New grad with a new health condition that means I shouldn't work nights, what now?

[tareija]

Hi all,

I'm getting close to graduating from nursing school (finally!) but something is going on that I'm really at a loss as to what to do. In the time between starting nursing school and now, I have developed a health condition that is fairly incompatible with workings nights or changing shifts. Obviously this is pretty inconvenient in terms of being a new grad trying to find a job. I am fit to practice and have medical clearance both to be in school and to go to work once I finish school, that part is not an issue, but working shift work might cause me to get quite sick fairly quickly. It would have been nice if this had happened before I started school so that I could have maybe picked a different career, but unfortunately that's not how it went. So, what to do now? If I got hired as a casual, would I be able to stick to days? I would love to get a job in home care or community health, but given the job climate I'm guess that's probably impossible for a new grad. Any feedback or ideas?

[Fiona59]

Yes, a casual can work only days. Depending on where you are located, you will either get a load of work or very little. You might have to have at least two employers to make a full time wage.

Oh, and usually benefits and pensions are for permanent staff (as are paid sick days and vacation days)

[loriangel14, RN]

It may depend on where you are but being a new grad doesn't mean you have to work nights at all.There are new grads in my work place and none of them work nights.Be up front about your situation and you should be fine.

[llg, PhD, RN]

If you can't get a day job ... Is it really the night shifts that will make you sick ... or would it be rotating between a day shift and a night shift? I've known people who "say" they can't work nights, but they really could if they would just stick to a night shift schedule on their days off and not try to flip back and forth between nights and days. For many people, it's the flip flopping that puts the stress on the body. They can't handle flip-flopping, but they can handle a complete turn-around with a stable schedule.

You may have to work nights (and keep a night schedule on your day's off) for a while to get some experience under your belt ... which would open up more job possibilities for you.

I know that is not what you wanted to hear, but it might be what you have to do to get a nursing job -- depending on where you live. I certainly don't know the details of the job market in your local area.

[tareija]

Hey guys, thanks! I'm in the Lower Mainland in BC. Does anyone know if there's lots of casual work available here? If I'm a casual, should I say I can only work days, or just turn down night shifts as they're offered? Wouldn't that look bad for a new hire to do so? Does anyone know if it'd be possible to get in to community health as a new grad living here? Loriangel, whereabouts are you located and what type of setting do you work in?

llg, night shifts are a big issue, unfortunately. They'd still be an issue, but not as dire of one, if it were possible for me to work exclusively nights. Unfortunately my understanding is that in BC, our union contract says we have to do two days, then two nights. There aren't really any lines that are straight nights. Boo. Even rotating between day shift and evening shift during school has been pretty rough at times. Believe me I wish it were not the case! I'll do whatever I have to do to get a job, but I'd like, if possible, to do so without screwing up my health. If there's no other option I'll take a job with rotating days and nights and see how long I can go with that.

[loriangel14, RN]

Oh I'm not really any help to you,I'm in a hospital in Ontario.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

We have casuals who work all shifts. It depends on you and your employer. The more flexible you are, the more you'll be called for shifts. We have casuals who only work days also. That's fine. BUT, sometimes this means those people may not have work with us for 2 to 3 months.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Speaking of the rotating shifts....I can't do it myself. I've decided it's either permanent nights, evening/night, or all days for me. The day/ night mix would be awful. I'm on permanent nights and I keep the same schedule on my nights off. This works well for me.

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

here in on, community nursing is in high demand. i don't know how the shifts work, but i would think the majority of the needs are during the day so that might be a good option for you. you could also do occupational health (factories ect) or a doc office, things that are only open during the day.