-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.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
honestly i look at nursing as not being about me, it's about the patient. when ever i feel beat-up, i just remind myself how my patients feel. if you are offered the job look at as a chance to grow, challenge yourself. you may be suprised.
your career absolutely is about you. there will be days when you feel worse than your patients do. and you still have to suck it up and fluff the blighted pillow one more time. much as i know your attitude is the exact opposite of the op's -- and his needs adjustment -- your attitude needs adjustment, too. you'll burn yourself out early unless you take care of yourself!
The problem with this attitude is that when two parties are bargaining, both have to bring a number of chips to the table at the outset. Without that, you'll end up negotiating with yourself after the other party has moved on. Nothing is gained by that approach, making her intact self-esteem nice to have, but superfluous.
She will be involved in a process with no control whatsoever at the beginning (because the employer has 100% yay or nay) , and you can't take control of something you never had in the first place.
Everybody gets to decide what they want in a job. If you have an interview and find that what they offer you is not acceptable to you, you get to move on. Really, after having worked for many, many years I make sure that I look at nursing like any other employment. There is a list I have of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable for me. Now, you might have a different list. I am sure the OP knows that when you toss a "soft" topic on this board, there is going to be some good even handed advice, and some not so much. You just take what you want and throw out the rest. This is healthy.
Even if you equate the job offer with involuntary anal penetration, I'm sure there will be someone else who sees it as a lifeline.
Your attitude reminds of the Beverly Hillbillies episode where Jethro decided he was going to be a movie producer. Somebody asked him what kind of movies he wanted to make, and he said "Mostly bockbusters, I guess."
I would accept the night shift position but i would voice that you would be interested in talking about a daylight position whenever that becomes available. There is nothing wrong with making your voice heard. There is enough turnover on most floors that within a few months it is usually do-able. I worked night shift for awhile at a new position and it is a good time to learn and take your time. Despite what some night nurses say-Daylight on my Tele floor is SOOO much more busy and you have to be on top of everything and know your footing! You may find nights fits you best at this point in your career.
Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.
I don't know that there is an easy answer here. I was in your shoes a couple of years ago when I was hired before graduation on the Birthing Center floor of one of our major hospitals. It was exactly what I went to NS for, and although I had some reservations about working night shift having never tried before, I jumped at the opportunity. I couldn't know until I was in the thick of it what night shift had in store for me.
Long story short... crash and burn. I found it impossible to sleep during the day. I was horrendously sleep-deprived and as a direct result, my anxiety level on the job made DOING my job effectively untenable. I was constantly afraid of missing something major with my newborns. I was exhausted and self-conscious and timid and it absolutely did not work. After only 8 weeks on the job, I was forced to throw in the towel. It was probably one of the worst times of my life. But here's the kicker. EVERYTHING I learned during that time was valuable to me in one way or another. The thought of reliving it terrifies me and I wouldn't want to, but I can honestly say it taught me some very valuable things about life, myself, God, my family and reality. Everything in this life has the potential to be valuable to us if we are willing to see it that way.
So what am I saying to you? I guess this: no matter what you decide or what happens as a result of that decision, use everything you learn to further your understanding and knowledge of nursing and life. If you choose to take the position, do the best you can to balance everything - sleep, diet, physical activity, exposure to sunlight - but be prepared to face a huge learning curve. It won't be easy. In fact, it may be next to impossible, but it won't hurt you to TRY. It's not going to kill you. (you may feel like that at times but I promise, what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger).
I wish you the best, regardless of your decision. :)
I didn't read all posts so this may have been stated.
I work nights but occassionally pick up a day shift. During this time of year, it is dark when I leave for work and dark when I go home, regardless of the shift, so you aren't going to see daylight on the days that you work anyway. Just something to consider.
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.
I am soo with you on this Trinitas2010. I am working in a job that is totally unrelated to nursing and stressed out of never being hired as and old grad. I checked alot of Agencies in my area just yesterday, sure enough, 1 or 2 year experience is needed even with them. Now if I was offered a night shift nursing job and they told me at the last minute it was nights. I would be upset for a little bit over the deal that they did not tell me that up front, but if that is what they have available I would definitely take it and get all the experience that I can get. I will just keep checking with differeny Agencies in my area, they can't all say "NO" get your year experience and call us back!
I will be the first to admit, my sense of humor did not translate well in this thread. Using the wording B.O.A.T.I. (don't even want to type it because I'm done with the phrase forever) was a bad idea. Not only was is not funny but I realize it could have been offensive to some. Apologies to all.
In starting this thread, I was hoping to gain advice in how to continue with this potential employer. Initially, there was a chance to interview for a night position and I was seeking advice if I should express my concerns with working the night shift even though I am willingly to suck it up for a year. Or, if I should go in and pretend it is my first choice. So essentially, some advice on how to express this issue in an interview was all I was really looking for.
Some of you pointed out that by applying the way I did, I opened myself up to all positions, night and day, and I realize that now. Which is totally true. Thanks to those who pointed that out. Shout out to hiddencatRN! :)
I never said I wasn't willing to pay my dues but I can see how many of you got that impression from the vulgar (B.O.A.T.I.) way I view working nights. Working holidays, weekends is 100% okay with me. I know, as a new grad, I will be at the bottom of the totem pole for many things. Since I deal with SAD, however, I was going to try and avoid that one aspect of the bottom totem pole position, if it was possible, but I even said I was willing to give it a shot in my OP.
I don't think that only getting a night shift as a new grad as being taken advantage of.
However, this economy is allowing employers to take advantage of employees, in nursing and other fields. Experienced nurses in my areas (and aides) are being cross trained as unit secretaries, and all the HUS are being let go. My husband manages a chain restuarant and there is a constant attitude of "we need more work from less staff" and when they do hit the unrealistic quotas, they are just raised again, without appreciation.
I had a new grad OR interview where they told me that I'd be in training for up to 48 weeks and at the end I would be given a shift (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) and a speciality. They could in no way tell me what the options may be upfront, and then expected a 2 year commitment to that position after the training!!! (I understand the lengthy training and wanting a commitment, but they basically told me that my needs mean nothing to them!)
Yep you bet! You are definitely going to have to bend over and take it. I know BSN RNs who have years of experience and they are having to settle for the dumps. That's just how nursing is and it's getting worse with each coming year. Honestly, it will never get better. Give yourself a chance to work and see if this is where you want to stay.
Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,051 Posts
your career absolutely is about you. there will be days when you feel worse than your patients do. and you still have to suck it up and fluff the blighted pillow one more time. much as i know your attitude is the exact opposite of the op's -- and his needs adjustment -- your attitude needs adjustment, too. you'll burn yourself out early unless you take care of yourself!