40 hours a week plus a family equals???

[BostonRN13]

Debating on accepting a position that is full time, 5 days a week with two little ones under 2 at home.

I know being a new NP the first 6+ months will be the hardest, staying late, showing up early and lots of brushing up on common conditions I'll be seeing in my free time.

Those of you that have a young family and have done this, how have you made this lifestyle successful? I'm thankful to have to opportunity just want to maintain my sanity!!

[AnnaN5]

I took a position like this rather than take an inpatient job with sometimes unpredictable hours, weekend rotation and/or call. My husband has an often unpredictable work schedule so one of us needed "normal" hours. We have a son who is almost 2 & daycares in the area generally aren't flexible with extended hours. I hired a cleaning lady that comes every other week so I have one less thing to manage after work & we eat a lot of crockpot meals.

[carachel2]

What does your budget tell you needs to be done? My husband and I *always* purchased and lived in homes we could afford on one income and we made it a priority for me to only work part-time. If you can afford to turn it down, I would. I've never ever regretted all the finagling and sacrifices I have had to make to be home more. I'm not one of those moms who feel you have to be home 24x7 but the times I hated life the most was when I was forced to work full-time. You can't have it all, you will miss a LOT.

I know it's hard to imagine right now, but as your kids get older and in school, you need even MORE time at home. Someone has to pick them up at 3 and then there are summers. Sure there is daycare but it only goes up to like 4th grade for summer and usually kids are so done for the year the last place they want to go in summer is daycare.

If you have a choice, turn it down or negotiate a part time schedule. If you don't have choices then suck it up and do it for as long as you can.

[BostonRN13]

What does your budget tell you needs to be done? My husband and I *always* purchased and lived in homes we could afford on one income and we made it a priority for me to only work part-time. If you can afford to turn it down I would. I've never ever regretted all the finagling and sacrifices I have had to make to be home more. I'm not one of those moms who feel you have to be home 24x7 but the times I hated life the most was when I was forced to work full-time. You can't have it all, you will miss a LOT. I know it's hard to imagine right now, but as your kids get older and in school, you need even MORE time at home. Someone has to pick them up at 3 and then there are summers. Sure there is daycare but it only goes up to like 4th grade for summer and usually kids are so done for the year the last place they want to go in summer is daycare. If you have a choice, turn it down or negotiate a part time schedule. If you don't have choices then suck it up and do it for as long as you can.[/quote'] I know I will miss a lot. But, I haven't been contacted about anything part time that interests me or relates to my current RN role in my several months of searching. Ideally, I'd like to be in a part time position by the time the oldest is in preschool (2.5 years from now) so I don't see this position as a forever job but more, a place where I can learn and get experience. Unless they can drop my hours by then but who knows. My "dream job" definitely doesn't include working full time and this is NOT one of the reasons I went to NP school!