New Grads - Rotten Shifts?

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Dec 3, 2006

i also think thats important to point out that many of these daytime jobs that are being listed - doctors offices and outpatient clinics - require hospital experience first...

That was what I was going to say. Good luck getting those jobs with no experience.

DolphinRN84, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Dec 3, 2006

Personally I'm pretty flexible and I don't have a problem working any shift. I was hired for day/night rotation. Even though I'm pretty flexible...I really can't stand working the day shift. Like a couple pointed out...its more hectic with procedures, families, MD's giving orders etc. I'm still in orientation and have been on days for awhile now. I like it...but its too hectic and I always feel like I never get everything done and making mistakes. I'll be orienting nights this week and am actually looking forward to it. I absolutely hate waking up at 5am just to get to work at 7. I feel like nights would be so much better for me.....and my preceptor for nights seems pretty good :) Just a personal preference really...so yes...I'm actually looking forward to the "rotten shift" :) Most people I graduated with are working the day shift, and several are working evenings or nights. So I guess it just depends.

busylady61 · Dec 3, 2006

I have a question. As someone who is planning to go to LPN school next year, I am fairly new to this.

I see people keep making references to 12-hour shifts at hospitals. How many hours a week does that mean?

Are the RNs working 12 hour shifts five days a week (60 hour weeks roughly) and earning overtime for anything over 40 hours? Or are they earning a flat salary with hours that vary?

How does this work?

P.S. I am currently a teacher who works unpaid overtime all the time, so I would really be curious to know how the overtime system works at hospitals. Thanks for any input!

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Dec 3, 2006

I have a question. As someone who is planning to go to LPN school next year, I am fairly new to this.
I see people keep making references to 12-hour shifts at hospitals. How many hours a week does that mean?
Are the RNs working 12 hour shifts five days a week (60 hour weeks roughly) and earning overtime for anything over 40 hours? Or are they earning a flat salary with hours that vary?
How does this work?
P.S. I am currently a teacher who works unpaid overtime all the time, so I would really be curious to know how the overtime system works at hospitals. Thanks for any input!

No. 3 12 hour shifts = 36 hour weeks.

busylady61 · Dec 3, 2006

Thanks for your response!

So, RNs can work three days a week? And have four days off? And still pull in about $45k a year? (That's what the salary statistics are for my area...)

All I can think of at this moment is --- what was I ever thinking when I went into teaching? I should have become a nurse a long time ago!

Gennaver, MSN · Dec 3, 2006

I think it depends on whether you want to work in an area that is closed after 5 pm or so or is open 24/7. MD office, clinic, outpatient surgery center, research, home health, community health, dialysis - these tend to be daytime jobs. Hospitals and nursing homes are not. So if you want to do any type of nursing in these facilities, think long and hard. We know some nurses are working Days. But the offshifts have to be covered. Including on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other holidays. It is very, very painful to have to work on those days.

Yeah, yet for folks like me, the holidays are just another day and not a problem to work. So, painful for one person is not painful for another.

Also, to top it off, if the Holidays are not even painful for you to work OR if you can incorporate your holiday around it the extra pay for the day's work it a bonus then.

Gen

redwinggirlie · Dec 3, 2006

just my opinion, but i don't think the whole seniority system is necessarily a good idea. where i live, new grads DO start out on nightshift at the hospitals in the area... no exceptions really. i have especially found this to be true in the NICU and other ICU areas. i think new grads should be given day shifts right out of school, because it's a better learning environment.. things are so different at night, and they're not really learning everything. patients aren't being discharged, for the most part they are asleep, the families are gone, less/no doctors orders, less doctors around period.. just to name a few... just my two cents.

Well, I have to argue a couple of your points: It depends on what unit you work on whether or not it's a good learning environment at night. Where I've worked my nights we're busy allllllll the time.

Discharges at night? When they happen, it's usually right when we come on...

And, they're usually not sleeping at night either. Pain issues, etc....

But, as I said, it depends on the unit on which you work. I went to the burn unit as a new grad and worked nights. Guess the biggest difference I see is there are LESS people bothering you and the patient at night!

RNHawaii34 · Dec 3, 2006

i am a new grad myself. i am aware that new grad's will get the crappiest shift ever. i got the day night rotating shift on my first job. then now i got the evening shift, which is fine to me.i work in a nursing home by the way. i don't have a kid to worry about, but of coorifice i like to do fun stuff in the afternoon, i agree 100% with all the poster above. if your in the bottom of the ladder, i think you just have to wait for your turn to work a nice shift.:welcome: :lol2:

smk1, LPN · Dec 4, 2006

What I absolutely will not take is a day night rotating shift when I graduate. I know my body and I know that I will become ill. I would prefer day or evening, but could do nights if it were a regular non-rotating shift. Then I could become acclimated to a sleep schedule and hopefull wouldn't suffer too many ill effects. I feel like I am flexible, but also smart enough to know what I can and can't handle.

Retired R.N. · Dec 4, 2006

What I absolutely will not take is a day night rotating shift when I graduate. I know my body and I know that I will become ill. I would prefer day or evening, but could do nights if it were a regular non-rotating shift. Then I could become acclimated to a sleep schedule and hopefull wouldn't suffer too many ill effects. I feel like I am flexible, but also smart enough to know what I can and can't handle.

If you already know that you can't handle rotating shifts, it would be foolish for you to accept a job that requires it. Although I always preferred nights, I could handle any shift as long as it did not require any rotation. It always took me a minimum of three weeks to get my internal clock reset and running smoothly.

Knowing this, I always mentioned it during the initial interview, and especially made a point of stressing that I absolutely would not work a 3-11 shift, and then be back at work again the following morning at 7.

This "attitude" did result in my not getting a couple of jobs that I had applied for, but I always felt that it was better for the employer as well as me to avoid having me at risk of making mistakes because I was not functioning at top efficiency. It was MY license on the line every time I walked in to work, and I had worked too hard to get it to risk it for some employer who had a scheduling problem.

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 4, 2006

Evenings worked fine for me while my kids were young. As they grew older, though, I found that I was missing their games, concerts, family holiday gatherings that usually start about 4 pm, etc.

That's the beauty of nursing! Once my kids are older and involved in after school activities, I'll just find another shift to work into my life. Who knows, perhaps I'll work the "rotten shift" because I'll be able to sleep during the day. I'm really excited about this career change!!

hica19 · Dec 4, 2006

I am a new grad and doing rotating shifts. It's usually 4 weeks per shift then we rotate. I don't mind it as long as I get a couple of days off in between to help me transition.