-A friend of mine did an employee referral for me to get a job at her hospital
-The referral was not for a specific position
-They emailed me last week and requested I do a personality test
-I did the personality test and passed (thanks to many of you)
-This week, I got a phone call from corporate and they did a mini interview with me via the phone
-At the very end of the phone call, the person said, "by the way, this is a night shift position"
-I was kind of caught off guard, since I never applied to a specific position, and voiced that night shift is not my first choice but explained I am still interested and do not want to pass up an opportunity in this economy
-He replied by saying this is the only new grad opening in the entire hospital
-He ended the phone call by saying he was going to forward my info over to the hospital HR and they would call me next week to set up an interview
Why I ask, "new grad/bad economy, bend over and take it?":
The way he replied by saying, this is the only new grad position in the entire hospital left me feeling like, "okay, I'm a new grad (and this economy sucks), I guess I have to bend over and take what ever they want to give me."
I'm writing to you all because I don't know how to go from here. Do I pretend that I'm all about the night shift and this is my first choice or do I go the open and honest route and express that while the night shift is not my first choice, I'm willing to give it a shot for at least a year (which is true)?
Typically, my philosophy on the employer-employee relationship is that the position should be a good fit for both the employer and the job seeker has the right to express their needs in an interview. However, since there are so little jobs available and new grads are treated like lepers, should I be willing to forfeit my rights and settle on the "bend over and take it" philosophy (and smile as I do so)?
I know there are a bunch of new grads who will say, "yes, I've been looking for a job for a long time don't be an idiot, bend over and take what they are offering and smile, don't forget to smile!" I honestly wouldn't blame anyone for saying this exact quote to me.
I should add, I know the night shift isn't a death sentence and many people really like it but I know myself and I am really sensitize to sleep deprivation and I really need sunlight to feel happy. In the winters, I deal with seasonal affected disorder and it scares me to think what little to no sunlight would do to me. This is my only concern with the night shift but I think it is a substantial one, considering it involves both my health and my happiness.
Insight and constructive criticism are welcome and I thank you all in advance.
At the facility I work for....it is the opposite. They can't seem to recruit or retain people to work the dayshift.....nobody wants to be around the megalomaniac management. The NOC shift has a huge waiting list for those wishing to go to nights. So, when a new grad applies and is offered a position....they usually immediately get dayshift.
I always thought there would probably be enough ppl that want to work nights because of that, and because of shift differentials! No biggie, I'll take my lumps.
The thread now has 12 pages of replies. You may have delivered your mea culpas to those who've followed the thread all along, but every response bumps the thread to the top of the page. When that happens, more people will see it for the first time and reply to the less-than-humble tone of the OP.
You didn't ask for my advice, but here's what it would be: First, to preserve your sanity, either realize that this will keep happening and resign yourself to it; or quit tracking the thread, or ask a mod to lock it to let it drift off into the virtual ether. Either way, take it as a cautionary tale of needing to think before you type.
I actually think this whole discussion is an incredibly interesting look at how we nurses treat each other and I have to say reading through these posts its pretty horrible. We are so judgmental of each other and ready to jump on any one that doesn't tow the line. Nurses eating their young indeed.
It is hard enough out there as a nurse with how other staff members, management, patients, and families treat us. How can we expect other people to give us respect when we can't even respect and show understanding and kindness to each other? The original poster wants to work days. Why shouldn't she be able to at least try to find a position with day shift availability? Why is that some sign of entitlement or lack of character as some posters suggest? How about its just a preference and a wish and it may or may not happen as a new grad. But lets let the OP ease into her new career with all of its strengths, challenges, and limitations with support rather than harassment from her fellow nurses.
This may have already been done, but someone needs to do a study on why nurses can be so hard on each other bordering on disrespectful and what we can do to stop it. I come from a another career, one in politics, and I have to say there was less disrespect in politics and at least a sense of proper decorum in how we treated each other in politics. Not so in nursing. It seems its open field day on each other in nursing and that is troubling to me.
I actually think this whole discussion is an incredibly interesting look at how we nurses treat each other and I have to say reading through these posts its pretty horrible. We are so judgmental of each other and ready to jump on any one that doesn't tow the line.
I agree. Some people need to give the OP a break already. Those of us with a few years of experience under our belts know how the nursing culture works, but our nurselings don't and it is up to us to help them, just the way that more experienced nurses helped us when we were new to this game.
The thread now has 12 pages of replies. You may have delivered your mea culpas to those who've followed the thread all along, but every response bumps the thread to the top of the page. When that happens, more people will see it for the first time and reply to the less-than-humble tone of the OP.
You didn't ask for my advice, but here's what it would be: First, to preserve your sanity, either realize that this will keep happening and resign yourself to it; or quit tracking the thread, or ask a mod to lock it to let it drift off into the virtual ether. Either way, take it as a cautionary tale of needing to think before you type.
Thanks Jonathank.
I like your advice. I do realize this will be happening and it doesn't upset me but I can see how my last post came across as, "people please stop hurting my feelings already, I've apologized." I understand people aren't going to read all the pages and will probably just read the OP and their replies will reflect that. I'm resigned from defending.
I'm still going to follow this thread because most people are still giving really great advice and I sincerely appreciate it.
Lessons have been learned from starting this thread.
