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

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 1, 2011

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?

Putting aside the challenges of even getting hired as a new grad in the first place...:)

A lot of it really has to do with facility. Some places are strictly 12s, some are 8s, some are a mix but you either have to pick one or another, and some let you choose to do both.

As far as getting hired right into days as a new grad...that's tough since a lot of places often have waiting lists for day shifts. Until then, you're expected to slog through evening and/or nights for a while until you do get enough seniority or move to the top of that list. How long you'll be on evenings/nights depends on a lot of factors: how large the unit is, turnover rates, how many nurses there are, etc. It took me a year before I got enough seniority to move from evenings to days. I'm told by one nurse friend that her hospital has a day shift waiting list so long they flat out tell you it will probably take a few years before you get it. And some nurses I know at other hospitals got on the day shift within a year or less. Who knows?

It's rare for them to hire a new grad into straight days...however, it can happen. We just hired a new grad on the day shift. It happened to be the only opening on the unit, and since we're a small unit and everyone else was content with their current shifts and didn't want to leave evenings or nights, there was no seniority issues or waiting list to deal with. She simply happened to be in the right place at the right time. But that's the rare exception and not the norm, so don't bank on it happening to you.

anotherone, BSN, RN · May 1, 2011

straight days are not an option for any one where I work any more. A couple of people work 3 twelves -7a-730p. but no one else will be hired for that. seniority or not. it is all rotation two 8s and two 12s.

Gal220 · May 9, 2011

Thanks Esme12, I appreciate your advice. It's good to know that there are women that make nursing work for themselves and family.

Gal220 · May 9, 2011

Thanks for the advice! Getting info firsthand from those in the field will help me make informed decisions about a future career.

Gal220 · May 9, 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.

@OCRN63, thank you for the advice, I appreciate it. I'm definitely not stressing, but I just want to find out more about why there is a turnover of 57% of nurses leaving the profession by the second year (according to a recent survey by Pricewaterhouse Coopers). Since I'll be putting lots of time and money into schooling, I need want to educate myself with informed input. What strategies would you recommend that a future nurse work on during school in order to be more competitive in this job market?

Gal220 · May 9, 2011

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

Thanks for the info Esme12. It's good to know that nurses can make their professions work for themselves and family. You're right about holding prior degree, I certainly don't expect any special favors since I'll be starting in a new field just like other new grads that need to build experience on the job. I do think that I still benefit from learning how to handle myself in an often high stress job and that I'd be able to apply those skills anywhere, including the nursing profession. But, since I'll be putting lots of time and money into schooling, I need want to educate myself with informed input. What strategies would you recommend that a future nurse work on during school in order to be more competitive in the job market? :)

martymoose, BSN, RN · May 9, 2011

straight days are not an option for any one where I work any more. A couple of people work 3 twelves -7a-730p. but no one else will be hired for that. seniority or not. it is all rotation two 8s and two 12s.

yep thats how it is where I am. even nurses with 25 yrs seniority are still told they have to rotate shifts- and eow/e too.

the other options for day type jobs are cath lab, or etc, but the on call requirement is just as bad if you have kids, cause you would have to find a babysitter on short notice. not too realistic.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 9, 2011

Thanks for the info Esme12. It's good to know that nurses can make their professions work for themselves and family. You're right about holding prior degree, I certainly don't expect any special favors since I'll be starting in a new field just like other new grads that need to build experience on the job. I do think that I still benefit from learning how to handle myself in an often high stress job and that I'd be able to apply those skills anywhere, including the nursing profession. But, since I'll be putting lots of time and money into schooling, I need want to educate myself with informed input. What strategies would you recommend that a future nurse work on during school in order to be more competitive in the job market? :)

Absolutely....and when applying to a position your experience in the job world will help you as well as having a previous work history. The market is tight right now........there is, at present, an influx of nurses because of the ecomony. Many atay at home Mom's have returned to the workplace due to layoffs and high unemployment. When there is unemployment and many lose their jobs they have historically flocked to nursing because "there will alsways be a job". The last time this happend was in the 80's and the DOT.com crash. There became a plethora of nurses and nursing students that flooded the job market....leaving many new grads unemployed.

Hospitals are all about the bottom dollar.....it is expensive to train a new grad and there are plenty of nurses returning to the bedside from home. The good thing is that this will swing back and youw ill once again to name your price.

There is a huge turn over because nursing is a really hard job, you get screamed at by MD's, patients, family and sometimes staff (ancillary departments) you have a huge responsibility and little to no regognition for it. YOu will be spit at shouted at, pooped on, peed on puked on and so on. You are responsible for everything but control very little.........it takes a special person to be a nurse......get a position as an aide...even per diem.....it will get your foot in the door....and it will help you get the inside scoop....

Good luck.....PM me if you need anything....:redpinkhe

MissBrahmsRN · May 10, 2011

my hospital system is all straight shifts, they say rotations are dangerous on the "body clock" and don't offer them. most times you are hired into a position as a new grad and when the residency is over you will go to whatever shift is shortest. right now on my unit it's day shift, the night shift has been fully staffed for a few months and everyone is content there. but the winds blow back & forth, people leave, change shifts, i'm sure at some point the newbies will come to nights after they get out... :lol2:

Gal220 · May 13, 2011

@Esme12

Thanks for your advice!