First acute care job: is it possible that they can switch me ove to night shifts without warning?

[~Shrek~]

Hi everyone! I am a nurse with 5 years of experience in the public health world. I have a steady job on days, Monday through Friday. I have a job offer for acute care on day shift. However, I know it is possible that they can switch me to nights at any time. Leaving me with only a few months of acute care experience, having left my original job, and hating my work/ sleep schedule.

I quit my my first ever nursing job (not acute care) because they promised me rotating hours between days, evenings, and nights but then permanently put me on nights. I became extremely depressed and I never want to work nights again unless I have no choice.

How likely would this be to happen to me in a small community hospital?

[LovingLife123]

We don’t have contracts in my area unless you are agency. That’s more of a union thing to have contracts. Once I hit dayshift, I’ve been dayshift. I’ve never rotated to nights.

I think if you go in guns a blazing demanding a contract when they don’t provide them, expect to not have the job. Not every place provides contracts. If you are that worried about getting flipped to nights, don’t take it.

[~Shrek~]

16 minutes ago, LovingLife123 said:

We don’t have contracts in my area unless you are agency. That’s more of a union thing to have contracts. Once I hit dayshift, I’ve been dayshift. I’ve never rotated to nights.

I think if you go in guns a blazing demanding a contract when they don’t provide them, expect to not have the job. Not every place provides contracts. If you are that worried about getting flipped to nights, don’t take it.

I wouldn't go "guns a blazing" good grief. I would go saying "what is the employment contract?" "Is there a form going over the terms and conditions of my employment?". I never had a job that did not have some sort of document saying what the job entails and what is expected of me, etc.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

Umm, you implied that there was a contract. Most places I've worked haven't had them. A job description at best, and that was given at orientation after starting the job...

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

1 hour ago, ~Shrek~ said:

No they didn't! I am going to go in person soon and if they don't give me an actual contract to sign when I go and enough time to review it, I am not taking it lol.

What state are you in? Most at will states won't have contracts of any kind. Only in union or right to work states. You may ask for a job offer letter at that time which spells out things like pay etc. But most of those do not guarantee shifts

[~Shrek~]

39 minutes ago, Jedrnurse said:

Umm, you implied that there was a contract. Most places I've worked haven't had them. A job description at best, and that was given at orientation after starting the job...

How do you know you actually have a job if you aren’t given a form of some sort with the job information saying you agree to follow their policy, etc?

[~Shrek~]

41 minutes ago, Jedrnurse said:

Umm, you implied that there was a contract. Most places I've worked haven't had them. A job description at best, and that was given at orientation after starting the job...

What’s stopping them from offering you a job, you quitting your job, and then you showing up to work and then saying “jk there wasn’t a job!”?

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

8 hours ago, ~Shrek~ said:

What’s stopping them from offering you a job, you quitting your job, and then you showing up to work and then saying “jk there wasn’t a job!”?

Often HR sends a letter (or email); it's considered a job offer, not a formal contract. And the scenario you've described has happened. (Not to me, but I've seen postings in the past here on AN about it.)

Or, not quite the same, a person uproots their life for a job then gets dismissed during the probationary period...

[kp2016]

It is normal to receive a written offer that mentions the unit and base pay. If they don't send one ask for one prior to starting. If it doesn't specifically mention day shift immediately call HR and tell them that you interviewed for a day shift job and that is the only job you are willing to accept at this time and therefore want in in your written job offer. Keep it polite and professional but do not under any circumstances even hint that you are open to switching or rotating!

I have worked with many people over the years who had exactly what they wanted and were never ever ask to help on on xxx shift, because they had it put in their job offer that they were hired for XX shift/hours.

During the hiring process and before you start work is your one and only opportunity to address this.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

12 hours ago, ~Shrek~ said:

Hi everyone! I am a nurse with 5 years of experience in the public health world. I have a steady job on days, Monday through Friday. I have a job offer for acute care on day shift. However, I know it is possible that they can switch me to nights at any time. Leaving me with only a few months of acute care experience, having left my original job, and hating my work/ sleep schedule.

I quit my my first ever nursing job (not acute care) because they promised me rotating hours between days, evenings, and nights but then permanently put me on nights. I became extremely depressed and I never want to work nights again unless I have no choice.

How likely would this be to happen to me in a small community hospital?

The only hospital I worked at was union and you could never be forced to work outside of your regular shift.

It needs to be in your contract what hours you will work. Be clear with the person who hires you.

Other than that, I don't know for sure. These states without union support have all kinds of abuses going on.

Good luck.

[~Shrek~]

4 hours ago, Jedrnurse said:

Often HR sends a letter (or email); it's considered a job offer, not a formal contract. And the scenario you've described has happened. (Not to me, but I've seen postings in the past here on AN about it.)

Or, not quite the same, a person uproots their life for a job then gets dismissed during the probationary period...

Oh boy. Probation is different, though. Usually you start working and agree that for 3/6/12 months you will be on probation.

[~Shrek~]

3 hours ago, kp2016 said:

It is normal to receive a written offer that mentions the unit and base pay. If they don't send one ask for one prior to starting. If it doesn't specifically mention day shift immediately call HR and tell them that you interviewed for a day shift job and that is the only job you are willing to accept at this time and therefore want in in your written job offer. Keep it polite and professional but do not under any circumstances even hint that you are open to switching or rotating!

I have worked with many people over the years who had exactly what they wanted and were never ever ask to help on on xxx shift, because they had it put in their job offer that they were hired for XX shift/hours.

During the hiring process and before you start work is your one and only opportunity to address this.

Thank you so much for this advice!

[~Shrek~]

2 hours ago, FolksBtrippin said:

The only hospital I worked at was union and you could never be forced to work outside of your regular shift.

It needs to be in your contract what hours you will work. Be clear with the person who hires you.

Other than that, I don't know for sure. These states without union support have all kinds of abuses going on.

Good luck.

Thank you!