Best RN jobs to have more time for children/family

Nurses Career Support

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I feel like I have little quality of life. I only work 3-4 12 hr shifts a week, but I have a 2 hr commute tagged on to it. I work every other weekend and get 2 -3 days off in a row between work. I feel like I never see my 6 and 7 year old children. I work days. My husband and I are considering have a 3rd child. So I'm trying to figure out how to cut back my hours so I can stay home (mostly) with the baby and just work per diem or part time. I have student loan debt (like most other people) and some other debt. We have no family nearby to watch a baby and newborn childcare is expensive.

Any ideas what I can do as an RN to still have time w/my children and make some money too?

Thanks!:redbeathe

Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

Unless you are working just for extra $$, with the economy how it is I wouldn't give up the guaranteed hours. PRN you are subjected to cancelled shifts if the census is low. Another drawback is that those 12 hour shifts can easily turn into 14 hours....babysitters often don't like that. Also daycares often charge for the "position" meaning if you get cancelled they still want to get paid. At least that is how it is in my locale and why I had to leave hospital. Maybe it is different for you - best of luck in whatever you decide.

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Jk82 if I were you I were you I would keep your 8-3pm job. I recently just had my first baby and am desperately trying to find a job that gives me more flexibly and day shift hours before I have to return back to floor nursing. I really cannot believe I'm even saying this because I never thought i would ever want to leave floor nursing and definitely never thought I would want to work days. But after having my son that just change everything for me and I can't stand that I will have to be away from him for 14hrs and also not be able to tuck him into bed It's so true that after your three shifts you are paying catch up with sleep especially if you work nights! I'm currently waiting to hear back from a home health agency I interviewed with... I'm hoping that even with all the paperwork it will be a better for for me and my family

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Home health is not what ppl think it is u basically work all the time like previous users stated..I'm a home health nurse and hate it so much I want out and am applying everywhere to get out...I'm also still a fairly new nurse so it makes my search harder but home health with all the paperwork traveling (it starts to get to you) working everyday mon-fri you basically have no life I get constant emails and the paperwork is just so much it can be annoying now I'm lucky because we have laptops but not all agencies are like that...oh and you get calls on your days off the phone always is ringing but that's just my take on it...I get salary and paid 30 hrs a week but really I work more than 30 hours a week that's where they get you...good luck didn't realize post was old

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Home health is not what ppl think it is u basically work all the time like previous users stated..I'm a home health nurse and hate it so much I want out and am applying everywhere to get out...I'm also still a fairly new nurse so it makes my search harder but home health with all the paperwork traveling (it starts to get to you) working everyday mon-fri you basically have no life I get constant emails and the paperwork is just so much it can be annoying now I'm lucky because we have laptops but not all agencies are like that...oh and you get calls on your days off the phone always is ringing but that's just my take on it...I get salary and paid 30 hrs a week but really I work more than 30 hours a week that's where they get you...good luck didn't realize post was old

I'm not sure if you would like floor nursing any better... it gets pretty crazy at times. I think its definitely think it's good experience and much needed! I guess there are pros and cons yo both. Been a floor nurse for past 4 yrs and I'm definitely ready for a change! I'm starting with a hh agency on 7/8 and Im hoping its a good fit! Pay is an increase for me and I only have to do 50pt every two weeks. Good luck with your search ?

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Specializes in ICU.

I don't know what your experience looks like, but the infusion room jobs where I am are one of two shifts: 7a-3p or 9a-5p. Those are pretty regular hours, but they require oncology experience. It seems like a really sweet job, though.

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Most 12 hr shift jobs are for 64 or 72 hrs per week. If you do five 8 hr shifts you might find that the pay works out the same. Also the regular schedule and ability to have evenings every night with your family could save money in the long run (think meals, sitters, etc). You would also have most holidays off and regular vacation time.

Someday will nurses revolt and give up the 12 hr dream (which really only benefits the employer)?

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Specializes in Hospice.
Flatlander said:
Most 12 hr shift jobs are for 64 or 72 hrs per week. If you do five 8 hr shifts you might find that the pay works out the same. Also the regular schedule and ability to have evenings every night with your family could save money in the long run (think meals, sitters, etc). You would also have most holidays off and regular vacation time.

Someday will nurses revolt and give up the 12 hr dream (which really only benefits the employer)?

Um...sorry, but no one is scheduled for 6 12-hour shifts/week. Perhaps what you mean is 72 hours/pay period. That would be 3 shifts/week.

I left hospital nursing before 12-hour shifts became the norm, so I really can't give OP a personal opinion. However, from what I've heard, people either love them or hate them.

As far as the best jobs for combining work and family? That can be kind of a crap shoot, but if you can fall into a M-F 9-5, no weekend, no holiday, minimal to no on-call...that could do it.

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i have two kids and have worked in an outpatient setting their entire lives.

i now work 5 days, but once upon a time i worked 4 10's. NEITHER one is great with kids. i have had to sacrifice a lot of 'mom' opportunities over the years for things like conferences, evening drug rep dinner presentations (A TON of those), travel to and from clinics we serve in outlying areas, training meetings, etc. Although i really once enjoyed this position, the type of role that i do is not at all conducive to having kids.

i am actually in the process of going back to a night shift bedside job for more flexibility.

i don't know if there is a perfect answer it depends a lot on if you need benefits, if your SO can help, and what their schedule is...like others have said, if you don't need to carry the benefits like many of us do, then go per diem. at many facilities, per diem nurses can pretty much work whatever they want, whenever they want. there are lots of options in a role like that. AND, if you can manage to get per diem into the resource pool (float nurses) then you can REALLY have great options.

school nursing is nice, in my area though there are few, and on the last day of school they ALL get a lay off slip for the summer- read NO pay or benefits etc over the summer- and they are all told that only if the budget meets it's needs for the following school year will they be called back. that would be WAY too stressful for me.

there are LOTS of options out there. think outside the box. network and try to meet other nurses who work nontraditional jobs and you may find options you haven't even thought of. good luck!

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Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Public Health.
Jensmom7 said:
Um...sorry, but no one is scheduled for 6 12-hour shifts/week. Perhaps what you mean is 72 hours/pay period. That would be 3 shifts/week.

I left hospital nursing before 12-hour shifts became the norm, so I really can't give OP a personal opinion. However, from what I've heard, people either love them or hate them.

As far as the best jobs for combining work and family? That can be kind of a crap shoot, but if you can fall into a M-F 9-5, no weekend, no holiday, minimal to no on-call...that could do it.

I don't know..I have done 15 doubles (16 hours a day) in a row three years ago and went exempt on that check to pay half my loans off:) - I know illegal right....but when you are new out of school going through a divorce and work for a private company in corrections, anything is possible:)

Currently work for the State, 7am-3pm, M-F, weekends off and Holidays off (and paid). Works pretty well for us at the moment.

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Specializes in ICU, Radiology,Infectious Disease,Forensic Nursing.

I went from full time ICU nights to part time 8 hour shifts in outpatient. It has made my home life so much better. I have soon to be 3 kids- all weekends and holidays off with them. Outpatient always has options to pick up extra shifts and because I'm not so stressed out I pick up often. Best decision I've ever made with small children. Eventually I would like to go back to icu when my kids are older- but for now I'm so happy with my decision :)

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