Should I start out on night shift?

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 27, 2017

I personally feel like days is the better choice for the type of learner I am. But you will get just as many conflicting opinions here. With pros and cons for both. Also depends on what kind of unit you are starting off on.

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · Apr 27, 2017

New Grads should take whatever job they can get.

Sour Lemon · Apr 27, 2017

New Grads should take whatever job they can get.

Exactly. Get some offers before you agonize over which position to accept.

Isakolistic · Apr 27, 2017

As PPs have said, you might have to look at what offers you can find. That could very well be night shift; seems like night shift positions become available more often, as nurses with more seniority/experience often desire day shifts. You can get good experience in both, you might have to just try one out and see if it fits!

wyosamRN · Apr 28, 2017

I'll give you a firm maybe. Be leery of places that want to train you on days, then kick you to nights when off orientation. Many places seem to end up with all the new nurses on night shift, and that is a big problem. While you might have to take what ever you can get, if you have a choice, pick a hospital/unit that tries to keep some experienced nurses on the floor at all times. I currently work ED in a place that tends to have a whole bunch of new grads on the med/surg floor at night, and it is down right scary at times.

Sour Lemon · Apr 28, 2017

I'll give you a firm maybe. Be leery of places that want to train you on days, then kick you to nights when off orientation.

That's a lot of places. I'm under the impression that employers want to avoid paying shift differentials to trainees. And in some cases, floor orientation is combined with classes that are only held during the day.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 28, 2017

That's a lot of places. I'm under the impression that employers want to avoid paying shift differentials to trainees. And in some cases, floor orientation is combined with classes that are only held during the day.

A lot of places actually won't pay differentials to people on orientation even if on night shift. I was surprised to find that out. Then again I found out some hospitals don't pay their PRN nurses any more than their FTE employees. My local hospital doesn't. It was the first I heard of that.

Oh and to the OP, obviously yes as a New Grad if jobs are tight you take what you can get. I assumed that was a given and you were wanting feedback on the variances between learning on night shift vs day shift.

LetLoveNReasonUnite · Apr 28, 2017

Apply as many places as you can, to keep your options open. Night shifts would not be bad to work and you would probably have a better time gaining seniority as there would be less competition for shifts. Also be mindful of the fact that you should not be put in a charge capacity (even after a set number of weeks of orientation), just by virtue of being a new grad. Nights shifts = less nurses = more chance you will be asked to fulfill this role.

nursetonytime · Apr 28, 2017

That's a great question! Personally, I started out on night shift and it has worked out great for me. Typically, nights are not as chaotic as days (depending on the floor or department I suppose). During days there are so many things that can disrupt your workflow. Doctors pulling you aside or changing orders in the middle of your med pass, patients needing to go to any number of procedures or tests because every department is open, more visitors and family, etc. None of these things are inherently bad, but when you're first starting out they can be a little overwhelming, especially when you're first learning the role and figuring things out. Don't get me wrong, nights can be pretty busy as well but, at least for me, it provided more time to ask questions, try different workflow routines, or just have time to stop and think for a second. And the differential isn't too bad either .

JerseyTomatoMDCrab, BSN · Apr 28, 2017

I tend to agree with PPs who stated to be aware of how many new nurses are on nights. You are fewer resources on night shift and you definitely want to make sure you are working with some experienced nurses so you have support and expertise on your side.

That being said, don't let the shift deter you from taking a job. Job offers are scarce for new grads. I worked night at my first job and was VERY fortunate to have a team of seasoned nurses who were welcoming, excellent teachers and great support during those scary first months. I am still friends with all of them and I cannot speak highly enough to how important they were in shaping me into a better nurse. I liked nights because I was able to learn the flow of the floor, policies, charting, order systems and so on without the stress of family members, management, auxiliary staff and attendings breathing down my neck. I also needed the money to get started on those student loans

Purple_roses · Apr 28, 2017

I took the shift I was offered.

Half of my orientation will be on the day shift (according to my manager, this is to learn where my resources are and to learn how to handle everything that tends to happen more often on days), and then half will be on night. My shift is a night shift. My hospital likes to start new grads on nights because, according to them, it's less chaotic, so the new grad has more time to dig into the charts and put two and two together. There is a good mix of new and seasoned nurses on my shift, which is relieving. In fact, I'm not allowed to take extra shifts for 6 months if my mentor or preceptor isn't on the floor on that shift too.