-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.
I am also a new grad, and I enjoy working the nights so far. There is a little more down time, and you're not pouring meds as often. Also , as others have said, you will have enough days off to enjoy in a 12 hour schedule. Take it for now. It's better than being unemployed.
Gosh I hate to say this, but don't be honest. I graduated in 09 and lost out on the opportunity to work in any hosptial because I was honest about not really wanting to work nights. Lie through your teeth and say you'd love it because you will love having a job and getting great experience!
My own experience has been that I graduated from nursing school in May of 2009. Soon after taking the nclex I landed a per diem position as a blood bank nurse. Believe me, it borders on the worse of the worse. But, you know what? It helps to pay my rent. It barely keeps me from becoming homeless. Soon after I began working at this facility, I realized that I had been lied to. When I went to my boss to clarify my status as a team member he told me in so many words that, I was equal to the phlebotomists I work with. I went home feeling violated. But, I have learned to suck it up, put my best foot and attitude forward and I will stay there until I find better. Bottomline, I get paid a nurse's hourly salary and that is what is barely keeping me afloat in this horrible economy.
I think that person (bend over and take it?) lives with her parents and she therefore has the time to "tantrum" about a job offer, then she doesn't even have her license. Ridiculous indeed. I guess she didn't learn any criticial thinking skills when she was in nursing school.
I have to say, paying rent and student loans definitely puts a new perspective on work. I am in this situation, and I lucked out too, but right from the outset, I was determined to accept the first half decent job that presented itself. And I did. Look at it positively, you have say 25 years to work. Start somewhere and be very grateful. After even 1 year, there will be more mobility. I'm just happy to be an RN. I don't care where it is, especially in this economy. Loans don't pay themselves. It was the same when I used to train new hires at the hotels I worked at. They didn't like nights. My response invariably was, " well if you want this job, nights are required. We all do them. Too bad." So its the same everywhere, really. Do what you gotta do.
IF offered the job, I would take it. oh wait-- I did! four years ago I was in your shoes, and I knew the hospital I wanted to work for as a floor nurse was only going to hire night shift for new grads. I interviewed, was offered the job, and took it without any hesitation. Even though 2 months after I started, I would be getting married, I was going to be a night shifter. My orientation was 90% on days, because thats where my unit had the preceptors, and it was orientating a LOT of new grads at the time, mostly for nights. The only day shift new grads were already working on the floor in a different position. After orientation, I went to nights, got used to it after a few long long months (with many other stressors at home at this time) and loved it.
I have been asked several times in the past 3 years if I wanted to go to days. HECK NO! I am charging, precepting, and am the go to girl on my shift. I still have days and nights where I'm sleep deprived, but I make it through. My 40 minute commute seems ages longs sometimes, but I see more daylight during the winter than the dayshifters. I get to know my patients better, my supervisor, my coworkers, and myself. I am going back to school for my nurse practitioner and prefer the night shift. To my supervisor who knows but asks just to make sure every few months-- I'm staying on nights till I get my masters, but then I gotta leave ya.
I love AAM!! She's hysterical, and brings up excellent points about not feeling like you're begging for a job everytime you interview.
However.
You have a choice to make. You can Choose to wait for a dayshift position, or accept a nights position. The reality is that bedside nursing is a 24/7/365 job. No one who works nights is "bending over and taking it". We're choosing to be employed. When I started nursing and the media was still clamoring about the "nursing shortage", I accepted a position for rotating days/nights because I was so excited about the job itself I didn't care about the shift. The average waiting time for people who wanted to go to days was six years!! When the economy was still good! It seems like you feel like your being pressure/forced/coerced into interviewing for nights position and they're taking advantage of you because you're a new grad. I'll be interested to see where you end up working if that attitude continues.
