When should a new grad reveal a disability that prevents them from working nights?

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When should a new grad reveal a disability that prevents them from working nights?

Dear Nurse Beth,

I'm about to interview for my DREAM nursing job in pediatrics, however, all new grad RN positions are nights. I also have a disability where it would be harmful to my health if I worked nights. Am I able to ask and be granted accommodations for days? And if so, when do you disclose this information? -- in the interview if asked, after job offer, after I start orientation (which is on days) but before moving to nights? I don't want to lose this job opportunity by disclosing this information at the wrong time, and I want to ensure I care for my health.

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11 Answers

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Dream Job,

There's a fine line here that's not as straight-forward as some situations. 

Since the job posted is for nights, then it could be said it's not really an accommodation you are requesting. An accommodation would allow you to do your night-shift job with some form of reasonable assistance. However, you are applying for a night-shift job and yet planning to not work nights, if I understand you correctly. A manager could feel a bit bait and switched by this.

In general, though, as far as when to disclose a disability, it's when you ask for an accommodation. The law says that can be at any time, including after you are already working. There's really no reason to disclose a disability otherwise. In your case, you would need to tell your manager you can't work nights prior to working nights, which could be right away or in a few short weeks. That could be an uncomfortable conversation and you would have to be prepared for an unhappy reaction.

Let's take it a step further and consider the worst-case scenario. The risk is whether Human Resources considers giving you a day shift position a reasonable accommodation. You work a few days or a few weeks, tell your manager you can't work nights, your manager doesn't have a day position, and lets you go. Would it be good for you to be in that situation and how far are you willing to go to challenge that decision? 

There is another non-legalistic option, which is just having a conversation with your manager. I have worked with a couple of very flexible and understanding nurse managers who typically put their new grads on 8 weeks of days followed by 8 weeks of nights during orientation. Some new grads try but simply can't adjust to night shift and then have a frank talk with their manager, who voluntarily puts them on day shift to retain them. I admire that and I know not all managers are that understanding or able to provide a day shift position. If you are working in a union environment, then seniority guidelines will come into play.

There is some benefit for both you and your manager in telling them sooner rather than later. If you do plan to go the disability route, then tell your manager post-offer that you are asking for an accommodation. 

Best wishes in your decision,

Nurse Beth

Specializes in school nurse.

Many hospitals have (already employed) nurses who are on waiting lists to switch to days. The OP should think about that as well.

I 100% agree with you that this could be interpreted as a bait-and-switch. The OP is applying for a nights position...

I don’t understand why the OP is applying for a night position when they cannot physically WORK night shift? What am I missing? 100% bait and switch. 

Specializes in Community health.
On 4/11/2022 at 2:58 AM, Jml1986 said:

I don’t understand why the OP is applying for a night position when they cannot physically WORK night shift? What am I missing? 100% bait and switch. 

I know that when I was a new grad, I applied for an inpatient job that listed all shifts.  Then in the interview, I found out that it was actually just nights.  So as far as "why did she apply," I'm not sure she knew it was a night job at the time of application. 

But I can see everyone's concern here, for sure, since it wouldn't necessarily be an "accommodation"-- you're just requesting a different job than the one they are hiring for.  So, bring it up and cross your fingers!  I hope it works out, but if not, you'll find another "dream" job that doesn't come with this problem.

Specializes in ER, Pre-Op, PACU.

I completely understand that for some, it truly is hard to work nights. I have worked all shifts and honestly, I never could adjust to nights.

However, this is a night position. In addition, many people are on the list to move to days. I know I was one of the employees on night shifts that was on the list to move to days. And guess what happened? New employees were hired to day shifts while I waited years patiently - using excuses from they had kids, they couldn’t do nights, they had other jobs, had health issues, couldn’t sleep, etc. While I understood this - it was incredibly hurtful to me when I was dedicated to my unit and job and saw this happen. I just wanted to give you a perspective- not to discount your concerns but to understand other perspectives. I get not being able to do nights. I personally don’t think I could EVER go back to nights. However, it will put you in a bad place with your future team not to mention this is a NIGHT position.

If you cannot work nights, do not apply to night shift positions. This will not be mutually beneficial at all, you will ultimately disrupt the unit and potentially harm yourself. 

know your limitations, apply and work within those, it is not fair or equitable for you to ask for a reasonable accommodation after being hired for a job that you knew you could not do. That's like applying for home healthcare, and then later telling them after they bring you on that you don't have a drivers license.

