Night shift my only choice as a new hire?

tonebudsid · May 27, 2010

If you request only day shift, you are creating stipulations to your job preferences. It does limit your selection and opportunities. Jobs will not consider candidates if they only request a specific shift, while the employer is looking at hiring for a different shift than what the candidate specifies. I personally have to leave my options completely open to all shifts and variables, which in time, I can eventually ask for my desired shift. I would keep looking, but jobs are a bit scarce nowadays.

caliotter3 · May 27, 2010

Better to be offered a job on night shift than not to be offered a job at all.

lkwashington · May 27, 2010

Some jobs state if it is for day or night shift position. I agree with the above posts. Good luck.

brownbook · May 27, 2010

You have a job, today that is lucky. Day shifts can open up but you would be gone 12 hours during the day? Almost miss the family as much as 12 hours nights? You are working 12 hours, so if you are doing 3 twelves per 7 days, or 6 twelves per 14 days I doesn't seem that you are gone that much? Some moms work every weekend so the dad is home and then have all the weekdays with the kids. As I said, working days you are gone from family as much as or more than nights?

classicdame, MSN, EdD · May 27, 2010

remember the shifts are probably only 3 a week and NOTHING lasts forever.

Consider being an OR nurse if you want to be in a hospital. They are really needed and do not work nights (as often). Sometimes even surgery takes place in p.m.

kcochrane · May 27, 2010

Even if you got a 12 hour day shift, your time with your family will be limited. You will leave before they get up and get back for about a few hours before they go to bed. And the days you work you will be pretty much wiped out.

But I'm sure there is a chance you could get a day shift. I know my first job in LTC, night shift was hard to come by and I had to wait for a nurse to retire to get a spot. It won't hurt to ask, but I would keep my options open.

Good luck!

marilynmom, LPN, NP · May 27, 2010

I've worked 7a-7p and 7p-7a and your not seeing your children more either way. If your not sleeping you working all day, if you not working your sleeping all day. Your certainly not going to see your spouse/children more if you working days, I know I never did. When you work 12's your whole day/night is sucked into work.

Of course your limiting your choices as a new hire---especially with the job market the way it is (which is not good). I think you should take the job you want and not focus on the shift, because a dayshift will eventually open up on that unit. You wont be working nights forever if thats not what you want.

When I graduated a few years ago I had friends who (as new grads) insisted on finding a day job, and they were able to do that. Now, the new grads are struggling to find any job.

Another option would be for you to find a job with 8 hour shifts (a lot of psych is 8 hour shifts for some reason). That way you have more time each day to spend with your family. That is one thing I enjoyed about working 8's compared to 12's.

Good luck :)

swayman2202 · May 27, 2010

Thanks for all the input, i recently left a job (due to problems with pregnacny) where i was working over night and it was a scattered shift where id work for 3 days get one off then work for 4 get one off then work 2 and FINALLY get 2 days off. I really hated that cause the one day off thing is spent (for me anyway) trying to catch up on sleep and relaxing time. I now work in medical records which isn't so bad but after i complete nursing school i am just so afraid of running into another shift like my previous one and i DO not want that to happen, i really dont know that i could stand that again.

swayman2202 · May 27, 2010

Another option would be for you to find a job with 8 hour shifts (a lot of psych is 8 hour shifts for some reason). That way you have more time each day to spend with your family. That is one thing I enjoyed about working 8's compared to 12's.

I really like ten hour shifts, i tried to swing that at my first job ever as a CNA but they were not having it. But my second job let me for a few months then they got short handed and asked if id got back to 12's not sure why though i basically worked the same shift, i just added 2 hours onto the SLOWEST part of the night when everyone is asleep, i had 1 round in that period of time and charting. but owell. I like 12's because sometimes it set up 3 on 4 off with one odd day (or at my first job it was) i never even considered the off days as time with family lol (im a dork i guess)

MassED, BSN, RN · May 27, 2010

I am starting a new job this coming week on nights as well. My first night shift position. This was all that was open - and a top notch place, so I'm happy to have a job. I figure I can keep my eyes open down the road if a mid shift opens up if I absolutely am not adjusting.

You'll be sleeping while your husband and daughter are otherwise busy. Think of it this way: you'll be working while your family is sleeping, so you're not missing them. I think that is more psychological. You can catch up with them on the weekends, days off, or evenings before work. If you were working during the day, you'd be missing out on them too, so what's the difference?

I have a husband and two boys and I think working nights will work out. An adjustment, of course, but anything can work out if you need it too and give it a good effort. Plus, having a mortgage and bills to pay is a good incentive. =)

MassED, BSN, RN · May 27, 2010

Better to be offered a job on night shift than not to be offered a job at all.

that's the way I looked at it too. Can't be picky in these times.