these:

are working 8 or 12 hour day shifts a difficult schedule to come by for new nurses?

*** at my hospital all new grads are hired for rotating shifts. usually three weeks of days then three weeks of nights (every third weekend). in some hospitals it's the day shift that is short of nurses, usually when a large night differential is offered. to answer your question i would say that on average yes, strait days schedule is very hard to come by for new grads. but you never know. if i were you i wouldn't hesitate to apply for day shift positions but i wouldn't become a nurse counting on working strait days.

would i expect to have to work nights for a time before getting seniority, and how long does it take for a new nurse to gather the seniority they need in order to choose day shifts?

*** there is no way to say as it will be totaly different in each unit in each hospital. there might well be a long list of senior nurses waiting for strait days and it could take 10 years or more. you might get luck and having something open up in the first 6 months.

from reading other rn's posts, i get the sense that working night shifts may move at a slower pace (depending on the unit). i would probably really appreciate this as a new grad.

*** yes, that is very unit dependant. for example a trauma unit may much busier on nights.

however, i have a bachelors degree in another field, and 3 years of work experience after college.

*** expect that to count for nothing in nursing.

that being said i'm hoping for a position with a day shift that will allow me to get married and start a family after i graduate in about 2 years (i'm 27 years right now).

*** plenty of us night shift nurses are married and have families.

i know that from past experience that i'd have a hard time adjusting from switching from working nights and living days on my time off.

*** in that case i would carefully consider weather nursing is the right job for you. there are plenty of day shift jobs outside of hospitals. one option might be to go to grad school after you get a few years of bedside nursing experience and get into education (both teaching and in hospital education departments), informatics, management, occupational health, case management, or maybe np.

AKA_Glamour_Pearl · Apr 30, 2011

I think everything is relative to who you are, where you are, and what the hospitals needs are.

I wouldn't necessarily say that nights are easier though. I would say that it all depends on the hospital. A hospital in NYC may have night shifts that are just as or more busy than the day shifts, whereas the hospital where I've just been hired (haven't started yet) is in a veeeeeeeery small town, so I can expect it to be slower on night shift.

You know whether you live in a big city or an itsy bitsy town, so you can figure the nights are quieter in the woods.

As for shifts, I was just hired to work varied shifts.

At the end of the day, you ultimately have control over your own destiny. If you specifically want day shifts, and know that night shifts will be difficult for you then look for positions that will allow you to work day shifts. It's as simple as applying for that position.

Apply for the position that you want. No one can force you to work someplace that you don't want to work, or accept a shift that you don't want. If the hospital doesn't offer you the shift that you want, then apply some other place.

I'd also like to add that I know a lot, a lot, a lot of nurses that work the night shift and it has not made their lives hard at all. They've gotten married, had children, are active in church,go on vacations every 2 seconds and have more energy than some of us walking around who have never been exposed to working the night shift. It can be done.

Good luck with school!

jennifers · Apr 30, 2011

In this economy I'd be happy getting any position. I wouldn't worry if it was nights or days. i would just try to get the experience

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Apr 30, 2011

In this economy I'd be happy getting any position. I wouldn't worry if it was nights or days. i would just try to get the experience

My thoughts excatly!! I know that in some areas of the country new grads at still be hired into hospital systems, but at least in my area it is exctremely hard, 8 months to get a job in another state working LTC/SNF.

I would jump at the chance to work in the hosptial setting, I know the specialty I want to go into, but at this point will take any unit that will have me:) Day, EVe, NOC, 8hr or 12hr shift dosn't really matter at this point

OCNRN63, RN · Apr 30, 2011

I think you should worry about getting through nursing school, first of all. You haven't even started that, and you're already stressing about getting day shift right off the bat?

Most of the time, you do need to work an "off shift" until a day shift slot opens. How long this takes is really dependent on the facility. Some places don't even offer straight days.

I doubt your previous degree and work experience will give you a leg up on getting day shift. You'll be considered a new grad just like everyone else.

