Bedside/nightshift burnout

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Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.

Hello All, 

I currently work night shift thats is taking a toll of me. My unit is struggling so my supervisor is pressuring me to work more hours. Im not able to do so because I haven’t adjusted to night. On the nights I work I don’t  get to sleep before resulting in me staying up for 24hours at a time. I want to know if anyone has worked per diem and payed for benefits out of pocket. 
 

I have a 5 year old that needs health insurance but working full time 12 hour shifts has been so hard for because I’m a single parent. My child’s father moved to another stated 4 years ago and refuses to help with anything. Right now my mother helps me out a lot but I’m afraid she’s getting burnt out. She wants me to quit my night shift job to spend more time with my daughter. Also a few years back my madre was hospitalized for a major surgery dealing with health issues. Im afraid of that happening again because she is the only one that helps me. 
Right now my child is still home from school doing virtual learning. 

Im seeking any advice. I want to be able to pick/drop off to school without having to rely on anyone else. Im thinking per diem work is my best option. I tried home care it doesn’t pay well or guarantee hours. 

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Specializes in ER, Pre-Op, PACU.

Some PRN jobs will offer more flexible hours for working mothers. It depends on the unit and leadership a lot of time. Other jobs to consider is jobs where you can work 8 hour shifts or maybe salaried position instead of hourly. Look into outpatient jobs, clinic jobs, etc. And night shifts are miserable - with or without kids. I hope you find something that works for you and your little one.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
1 hour ago, Lovethenurse2b25 said:

I want to know if anyone has worked per diem and payed for benefits out of pocket. 

I went from a permanent, fully benefitted position to per diem and I kept my exact same health insurance through COBRA.  If you have health insurance, dental, vision, etc through your current employer, they are required under federal law to offer you to keep your benefits for at least 18 months.  Even (and especially) if you quit your current employer and work per diem somewhere else.

You will be required to pay the full premium rate (and maybe a small surcharge to a COBRA administrator), but I found it to be so worth it and doable (at least with the kind of income I was making per diem in my area - ~$140k).  It will be imperative you pay your premiums on time and do not lapse or, poof!  It will be gone.

The premiums are the same group rate your employer pays.  The rates are absolutely ridiculous, but for me, it was WAY less than if you went out and tried to get a comparable individual insurance plan.  

The best part was I kept all my healthcare providers and didn't miss a beat.

Some info:  https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/4727  

You could probably ask your benefits department about COBRA as well.

Good luck to you!  Nights are a beast.  

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Specializes in oncology.
1 hour ago, Lovethenurse2b25 said:

My child’s father moved to another stated 4 years ago and refuses to help with anything.

Can't FATHER be responsible for child support? Work it through the court system. your child deserves it and deserves support until the child is 18.

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Specializes in retired LTC.
2 hours ago, londonflo said:

Can't FATHER be responsible for child support? Work it through the court system. your child deserves it and deserves support until the child is 18.

YES!

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Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.
2 hours ago, londonflo said:

Can't FATHER be responsible for child support? Work it through the court system. your child deserves it and deserves support until the child is 18.

Yes indeed he is but he refuses to pay. He works under the table to avoid it.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
12 hours ago, Lovethenurse2b25 said:

Yes indeed he is but he refuses to pay. He works under the table to avoid it.

What a piece of.......  I don't get parents who refuse to support the kids they brought into the world. I am so sorry. I don't always recommend it, but dialysis may be an answer. It's not less stressful, but in the clinics where I live NO ONE works overnight. The latest they are there is 11-12 midnight. Now I say outpatient/clinic dialysis. Inpatient dialysis is another story. The hours can be a beast (even worse than you are dealing with now) and the on-call can suck so bad. But in the clinic, you may have to start early if you are on dayshift (like 0430 early) but you would likely be done by 2pm. If you work evenings you might start about 1300-1400 and be done by midnight.

For example: my schedules went like this: Dayshift: 0445 to 1345. 4 days a week, that was full time. Evenings: 1330-2230 or 2300. Same thing, 4 days a week. No Sundays ever! Saturdays every other week.

Just something to consider. The pay is not as much as a hospital, for sure,  but you DO have benefits, PTO, etc so there's that.

Look into it if you are interested. We need dedicated dialysis nurses. It's stressful, but I always liked the hours better than the hospital.

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Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.
17 hours ago, CABGpatch_RN said:

I went from a permanent, fully benefitted position to per diem and I kept my exact same health insurance through COBRA.  If you have health insurance, dental, vision, etc through your current employer, they are required under federal law to offer you to keep your benefits for at least 18 months.  Even (and especially) if you quit your current employer and work per diem somewhere else.

You will be required to pay the full premium rate (and maybe a small surcharge to a COBRA administrator), but I found it to be so worth it and doable (at least with the kind of income I was making per diem in my area - ~$140k).  It will be imperative you pay your premiums on time and do not lapse or, poof!  It will be gone.

The premiums are the same group rate your employer pays.  The rates are absolutely ridiculous, but for me, it was WAY less than if you went out and tried to get a comparable individual insurance plan.  

The best part was I kept all my healthcare providers and didn't miss a beat.

Some info:  https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/4727  

You could probably ask your benefits department about COBRA as well.

Good luck to you!  Nights are a beast.  

Thank you. I was not aware of this. Im gonna look into to see what options they may have for me.

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What's your view on childcare like 24 hr daycare centers, college students looking for extra money, etc? My children had child care because I didn't have family around to help out and I worked 2nd and 3rd shifts so I could be available during school hours. If you're open to childcare outside of your mother I have tons of suggestions.

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" I want to be able to pick/drop off to school without having to rely on anyone else." Please expound. Does this mean you need flexible hours?

Even though the father is out of state and working under the table, it does not mean he is not responsible for child support.  File a claim in the state he lives in. That will start the money clock rolling. Friend of the court knows he is working somewhere, will make him pay something. Have you consulted an attorney on this?

 

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Specializes in retired LTC.
16 hours ago, Lovethenurse2b25 said:

Yes indeed he is but he refuses to pay. He works under the table to avoid it.

Oh, like as in IRS fraud and evasion?!?!? Added to the failure to comply with court-ordered child support. Anything else to add?!!?

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Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.
On 5/11/2021 at 1:45 PM, Been there,done that said:

" I want to be able to pick/drop off to school without having to rely on anyone else." Please expound. Does this mean you need flexible hours?

Even though the father is out of state and working under the table, it does not mean he is not responsible for child support.  File a claim in the state he lives in. That will start the money clock rolling. Friend of the court knows he is working somewhere, will make him pay something. Have you consulted an attorney on this?

 

Yes flexible hours is exactly what I need. But it is hard to find a job between the hours of 8-4. I have spoken to the courts several times without an address I don’t have a leg to stand on. I have not consulted an attorney. 

On 5/11/2021 at 1:12 PM, NurseBlaq said:

What's your view on childcare like 24 hr daycare centers, college students looking for extra money, etc? My children had child care because I didn't have family around to help out and I worked 2nd and 3rd shifts so I could be available during school hours. If you're open to childcare outside of your mother I have tons of suggestions.

Yes I am open to childcare options. Unfortunately, I have not found anyone in my area that is open to taking new kids with the pandemic. 

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