Nursing day time

johsonmichelle · Jul 14, 2017

In my unit , the night shift is fully staffed because its more pay and less stress than day shift. Most of the new grad hired on my unit will be working days because thats where we have the most needs.

NurseYoshi · Jul 14, 2017

Hi.

I am a night shift tech/CNA/PCT whatever you want to call it in Alabama. We typically start new people on days (techs and nurses) and swap them over to nights IF they are hired to work nights. We lost one of our new techs to day shift because he was hired for nights but day shift lost some people so he trained on days and ended up being kept on days. Our newer night nurses also got quite a bit of training done on days. My hospital is also one of our teaching hospitals, so there are practically no restrictions for new grads anywhere (although experience is always preferred.) I'd suggest talking to the nurse manager on some units where you did clinicals and see if they're hiring (if you liked those units).

Good luck with your searching.

BSN16 · Jul 15, 2017

I mean he is a doctor himself (resident), I'm not really sure on his take as to why, but I'm hoping due to his status it will be a good connect for me to get one, hopefully?

probably not

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2017

I mean he is a doctor himself (resident), I'm not really sure on his take as to why, but I'm hoping due to his status it will be a good connect for me to get one, hopefully?

I sincerely doubt that a nurse manager would view your husband's job as a reason to give you preference over their more senior staff. (Nepotism in general is frowned upon.) I can almost guarantee that some of the unit's nurses have been waiting YEARS for a spot on dayshift. To give it to a new grad by virtue of being married to a resident and make someone else wait LONGER ... the NM might as well bring some tar and feathers for their longtime employees to use.

cleback · Jul 15, 2017

You may not be able to avoid nights. This is more true if you had your heart set on acute care or another bedside specialty.

Your husbands position will not help you secure a day shift position.

I'm surprised your husband isn't more understanding, being in the medical field himself. I mean, can you request that he doesn't take overnight call? Probably not. The upside is you will have a good chance at working 12 hours, so if you work full or part time, that's only 3 or fewer night shifts a week.

Good luck!

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2017

I will tell you from working in NJ that if you want to work in acute care, chances are you will not find a day shift position as a new graduate nurse.

However, you may have some luck in outpatient, long-term, or home health. I would not attempt to use the "my husband is a resident/attending" card as it will make more trouble for you than it is worth.

Julius Seizure · Jul 15, 2017

I've worked in Florida - New grads started on nights. Same with most new staff with experience.

I've worked in Texas - New grads started on a rotating shift where every 8 weeks you would flip from days to nights, or nights to days. New staff with experience generally started on nights.

I've worked in Pennsylvania - Depending on the unit, new grads started on nights (regular floors), or on a rotating shift (ICU).

I've worked in Michigan - New staff (including experienced nurses) started on nights (12-hour shifts), nights (8-hour shift), or occasionally evenings (8-hour shift).

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 15, 2017

If you work in acute care, be prepared to pay your dues.

I now work days, but I put in over a year on nights. Some of my coworkers worked less graveyard shifts before going to days. But our unit has high turnover and a lot of people are unhappy. The more desirable places will expect at least two full years of nights before having a chance of switching shifts.

That being said, I loved nights. I miss the people and the money, and it is usually less crazy. However, I love not sleeping my off days away and having my schedule more conducive to having a relationship and a family.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2017

I'm in NJ and I found a day shift position as a new grad. I work every Fri and every other Sat and Sun though whereas most of the nurses on my unit work every third weekend. It's fine for me though! I am orienting to night shift so that I can pick up extra shifts at night if I want to and I appreciate that.

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 15, 2017

I got a day shift position as a new grad, but only because I got a position in the PACU (where it's easier to start new nurses on days than nights due to patient assignments). Most of my friends that were hired in the same hospital on different units are doing rotating shifts of 1 month on days, 1 month on nights. One of my friends was hired specifically for nights.

amoLucia · Jul 21, 2017

I'm finding it hard to grasp that this is becoming an issue only NOW as your graduation approaches. Like had this NOT been a discussion between the 2 of you before now with some years of your past schooling. Night shift is just a part of nsg, just like working July 4 and Christmas, or bad snowy days or second/third desired dates for vaca time. Or are there some unrealistic expectations here also?

The reality is that you really just might, maybe, perhaps, possibly, I don't know if..., etc secure a day position. But I wouldn't bet the mortgage on it!

Doesn't your husband do rotation hours???

And like others have commented, expecting some kind of entitlement or preferential treatment because your spouse is a resident is very unrealistic.

LovingLife123 · Jul 21, 2017

There is a rationale to new grads working nights at first. We always start people on nights. It's better for you to learn on nights. There is not as much going on so you can learn how to take care of your patients better.

Days are difficult. It is crazy hectic and as a new grad, you will burn out quickly. Nights are hard, but I value my time on there. It was good for me to learn.