Unless things change dramatically by the time you graduate, you may find yourself thankful to get any job. Lots of new grads post here that they have been searching for months, some even over a year, with no success. Jobs are really hard to come by right now, and it doesn't look like things are going to change any time soon.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2011

Depends on where you find a job. My first job was nights but within 6 months I was on days (they had a mix of experienced and newbies on each shift)

Work at a hospital now where new grads work rotating shifts (D/E, E/N).

Every situation is different-not unheard of to be on stgraight days as a new grad but not exactly likely either.

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 30, 2011

I think you should worry about getting through nursing school, first of all. You haven't even started that, and you're already stressing about getting day shift right off the bat?quote]
**** I am glad she asked. I see too many new grads, especially direct entry masters grads but not only them, who come to nursing with unrealistic expectations.
If one simply can not work night shifts then I strongly suggest they reconsider nursing as a career. I know that some new grads enter the field and never have to work night shift but they are a small minority.

Sl1011 · Apr 30, 2011

It really depends on your hospital and needs of the unit. I work in a large teaching hospital (still on orientation) on a med/surg floor. I was hired for days, no hospital exp. Two others were hired for days, one of them being a new grad too. I specifically told them I couldn't do nights, and luckily that floor had a day position. We have a ton of pregnant ladies... Which is why we lucked out.

muffins20 · Apr 30, 2011

While job searching I've seen straight days offered at assisted living facilities, clinics, home care, and at a LTAC facility. You never know, but I don't remember seeing any bedside nurses working straight days in the hospital I used to work at. Some have worked straight evenings or nights though, which may be easier for one's sleep schedule rather than rotating shifts.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2011

I'm a pre-nursing student finishing pre-reqs and looking forward to graduating with a ABSN-RN degree program within the next two years. I am currently gaining volunteer experience at two different hospitals-in the ER and in home health care. I'd like to find out from the nurses that have been through school and working in the field, if working days is a hard shift to come by as a new grad? From what I understand, some hospitals (especially magnet hospitals) require new grads to gather work experience in med-surg for at least two years experience before moving on to other units.
My questions are these:
Are working 8 or 12 hour day shifts a difficult schedule to come by for new nurses?
Would I expect to have to work nights for a time before getting seniority, and how long does it take for a new nurse to gather the seniority they need in order to choose day shifts?
From reading other RN's posts, I get the sense that working night shifts may move at a slower pace (depending on the unit). I would probably really appreciate this as a new grad. However, I have a bachelors degree in another field, and 3 years of work experience after college.
That being said I'm hoping for a position with a day shift that will allow me to get married and start a family after I graduate in about 2 years (I'm 27 years right now).
I know that from past experience that I'd have a hard time adjusting from switching from working nights and living days on my time off.
Thank you for your input and comments, I appreciate it very much! :heartbeat

I am sure your volunteer experience will help you but it is a far cry from being the nurse responsible for the patients. Straight days is usually not the shift hired into as the profession is a 24/7 industry this profesion is weekends and holidays as well as 24 hours a day. You will have to work your fair share. Unfotunately right now thre job market is really tight and the nursing "shortage" has temporarily been postponed.

You'll be lucky to find a position as a new grad let alone pick your shift.......this is the unfortunately reality right now. The great thing about nursing is that it waxes and wanes........a feast of nurses to hre always is followed by famine where you pretty much name your game. I am one of thos nurses who believes med surg experience is important to gain because it contains the basice skills necessary to specialized later. You need to learn your craft and hone your skills and med-surg is a good place for that.

There are areas that lend themselves to day shifts.......a doctors office, outpatient clinics, surgical day cares, dialysis outpatint centers, OR and Recocery rooms (PACU). Case managers and educators are also day positions. Although it is admirable and impressive to have double majors.....your present Bachleors degree wil not have as much of an impact on what shift you get as you think. Nursing is a very specialized field, although your prsent degree and job experience shows inciative and stability it will not give you shift preference.

Just for thought......I worked nghts for my children. They never spent a day in day care I saved a bundle of money as chid carfe is VERY expensive. It required my husband to help so I could sleep and I got creative on ways to get my chidren to nap....... good luck