Day/Night with young children at home

[jesshopper12]

So I am looking at transferring to another unit at the hospital that will require working day/night. I currently work straight days. I did the swing shift deal when I first started nursing, but I had no kids at the time. (My kids now are 1 & 3)

Does anyone out there have encouraging words or advice for me? I would really like to take this new job - it would be a great learning opportunity. Thanks in advance!

[TDCHIM]

Given that your kids aren't school age yet, nights aren't a bad way to go if you have some reliable help. But switching shifts back and forth can be awfully tough on your body because you never really fall into a regular day-to-day rhythm. With children that young, given that they still need a lot of care, I'd probably advise passing up the offer. However, that's just drawn from my own family's experiences. My stepfather used to have to switch shifts around frequently and he was always exhausted, while my husband works roughly 4PM to 1AM or 5PM to 2AM and therefore gets to spend a fair amount of quality time with our preschooler. My husband's shift wouldn't work for us, though, if he didn't have his adoring and devoted wife around to pick up the slack! ;-)

So you could theoretically make it work, but you better have an iron grasp on your care arrangements! Unless you're absolutely certain the provider is reliable, I'd be leery about taking the job. People there may be welcome to trades, but if it gets around that you aren't willing (or able) to pull your share of nights, that could backfire on you as a newcomer.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that just because we can make something work, it doesn't necessarily follow that we should go through with it. I know I've had to learn that one the hard way! Best of luck to you, whatever you decide to do.

[OncallRN]

I haven't read any response due to time

and while you must do what you need to do for you family situation

not only am i a nurse but the daughter of a nurse

i still remember being 6 years old and waking up, having been sleep walking out on to my parents front porch

screaming for my mother

this was the ngith before my mom wen t intot work and told them she would no longer work rotating shifts, put her on one and keep her there

it was too distruptive for me not knowing when she's be home