Too soon to ask about going part time or to day shift?

[newnurse085]

I am a month into my orientation on a mother baby unit. I absolutely love this unit and the job and want to stay here. However, I am working full time nights and have three kids under the age of 5. I have someone watching them in my home, which is great! But I am finding night shift incredibly difficult and am not able to sleep during the day for more than a few hours despite black out curtains, sound machine, etc.

My question is: would it look bad to get on the waiting list for days even though I'm still on orientation? Or would it be better to maybe wait until i finish orientation and then ask about when I could go part time? I can do nights part time, I think. Two nights sounds so much more doable than three! I am a relatively new grad (8 months experience in med surg) so I don't know what the etiquette is in these situations. TIA!

[Emergent, RN]

It's a bad idea until you're done with the probationary period, let alone orientation.

[newnurse085]

It's a bad idea until you're done with the probationary period, let alone orientation.

Thats good to know. Is this usually 90 days at most hospitals?

[Extra Pickles]

It isn't the asking that's likely the problem (after all you can't get something if you don't ask!), but rather the timing is the problem. I'd wait until you're off of orientation and have been getting good feedback on your regular shift before making any requests of ANY kind. Remember that they hired you to work full time nights, which means they NEEDED you for full-time nights. They might not take kindly to you asking for something that they don't want to give you if you're a marginal employee to start with. If you prove yourself to be a nurse they want to keep they'd be more likely to entertain the idea of you making them have to fill another night spot.

[fezz]

You have nothing to loose by asking. Night shifts are impossible for some people. Be honest with your manager , you know your limitations. You may not get your wish granted but putting yourself on a waiting list can't hurt. At my floor you can't switch until it's been 6 months but I'm sure every place has their own rules. Also if they have a dayjob available and can't fill it you might be in luck!

[SmilingBluEyes]

Thats good to know. Is this usually 90 days at most hospitals?

It's usually 90 days most places. Ask your preceptor or manager for sure.

[cleback]

If you asked and they said no, would you stay anyway? If so, I would wait until after orientation. Not sure what the culture is there, but during the probationary period, they could let you go for any reason. I would hate for you to give them one. Work the shifts they hired you for for now.

[newnurse085]

If you asked and they said no, would you stay anyway? If so, I would wait until after orientation. Not sure what the culture is there, but during the probationary period, they could let you go for any reason. I would hate for you to give them one. Work the shifts they hired you for for now.

That is a good point. I would definitely stay regardless. There are two people on the waiting list right now so I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to get on there, but certainly don't want to do anything to jeopardize my job.

[LovingLife123]

I would ask. No harm in asking. My unit is 6 months off of orientation to be considered but others may be different.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I agree about waiting after orientation to bring it up.

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

It is hard to do nights when you have kids up and running around at home while you are trying to sleep, in fact it is dang near impossible. I would ask now, you have been there long enough. It isn't like you are asking for days.

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

I definitely would not ask to go part-time, especially before your orientation and probationary period is over. Your unit is spending a ton of money to orient you new-to-specialty and as a new-ish grad. Your manager probably will not like the idea of investing so many resources in you just to have you back off your FTE status immediately.

Not sure if this is a whole new hospital or just a new unit; that will impact whether or not you're actually on a probation period. I'd think it would be ok to put yourself on the day shift list, but you could always ask around on the unit to gauge the appropriateness.

Also, adjusting to night shift routine is a process, especially with kids. It may get easier over time as you and your family figure out what works until a day position opens up.