New grad/bad economy, bend over and take it?

[noyesno]

The facts:

-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.

[DeeAngel]

Take it and get your first working experience in a less stressful and crazy environment than day shift. There will be opportunities in the future to transfer to other shift/departments, this particular job will not be forever. Where I work day shift is an absolute ZOO and the nurses pull their hair out daily. Night shift is much less stressful and you will still have lots of opportunity to learn about the job and improve your skills.

[INLPN93]

Take the position, experience is experience.

Night shift isn't that bad, as a newbie there are more chances for time to get good at clinical nursing skills.

I agree, don't voice any ideas on leaving anytime soon.

Just take the position, learn all you can and wait to see if you like it. It may happen.

[Trinitas2010RN]

I'm in line with everyone else so far. Bend over and take it. Or be like me......Working in an unrelated field...and stress a bit over never being hired as a old grad.

Basically a lot of new grads aren't being bent over or taking it....they basically are being told to take there RN license and stick it.

[Start2]

Hi:

When I first became an LPN many years ago, I went to a SNF to work and after a month of orientation on days, I was offered night shift. I took it gladly and learned a lot. After a year of night shift as the Charge nurse, I returned to the VA where I had previously worked as a Ward Clerk for many years and requested Med/Surg. They put me in Psych because they said I would not run out the door in case of a "Code Green" (Patient acting out). I agreed to stay for one year and, again, learned a lot as a nurse. In a year I transferred to Med/Surg and loved it. I was pulled to Psych sometimes and that was okay too.

Now, I have just gotten my LPN license for this state after being out of active nursing for more than three years and I have an interview for a volunteer position at a free clinic. Hopefully, I will get it and that will give me the needed currrent year of experience I need to get a paying position. I have decided that it would not be to my advantage to take a paying job in another field. I look forward to learning again whatever this volunteer position has to teach me.

These are tough economic times and jobs are NOT easy to get. I wish you the best of luck in whatever decision you make.

:)

[llg, PhD, RN]

You are not being abused -- so don't work yourself into a bad attitude.

1. You asked to be considered for any openings.

2. They considered you and you passed through the initial screening.

3. Now that they are considering you seriously for a specific opening, they are being up front with you and telling you about the specific position for which you are being considered. That is NOT being asked to "bend over and take it." That's an employer who has a job opening and who is following up on your application to see if you are interested in this particular position.

Throughout history, nurses have had to work night shifts -- and there have usually been more openings on night shifts than day shifts. (surprise, surprise) Some hospitals don't even have permanent day shift positions on inpatient units: everyone either works permanent nights or rotates.

If you are willing to give it a try, then try it with a positive attitude or you will be dooming yourself to failure. If you can't have a positive attitude about this opportunity, then do yourself (and your potential colleagues) a favor and turn it down. You'll just be miserable and give yourself a bad reputation as you bring everyone around you down, too.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

I don't know what the economy is like in your area, but if your local market is anything like mine, my advice would be to get real excited about working nights. The majority of my classmates who are starting jobs are working nights. Unless there's a reason you absolutely can't do nights, I'd go in brimming over with enthusiasm for the position.

Edited to add: accepting a less than desirable position (and lying in the interview about the fact that there even IS anything undesirable about the position) is not forfeiting your rights. It's making a strategic decision to get your foot in the door and get experience. If pretending to be excited about working nights truly makes you feel violated, if you think you can do better if you hold out, by all means do so. THAT's where your rights lie in the interview process.

[caliotter3]

I don't know what the economy is like in your area, but if your local market is anything like mine, my advice would be to get real excited about working nights. The majority of my classmates who are starting jobs are working nights. Unless there's a reason you absolutely can't do nights, I'd go in brimming over with enthusiasm for the position.

Excellent advice. A positive attitude is always welcomed.

[newgradRN001]

I went the honest route during my first job interview and...I didn't get the job and I really regretted it. With that being said when I look back on it it wasn't the job for me and I was able a to get a job a month later that was a better fit.

I think it depends on your situation. Are you working as tech(or have some from some other job), and can continue looking for the next 6mos-1 year comfortably? -Then take the honest route and see where it gets you.

Or do you need a job ASAP? Then smile and say as a new grad I am fine with the night shift.

Also, How sad would you be if you didn't get an offer from this hospital? If you're ambivalent about it then say what you feel. If you really want the position then suck it up.

As new grads we are all having to bend over and take it right now. And as hard as it has been I really think it will serve me well in the long run because I will never take my job for granted and I will really appreciate it when this job market turns around. Plus I will remember to always be kind and professional to nurse recruiters even if one day I have the leg up because the shoe was once on the other foot.

So yeah, it sucks. We are having to pretend we love any morsel of an offer we can get right now. You just have to keep your head held high and make the decisions that are best for you right now.

[Barbara Hessinger]

I'm in line with everyone else so far. Bend over and take it. Or be like me......Working in an unrelated field...and stress a bit over never being hired as a old grad.

Basically a lot of new grads aren't being bent over or taking it....they basically are being told to take there RN license and stick it.

If they even get that much of a response, LOL.

I found the continued rejection to be rather negative for one's self confidence.

[Jules A, MSN]

I try to never raise any red flags during the interview process. It is too easy for them to pass you by for someone who is enthusiastic and ready to work. You can always wait until you have a firm offer to decide if it is for you or not. I'm not sure when new grads decided that they are entitled to the speciality and shift of their choice right out of school but that isn't how things work in most careers especially not when the economy is in the tank.

[lsk40]

This is so funny because here everyone wants night shift jobs no one wants to work days Oh and I would take whatever they gave me

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

Thank you all for your replies.

Looks like I'll be bending over and taking the next opportunity, whatever it may be.

I just talked to HR and the orientation for this position starts Feb 1st. I don't take my NCLEX until mid February (I told the corporate guys this but he obviously didn't pass message along to HR) so she said she is going to have to call back to set up an interview for the next new grad position that opens up.

I'll be maintaining a bent over position in the meantime... :)