[3sodapop]

Do you love your schedule?
I'll be jobhunting soon as a new LPN, and was wondering what hours Moms worked who loved their schedule.

• What is your schedule?
• What do you like about your schedule?
• What would you change if you could?
• Is is possible to 'have it all?'
• How far would you commute for your perfect job?

I doubt I'll have much of a choice in my schedule, but I have a DD in grade school, and I don't want to turn her into more of a latchkey kid than I already have since I went back to school full time. I also have 2 in college next year, so I know how fast they grow up and I don't want to me an absent parent, yet I want to work enough hours so that I know what's going on where I work.

Any input would be appreciated

[SteveRN21]

A 11p-7a schedule sounds like it would work well for you.....

[3sodapop]

Doesn't 11-7 totally mess up your natural sleep rhythm?
I can hardly stay awake until 10PM, I can't imagine staying awake all night.

[dani4RN]

I have two girls and working night shift has been the best option for me. I did not work nights until my first was born. This way we have no childcare to pay for, and my girls have their mom home. I am a "faker" stay at home mom. If I could the best option would be part time nights with two nights off in between each shift. I work full time so I just try and not work more than two in a row.

good luck!

[3sodapop]

Originally Posted by dani4RN

I have two girls and working night shift has been the best option for me. I did not work nights until my first was born. This way we have no childcare to pay for, and my girls have their mom home. I am a "faker" stay at home mom.

OMG.. You work 11-7, then take care of 2 little ones during the day?
When do you sleep??

[kythe]

I currently work two 12 hour shifts on the weekends because my parents can watch the kids and it saves literally hundreds of dollars per month in child care. However, my kids don't like spending so much time away from me since weekends are so often an important family time. I like being a stay-at-home mom on the weekdays for my son, but my older daughter feels she doesn't see me much since that is when she is school.

When my son starts going to school next year, I'm hoping to switch to three 12 hour weekdays while they are in school. I will pay for before and after school care for those 3 days a week, but I will also be working more hours (it makes the difference between full time and part time), and we will have weekends to ourselves. I'm hoping to "buy" more real family time that way.

[SteveRN21]

Originally Posted by 3sodapop

Doesn't 11-7 totally mess up your natural sleep rhythm?
I can hardly stay awake until 10PM, I can't imagine staying awake all night.

It sure can. Welcome to the life of a nurse!


A lot of people adjust well to working the night shift. You could work 11p-7a, come home, send DD off to school, and have the quiet house to yourself to sleep in until school lets out. You could then have the afternoon and dinner time together, bedtime activities, and a short nap before heading back to work.

[Dancin'Mom]

I work F, S, Su night shift, 12 hours. I have 2 girls both will be in grade school in fall. I do this to save money and have more consecutive days off with girls/husband. It is not ideal but what really is when you work and raise a family. It's difficult to have best of both worlds. I like my hours for now though!

[92mxmom]

Thanks for asking that question 3sodapop~

I pretty much have decided to go to the hospital FT 3 12's nights to accomodate school. I have a 10 year old and husband who's a firefighter that works 24 hours shifts. So I'm trying to figure out how I can make a night shift schedule work for me.

I have never worked in the hospital FT, always a M-F job and work in the ED PRN.

Keep the opinions coming guys!

[KristiePDX]

Work 12hr nights. Two in a row. Husband works at home so takes over when I am resting before a shift. Truly an ideal situation.