Full time night shift worker/student/parent, how to manage?

AdrianaZimmer · Jul 30, 2013

ME ME ME, ok so Im not the wife part. I am a single mom, 2 kids, full time night baker and about to start BSN program. TIME management is a must! saying NO is another. As far as studying, I would record my lectures to listen to at work, take home work with me, flash cards ect. budget time for the hubby but explain that you need this next (2-3 years) a few months at a time to study. dont flake on the breaks, fall spring and summer breaks are all about family, take a day to yourself then go back to school rested.

the saying no part. If your anything like me, a friend asks you out for coffee, to help move or hubby needs a night off... you think, yeah why not... then you realize you missed a day of study time! AAAH and you start to resent them a little too.... say No, Im sorry I need to study. is you budget your time, you may still get to have the coffee, ask them to quiz you a little then you can enjoy their company after...

hope that helps!

StacyAtheNurse, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · Jul 30, 2013

I am in my last year of Nursing School.

I also work night shift in a hospital. It is very difficult, and if you can be switched to per diem, your brain will thank you. The advantages of a per diem position is that you do not have to work a minimum of 3 nights a week. In many cases PD PCAs must work a max of 3 days a month. Clinicals can be hectic, it has been my experience that nursing faculty are not sympathetic to your lifestyle and existing responsibilities, and so will schedule clinicals, simulations, labs and classes on random days and many times, without much advance notice. You have to make sure your job is flexible, VERY flexible.

I gave up a higher paying full time job for a lower paying PD job because of the flexibility it afforded me.

This may well be your future experience, so hold on to your job and maybe consider having a discussion with your manager about being changed to PD but working full time hours.

beeskipper1023 · Jul 30, 2013

Thanks for the replies! @adrianna yes I thought about buying a tape recorder on days that I'm really really tired and cnt focus. @ vanessa I'm planning on working and I want to wait until a per diem position opens up then I'm going to apply for it... what did u all do to stay up? Was weight gain an issue, I heard some stories about that with night shift workers and nursing students...

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 30, 2013

Check with your instructors /school before buying/using a recorder device. Some schools do not permit this for a variety of reasons including patient confidentiality (sometimes case studies are discussed. This is a permitted educational use of patient medical information but it is usually not permissible to record these discussions).

If your instructors use power points try and see if you can print out a 'notes' copy ahead of time and follow along in class.

Read as assigned. Do the corresponding workbook /study guide exercises and any chapter questions. This made a huge difference in my nursing education. Use the online resources that come with the texts to reinforce your learning. The most successful students in my class used these resources from the beginning.

Pick the brains of the nurses on your unit. I worked nights as an ED tech eons ago. During slower times the respiratory techs, nurses & physicians were more than willing to help with concepts and even quiz.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2013

Thanks for the replies! @adrianna yes I thought about buying a tape recorder on days that I'm really really tired and cnt focus. @ vanessa I'm planning on working and I want to wait until a per diem position opens up then I'm going to apply for it... what did u all do to stay up? Was weight gain an issue, I heard some stories about that with night shift workers and nursing students...

I don't envy you. I have two children (7 & 9, so a lot easier) and no job and it's almost unmanageable for me! A supportive spouse will make all the difference. If my hubby didn't see the big picture and take on a LOT of the home responsibility, I wouldn't be able to do it. The full time job would be too much for me, but you may be very different. I would hold off on the recorder, a lot of my classes wouldn't allow them claiming privacy rights could be violated (which I think is B.S.)..

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jul 30, 2013

Thanks for the replies! @adrianna yes I thought about buying a tape recorder on days that I'm really really tired and cnt focus. @ vanessa I'm planning on working and I want to wait until a per diem position opens up then I'm going to apply for it... what did u all do to stay up? Was weight gain an issue, I heard some stories about that with night shift workers and nursing students...

I am NOT trying to be snarky- but honestly, weight gain is the LEAST of your worries. PLEASE tell me you are not planning to work all night and then go to school/ clinicals directly from work. Because doing so endangers YOU and your patients. Unless your definition of 'night shift' is different from mine, then you need to be working on weekends and between semesters- not during the school week.

