Offered 8-Hour Shifts, Want 10-Hour Shifts

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Offered 8-Hour Shifts, Want 10-Hour Shifts

Hello Nurse Beth,

I just got my first NP job offer (yay!) And am interested. However, it is at an outpatient heme/onc clinic and would be 9-5 M-F. Moving from 13 shifts a month as a bedside RN to five days a week is going to wreak havoc on childcare, etc. I want to negotiate 4 10-hour days that I have seen done in other identical positions in very similar settings. How do I go about this? All advice welcome! Thank you so much!

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Wants to Negotiate,

Congratulations on your first NP job offer!

In a nutshell,  just ask. "Would you be open to alternative hours, such as 10-hour shifts?" They will either tell you, Yes or No, and they won't withdraw the offer just because you asked.

Here's the thing. You can't take it personally if they say no, because the business depends on providing coverage when coverage is needed. So, for example, if you work ten hours a day, Monday through Thursday and a provider is needed to see patients on Friday, they may not be able to accommodate your request.

Likewise, if there are no patients there in the 9th and 10th hour of your shift, what do you propose you'd be doing that is needed? If at all possible, approach it from your employer's point of view. You always want to be the solution to a problem the employer has. For example, you could offer to make patient calls or complete documentation.

Good luck! and Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

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