Question about shifts for new grads

work4choc · Jan 19, 2006

Oh boy this thread was kind of a reality slap to me. :uhoh21: I am considering going back to school for my RN (which I started prereqs on 14 years ago and will have to redo them all most likely) but have 3 young kids - the oldest is 7. My husband is in the military and is away from home a lot so night shift would not work for me. I'd be relying on before/after school programs simply to work a day shift. I have no clue what I would do or how I would afford the care for night shifts.

Good thing the areas of nursing I am interested in are more conducive to day shifts (primary care outpatient, to name one) but still I wonder if I will be able to find work as a new grad during the day. I just can't work eves or nights.

I have considered going back to school for a short program and becoming a CMA just to get into a patient care setting with hours I can work with the kids and my husband in and out of town and just waiting a few years longer to start nursing school.

Guess I will keep my eyes on this thread and open for further discussion on this topic.

TexasPediRN · Jan 19, 2006

Oh boy this thread was kind of a reality slap to me. :uhoh21: I am considering going back to school for my RN (which I started prereqs on 14 years ago and will have to redo them all most likely) but have 3 young kids - the oldest is 7. My husband is in the military and is away from home a lot so night shift would not work for me. I'd be relying on before/after school programs simply to work a day shift. I have no clue what I would do or how I would afford the care for night shifts.
Good thing the areas of nursing I am interested in are more conducive to day shifts (primary care outpatient, to name one) but still I wonder if I will be able to find work as a new grad during the day. I just can't work eves or nights.
I have considered going back to school for a short program and becoming a CMA just to get into a patient care setting with hours I can work with the kids and my husband in and out of town and just waiting a few years longer to start nursing school.
Guess I will keep my eyes on this thread and open for further discussion on this topic.

you CAN find work as a new grad working day shift. You just need to look for it.

MIA-RN1, RN · Jan 19, 2006

>>am considering going back to school for my RN (which I started prereqs on 14 years ago and will have to redo them all most likely)

You may not have to repeat them. The ones I took back in 89-90 still counted for my degree (graduating in May)

work4choc · Jan 19, 2006

Coopergirl -

Oh, I hope so! I was *this* close to finishing them. The accel BSN program I hope to apply to is revising their curriculum and admission requirements so I am waiting to see what they are. It is the same school I was pre-BSN at starting in 1992, and all I had left was Patho 2 and Pharmacology.

Meghan -

Thanks for the encouragement.

RN-TO-BE · Jan 21, 2006

I graduated in May 2005. Although I do work nights, I vary rarely have to work a whole weekend. Matter of fact, in December I didn't work any weekend days...even got Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Years Night off! This schedule, I am working every other Saturday night. Not too bad for a new grad!!

fergus51 · Jan 22, 2006

Whether or not you have to work nights depends on the setting. But, in many cities and towns, there are no day positions for new RNs. If you can move, you increase your chances of having a day position immensely.

Personal rant here, but I think everyone should be required to work at least one night shift in their career so that they understand we aren't sitting on our butts all evening like some of my day shift coworkers seem to think... I've worked both and actually prefer nights since getting up at 5am for a day shift doesn't appeal to me. I also think days can be better for new nurses because there are more supports in place (better staffing, more access to docs, ancillary personell, etc).