It is not the "nursing culture" it is the world of work, everywhere. The entitlement mentality is becoming more and more present in our culture and the work ethic is fading away. It stirs up a lot of bitterness among those who have paid their dues. Not that I blame anyone, we all want perfect work/life balance, no one wants to work shifts, weekends and holidays, we all want to be paid what we are worth in our own eyes, but that is why they call it "work" instead of "fun", because it is not fun.
The conflicting mindsets being debated here have little, if anything, to do with nursing.
Just my -- but I urge young adults new to the world of professional employment to remember that an employer, in any field, has a job opening. They need a person with x qualifications to do A. "A" requires certain education, training, personal traits, time requirements, etc. Applicant either meshes with these prerequisites ... or not. This is the "good fit".
It is beyond my understanding how or why young adults have developed and/or been fed the idea that the process works in reverse. The "good fit" is not now, has never been, and never will be ... that the employer organization will alter the prerequisite requirements or the job description to suit the *preferences* of the applicant.
This is not "bending over and taking it" ... though you are free to view it that way if you wish. This is simply assimilating into the world of work.
I'm glad you made this refreshing comment! This thread was completely devoid of 7 pages of people making comments implying that the OP is an entitled brat. Also, she has yet to acknowledge in those 7 pages that she may have been a little unrealistic in not wanting a night shift starting out in a hospital. And she hasn't acknowledged that with grace multiple times or anything. /sarcasm
Well I appreciate your sarcasm- funny!!!, but I am allowed my the same as everyone else. Perhaps I was a bit blunt, for that I apologize. I just get so tired of the slackers of the world who want the rest of us to cover every holiday, off shift and weekend so they can have a life. The posting hit kind of a current sensitive area for me. Sorry, I will try to be more delicate from now on.
Go ahead, demand whatever conditions you want, it is your life, go for it!!! I am behind you all the way and I know all your fellow nurses in this new job will support you 100%. Why they may even let you choose your own schedule so that you will be happy!!! After all, we want all nurses, especially new ones, to be happy!
i, for one, would like to commend you on your grace and tenacity on this thread (and i did read it all). yes, i am a "late reader", but unfortunately, i don't get to spend a whole lot of time on here. i am thankful to receive the email notices because i would miss so much beneficial information if i didn't get them!i actually graduated last year and was able to spend some much-needed quality time with my family :redpinkhe before looking for a job. as soon as i began applying, i had several calls, interviews, and offers. most of the job offers were for dayshift ironically...but i chose a nightshift job that i thought i would really like...and not only do i like it, i love it!!! i think at my facility, nightshift is the "preferred shift" haha.
i hear a lot of people that graduated with me complaining about "not being able to find a job". from what i have read on this thread, it must really be frustrating in other areas of the country for a new grad to get a job. that is sad, especially when you have gone through the rigorous training including blood, sweat, and tears. in my area, i don't believe the nursing jobs are "hard to find", but i think it is the the fact of those particular individuals have not been offered "the dream job that they prefer". does that make sense? sometimes, like they say, "you have to get your foot in the door".
i have to agree with lots of replies on here about the nightshift being positive...i did lots of orientation and training on dayshift and the difference is like night and day lol. both have their pros and cons just like any other job.
good luck to you and all of the new grads that are looking for a job!!!
thanks perseverance (love your username and the purple font)! your kind words mean a lot to me.
the emails are a great idea for those that don't have a ton of time to spend on allnurses. i welcome "late readers" to the thread. :)
that's really nice you got to spend some quality time with the fam after graduating from nursing school. awesome you got a lot of calls, interviews, and offers. probably has something to do with your perseverance!
i'm starting to see why the night shift could be preferred. i actually think i might like it. my only concern is the sad but as some people pointed out, i could get light night during the drive home.
i can see how those who are holding out for the dream job are the same ones who are unemployed. this makes total sense to me. you do have to get your foot in the door and work from there.
It is not the "nursing culture" it is the world of work, everywhere. The entitlement mentality is becoming more and more present in our culture and the work ethic is fading away. It stirs up a lot of bitterness among those who have paid their dues. Not that I blame anyone, we all want perfect work/life balance, no one wants to work shifts, weekends and holidays, we all want to be paid what we are worth in our own eyes, but that is why they call it "work" instead of "fun", because it is not fun.
I am one of the ones that suggested that the OP take a night job if that is what is available - as a new grad I worked nights and I still do a rotating schedule with lots of on-call (hardly fun or desirable). However, I think that maybe some of the posters that are jumping on her need to read the entire thread before they continue to do that, as she has explained her original posting and seems to be much more reasonable about getting a job, taking what is available, etc. The thread has changed since it was originally started, I see no reason for some to come on and keep making their rude comments without reading what she has posted since the first post. Some of the comments being made simply aren't applicable any longer.
Well I appreciate your sarcasm- funny!!!, but I am allowed my 
(and i did read it all). yes, i am a "late reader", but unfortunately, i don't get to spend a whole lot of time on here. i am thankful to receive the email notices because i would miss so much beneficial information if i didn't get them!i actually graduated last year and was able to spend some much-needed quality time with my family :redpinkhe before looking for a job. as soon as i began applying, i had several calls, interviews, and offers. most of the job offers were for dayshift ironically...but i chose a nightshift job that i thought i would really like...and not only do i like it, i love it!!! i think at my facility, nightshift is the "preferred shift" haha.
redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN
1,086 Posts
I always thought there would probably be enough ppl that want to work nights because of that, and because of shift differentials! No biggie, I'll take my lumps.