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.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I wish you didn't feel that way about it. To a certain extent, any applicant in a new field is in a "bend over and take it" position. And most especially these days.

Truly, we all are supplicants and must adapt ourselves to certain realities of the profession that we've chosen, the economic climate and the current market conditions.

[oramar]

In the hospital, my experience is that all day shifts are actually day/night or day/evening rotations. Actually, steady night is much preferable to rotating shifts. I have heard some people say they work a steady day shift but that is very unusual.

[BULLYDAWGRN, RN]

as long as nursing schools keep pumping new grads into a overly diluted vocation day and night, everyone will be in the bent over position during the interview process. supply and demand.

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

All he told you was the truth. This is the only open new grad position in the hosital. A simple, truthful statement. He didn't tell you to bend over and take anything. But seriously, if you're that sensitive to sleep deprivation then you should just be honest and don't do it. I LOVE nights and am a night person, but even I had a hard time for the first year or so. I've seen people who thought they could do it and ended up falling asleep in their cars on the way home and had to quit. But then again, this could be your only job opportunity so it's up to you how important it is to be a nurse.

You are very correct. He did just state the facts and I chose to interpret it as "bend over and take it." I could blame it on his tone but I'll admit it, I overreacted a little in my interpretation.

Glad you love nights. If the next opportunity is a night position, I'll take it. Being a nurse is very important to me. I'll give it a shot but if I fall asleep in my car I'll have to look for a day position.

[rntim49]

This ' bend over and take it" attitude really makes me angry. People just expect to pop out of school and expect a facility will owe them a position . What eve happened to working your way up? And somehow you neglected to explain not even passing nclex yet? I must be getting old

[Jules A, MSN]

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... :)

Won't they start you as a graduate nurse before you pass NCLEX? At my place new grads start before taking the boards. They can't give meds but are able to go through the hospital's orientatin and then a unit orientation following a RN with their patients. Personally I don't think an interview for the "next new grad position" sounds very promising so in the meantime I wouldn't hold my breath on working for this particular hospital.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Only read the OP so far, but here my thoughts:

In a GOOD economy, night shift is often the only open positions for new grads, especially if you want to go into a specialty unit. As a new grad, I was on nights for THREE YEARS before a day shift position opened up for me. In med/surg, the wait was 6-12 months. This was back when hospitals were throwing jobs at new grads, and almost all of them had 2-3 (or more) job offers from which to choose.

So yeah, if you want a position in acute care, you may have to "bend over and take it" although I prefer to think of it as paying one's dues.

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

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.

I'll have to agree with you that he was not asking me to "bend over and take it." Thank you for your objective perspective of the situation.

I understand that working the night shift is something that nurses might have to do. However, for various reasons, I do not believe a night shift would be a good fit for me. Usually, people have the option to apply to specific positions based on what they believe would be a good fit for them. It usually isn't chosen for them by the employer. So, I think I reacted and felt I was forced into this position because it was sprung on me at the end of a phone conversation.

I am a very positive person and maintain a positive attitude even when it is difficult to do so. People often gravitate to me and I believe it's because of this.

Thanks.

[General E. Speaking, RN, RN]

I'm not sure when new grads decided that they are entitled to the speciality and shift of their choice right out of school...

lol. I had to start out on nights for EVERY single acute care nursing job that I have had over the last 21 years. My preference is day shift, but you gotta pay your dues...

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

I understand that working the night shift is something that nurses might have to do. However, for various reasons, I do not believe a night shift would be a good fit for me. Usually, people have the option to apply to specific positions based on what they believe would be a good fit for them. It usually isn't chosen for them by the employer. So, I think I reacted and felt I was forced into this position because it was sprung on me at the end of a phone conversation.

But you are a new grad, and were applying to the hospital generally for no specific position. By applying like that, you were basically saying "contact me when you have a new grad position, any position." You weren't being forced in to the position- they were going out of their way to contact YOU about the opening because they liked your initial application enough.

[klone, MSN, RN]

And now that I'm an experienced nurse, I recently started out at a new facility and I'm on nights AGAIN (paying my dues). This time around, though, the wait to go to days is quite short (6 months) - the reason for that is many/most of the staff who work nights PREFER the night shift, myself included, and there isn't a mad clamor to go to days.

I find the title of this thread to be really annoying - offering you a position on night shift is not demanding you to "bend over and take it."

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

This ' bend over and take it" attitude really makes me angry. People just expect to pop out of school and expect a facility will owe them a position . What eve happened to working your way up? And somehow you neglected to explain not even passing nclex yet? I must be getting old

I am not expecting to be owed anything.

I am taking the NCLEX (for the first time) in a few weeks. I'll let you know when I pass.