Setting myself up for success as a new grad-days or nights?

[ac3070]

Hi everyone,

I have been reading the forums for a while now and I was hoping you could share some of your experience with me. I am a new grad RN, transitioning from life as a paramedic. I have a job offer and am supposed to begin orientation in the coming weeks on a telemetry unit. The position I was offered was nights and I took it, even as a day person, hoping that either a) I'd love it or b) I'd slip into a day spot sooner rather than later.

The unit I was hired for just posted a day shift opening. I'm not even sure if I should call to ask about possibly being able to take the days spot. I don't want to be whiny and needy from day one! (Really, day minus 10!) I can see pros and cons to both sides, and I was wondering if you think that one shift vs. another would help in a smoother transition to nursing?

On days, while the units are busy with admissions, discharges, doctors, tests, procedures, etc, I feel there may be more opportunity to interact with educators and CNS. My floor orientation will start on days, for at least two full weeks, before I go to nights....having the same preceptors for my whole six+ week orientation would be beneficial, I think.... On the other hand, perhaps the nights environment would be a smoother/easier transition with less administration and ancillary people around? Or would it be worse, with a slighty higher patient load (I believe they said 5:1 at night as opposed to 4:1 during the day)?

I'm all ears for suggestions. I have never been a night owl but somehow I think that working nights in a hospital (as opposed to in the dark ambulance) would be totally different and doable for me. The scheduling kind of stinks for me either way, as I have a preschooler and a husband who works 12-hour shifts too, so that point is not all that important to me. We have childcare arrangements either way, including arrangements for childcare before/after my shifts if I take the night position.

Thanks in advance!

[ac3070]

anyone?

I'm leaning towards taking the nights position. It's totally new to me, I may love it, and if I do it would help me be "that mom" who can always pick her kid and friends up from school, chauffer the really cool field trips, etc etc etc. If not...I'll deal with it then.

[llg, PhD, RN]

My strong suggestion is that you talk with the educator on your new unit. Don't as a a "needy, whiney" person ... but ask in a positive way. "As someone who has worked regularly with new grads on this unit, which shift do YOU think would be best for me?" Indicate that you are seeking the best learning experience and highest chance of success -- not that you are just trying to avoid working nights -- and that you are happy to have this job and willing to work either just. You just want to know their opinion.

If you don't know how to contact the nurse educator for the unit, talk to the person who hired you. Again, remind them how happy you are to have the job and ask them for their opinion. If done correctly, you won't appear whiney -- just enthusiastic and wanting to get your career off on the right foot.

Good luck! -- and congratulations on the job!

[Frankie Slade]

Stick with the days. You will always have more staff, because, the nurse manager will not want get off her seat and help. If you have a family, nights will mess you up. It will take at least one day off of sleeping to recover, then it's back to work. A lot of slackers are drawn to the night shift because of the lack of brass. The down side about days is, you will be cleaning the mess that the night shift left behind. Days will always have enough CNA's. On nights, the CNA disapear leaving the nurses to change diaper, bath, and everything else. Once you get on the night shift, there is little to possibilty of moving to the day shift. Night shift are always harder to staff. Good Luck, and trust no one.