Good luck to you.

kcsmira · Jul 30, 2013

I'm a mother of 1 (a 6 year old), wife, full time employee, and will also be starting the program in August. I switched from my current position to a position with a little more flexibility (from M-F days, to Swing - varying days). I work in a hospital, and have seen a ton of nursing students, both who work here, or who are on clinical rotation, in my 6 years here. I can say the vast majority of them do not work, and will tell you not to work, some people have even flat out told me I will fail if I continue to work - but there have been a few who have been encouraging, understand our position, and have given me the notion that it is possible, if you put your mind to it.

If you're really organized, you're already ahead of the game - if you aren't a very organized person, now is the time to figure out how to become one. I work 4 10 hour shifts a week and am fortunate enough to be able to make my schedule... somewhat. I can mark off days that I can definitely not work and they will not schedule me for those days. There will be days that I leave for school at 6am, and dont return home until 1am because I work right afterwards, it's going to be a stuggle, there where be plenty of nights of limited sleep, but it'll be worth it because it's what I want more than anything. I am determined to make it work because this is all I want, while everything else (supporting my family) is a priority.

You can do this. Get a planner (or if you're more tech saavy use a calendar on your phone - I happen to use multiple) and write out your schedules. I have a calendar hanging in my house so my son/husband/any other family members can see where I am on what days. I created a study space in my bedroom and have told them that when I close the door, that means I am not to be disturbed. Use your spare time wisely, request assistance from your resources (husband, family), know that it is possible though - you just have to have your mind set and tell yourself that failure is not an option.

beeskipper1023 · Jul 30, 2013

@justbeachynurse yes I'll definitely ask before I do so. I thought about it not being allowed, but I thought I would try and ask just to see if I can record. I sure don't want to be kicked out for that reason.

@moonchild lol yes I will be very very busy but I have to work to help my husband pay the bills, I have no choice and I think it'll be a good thing to gain hospital experience now while I'm a PCT, I might be easier to land a nursing job at the same hospital when I graduate.

@meanmaryjean I understand your concern I only have to work 3 days out of the week and I would try and schedule it on the weekends, my boss is really nice and understanding when I told her my situation and even before I had a family I can function really well on 4 hours of sleep. lol I stayed busy, and call me weird but I don't like to sleep sometimes just because there's just so much to do in very little time.

@kcsmira Thank you so much for the encouragement! I know it's doable. I like hearing stories from other people who has the same situation as me and succeeded. My mother for example, she worked night shifts, wife, mother, no car caught the bus, no washing machine or dryer not even a working faucet, she had to get our water from a well and she even studied using a candle coz couldn't afford electricity. and she graduated. (this was long time ago when we were poor still living in another country)

LoveNeverDies · Jul 31, 2013

I do not have most of the responsibilities you have and I just want to tell you good luck. Try to pre plan and organize as much as possible. Have back up babysitters, things will happen and you might have to go through 3 daycare/babysitting options in a day and most instructors will not accept that as a reason for absence. Also some schools will not allow you to have worked within 8-12 hours of starting a clinical, just so you know. In my program, we had a group of 6 single moms, on some days half the group would take the kids ( 9 or 10 of them)and do activities and the other 3 would study for 6-8 hours. Make sure to discuss household duties and time with your husband. We have 3 divorces going on in my program right now, 2 seem directly related to the wife not being available most of the time, and just the additional stress. This is stressful but it is for short term, I am sure you and your husband can handle it but just make sure he understands where you are coming from before you start. I wish I had more help to offer you, again good luck!

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Aug 1, 2013

I am NOT trying to be snarky-PLEASE tell me you are not planning to work all night and then go to school/ clinicals directly from work. Because doing so endangers YOU and your patients. Unless your definition of 'night shift' is different from mine, then you need to be working on weekends and between semesters- not during the school week.

I know of a few students in my program who do this. There's no way I can do it, I'm yawning right now and all I had to do today was go to clinicals and take care of my son and run a few errands. But there are some people who are very good at their jobs and understand the school curriculum who can manage without sleep. Like I said, I'm not one of those people, but I see this done daily.

AdrianaZimmer · Aug 7, 2013

I am blessed with the ability to take power naps, and I am used to being awake all night. Coffee will be your best friend ans yes weight gain will be a problem. I DO think it is a worry b/c even gaining 10 pounds can make you more tired. I would make time for power walks if nothing else, grab a classmate and quiz each other. Snacking is a BIG problem with "trying to stay awake" for the newbies at our job... I cash in all my IOUs for dinners, i freeze crock pot meals, and schedule time for A) me, B) my kids and SLEEP. it may only be an hour, but its necessary.