There aren’t a lot of reasons I can think of that a person would need ADA reasonable accommodations to be off night shift, save for like difficulty driving in the dark (which still seems unlikely since both day and night shift nurses on 12s both drive in darkness usually). I could be missing something but just sayin’. 

If the accommodation is due to this new grad’s mental health, I hate to say it (do I?), but get in line. Night shift work does unnatural things to the circadian rhythm and hormonal balance in ALL people, and a lot of people never adjust well emotionally or physically as a result. This is very much a situation of “get in line, buttercup,” if this is a mental health accommodation is the case, IMO. 

Also, please know that I am a new nurse myself who hates nights and within a couple months wanted to move to days. I also technically could have pulled the accommodation card for mental health, but instead I applied for a days position and told myself if I didn’t get on days within a year I would find another job. I move to days in 3 weeks, but I didn’t have to cut the line to get there and I stand by the fact that if I hadn’t gotten it in the allotted time frame I would have just left for another position that could offer days upon hire. 

I’m not downplaying mental health issues by any means but please look at the full picture here before you use that as a reason to request accommodations, IF THAT’s CASE (which it might not be). 

On 5/8/2022 at 1:32 PM, speedynurse said:

I completely understand that for some, it truly is hard to work nights. I have worked all shifts and honestly, I never could adjust to nights.

However, this is a night position. In addition, many people are on the list to move to days. I know I was one of the employees on night shifts that was on the list to move to days. And guess what happened? New employees were hired to day shifts while I waited years patiently - using excuses from they had kids, they couldn’t do nights, they had other jobs, had health issues, couldn’t sleep, etc. While I understood this - it was incredibly hurtful to me when I was dedicated to my unit and job and saw this happen. I just wanted to give you a perspective- not to discount your concerns but to understand other perspectives. I get not being able to do nights. I personally don’t think I could EVER go back to nights. However, it will put you in a bad place with your future team not to mention this is a NIGHT position.

You really were extremely patient.  Your boss seriously took advantage of you.  What did you like so much about the job that you tolerated that all those years?

Specializes in ER, Pre-Op, PACU.
9 hours ago, Kooky Korky said:

You really were extremely patient.  Your boss seriously took advantage of you.  What did you like so much about the job that you tolerated that all those years?

I had a good team in general that was wonderful to me as a new grad. However - this incident eventually made me lose all respect for my manager. And honestly, I would never work for her again.

I have interviewed from a job that was posted as days.... Turns out they actually wanted evenings ?. I thanked them for their time and told them sorry, I'm not interested in that. The unit manager immediately assured me she would give me days. 

One of the other managers on the interview panel actually had the good sense to point out that hiring me straight onto days in front of their existing staff who were waiting to swap to days would cause resentment and make for a potentially ugly work dynamic. 

I'm certainly not saying you shouldn't try but I do think you should be upfront about this. I would call or email HR before the interview and tell them you are very interested in the jobs but can only do days. It seems to me that they might form a less than stellar impression of you if you allowed them to take the time to interview you for a position (nights) that you actually have no intention of taking. I think it would look even worse to wait until after you were hired to discuss this. As an outside hire you just never really know what positions they might actually have available. 

I hope it works out for you!

On 5/8/2022 at 2:32 PM, speedynurse said:

I completely understand that for some, it truly is hard to work nights. I have worked all shifts and honestly, I never could adjust to nights.

However, this is a night position. In addition, many people are on the list to move to days. I know I was one of the employees on night shifts that was on the list to move to days. And guess what happened? New employees were hired to day shifts while I waited years patiently - using excuses from they had kids, they couldn’t do nights, they had other jobs, had health issues, couldn’t sleep, etc. While I understood this - it was incredibly hurtful to me when I was dedicated to my unit and job and saw this happen. I just wanted to give you a perspective- not to discount your concerns but to understand other perspectives. I get not being able to do nights. I personally don’t think I could EVER go back to nights. However, it will put you in a bad place with your future team not to mention this is a NIGHT position.

Ouch. It hurt to read this. Your management clearly took advantage of your the dedication to your unit you speak of, and this is precisely why the most giving and loyal nurses keep getting *** on. I hate that there is never a shortage of opportunity for managers and coworkers to take advantage of nurses who allow themselves to be a martyr. Human first nurse second, my friend. YOU matter and every nurse should advocate as fiercely for themselves as they would a pt or friend. I’m glad you made it to days! 

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