When to get first schedule?? First Job Ever!!

[neuronurse123]

Hello!!

I am set to start my very first nursing job in exactly 2 weeks. I still have not received my schedule beyond the first couple days as that is a set schedule for every new hire for the hospital. 

When should I reach out to ask for my schedule and / or expect to receive my schedule?

 

Thank you for your help!!

[araew2129, ADN]

I emailed my recruiter and asked about shadowing in my unit prior to starting. This was not an option, unfortunately, but I was offered a meeting with my director and nurse educator, which I jumped at. In the meeting I asked about schedules and was given an idea of how at least my first month will go, among other things. Overall, super helpful and my director commented that I was the second in my new grad residency to ask for a chance to meet prior to our start date, which he found to be a great indicator of our dedication and initiative. I would reach out for sure!

[bitter_betsy, BSN]

I found out my schedule week by week.  There were points I didn't know if I was working the next day or not. 

I'm not saying everyone is quite that way, however, you will have hospital orientation and then unit orientation.  Once they decide who your preceptor is, you will be put on their schedule.  Our scheduling periods are 6 weeks - so we usually know about 8 weeks of our schedule at a time.

I started in July of last year.  I was not confident in my schedule until December.  I was in a residency program, but it really did take that long for me to know what MY schedule was and to be able to pick when I wanted to work.  Even now the days I schedule myself for don't always stick.