Leave nursing job to be stay-at-home mom?

Nurses Career Support

Published

Interested in some of your insights. Currently work part-time. Make a decent salary. after taxes and 401k money pretty much goes to childcare. Hesitant to quit my job but then when i'm there feel really annoyed by my assignments the managers what have you. My husband works and we could live on his salary. Would def have to budget better of course. Interested in folks thoughts. Although would save money not having kids in daycare one would still go to preschool and the other two are thriving in their environments. but cant help thinking things would be less stressful as far as homework, kids activities generally getting stuff done around the house etc etc but concerned about prospects or what to expect if i take time off from my nursing career. Interested in personal AND factual comments. But then here i am spending time on the computer when i have loads to get done.

A few things I am doing to stay current while being "at home"...

1.) I put my name on a list as a free clinic volunteer RN. All they ask is for you to volunteer 4 hours a month at their clinic.

2.) I also volunteer with my local American Heart Association and my church's Parish Nurse program to do public education and blood pressure clinics.

3.) I work part-time/on call as an instructor for CNAs.

I have other RN "odd jobs" I keep handy and while they seem scattered, they do come in handy as I can make my own schedule to work around my family.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surge.

Dear Mol42 many others you considering staying at home,

I want to share my story with you all. I was a RN BSN studentin my 3rd year at a major university with a full scholarship and I left it all. I was Pregnant. I had major complication and so did my child.

I didn't look back, all I wanted to do is to take care my primie son and apply all the vast knowledge I had acquired in school. THEN, a year later I realized that dad did not care to help with house chores or anything else, but, to keep me home and do house chores. My epiphany was devestating. College educated and scrubbing toilets at midnight almost everyday did not do it for me. So, I started back to school changed my major to ESE Teaching with one to two classes at a time. No support from hubby or family. They did allow me to put my kid in daycare. I was stuck in a rut for sometime, isolated,tired and confused but dedicated to my son. Then, son #2 came love him many joys, pains still no relief from dad then came baby girl , baby #3. Returning to studying on the back burner for 10 years. I did some studying and volunteering, got a couple of certifications but no real satisfaction, now my oldest is ten. I have met some really great friends at a certification class and the statement was born. "I'm applying to nusing school"! My girl friends also came from a similiar stories. No respect for the work done at home. So I jump on the opportunity and studied for the entrance exam and passed the first try! I was impressed, and so were my friends. Then, I immediately applied to the same nursing school. All kind of thoughts racing through my head, not good enough to get in settle for LPN school etc. Wating for months on end, but, I was already used to that, waiting... then I got the phone call that has changed my life, I am no longer waiting, no longer just a house wife, barefoot and pregnant so to speak, I have a career to have and to suceed. A Full pledge Nursing Student. It took me almost 11 yrs to get back but I'm back. So Please take it from me, (straight from the hourses mouth). Do not let you career go!!! Make it comfortable for you,reduce hours all that good stuff, change dept. but don't it let go. You have worked to hard to give it up and appreciate your self I'm sure your patients did !:loveya:

PS: I wish you the best outcome.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You are correct. if i loved my job and felt worthwhile there quitting my job or not would really not be an issue. it probably wouldn't even enter my mind.:up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I really appreciate everyones comments. In my best scenario I could work 4 hrs 3 days a week and still keep my status. that's what I'm hoping for actually because as most of you have said it is good to keep your foot in the door and stay current, adult conversation, etc. Still would love to hear about peoples thoughts and experiences whether you decided to stay home or not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I haven't had my baby yet, but I won't be staying home. Just going to work part time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I didn't chose to be a stay-home Mom, but here I am!

There are pros and cons....

The pros are obvious: The children do better, the home is cleaner, and life is more organized. Your biggest stressor is how to keep your toddler out of the trash can and the laundry hamper. You don't have someone standing over you, reminding you that if you sneeze wrong, you could lose your license. Your family can actually look forward to holidays and weekends, knowing that you won't be working or getting calls asking you to come into work, since so-and-so called in "sick."

The cons: Money is tight, people look at you strange when you say you don't have a job, and you have that nagging voice at the back of your head saying that your resume value is going down every month you are not working.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I tried to be a stay-at-home mom; but it only lasted a few months. I envy the women that can be a full time wife, mother, cook, and house keeper. Staying at home made me go crazy and become really depressed. It is hard for me to do anything where I am the only one making all schedules. When my husband joined the military, I stayed home for a while then enrolled in online classes. When I decided I wanted to be a nurse, I started the university near post. My kids are in pre-school and daycare. Sometimes I do feel bad for not waiting to start school until they are older; however, I am a MUCH better mother and wife. I have something that is mine and I have time to workout. That never happened when I wasn't going to campus.

Good luck with whatever you decide! It may be a good idea to one shift a week to force you out of the house and keep up with your skills.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Again I wanted to say I appreciate everyones comments/advice. thank you. I think you're right. My real preference would be to work "mother's hours" 3 days a week (or less). Something where I can drop kids off at daycare/school and finish when they finish school and be home in time to pick them up. I did ask my supervisor if I could come in 30 minutes later and stay til 4 (i currently work 0730-4PM) to help facilitate child drop off and just yesterday my request was denied. I respect her reasons but this is going to cause some increase in family stress. i appreciate her at least considering because she did take some time to think about it. SU does morning drop offs already but his job is wanting him to come in earlier) So i think I'll stay employed and see what i can find but i agree with you I do want to continue to work SOME hours and not completely stop. My preference would be to continue working for my current hospital b.c my youngest is in the daycare there and i really like it. We will see. In the meantime i'll be revamping my resume.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

after taxes and 401k money pretty much goes to childcare.

i think you answered your own question. if the money truly does just go to childcare, then there's no point in working. if you just want the fulfillment of having worked, then just work one shift a week, prn, etc. that's just what i would do and am planning on doing in the future. i just wouldn't want to miss out on raising my kids, but to each his own, and if you love and provide for your kids, they will be fine. my husband's mom worked full-time by choice when he was growing up, and he said he didn't feel less loved, but to me, even though his family is wealthy (since my mom stayed home by choice), i feel like he missed out on some things that i got to do (like summer time, etc).

my thought as well - if most of the money you make pays for daycare/childcare i wouldn't do it.

i'm a stay-at-home mom at heart and did stay home with my 3 older kids until they were all in elementary school. we had a surprise baby in our 40's and i only work when he's at school. we were lucky in that my inlaw's live on a ranch nearby and could help us care for him. and my husband was a logging truck driver at the time and took him with him a lot. all our kids got to go with daddy in the big truck actually.

i now work part-time as a hospice nurse and recently started at the school district 24 hours a week (where i get medical insurance).

i love being home. i love the spontaneity of being able to just pick up and go have an adventure with my kids. i love puttering around the house and just being here for my kids.

we need nurses up here and finding a job would be pretty easy - right now our local hospital relies too much on traveling nurses and that costs money. plus, we could use another hospice nurse. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Retail Health.

Anyone know if you are able to telecommute in Healthcare IT?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree that you should take the time to concentrate on your children, but advise you to remain working a minimal schedule so that future prospective employers can not use your time away from the field to reject you. Good luck with your plans.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was a SAHM for 10 yrs and the biggest regret I have is leaving nursing all together. I wish I would've stayed per diem somewhere because now that I'm returning I feel like a new grad all over again except I don't even have recent student clinical experience so I feel doubly lost. So by all means stay home if you want but keep your foot in the door! I don't regret staying home at all but I did lose a lot of confidence by leaving the working field all together.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment