CHILD CARE vs. Nursing Schedules

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Hi, I am new to the forums, but find them absolutely enlightening. I am graduating in May and have been very worried over the potential problem of finding child care that will work around a nurse's schedule. I would love to hear about all the ways nurses out there work around this issue (I do not have family in the area and am still a single mom.)

Do you hire a trustworthy person and hope they are always there at 6am on the days you need to start a morning shift? Are there positions that offer non-standard or per diem hours that would be more flexible? Do you suggest working as a home health nurse, where the hours may be a little more workable? Do you use daycare facilities that open up early in the mornings, or do you work in an agency that offers child care on site?

Thank you in advance!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I took a perdiem position that allowed me to work when dh was home, hence, no need for outside daycare. Nursing is very flexible-------find what works for you.

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

I work 3-11:30. My dh works the traditional 7-3:30. We made the decision to do what is best for the kids when my dd was born. It has been a little hard on our marriage, but my son will be going to kindergarten next year and we are hoping for a more workable schedule for US. My mom, neighbor or after care took care of them for the hour between me going to work and him coming home. It has really worked well for us from that standpoint.

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Specializes in CVICU.

I am a single mom too. My son is school aged so I have decided on working 12 hour shifts nights. I also trying to land a job at a hospital that is 1 mile from my home to decrease my drive time. I have family in the area to help but I picked days over nights because most of day cares are only open from 7am-6:30pm. It is too hard to deal with finding people to get my son to and from daycare. If I did not have family and friends to help with the boy, I would choose to work an 8 hour shift and work on getting help in the AM and be able to pick him up at 4pm.

If you don't have anyone to help with daycare ask someone at your Church. Also try talking to your schools early child development, nursing and teaching departments. You could find a student who may be willing to sit for you. Also, look for another single mom who would be willing to help out with sitting.

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I do 12-hr days. I have a daycare provider who is willing to take my tyke as early as needed (usually 6 a.m.) and, on the rare occasions when my husband has to work late, is willing to keep her until I get home at 8 p.m. She's even willing to pitch on on the occasional weekend if my mom or mother in law can't watch Baby. I know a nurse who, when she was pregnant, advertised in the paper for someone, and got a woman to come into her home during the hours she worked.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I have a 7 month old daughter & am very lucky to have my father in law come to my house for a few hours until my husband gets home. I figure once she is in school I'll do 11-7. Until then it's 3-11's for me, sometimes on a weekend I'll do 7-3. Maybe try agency nursing, they really work around your schedule. Good luck to you!

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Try your local office of department of children and families. (That's what we call it here in FL, but some states call it Health and Human Services, or DCF or HHR...it's the office that regulates childcare providers and investigates child abuse). I am in the same situation as you---no family at all and a single mom to boot. DCF here keeps a list of all child providers, even the ones that are not listed in the yellow pages. I found a wonderful home setting for my baby, run by a tiny but tough Filipina grandmother, and she is awesome. I never would have found her without DCF. I do pay a little more than other daycares charge (125) but she is worth it. I work 3-11. Hope this helps!

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We've had great success with daycare. Our son started part-time care at 5 months. I would work 3 12-hr shifts per week, and be with him full-time on my days off. When I worked nights, I would use daycare in order to get some sleep.

We found a loving, SAFE, clean daycare with an age appropriate curriculum. There is a wide range in quality of daycares, so we spent some time finding a really good one. If you chose daycare, 1) visit the site & spend time in the classroom as an observer in order to get an overall feel for the place, 2) specifically ask them if there are any complaints or violations against them, for by law they must tell you the truth, and 3) get on the "waiting list" while you're pregnant, or as early as possible (ie. 6-12 months prior to enrollment).

I did not choose a nanny situation b/c I feel that a good daycare has less risk for abuse/neglect, in that there are many people present. It is essential that the staff/management exhibits professionalism for this to work (ex. open communication, integrity/honesty, emphasis on safety & nurturing & play, low staff turn around, good staff training & education, professional demeanors...). Obviously there are some great nannies out there, but I was afraid of leaving my sometimes difficult kid with just one person b/c my fear is that someone may lose patience with him & harm him in some way. Anyway, we chose the best situation for us. Good luck to you.

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I am a single mom also witha 4 year old. Fotunately I still live at home but all that is about to change as I plan on moving to another state in the near future. Working 12 hour nights I am able to spend a little bit more time with my daughter though. I am sure you will find something that will work for you too. Just keep on looking. Things have a way of working itself out. As a nurse you have so much options as to scheduling. When I move I might have to take an 8 hour day position so that while she is in school, I will be at work.

Hi, I am new to the forums, but find them absolutely enlightening. I am graduating in May and have been very worried over the potential problem of finding child care that will work around a nurse's schedule. I would love to hear about all the ways nurses out there work around this issue (I do not have family in the area and am still a single mom.)

Do you hire a trustworthy person and hope they are always there at 6am on the days you need to start a morning shift? Are there positions that offer non-standard or per diem hours that would be more flexible? Do you suggest working as a home health nurse, where the hours may be a little more workable? Do you use daycare facilities that open up early in the mornings, or do you work in an agency that offers child care on site?

Thank you in advance!

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There are a lot of hospitals with excellent on-site child care. Ours is not open past 7:30 pm, but it does open at 0630 so it provides coverage for the day shift. There is another one in town with 24/7 childcare. Ours was very high quality, equivalent to the best preschools in town and more than prepared my daughter for kindergarten.

Nursing is flexible, keep looking until you find something that works for your family.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

There are daycare centers that do evening day care.....also do you have family members who can help out?

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Larger hospitals will sometimes offer daycare and evening care. Some schools offer before and after school care, as do some daycares (I don't know how old your child is). Another option is to offer a room in exchange for childcare. While I have never done this for *myself* I have done this *for* other people; I was a live in nanny for a couple of different families while I was in college. I have single friends who do this now; they offer a good friend room (and board sometimes) in exchange for childcare.

When I was in nursing school, I paid a woman with a child my daughter's age to come to our house to watch her. I paid her $3/hour; more per hour than if I would have enrolled my daughter in full time daycare, but less in the grand scheme of things, because I didn't require full time daycare. I had observed this woman at the park, library, around town, and had seen her interactions with her daughter. When it appeared our kids were hitting it off by simply playing together at the playground, I asked her if she would be interested in earning some extra money. She loved the idea--it was less than she would earn if she worked a "real" job, but she wouldn't have to be away from her daughter. Our daughters are in 5th grade now, and the best of friends. It was the best thing that ever happened to my oldest; and this woman is an amazing friend and person. It was wonderful for us that this situation worked out so well. I know the in-house nanny isn't for everyone; but just because you don't have alot of cash (we were BROKE, both of us living off of part time jobs while paying for school), doesn't mean that it isn't an option.

You might even be able to find another nurse with whom you really mesh, parenting wise; if you can work your schedules so that you can work opposite days, maybe you could justdo a babysitting exchange--no money changes hands, just equal babysitting time. More of a committment on your part, but easier on the checkbook.

Lori

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