Do you think most nurses can afford to work part time?

Published

I am wondering about the financial situation of my fellow nurses. Do you think most nurses can afford to work part time?

i'd like to think that I will be able to go part time in a few years...after working full time for maybe five years. I'd like to have another baby soon, and I would love to work part time (actually, I'd like to not work at all; barefoot and pregnant is my dream!). Of course, I dont know that leaving all the burden on my husband is the fair thing to do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

I worked part time (VERY part time) while my kids were little. I am fortunate to have a usband who had health benefits. Often that is a big factor as to weather you can work part time or not. We lived on less money but it was worth it. Often it depends on how much "stuff" you want and often it depends on your life circumstances-single, married, spuose with health care, etc. No one-size-fits-all answer to this one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

Lots of nurses work part-time. I work with several. They work a few days and spend the rest of the week at home with the kids.

When I had a partner to share in the expenses, I could have worked part-time, but chose not to in order to save and have extra stuff. Since my divorce over a year ago, I can't afford to work part-time, as I elected to keep the house we both shared and sooner or later I'm going to have a car payment as well.

The answer for me right now is no if I ever want to retire.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC/SNF, Psychiatric, Pharmaceutical.

For a nurse who is a single student with minimal expenses or outside responsibilities, and outside assistance, I can see working part time. Or if the spouse of a nurse is in a high-wage occupation such as a physician or lawyer, I can see that.

But a working-class nurse with a home and a family to support, not at the wages nurses are paid in my area. You need two full-time wage earners just to get by anymore. I also can't see a single person who is busting their butt to keep themselves fed ever working part time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

With bills and going back to school I cant really afford to go part time but Im gonna do it anyway. I transferred to a different floor six months ago and I hate my job. I put up with it this long and I just cant take it anymore. I am gonna go part time for the next six months until i can transfer to another unit. I will probably only work 20 hours a week and make up the difference with agency work. Agency pays more so I really wont have to work harder to make up my hours missed from being fulltime. For the sake of my sanity......I am gonna have to go part time and my doctor agrees with me and encourages it. Im starting to have anxiety issues that were not present a year ago. Its just not worth it to stay and go crazy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Addiction & Recovery, Community Health.

I am blessed, my husband has a good job. When I start it will be part time. I will pick up extra shifts when it works for me. (We have 2 kids)

I am also thinking that if my first job or so are not a good fit, then I haven't jumped in head first and will find it easier to move on. Make sense?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in all things maternity.

I had a job once where virtually every other nurse on my unit was part time except for me. There were about 20 nurses on this unit. When I went back to school to get my RN (I was an LPN @ the time) our unit had NO full time employees except management. I went part time too. i can't speak for the financial status of their individual households or what their hubbies made. But no one seemed worried about the future.

My job now has about 15 nurses on this unit and about 4 of us are full time. I work full time because dear hubby is now disabled and cannot work. But once his disability starts I will probably drop one 12 hour shift a week. As a previous poster pointed out...nurses can always pick up OT for extra stuff.

Usually, it is an individual choice made after carefully considering the dynamics of the individual family. But I think it is doable for most.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

sure-if you only eat part-time and sleep indoors part time!!

:bugeyes::uhoh3::twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

Well, as others note it depends.

I can afford NOT to work at all. I am blessed and grateful that my husband can provide well. However, I choose to work. (I do average 56 hours a week +)

We have not been fortunate enough to have kids. Home can be boring/isolating and I have decided against law school for now, and this feels right. (I work flight and challenge myself to be better everyday!) We have 2 homes without mortgages and our vehicles are paid for - no other "debt".

I give 100% everyday that I work - when I decide that I cannot give that 100% I will then go home. I know that having the option to do anything makes the commitment to give it everything so much easier!

Practice SAFE!

;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

As an LPN, I don't think I can afford to work part time, unless I did agency work that paid more, but doesn't allow benefits and a pension for retirement. If I came across the opportunity to do so, I would work part time if I can afford to, but it doesn't seem to be a reality for me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion