New Grad cant work overnights

runna909 · Nov 13, 2012

I will be starting my first real RN job in a regional hospital in a few weeks, and it is a day shift position! The manager I will be working for does not orient new grads on nights...hopefully that is how some of the departments do it in your area?!

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Nov 13, 2012

Day shift positions are harder to find, but not impossible. You'll likely have to be patient. Just be sure on the application you don't check that you are willing to work rotating or night shift.

OnlybyHisgraceRN, ASN, RN · Nov 13, 2012

I was hired for nights but got placed on days for my first RN job. There are day shifts avail. for new grads. I alot of senior nurses love nights. Less things going on and more pay.

Keep searching. Your health is your priority.

kindlylili · Nov 13, 2012

I think most of hospitals require you rotate your shift because it sounds more fair for the rest of nurses, but if you do not mind to work at other facilities rather than hospitals, then you can always have your day shift. Just some thoughts about it and best luck to you.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 14, 2012

If you want to work in acute care, you're going to have to accept that days-only jobs are slim to come by for a new grad. They do exist, but there's a lot of competition for them from both new grads and experienced nurses. A lot of facilities have wait-lists for the day-only shift, and unless you can bring something outstanding to the table as a new grad--or happen to be incredibly lucky--they're not going to skip you to the head of that wait-list and risk angering current staff. In addition, many hospitals have moved towards rotating shifts.

It's not impossible to find a days-only job, just rather difficult. Of course, that's the general take: the situation in your specific area may vary.

I agree with kindlylili: if you are adamant about days-only work, then your better bet is to look outside of the hospital box.

Best of luck.

kimRN512 · Nov 14, 2012

I too am in western NY! Graduated last may had my first job offer in June. When I graduated there were definitely not a lot of openings for new grads so back then finding a day shift would have been difficult. But, I believe there are a lot more openings so you definitely have a higher chance of finding a day shift than you would have a couple months ago. Good luck! Message me if you have any questions.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Nov 14, 2012

Question for OP - have you ever actually tried working nights? A lot of new grads are anxious about this possibility simply because it's completely foreign to them. I can vividly recall (after working my first night shifts) realizing that I actually preferred the slower pace and fewer interruptions... including the dreaded ICU 'road trips' when very ill patients had to be transported out of the unit for diagnostic testing of some sort. If you have everything arranged for 'quality' sleep time, it really isn't any different than working days.

The only shift I wasn't able to adapt to was 3p-11p. It really interfered with family activities, and I always felt like there wasn't time enough to do anything because I needed to get ready for work - LOL.

RNEMT-P · Nov 15, 2012

You may not have as tough a time finding a day shift as you think. I just got hired specifically as a night person, but that was what I wanted. During the interview, the manager was telling me she sometimes has trouble filling day shifts because everyone wants the night shift diffs. Where I'm going to, the shift diff can equal $10-12k per year if you work all night shifts.