First job...HELP!!

PhoenixGirl · May 10, 2006

Same thing happened to me, and I kept looking for the day job. Two interviews later I found a day job in a different hospital. The first hospital offered night shift, the second place had mandatory swing shifts! THat was insane I absolutely could not do it.

I held out for the day job because I have kids and want to be on the same schedule as them the 4 days I'm off. Plus, the hospital ended up offering me more money, and now that I've been working there a few weeks I really enjoy it. Thankfully.

whoaitschrista · May 10, 2006

This was the first hospital that I have interviewed at. So I don't know if every hospital is like this, or they specifically tell you "you will be working day/night" before you even start orientation. I feel like if I take this job, I will be given a night shift because I will be a new nurse.

MA Nurse · May 10, 2006

I am a nursing student...well I graduate in two days! I was offered a job on a medical floor that I like, and the pay is pretty good too. The nurse recruiter told me that she can not guarantee a certain shift...even though I told her I wanted a day shift. Has this happened to everyone who gets offered a nursing job? I am thinking they tell everyone this because something can come up once you begin orientation. I would not start orientation for another two months anyway. Should I keep looking for a day job???

Good luck. From my experience for new grads, you usually start out on night shift 11-7 or evenings if you're lucky. Sad, but true.:uhoh21:

LoriAlabamaRN · May 10, 2006

Keep looking until you find a facility that will guarantee you the shift you need. I made the mistake of signign on with a facility that told me when I was hired that I would get the night shift (which I wanted) but I would "orient" on 3-11 in the meantime. Well, it took 3 1/2 months and me threatening to quit to get me moved to the night shift. Hospitals can be very devious, youo need to look out for yourself.

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 10, 2006

i am a nursing student...well i graduate in two days! i was offered a job on a medical floor that i like, and the pay is pretty good too. the nurse recruiter told me that she can not guarantee a certain shift...even though i told her i wanted a day shift. has this happened to everyone who gets offered a nursing job? i am thinking they tell everyone this because something can come up once you begin orientation. i would not start orientation for another two months anyway. should i keep looking for a day job???

new employees in a hospital (new grads or experienced nurses) very rarely get straight day shift. if you want a day job, you may have to look elsewhere. if you want to work med-surg, you may have to work other shifts.

ididit · May 10, 2006

I am a nursing student...well I graduate in two days! I was offered a job on a medical floor that I like, and the pay is pretty good too. The nurse recruiter told me that she can not guarantee a certain shift...even though I told her I wanted a day shift. Has this happened to everyone who gets offered a nursing job? I am thinking they tell everyone this because something can come up once you begin orientation. I would not start orientation for another two months anyway. Should I keep looking for a day job???

I too am a new nurse. I was told that the evening 11-7 shift would be available after orientation. (Yeah right!) After completing orientation during 7-3, I was told that the situation had changed and there was no longer an 11-7 opening. Hmmmmm....didn't sound sincere. Needless to say, I resigned and am presently looking elsewhere. I viewed my orientation as a learning experience. Be careful!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 11, 2006

Yes, keep looking for a day job. A lot can happen in two months. A lot that you talked about can get forgotten. Something similar happened to me only I was an experienced nurse hired to work a telemetry unit. Had to wait a month for new employee orientation to begin. When I started my orientation I discovered I had been moved to the GYN surgical unit. No one told me. No one knew anything about the telemetry unit. Long story and I won't go on except to tell you that after three weeks of getting a run around and no answers I quit.

Keep looking, but don't let this hospital know or they really will forget all about you. They may give you what you've asked for. In the meantime, just to keep your options open and to make some choices for yourself, interview for some other places and see what you can come up with. Never, never put your cards on the table with these recruiters as to what kind of job you may have waiting somewhere else. It makes it too easy for them to brush you off and give your dream job to someone else.

crb613, BSN, RN · May 11, 2006

I am so glad I read this...I just took a job 7p-7a. I was told the average time on nights is 5 yrs before days are an option. I also want days. I have several other offers & think now I may go on to the interviews & see what they have to offer. Good thread thanks!

luvmy2angels · May 11, 2006

I suggest you keep looking. It is not very often that a new grad gets day shift anywhere!! I took the first job I was offered too while I was still in school, I guess I just wanted that security of knowing that I had a job when I graduated. I quit 2 weeks into orientation (that is a whole different topic). Anyways...I just wish I would have interviewed in more places and found a place that I felt comfortable in. Take your time and find a place where you get what you want and that will make you happy!!!! Good Luck!!

llg, PhD, RN · May 11, 2006

I agree that you should interview a couple of places and assess your local job market. What is availabe in one region might not be available in another -- and you need to assess the local situation for yourself.

I also recommend that you also seriously think through the next phase of your career before you make a final decision on that first job. Identify what is most important for you in the long run and what you are willing to sacrifice to get that.

For example, if you decide that working a straight day shift is most important to you ... then you might have to work 5 8-hour days/week to get straight days ... or you might have to sacrifice a getting good orientation program. You might find that 3 12-hour shifts/week and the special new grad orientation and mentor programs are found in the hospital inpatient settings -- and those settings require nursing coverage 24 hours per day/days per week, which means that their staff has to take turns working some night shifts.

As another example: You might find that in order to get the hours you want, you will have to work a specialty that does not appeal to you. For some people, that's OK... but other people are miserable working in a job that doesn't appeal to them even if the hours are nice. Being miserable in your job can make your life miserable and hurt both your career and your psyche (and your family.) It might not be worth it.

So ... talk to a few people who know the local job market and interview with a couple of potential employers. Gather the information you need about the possibilities that exist in your area. But also do some serious self-assessment that includes a brutally honest "reality check" of what you could actually work with if you have to make a few compromises. The ideal job of your dreams might not be possible for you at the moment -- and you need to make a decision that incorporates the realities of your local job market, your needs as a new nursing transitioning from student to professional, and your personal/family needs and preferences.

Good luck,

llg

Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN · May 11, 2006

I am a nursing student...well I graduate in two days! I was offered a job on a medical floor that I like, and the pay is pretty good too. The nurse recruiter told me that she can not guarantee a certain shift...even though I told her I wanted a day shift. Has this happened to everyone who gets offered a nursing job? I am thinking they tell everyone this because something can come up once you begin orientation. I would not start orientation for another two months anyway. Should I keep looking for a day job???

Don't settle. If you want dayshift then take dayshift!