I am a new grad and got a day position, but our dept is in a BASEMENT! No windows, no daylight, i don;t know what the weather is like until i get off and in the depths of winter it is dark when i go in and dark when i get off, so even working days doesn;t necessarily guarantee that you will have daylight. If you really need it, go to a tanning booth once in a while in the winter. While i know its bad for you, it often helps lift my mood during the darkest days. Dont be crazy, take the position, unless you really enjoy asking "can i supersize that for you ma'am?"
you can change the date of your nclex. take it sooner! I did and was offered a job right after that. if i had waited for my original date, i would have missed the job opportunity. take the test and get to work!! there may not be another opportunity for a long time....change your date, call HR and tell them you are taking the test on Jan 25, and will be ready to start Feb 1!! Show that you are willing to go the extra mile, because if you don't, someone else is going to get YOUR job. this seems like an absolute no brainer to me.
My own experience has been that I graduated from nursing school in May of 2009. Soon after taking the nclex I landed a per diem position as a blood bank nurse. Believe me, it borders on the worse of the worse. But, you know what? It helps to pay my rent. It barely keeps me from becoming homeless. Soon after I began working at this facility, I realized that I had been lied to. When I went to my boss to clarify my status as a team member he told me in so many words that, I was equal to the phlebotomists I work with. I went home feeling violated. But, I have learned to suck it up, put my best foot and attitude forward and I will stay there until I find better. Bottomline, I get paid a nurse's hourly salary and that is what is barely keeping me afloat in this horrible economy.
I think that person (bend over and take it?) lives with her parents and she therefore has the time to "tantrum" about a job offer, then she doesn't even have her license. Ridiculous indeed. I guess she didn't learn any criticial thinking skills when she was in nursing school.
I would love to make speculations about you too but I won't.
I've been a nurse a long time too and have worked many, many shifts of nights and evenings. Have you thought about the fact that weekends and HOLIDAYS are usually the norm for most nursing jobs? I've worked with many new nurses over the years that are amazed when they can't spend Christmas with grandma like they always have!! Summer holidays can't be spent with your friends! Nursing is a tough job but most of us love it. That's why we put up with the inconvenience. We learn to work our life around those things.
I hate to use the term "pay your dues" but it fits. Nursing in most areas is a 24 hour a day job. You have to want it badly and do the things you might prefer not to do in order to get the experience you need. I think that type of reality check is really missing in nursing education lately.
After 25 years I have a Monday-Friday job in a facility that pays me pretty well. I have off on holidays and can actually make plans months in advance. But I've earned it! I also frequently offer to work weekend shifts and even some holidays to make unit coverage and have never forgotten how frustating it can be to be a "floor nurse".
If you really want to be a nurse, you'll find a way to do it. Most of us started out on night shift and managed to have some great experiences along the way. It really is a whole different world at night! You learn team work, self-reliance and how to be a great nurse. But you have to have the right attitute or you'll just spread your disatisfaction and misery to others.
Good luck and I hope you get the job offer that you want.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I would love to make speculations about you too but I won't.
I hope you find a better job soon.
Three cheers for you! Very classy response -- and as an aside - I've found that with every thread I start (OK all 2) there are some who speculate about your character, etc. Just goes with the territory I guess.
Three cheers for you! Very classy response -- and as an aside - I've found that with every thread I start (OK all 2) there are some who speculate about your character, etc. Just goes with the territory I guess.
Thanks nurse156! Your cheers mean a lot. :)
I'm a "take the high road"/"kill 'em with kindness" kind of girl.
Good heads up on the character speculators. It's hard not to take things personally. Must remind myself that this is the internet after all.
You learn team work, self-reliance and how to be a great nurse. But you have to have the right attitute or you'll just spread your disatisfaction and misery to others. 
joanna73, BSN, RN
4,767 Posts
I am also a new grad, and I enjoy working the nights so far. There is a little more down time, and you're not pouring meds as often. Also , as others have said, you will have enough days off to enjoy in a 12 hour schedule. Take it for now. It's better than being unemployed.