I recently applied for a day job on a stepdown unit; the manager called me and asked if I would consider night shift. At this point, absolutely! However, it does make scheduling more difficult for me because my husband works Fri-Sun shifts and we have young children. So basically, I would only be able to regularly work Mon-Wed nights (I do have a friend who is willing to help out with childcare - for instance, every third weekend if required - but she works in LTC and has an irregular schedule).
I have 8+ years experience. I did med/tele/stepdown for about a year, but that was 10 years ago. Then I worked in a dialysis clinic. My last job was acute dialysis in the hospital until last year. For various reasons I haven't started to seriously look for work again until just a few months ago (if I had known how difficult it has become I would have started a year ago!)
I suspect I didn't get the other job I had applied for because I had hinted that I might not be able to work weekends (at the time, I had not yet asked my friend if she would be able to help), because until that point the interview seemed to go well. However, I realize that being unavailable on most Thursdays and Fridays might be even worse than not being able to work weekends.
Should I just write the off? Is there any chance a manager might even consider an applicant with this kind of scheduling difficulty? Of course, you never know just what they are looking for and how flexible they might be. I recall night shifts used to be very difficult to fill (until 1-2 years ago there was a $5,000 sign-on bonus!)
I'd find out what the requirements were then decide if you want the job (should they offer). Don't count on them to make special arrangements just for you. Lots of nurses have kids.
As someone who used to have a role in the interviewing and hiring process (and as the former scheduler) I would want to know in advance what you were available for...if you couldn't possibly fill our needs, it is pretty irritating to go through the whole interview and reference check and background check only to find out you aren't able to work Thursdays or weekends or whatever. If you really want or need the job, you pretty much have to figure out how to work it in to your life. If you can find a facility that can meet your needs, great but if not...
When I worked at the hospital I had Wednesdays off...we did self scheduling and for almost eight years, I managed not to work Wednesdays...then, I transfered to ICU and since I was the only full time ICU nurse, I pretty much scheduled myself for whatever I wanted. They hired a new nurse who was unable to accept the position unless he had Wednesdays and Thursdays off...which meant I was unable to attend my activity on Wednesdays and I missed every one of my daughters' band and chior concerts because they were always on Thursdays. Pretty unfair to make such a huge change to a current employee's schedule...
I have been having a similar problem in trying to find a part time/prn job in addition to my full time. i already work every other weekend and I only get 1 day off a week. My DON is not willing to work w/ me at all on my schedule..which is why I am hoping to get my foot in the door somewhere else and go full time by December or January. Ive had 2 interviews.....but Im waiting on the 2nd one to call me back about my background and drug screen to make me an offer. I have another interview possibly lined up for this week which I know pays more than what I make now. All these places are about 40 minutes from my house so my main thing is not weekends...but having to stay over. I absolutely cannot do a double shift being that far away from home. I already have to do doubles where I work full time but I only live about 8 minutes from work. And at my current job..we dont have any prns for 3rd except 1 which I dont even count ...every single time shes been down to work ..shes called in...so I honestly dont even know why shes still on the schedule or the phone list. She is useless to us. If I had child care for about 5 hrs in the day time Id go to 3rd shift full time somewhere but my son is only 2 and I cant afford day care (400 +/ month). I make arrangements between my mom and my in laws since they are semi retired. That may be something you can consider if they live nearby like mine do. Anything would help out. My plan regardless is when he starts school to go full time nights. I currently work 2nd and my husband works 1st for the time being. At the interviews I had...one thing I did ask was about the staying over and call in policy.....and luckily at each place they dont require the nurses to stay over unless they absolutely want to...1 place uses agency and the other places unit manager has to come in if a shift cant be covered. We have none of that where I work. It all gets piled on to one person..usually me. Maybe you can start out prn and go from there?
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
I work with a nurse who can't work Saturdays. She says so. But to be fair, the unit manager schedules her. It doesn't matter because everyone has the same issues, work, husband out of town, kids, etc.,
She manages to find someone to work for her. I guess, to put it mildly, the onus is on her to find childcare.
I think most of the posters here are saying the same thing.
Virgo_RN, BSN, RN
3,543 Posts
If I were interviewing you, this would be a huge turn off.