Do new grads always start night shift and full time?

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Specializes in B.S. Psychology.

I am thinking about getting into Nursing, but would only want day or evening shifts and work 2 -12 hr days a week...Has any new grad been able to achieve this?

Thanks!

Rhonda

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

On my unit, most of the new grads work either PMs(3:30pm-11:30pm) or Nights(11:15pm-7:15am). But there are also a few, less than a handful, who work alternate shifts between Days & PMs. Initially, new RNs are required to work full-time during orientation, which I think is 12 weeks(maybe more). Once they're done w/orientation & working independantly, their schedule will switch to include only the number of shifts they were hired for/agreed to work at time of hire. (Of course, that doesn't last long, either, because the phone calls start coming in asking if you can work an extra shift here, or an extra shift there)

Also, my hospital does offer the weekend program, which consists of 12-hr shifts EVERY Saturday & Sunday. As I'm typing this, I can't think of any new RN grads that work it and I don't know if there is a specific reason behind this. It's usually the weekend charge nurses & a couple other experienced RNs who currently work this schedule.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Actually the unit I'm working on: myself and 5 other new grads in the past year all started and stayed on days. Only one new grad went to nights. Three of us wanted nights too but our NM felt we were better to stay on days.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Nothing is etched in stone. Often we get new grads on day shift if it's open. Right now there are no openings and they are sent to night shift. We only hire full time at first 3 12-hour shifts. It's an awful big investment to orient a new grad to only work part time. The orientation is full time, but some may want to go to part time after that.

Good luck. Ask for what you want and look for something that fits and you're likely to find something.

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On my unit, most of the new grads work either PMs(3:30pm-11:30pm) or Nights(11:15pm-7:15am). But there are also a few, less than a handful, who work alternate shifts between Days & PMs. Initially, new RNs are required to work full-time during orientation, which I think is 12 weeks(maybe more). Once they're done w/orientation & working independantly, their schedule will switch to include only the number of shifts they were hired for/agreed to work at time of hire. (Of course, that doesn't last long, either, because the phone calls start coming in asking if you can work an extra shift here, or an extra shift there)

Also, my hospital does offer the weekend program, which consists of 12-hr shifts EVERY Saturday & Sunday. As I'm typing this, I can't think of any new RN grads that work it and I don't know if there is a specific reason behind this. It's usually the weekend charge nurses & a couple other experienced RNs who currently work this schedule.

Isn't it true that weekend shifts pay twice (or at least significantly more) than weekday shifts? Why on earth wouldn't grads want this shift, especially considering many new diploma/asd nurses only got in at this level just to get the experience and pay necessary to continue their nursing education and become professional nurses?

I was considering getting hooked up with a hospital and agreeing to do weekends for 24 hrs/week... then the week days would be mine to either go to school or relax and enjoy my pay :D . Is this feasible or is there any reason in particular why new grads can't do weekends?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Isn't it true that weekend shifts pay twice (or at least significantly more) than weekday shifts? Why on earth wouldn't grads want this shift, especially considering many new diploma/asd nurses only got in at this level just to get the experience and pay necessary to continue their nursing education and become professional nurses?

I was considering getting hooked up with a hospital and agreeing to do weekends for 24 hrs/week... then the week days would be mine to either go to school or relax and enjoy my pay :D . Is this feasible or is there any reason in particular why new grads can't do weekends?

The pay is going to vary place to place. Where I work the one's hired to the weekend only option must be charge nurse capable, so that disqualifies new grads. I'm not sure if that's a standard practice or not.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
isn't it true that weekend shifts pay twice (or at least significantly more) than weekday shifts? why on earth wouldn't grads want this shift, especially considering many new diploma/asd nurses only got in at this level just to get the experience and pay necessary to continue their nursing education and become professional nurses?

i was considering getting hooked up with a hospital and agreeing to do weekends for 24 hrs/week... then the week days would be mine to either go to school or relax and enjoy my pay :D . is this feasible or is there any reason in particular why new grads can't do weekends?

i just checked my hospital's website and here's what it said regarding the weekend program: "nurses work 12-hour shifts on three out of four weekends per month and enjoy full benefits and a substantial pay differential. there is no mandatory overtime". i have no idea what the "substantial pay differential" is, however.

also, as i mentioned in my original post, i do not know why the new grads don't work the weekend program. it could be their personal choice. or there could be a hospital policy regarding this. the other day when i was looking through job openings on my hospital's website, i came across one for an rn in the weekend program. in the job description, it specified that 6 months of med/surg experience was required. however, i think that had more to do with the type of unit the opening was for vs anything r/t the weekend program. or maybe it was for both. who knows.

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I started out on nights. I am glad I did. Some patients actually sleep at night leaving you with time to learn from other nurses. You don't have docs in and out constantly and new orders. Pts not going to radiology constantly. It helped me ease into day shift. Three twelves is not bad. They would probably let you work 2 twelves as nurses are so much in demand.

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I am a new grad and I was hired to work part time day/evenings - 3 eight hour shifts per week. My orientation was the same length as the full time hires (12 weeks). I applied to 2 hospitals, one the nurse recruiter said only full time GNs would be hired, so I immediately crossed that hospital off my list. You may be lucky and find a place that hires new GNs/RNs part time.

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Specializes in Home Health Care.

I am working PRN, but had my choice of full or part time days or nights as a new nurse.

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Why on earth wouldn't grads want this shift, especially considering many new diploma/asd nurses only got in at this level just to get the experience and pay necessary to continue their nursing education and become professional nurses?

To correct your statement - ASD and diploma nurses ARE professional nurses. We take the same NCLEX-RN test and have the same initials after our names. You may want to clarify your statement and say (in the future) BSN, as opposed to "professional" nurses.

And AFAIK, new grads typically aren't considered candidates for the weekend programs, usually they need at least one year experience. That's what I've observed at least in this area where I live (major metro area).

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