I am the mom of two active kids. I've been an RN for four years, most of that time as a part-timer working two 12's a week. There is an opportunity and call for full time, three 12's, on my unit. The extra pay is enticing with my kids getting older and college looming for them.
The kids are at that age they they could handle my hours, except I worry about two things:
1. My kids are in several activities. I currently have my schedule around those activity days and can't see a way to make it work to drive them if I go full time. Right now my schedule works perfectly.
2. Most likely those 3 days would be worked in a row (per the culture of the unit) and I would have a hard time not seeing the kids for 3 days, basically. I have a longer commute and on workdays I come home, shower, and fall into bed. My kids both need homework help and like to talk about their day.
Moms who work three 12's-- how do you do it and still stay an involved mom? Do you hire a nanny to drive them around or what? How do you handle homework help, etc. when you are working such long hours?
I really dislike the 12 hour shift. I think in some ways it's great and in other ways it kills family time on the days that we nurses work.
I worked three 12s at the beginning of my career so that I could make myself valuable to my unit and face no resistance to moving to part time as soon as feasible. I had to hire a nanny to do a lot of the driving. DH took over homework duties on nights that I worked, though they really didn't require a lot of oversight with their homework.
Hiring the nanny was expensive, but she was WONDERFUL and became practically part of the family. I moved to part time right as she started dental hygiene school, so it worked for both of us to continue the work relationship on a part time basis. Eventually I went PRN (right as she finished school and began to work full time as a dental hygienist), and worked out carpools on those few days per month that I worked.
I don't really recommend my plan unless you can hire someone who doesn't charge you much. Hard to find quality care who doesn't, though.
Coworkers worked out carpools who would drive on their work days, while they drove on their days off. It takes a lot of artful coordination to pull that off, though. And others have very supportive family members who help out.
If your schedule works for you now, you may get great intangible benefits which actually outweigh the additional salary.
Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.
I agree with staying part time if your finances allow it or do night shift if you have to work full time financially. I have three kids under 7 and the only schedule full time that worked was when I was in occ health and had bank hours: 9-5, no weekends.
Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.
I have a great husband and we work it out so that I work mostly the days he is off. I work weekends and one weekend day so I am home for most of the weekday stuff. Hubby is home by 1300 every day. We found a way to make it work :)
Thanks for the input and advice and sharing your experiences. You all picked up on the fact that I like part time better. I will have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages a little more.
I think we'll have to sit down and have a family conference about this over the weekend and I can weigh in everyone's feelings. So far the kids have both told me they are fine with me going full-time, which I did not expect. ;-) Even when I explained what that meant in different ways. My husband realized the burden I was carrying in being responsible for coordinating all of these family activities and being the main one to help kids with homework, and has offered to try to adjust his schedule and habits to play a more active role. This issue has opened up a lot of other issues in the family so maybe this was a good thing no matter what I decide.
RE: night shift- I did that for several years and actually moved to days just a few months ago. It worked out great when the kids were younger. I loved many aspects of night shift, but I felt unwell in general. I have felt about 10 years younger on day shift, which is one of the reasons I now feel more energy to consider full time.
I have been working full time and going to school full time. I just finished grad school. What has helped me is working night shift. I only have one nine year old child, but it was a struggle.
If I was in your situation, I would continue to work part time, if you can afford it. Keep your schedule the way it is and try going to school online. I had to do practicum with online coursework. That is when it became very difficult for me. If you stay committed, you'll be successful. It will not be easy.
I'm a LPN and I work in LTC. My schedule has changed to where I work 2-12s and 1-8 hour shift a week. I work Sat, Sun, Mon. night Baylor. My parents keep my son on the nights I work.
I found my kids needed me most when they were in their teens. So don't think as they get older it gets easier.
I have stayed PRN/part time the whole time. They need you most in their teens. If you can work less, try to.
For me, it was middle school/high school. Biggest surprise to me as a mother. You always assume it's infancy/young childhood when they need you the most.
I never worked full time very long after becoming a mother, but I worked only very rarely when they were in middle school/high school. I was lucky, though; not everyone has that option. Kiddos have this annoying habit of needing food on the table!
Or keep doing what your currently doing because it is what works for your family right now. Is the extra money worth it? If your kids' activities are important to you and them don't give it up. They will soon enough be grown and out of the house. You can't get this time back. Just another point of view. It is tough being a mom. Hang in there. You will figure out what is right for you and your family.
OP, why do you want to mess with a really good schedule? It sounds like you have it worked out. Stay PT!
I'm lucky I live in a neighborhood where everyone drives everyone else's kids around. When my kids were little it was rare I didn't have someone offering to take them, and I did the same for them on my days off.
I agree here. I'd stay with the current schedule.
I've raised 3 kids to adulthood and yes, they need you all the time/at all ages. But the teen years can be troubling if they don't feel supported. I worked full time then and would go back in a heartbeat and change that if I could. It was wrong for our family.
I still have one kiddo at home - he's 14. I'm only working part-time.
poppycat, ADN, BSN
856 Posts
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