Generally, are there more R.N. shifts available for night or day shift?

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I am still in school, but would like to throw a question out there for anyone who has some feedback. In general, are there usually more jobs available for a night shift R.N. or day shift R.N.? (not counting the current economy and jobs being scarce).

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It depends on the setting you are working in, but there are generally more shifts available for nights (or evening shift, if the facility uses 8-hour shifts). There are often waiting lists of people wanting to transfer to day shift.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the general discussion forum

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It definitely depends on the setting. In my area, a lot of the hospitals hire nurses to do day/night or day/evening rotation. I would say the waiting list of nurses wanting to come off rotation to get straight days OR straight nights is about equal.

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Depends upon the place of employment. Generally, a new grad can expect to be offered a night shift job more often due to more experienced nurses getting priority in shift placement.

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That would be good, as I would prefer night or evening shift. Seems as though rotation would be the hardest - working days/evenings/nights, as one comment mentioned.

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That would be good, as I would prefer night or evening shift. Seems as though rotation would be the hardest - working days/evenings/nights, as one comment mentioned.

It can be hard but some people do like the change of pace and the option to work a few off shifts for some extra money.

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Most of the offerings I have seen in my area are for night positions. I agree I also want to do nights so I would have no problem taking that shift out of school. It just seems like it takes up less time even though its still a 12 hour shift lol and I like not having to deal with visitors and such.

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Specializes in GU/surgical, Bariatrics, Endoscopy.

We had 3 RN day shifts available recently. All the people who work nights on my unit want to work nights.

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Interesting about the night shift! By the way, I had emergency surgery 5 weeks ago - the night nurses there (2 nights in the hospital) said they liked working nights.

My R.N.'s and Care Partners were all wonderful. I was so, so impressed. What a great group of professionals. It was an honor to meet them and be under their care.

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All the new grads on my unit have to work nights! That said, I was forced to work nights but wouldn't switch now. The diff is awesome and I love my night co-workers. Overall I think nights is more in demand. Some people just can't handle the sleep schedule, and it is hard. IDK if I'll do nights forever . . .

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Specializes in Spinal Cord injuries, Emergency+EMS.

2 factors

1. round the clock staffing - there may be more physical staff rostered on day shifts but whether people can acess those shifts depends on ...

2. fixed shift, fixed rota or rotational staffing

if the USAn model of fixed shifts with seniority determining who gets weekday days is used then people new to the professional / employer will be stuck with lots of unsociable hours, this model of working is dangerous as it does not ensure an appropriate skill mix around the clock, and if anything there should be more experienced and senior staff available out of office hours than in due to the reduced medical cover

in a fixed rota model you get your fair share of all shifts

in a rotating shift model if you have no preferences you should get your fair share of all shifts but it is possible to manipulate the rotat to avoid or increase the frequency of certain shifts

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