How to do 12 hour shift and raise a kid??

nursey70 · Jan 22, 2008

Hello and welcome to the profession! In NJ a graduate nurse earns about $25/hr and night shift usually offers a couple dollars/hour for shift differential. On the downside, you will need a sitter for 12 hours. However, once you get one year of experience, you can work perdiem or agencey earning much more and working much less in order to be with your child. I would look into daycare for special needs children that your insurance may help you with. Best of luck to you and your family!

2curlygirls · Jan 22, 2008

Beats me. I recently changed to 8 hours. My 12 hour shifts ='d 14 hour days. No daycare on the planet does that.

I'm a single mom and currently have family help with my girls.

AirforceRN, RN · Jan 22, 2008

I don't have an answer (sorry) but I wanted to leave a message to all the single Mom's out there.

If you are raising a family AND holding down a full or part time nursing job...My hat is off to you. You must be tough as nails and yet stretchable as a rubber band. Good job! You have my respect.:clphnds:

agent66 · Jan 22, 2008

i have been doing the twelve hour shifts as well with two kids. the daycare is a big big issue. we only have one overnight place in the city, that charges $8/hour per child so what would be the point of sending them? and for the dayshift , pickup at most places is 6pm at the latest if you are really lucky. i find the nightshift easier to cover than days to just get a friend to come sleep over or my out of town family will cover one every week. they are also able to go to their dads for some of those nights as well. at least i am at home during the day, even if i am asleep, so if something happens at school, they can call and i can go get them etc. also i am home for them when they come home from school and then for supper. i am part time but do about 5 shifts every two weeks , and i try really hard not to do two in a row just for the sanity of the kids and myself too as we also have extra curricular activities which of course run in the evenings. i have a high needs little guy too . good luck to you, it can be done, but it sure isn't easy. make sure to make time for yourself and it will be a lot easier.

66:paw::paw::paw:

ps

i have the added bonus of a toddler dog who needs company at least once in the night, but thankfully have great neighbours. other pets too, but they are not so much work. it helps to be ultra organized!

mp2005 · Jan 22, 2008

Thanks everyone! I appreciate it. I was looking to do like agencies, which offer 8 hour shift in mental health. So we'll see where it will lead me. WIsh me luck!

Penny8611 · Jan 22, 2008

I don't have an answer (sorry) but I wanted to leave a message to all the single Mom's out there.
If you are raising a family AND holding down a full or part time nursing job...My hat is off to you. You must be tough as nails and yet stretchable as a rubber band. Good job! You have my respect.:clphnds:

AMEN. And thank you! We love you!

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Jan 22, 2008

My mom was for the most part a single parent & I have no idea how she did it. You single moms (and dads) amaze me.

futurecnm · Jan 22, 2008

Hi everyone!I'm fairly new to the site. I'm graduating in May and I am a bit scared at the fact that nursing is all 12 hour shifts and here I am raising a special needs kid. I am probably going to do my preceptorship in Labor and delivery which i love. But any nurses out there in that field who raised kids on their own while they worked? How'd you do it? nannies? a lotta money. on a graduate nurse's salary.Also, anyone know whats the pay for graduate nurse in Labor and D? And is it more for the night shift?If your from florida,better yet.

Are all the jobs 12 hr shifts?? Wow. We have 8 and 12 hr options around here, and many times the people with senority want the 12 hr shifts (less back and forth) and the newbies get the 8 hr shifts. I'd prefer to do 3 12 hr shifts a week and be done, but I'm sure childcare would be an issue for me as well. I'd look into getting something with 8 hr shifts if possible if you don't have a lot of support in taking care of your kids.

mp2005 · Jan 22, 2008

I know that's what i was thinking, however the only specialty I think is Mental health,and not in no hospital. Like agencies are offering 8 hr shift Now I havent started applying. I start in April,I guess I'll see if I get lucky and get an 8 hour shift in some hospitalhere.Does anyone know about agencies for new grads? Any experience with this?

mp2005 · Jan 22, 2008

Are all the jobs 12 hr shifts?? Wow. We have 8 and 12 hr options around here, and many times the people with senority want the 12 hr shifts (less back and forth) and the newbies get the 8 hr shifts. I'd prefer to do 3 12 hr shifts a week and be done, but I'm sure childcare would be an issue for me as well. I'd look into getting something with 8 hr shifts if possible if you don't have a lot of support in taking care of your kids.

Yea, I was the other forum mentioned Nursing homes, or agencies. I just thought that the hospitals had more of a suppport system for new grads.thanks.

Jill10191130 · Mar 2, 2008

Working 12's has it's advantages. One is that you only have to work 3 days a week. So that means a sitter for only 3 days a week. You get 4 days every week with your child. Our unit does all kinds of shifts, 12's, 8's, 16's, 7 on, 7 off, etc, etc. I choose to do 12's. I like only working 3 days a week.