New Grads - Rotten Shifts?

Nurses General Nursing

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I have heard a lot of conflicting things from nurses and non-nurses regarding new graduate RNs and choices of shifts. The nurses tell me they had no trouble getting day shifts as a new grad. The non-nurses tell me most new grads end up on rotten graveyard shifts and night shifts and that you have no choice of day or night when you are new.

I have only talked to two nurses about this. One is a recent new grad and the other is a 23 yr. veteran. The new grad used to work as an occupational therapy assistant, so perhaps that is why she got day shift (people knew her)?

Can anyone else share their knowledge with me? I would like to go to nursing school to get my RN and I am doing research to see if it would fit in with my family life, as I have a 3 year old. Any suggestions/comments/responses would be greatly appreciated!

If you already know that you can't handle rotating shifts, it would be foolish for you to accept a job that requires it.

This is exactly what I said...:uhoh21:

:Santa1:

An article from 2003 that might be of some interest:

NurseZone - Feature Stories - Spotlight on nurses - Archive

I was hired for the night shift but by happenstance, someone transferred out of the unit for greener pastures so... I made a written request for the day shift, shoved it under my nurse manager's door, and got switched to the day shift.

:paw:

Thanks everyone! I am sorry if I offended anyone by calling the night/graveyard shift the "rotten shift". I should have picked a catchier title to elicit responses, eh? ;)

I used to be a night owl/vampire. In fact, one of the reasons I entertained choosing nursing as a career was because it offered nights. In my current career, it is only days. I learned to be an early bird after I had my son. Everything centers around him now. I will have to wait until he's away to college before I can work nights, that is....if I had a choice. It seems that it really depends on a lot of factors, after reading all the responses. Thanks to all of you! It really helps me out to learn everyone's experiences!

I really loved the article/link mentioned above. Thank you Guerrierdelion! I laughed when I saw one nurse comparing herself to feeling like a cross between a vampire and a rooster! I won't ever forget that article. Very well written. Thanks again!

Specializes in PICU, Nurse Educator, Clinical Research.

all of the hospitals where I used to live ONLY offered D/N rotating 12 hour shifts to new grads. For the 'popular' units, you could only get a stable (day or night only) shift after multiple years. It took something like 10 or 15 years to qualify for a day shift position on two units.

I loved nights, hated days. (work in a corporate job with a horrid commute so I now have to get up at 5AM anyway.) when I did rotating shifts, we were only required to work a certain number of days, nights, weekends- and self-scheduled. no matter how I tried, I couldn't stop getting sick. It was impossible for my body to adjust. I could do fine after the first shift on nights, but going from nights to days meant a week full of sleepless nights, at least.

I've never met anyone who liked rotating shifts. I think they're incredibly unhealthy.

when i was a new grad, many moons ago, i had a choice of days or nights, whichever i wanted. i think it probably varies with location and facility.

i chose nights, i guess i'm a sucker for the "rotten shifts." i'm also a sucker for the nice 29% differential. :) although, i'd work nights even without it, but it sure makes for a puuuuurty check. ;)

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I'll admit to not reading all the replies to the original post, but skimmed a few and figured I'd offer my two cents. As a new grad, I applied to two hospitals, and received offers from each. One nurse manager told me that I'd probably "have" to start on the day shift because her more senior nurses prefered the night shift (something I wanted!) unless I wanted a different unit, and then I could probably have my choice. The other nurse manager told me that I could have nights in one unit and days on another (both NM's did multiple units). So I chose the combination that worked best for me: med/surge (I wanted) and nights (I wanted) and 12-hour shifts (also wanted). In short, I got everything I wanted!

No one here can speak for all hospitals in all geographic areas, but I'm guessing you're going to find that if a hospital wants you badly enough, they'll find space for you *IF* you, too, can offer some flexibility or something another applicant doesn't have. That's always the game, isn't it: best applicant wins?

My classmates frequently got what they wanted, too....some wanted days, or 12 hour days, and got that. Some, like me, wanted nights and some wanted certain units....not everyone gets everything they want, obviously, but I wouldn't be so certain that as a new grad you must assume you CAN'T have what you want :) Keep your eyes open, pay attention, and maybe you'll just get that spot you're looking for.

