New grad only night shift available

Nurses General Nursing

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I was hired into a new grad program straight out of school and am getting to the end of my orientation period. I was hired, but never given a specific “position” (shift), although I have been training on day shift. I was told that at the end of orientation, I would internally apply for a full time position on my med surge floor. It was never implied that I would be on one shift verses another, but I sort of assumed I would be on days, or that they would create a day shift position for me if there weren’t any available (That’s what I was told from a nurse who was hired into the new grad program last year). Now, they’re saying that there’s only night shifts available.

Unfortunatley, I’m a single mom and can’t work the night shift, as I don’t have anyone to watch my child, and can’t afford to pay a nanny, as her preschool is already costing me $700/month. if it weren’t for the child care issue, I would be glad to work any shift available, but I can’t change my situation!
I don’t want to seem inflexible, or have them regret hiring me bc I’m a single mom, but I’m doing the best I can!

My boss has been made aware of the situation, but I haven’t really received an answer yet. There are shifts open on other floors, but they don’t put new grads (understandably) on tele, icu, pacu, or OR.
There was never a conversation of availability when I was hired, and technically I’m not in the union yet bc it’s before my 90 days.
I don’t want to lose this job. Could they let me go bc I can’t work the only shift that’s available right now?
Any insight/experience with a similar situation would be appreciated!

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What is your child care for when you are on days? I am just thinking any 12 hour shift for a single mother would be hard!!! Unfortunately, night shift is usually the only shift open to so many new grads. Experience leads to days. It's not as easy as "creating a job" for you on day shift, as FTE hours are finicky, and are approved thru lots of hoops and hurdles. Good luck!

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They can absolutely let you go if you're not able to work nights. I'm sure you realize this by now, but schedule should have been discussed up front if you were only able to work days.
The problem is that there are likely other employees on night shift who need days for a variety of reasons. Allowing you to jump the line would be bad business and create hard feelings.

Orientation has always started on days for me, although I've always worked nights. It's less expensive because there are no differentials to pay, and new graduates tend to get more experience with admissions (and especially discharges) on day shift. There may be more senior staff available on day shift, too.
I hope everything works out for you, but I think you should start coming up with a plan "B" just in case. Ask around and see what other people you work with are doing. Maybe they'll have some good leads.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

They can and totally will can you. As a new grad that is an expense to a hospital (new grad orientation) you are not in a position with much negotiating power. The assumption that a position was going to be created for you was a huge oversight on your part and the hospital will not take responsibility in that. If they cannot absolutely accommodate you on dayshift, ask if there is a waiting list you can get on and maybe pick up some OT to offset daycare expenses until you land a dayshift position. Good luck

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Acute care just may not be an option for you. New grads almost always end up on night or rotate day/night. Weekends and holidays are required. You will need to figure out childcare or will almost certainly lose your job. At my job, the wait list for days is several years.

I’d start looking for another job, just in case.

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9 hours ago, humerusRN said:

What is your child care for when you are on days? I am just thinking any 12 hour shift for a single mother would be hard!!! Unfortunately, night shift is usually the only shift open to so many new grads. Experience leads to days. It's not as easy as "creating a job" for you on day shift, as FTE hours are finicky, and are approved thru lots of hoops and hurdles. Good luck!

I forgot to mention that my hospital has 3 shifts, so there’s options! Also, out of the 7 new grad hired on their previous new grad program, only one had to work nights. I told my boss that I’m open to evenings, bc I could figure out child care much more easily that way. Thankfully, my hospital does 8’s on the medsurge floor. So my daughter goes to school in the morning (I pay someone to do that since I leave my house at 6:10-but it’s only 2 hours of pay)and I pick her up in the evening.

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Most new grads go to nights. Since you are in nursing you should have specified the shift in the hiring process. I’m not sure why you think the would “create” a position for you on days.

Staffing runs very tight at most hospitals. Staffing needs are assessed every 4 hours, so they run it right at all times.

Im guessing at any acute care hospital it’s going to be nights only for a new grad. You may have to look elsewhere. In the future, clarify your shift before accepting offers. You what they say when you assume things.......

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Can they let you go if you can’t work the only shift that’s available? Of course. If you don’t have family or anything there to help you out I’ll give my standard suggestion, which is to simply move somewhere you can get what you want. There are plenty of places you could start on day shift on med surg.

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2 hours ago, SarahccRN said:

Also, out of the 7 new grad hired on their previous new grad program, only one had to work nights.

That could be a bad thing, not a good thing, you know? They can't indefinitely hire people who only work day shift...someone has to work at night.

I hope it works out for you. It's easy for people to say you should have clarified, etc., but realistically if it's someone's first job out of school and you are hired onto a day shift for training purposes and told that you just apply internally to a position when done with training, it's only life experience that would make one ask, "um, which shift?" So...I guess this situation will turn out to be "life experience" for you. ?

I don't know whether I agree that you have no power in this situation. It's true that you have very little (as all staff nurses do) but they've just spent thousands training you. They will want to work this out if at all possible. Stay very professional and kind, tell them you love the job but need to work day or evening shift.

I would work hard to find a different job if they can't budge, rather than working nights. They knew exactly what they were doing when they purposely didn't address this during the hiring process; their plan is to pressure people into filling their need instead of saying what their need is and looking for someone to fill it. That behavior always just sours things a little IMO.

Good luck ~

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Specializes in ER.

What about getting a roommate who can stay with the kids at night?

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My first nursing job I was on days. The only non 0700-1930 shifts I worked was a holiday shift where I worked 1500-2330 Christmas eve and then 0700-1500 New Years Day. With that said, that specific hospital was not a good environment. My next job was rotating day/night.

I'm in periop - specifically the OR. While having a typical schedule of 0700-1530 or 0700-1730 may seem nice - the call can be very difficult on those with kids. Not only that, but if staffing scheduled at a specific time is less than needed for cases running, you may not be able to leave (without relief one can't just leave a surgery).

Your childcare plan may have to be a bit fluid and flexible. Healthcare is difficult on childcare arrangements...

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