Any Parents Working Weekends Only?

Flare, ASN, BSN · Nov 29, 2011

Wow Purple scrubs, that is so awesome! We've been talking about fostering in my house for a while. We have concerns over the same issues you are citing. I gather in your state that the DFS does not make accomodations to cover costs of child care for foster children. My state seems to be pretty good about it.

I don't have any real advice other than to tell you how impressed i am by your dedication to make children's lives better and to add that I respect your input as a school nurse and would be sad to see you leave that... but would understand your reasons.

AnonRNC · Nov 29, 2011

I've been doing just that for years. My husband works 6-1430 M-F (home by 1515). I work 7-1930 Sa/Su. It works very well for us.

I've actually grown to prefer working weekends: no management, fewer ancillary staff (clinical dietician, OT, PT, ST), better pay (I work in hospital & get $4.25/hr weekend differential), better commute (no traffic).

And, as you realize, I'm available all week for appointments, soccer practice, band concerts, helping at school, half-days, etc.

RNperdiem, RN · Nov 29, 2011

Do the Urgent care centers pay well for weekends? How many weekends are you allowed off? If you have even a little flexibility in taking the occasional Saturday off, things work out better.

I work at least part of every weekend so we do not have to pay for childcare, and since I work per diem, I have enough flexibility in the scheduling to work to take time off for things like weddings and graduations.

Many of my weekend co workers are parents who find weekends work best, most of the rest of the weekend crowd are nurses going to school during the week and nurses who like the weekend differential we are paid.

wooh, BSN, RN · Nov 29, 2011

I have at least 6 or 7 coworkers that have kids and work every weekend. They seem to like it.

UpinawayRN · Nov 29, 2011

That is awesome! I can't speak from personal experience, but most of the weekenders where I work, work nights and are also mothers. They have been doing it for years, and say they wouldn't have it any other way. They work Fri, Sat, Sun 12 hr shifts. They say they would much rather be home during the week for school activities/homework, etc. My grandmother, also a nurse, had 4 of her own, and fostered 3 more,(was a VNA nurse and couldn't stand to see children in an unfit environment, so she would take them in) and used to work nights, and then come home and teach Sunday school. I don't know how she did it, but where there's a will, there's a way. I am a mom of 3 and choose to work nights while kids are sleeping as to miss as little as possible of their waking hours. Best wishes!:redbeathe

schooldistrictnurse · Nov 29, 2011

No, this would not work at all for you. Why? Because your input on the school nurse forum would be sorely missed! J/K!!!! Hope you find the perfect fit for you and your family!

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Nov 29, 2011

Wow Purple scrubs, that is so awesome! We've been talking about fostering in my house for a while. We have concerns over the same issues you are citing. I gather in your state that the DFS does not make accomodations to cover costs of child care for foster children. My state seems to be pretty good about it.
I don't have any real advice other than to tell you how impressed i am by your dedication to make children's lives better and to add that I respect your input as a school nurse and would be sad to see you leave that... but would understand your reasons.

Thanks, Flare! Daycare payments vary by county depending on when funds for it run out. The kiddo we have now is from a little rural county and they have funds available, but so far the paperwork has not been done (we are going on 2 months...not a very helpful CPS worker). So, we have been using the reimbursement $ to cover daycare (and it only covers 3 of the 4 weeks) and paying for everything else for him out of pocket! Hopefully they will come through with the daycare. My bigger concern is that if we get kids from some of the larger counties, there is no way daycare funds will be available at all, or if so only for a month or two.

The other concern is with bringing the kids for their family visits. Right now hubby takes a half day off once a week to get him there, but there is no way he can take multiple half days off every week if we get more kids. And, you know how school nursing is...if I'm not there no one is!!! So, the schedule would really work out best for us. Our goal is for me to be able to stay at home full time for a few years, until we are able to adopt a couple kids then get them into school, then I would go back to school nursing :) But, right now I still need at least a little paycheck to make ends meet. I promise I won't abandon the SN forum, I love you guys too much!

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Nov 29, 2011

Do the Urgent care centers pay well for weekends? How many weekends are you allowed off? If you have even a little flexibility in taking the occasional Saturday off, things work out better.
I work at least part of every weekend so we do not have to pay for childcare, and since I work per diem, I have enough flexibility in the scheduling to work to take time off for things like weddings and graduations.
Many of my weekend co workers are parents who find weekends work best, most of the rest of the weekend crowd are nurses going to school during the week and nurses who like the weekend differential we are paid.

Good questions. I am just beginning to look into this because I am contracted with my district until June, so I have some time to find all that out. Having a little flexibility would be nice. I have considered looking at PRN in the hospitals as well as weekends only in Urgent care, but the former means I would have to work in the hospital again, lol!

StrwbryblndRN · Nov 29, 2011

I did the weekend thing while hubby worked M-Ffor a year, then he got layed off and I still worked just the weekend (noc) for another 2 years. I loved it. If I could get it again I would. I accepted that I would miss events due to most of my family have the m-f thing. But I did not care. It worked out well and paid well.

nohika · Nov 30, 2011

Thanks, Flare! Daycare payments vary by county depending on when funds for it run out. The kiddo we have now is from a little rural county and they have funds available, but so far the paperwork has not been done (we are going on 2 months...not a very helpful CPS worker). So, we have been using the reimbursement $ to cover daycare (and it only covers 3 of the 4 weeks) and paying for everything else for him out of pocket! Hopefully they will come through with the daycare. My bigger concern is that if we get kids from some of the larger counties, there is no way daycare funds will be available at all, or if so only for a month or two.
The other concern is with bringing the kids for their family visits. Right now hubby takes a half day off once a week to get him there, but there is no way he can take multiple half days off every week if we get more kids. And, you know how school nursing is...if I'm not there no one is!!! So, the schedule would really work out best for us. Our goal is for me to be able to stay at home full time for a few years, until we are able to adopt a couple kids then get them into school, then I would go back to school nursing :) But, right now I still need at least a little paycheck to make ends meet. I promise I won't abandon the SN forum, I love you guys too much!

I dunno where you guys do visits, but I actually work with an agency/in it that contracts with our arm of DCFS to host visits. Generally, if needed, they can try and lump the visit times together with multiple children so that the foster parents only have to come in when absolutely necessary.

It's a heartbreaking field...I supervise the visits between parents and children in foster care. One of the families I know somewhat well, foster parent is hoping to adopt. Well, due to bio parent not making progress, social worker is looking at termination over reunification.

It's a hard road, having the kid for so long and not knowing at all if you'll actually be able to adopt. If you have any questions, let me know. :)

optimist · Nov 30, 2011

Ive been working weekends only since my daughter was born in 09 and I wouldnt have it any other way! I didnt want her growing up in daycare, I wanted to be the one to teach her how to walk,potty,talk,manners and I must say that her having a one on one teacher her whole life has put her ahead of the game intellectually. It is crummy missing family events on weekends (not to mention christmas 2 years straight!) but its worth it. We save a ton on childcare and with all of the bonuses and shift dif's for weekends I have the equivelant of a full time paycheck only working 2 days a week. I also have a backup sitter for things I need to do during the week like pick up an extra shift or appointments that arent child friendly. I highly reccomend weekend shift for parents of young children, that one on one time you spend with them while they are young is invaluable.