By the way, don't be so quick to label ANY shift as "rotten" ;) I get paid considerably more than my day counterparts, and have more time off to boot. AND, when it comes to holidays, I have alot more time there, too (working Thanksgiving meant going in long after the dinner was over; working Christmas Eve means coming home early in the morning the next day; working Christmas Day means not going in until 11pm. Not exactly tough on the family!).

Specializes in Rural Health.

All new grads at my facility are hired on as rotating shifts, but you don't rotate. They only do this so you are not committed to day vs. night shift until everyone figures out where the need is and where you fit best because we do an overhire of GN's. Everyone starts their orientation on days and the last 2-3 weeks you are moved to your final shift - therefore the "rotating" comes into play. Lots of factors come into play during your orientation vs. what shift you'll ened up working and sometimes in a matter of preference. Some start working days only to love nights or the other way around.

At first I was really upset about working nights though I've done it now for years off and on.....I just really wanted a day job but days are insane where I work and nights, though very very busy at times, you have less distractions with you and your patient to deal with.

Specializes in Critical Care.
I have a question. As someone who is planning to go to LPN school next year, I am fairly new to this.

I see people keep making references to 12-hour shifts at hospitals. How many hours a week does that mean?

Are the RNs working 12 hour shifts five days a week (60 hour weeks roughly) and earning overtime for anything over 40 hours? Or are they earning a flat salary with hours that vary?

How does this work?

P.S. I am currently a teacher who works unpaid overtime all the time, so I would really be curious to know how the overtime system works at hospitals. Thanks for any input!

If you're currently a teacher, then you already have a bach degree. Have you looked into accelerated BSN programs? Many of them are 14 months long as opposed to 12 months for LPN and many are new programs, so there are lots of financial aid to get the programs rolling.

The difference in salary (about 7 bucks an hour and a greater gap as you go along) and in level of responsibility and in 'entry level' status is enough to def consider looking into an accel program.

~faith,

Timothy.

What are the 12 hour shifts like? That's what I'm interested in, I only saw one example although that one was pretty good. Also, is it true that a 3 day 12 hr shift is considered a 40 hr work week?

Specializes in most of em.

:welcome: Personally, I love the night shift. I don't have to put up with all the nonsense from day shift. For instance No Meals to provide, fewer admissions, not nearly so many physicians to deal with. Other benefits- The stores are less crowded when I shop after work!! I have worked every shift and come back to nights every time.

I do think the seniority thing is over-rated, but there is something to be said for earning your way into some of the premium shifts. What I DON'T agree with is having the off shifts viewed as a "bad" thing.

Have a good shift!!!!!!!

Specializes in Med/surg, ER/ED,rehab ,nursing home.

Where I work they are willing to hire new grads for days and nights. We do 12 hr shifts. I know of a day shift right now. We are in week seven with one new grad....she is doing the night shift.

Hello;

I have been out for seven months and 80% of my shifts have been twelve hour days (0700-1900). This is where a majority of learning occurs as it is the busiest time of day in my hospital. I work on a post stroke acute/long-term (placement) floor that is very heavy. I love the night shift! it is a break for one's back! However, you only have one other RN and 2 LPN's on with you (fewer seasoned nurses to turn to).

If you're currently a teacher, then you already have a bach degree. Have you looked into accelerated BSN programs? Many of them are 14 months long as opposed to 12 months for LPN and many are new programs, so there are lots of financial aid to get the programs rolling.

The difference in salary (about 7 bucks an hour and a greater gap as you go along) and in level of responsibility and in 'entry level' status is enough to def consider looking into an accel program.

~faith,

Timothy.

Trust me, I would love to go straight for an accelerated BSN. Unfortunately I can't afford it. In my area, they are only offered in the daytime and that would require me to quit my teaching job for a year or so, something I can't afford to do.

Of course there are also the online accelerated BSN's but I can't afford them either, as they are more costly than the traditional bricks-and-mortar universities in my area.

So that leaves me with the only evening school that is available to me: LPN vocational tech. After I get the LPN degree, I can take a night shift entry level nursing job that will match my current salary, and at that point I could enroll in a daytime accelerated BSN track.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion.

I am going to get that BSN one way or another!

:icon_surprised:

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