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Discussion

Changing jobs

Hello nurses,

I've been a nurse for a year and a half now and I work on a medsurg unit. It's a 8hour shift unit and I am full time so I work 5 days a week with my days off split so I never get to have more than one day off at a time. The issue is, I have 2 kids,1 preschooler and a 1st grader. I pay a total of $1200 in child care every month and i'very been doing so over the past year and half. I got to a point where it just didn't make sense to me any more so I applied for a night shift 7p to 7a in a sister hospital on an Oncology unit. I have never worked nights before and I don't know what to expect but I am so desperate for a change in the cost of child care. I also would love to be a nurse navigator someday that's why I picked oncology.

My concern at this point is that I feel like i'm moving too fast or making a huge jump into the unknown. I have a great team on my current position and my manager is the best. However I work so hard and I end up being broken due to child care costs in addition to other regular bills. I explained to my boss and she understands and wished me well, even said if things don't work out in my new place, she will be glad to have made back.

Please guys do you think i'm making the right decision or am I beclouded by emotions. I appreciate your help. Thank you.

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    • Featured Replies

    I think right depends on your perspective.

    Night shift has benefits, especially with an understanding and supportive spouse.

    It appears you feel that 8 hour shifts were not ideal, but that you respect and appreciate your previous management.

    Did you ask about the possibility of 12 hour shifts there?

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    • Author

    Yes nicktexas, thanks for your comment, i asked and they tried but the few times my boss let me do 12hrs on days, it was challenging to find someone to relief me at the end of my shift and I still had to pay child care. Besides there is no opening on night shift at all.

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    Well, what do you want to do? Clearly there are no hard feelings with the former boss.

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    • Expert

    I would make sure you have the child care logistics for nights worked out before applying for a transfer. You don't want to transfer to nights and then find out that it won't work with your spouse's work schedule, especially if he/she often has to work overtime or go on business trips.

    At least you can go back to the old unit if it doesn't work out. Child care costs generally decrease as the child gets older...I know this isn't any relief right now, but something to keep in mind down the road. And don't forget that child care expenses are a tax write-off in most cases (obviously not if you're paying your babysitter under the table). Check with your tax preparer to see if yours can be written off.

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    • Author
    I would make sure you have the child care logistics for nights worked out before applying for a transfer. You don't want to transfer to nights and then find out that it won't work with your spouse's work schedule, especially if he/she often has to work overtime or go on business trips.

    At least you can go back to the old unit if it doesn't work out. Child care costs generally decrease as the child gets older...I know this isn't any relief right now, but something to keep in mind down the road. And don't forget that child care expenses are a tax write-off in most cases (obviously not if you're paying your babysitter under the table). Check with your tax preparer to see if yours can be written off.

    Thanks a lot, I have planned out how child care will work. Besides my husband works 9 to 5. So it should work out. The fact that I can go back if night doesn't work out is a good thing.

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    • Expert
    Thanks a lot, I have planned out how child care will work. Besides my husband works 9 to 5. So it should work out. The fact that I can go back if night doesn't work out is a good thing.

    That's good. Though it's wise to have an emergency/back-up plan in place just in case. I used to work a 9-5 (well, 8-5) administrative job, and I've had occasional days where it was more like 8-6 or 8-7. Fortunately they were rare and I didn't have kids at the time...

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