Want to work holidays and nights?

springchick1, ADN, RN · Jun 25, 2016

You just don't put in to transfer to day shift. A lot of people would rather work nights than days. It's not that uncommon.

pixiestudent2 · Jun 25, 2016

I'm sure you'll have no problem staying on nights lol

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 25, 2016

I'll be graduating next year, and I'm aware that when you first start out, you usually end up working nights and your fair share of holidays. But is there a way to communicate that I don't want to transfer to days after the general period of time?
I've worked night jobs and they generally work better for me. I don't have a husband or kids, and won't for quite a long time. The important holidays I would rather work nights as well, to be free for Thanksgiving or Christmas day, and even then, it's not high on my priority list.

They'd probably be happy that you want to stay on night shift. I love nights. I don't ever want to go to days. I might consider an afternoon shift (3 PM - 3 AM), but I don't think I could ever do days. I'm just not an early morning riser :)

mrsboots87 · Jun 26, 2016

I'm not a day person. I have a a backwards circadian rhythm or something because I have a lot of trouble sleeping at night but could sleep all day if left alone without trouble. Always tired during the day. Etc.

I work nights and have no intent to go to days any time soon. Maybe eventually. Basically, most places won't force you to work days. At my job, they have asked, but honestly probably would have trouble finding me a replacement if I actually wanted to switch. Many facilities have many nurses who want days and not enough who wants nights but get stuck there. If you actually want to work nights, I highly doubt you will find a facilities that demands you go to day shift if you don't apply for it. So don't worry about that.

Mad far as working holidays, any facilities that makes all the new nurses work most of the holidays have terrible management. You will find that most have either a set rotating holiday schedule with nurses set in 2 or 3 groups to rotate which holidays each group works each year. If you actually want to work them, I can bet you'll find many a nurse who would love to trade shifts with you to get them off. And if you don't want to work all of them, you probably won't. It would be incredibly unfair to have the new nurses work all of them.

My facility does not have set holiday schedule. For Mem day, the 4th, and Labor Day, it's just first come first serve for requests off and then they regular schedule just applies if no one requests off. For thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years the holiday covers the eve and the day of so 6 shifts total, and you request which holiday is most important to have off. They do their best to accommodate getting that holiday off for you and then you work either the eve or day of of the other 2.

My last faciliy rotated and you worked 3 of the 6 major holidays every year. I have friends who work for facilities that have other forms of rotating holidays. But none that I know of who just schedule based on seniority.

Extra Pickles · Jun 28, 2016

letting a hiring manager know at your interview that you would love to stay on nights and prefer that shift might even give you an edge when it comes to finding a job. Sure some people will lie and say that they love nightshift when they desperately hope for an opening on days but really I think if you come across well and be very clear you want a nights-only job I bet they will give you more than a once-over lol!

Kristenlaurenw · Jun 28, 2016

You probably don't have to do anything at all. All jobs I've ever seen are either nights or days, not "start here and we automatically move you". You work whichever shift you were hired for, period.