I need to go back to work

Nurses General Nursing

Published

but we are in a new city (chicagoland) and only have 1 car and 2 kids. UGH this is sucking SO bad. We are really broke, so i really would like to work, at least a little to help us out. I'm getting my IL license ASAP, and i've been shopping the websites looking for a job in all the hospitals around here. NOTHING part time that's not night shift! I want to do hospital work, i prefer to work in the ER but i don't have the required experience to do that. I'm ok with that, so i can do m/s or whatever, but with my hubby's schedule and my kids, i really need a day job, or at the very least a p/t evening job. Why is it SOOOO hard to find the right job? We are going to buy another car, and as much as i hate it i may start looking around for p/t daycare for my boys. Why does it have to be so hard? I guess i could take the bus to work in the meantime, although that scares me! :p Yes i'm a big chicken........

Oh well nothing more than a rant..........thanks for listening. lol

Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

Wish I could be of help, but I can't even IMAGINE living in a place like Chicagoland, much less all the many twists and turns that you are describing. I do feel for you.

I'm sure there are some bigcity dwellers out here who could be of some help to you.. are more accustomed to the hassles you mention.

I wish you the best... and feel free to vent anytime ! ;)

Thanks! its just so frustrating when we are in debt, but if i were working, our debt wouldn't be that bad. KWIM? Oh well, it'll work out hopefully soon. lol I hope somebody in CHicago sees this and helps me! Or at least points me to some help! lol

Specializes in Behavioral Health.

I actually am moving to Lake County, IL. I'm taking a job up in Kenosha, WI...I'll be a new grad and don't mind working nights though. I interviewed at 4 other hospitals and even though they only advertised mainly nights, once I was in the interview 3 out of the 4 offered day spots as well.

So, I'd put your resumes out there and see what happens.

Good luck!

Very often job postings on the internet aren't up-to-date. Just like real estate ads.

You might just have to go door-to-door and find out. Get the resume dusted off and all that.

Does it have to be a hospital? What about urgent care clinics and such? They often have evening hours, but not late ones.

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

I used to live in the Chicago area (grew up there) and had NO fear or trepidation about using all the forms of public transit. It is a fact of life in the Chicago area and it is WELL-established and efficient. I only WISH I could say that about Seattle-Tacoma. SO NOT TRUE HERE. Public transit here is in its infancy, to say the least. Anyhow, I feel for ya but you CAN live with ONE car in Chicago, if you plan it right. Between the L, the buses and the trains, you will find a way wherever it is you want to go!!!! Hang in there and keep your chin up and eyes out for the right job. I wish you well!

PS: (where in "chicagoland" do you live---the burbs? and if so, North or South? I grew up on the Northwest Side myself.) Just curious....

I sure do miss Chicago now, just talking about it.....

SnowymtnRN...fellow Chicagoan here! I've lived here all my life and have been a nurse here for 8 years. Feel free to PM me w/ specific questions/recommendations. I'd be happy to help in any way that I can!:)

Specializes in Med-Surg.

How about submitting your resume and asking for the hours you want anyway? With so many hospitals short of nurses, maybe one will take you up on your part time offer. It would be cheaper for them to hire you part time than to pay an agency nurse to cover the shifts you would fill.

best of luck to you with your job search Snowy.

You guys are awesome! I'm actually in Aurora, which we do really enjoy. My DH works at the U of C, so he's downtown. I wish he could take the train, but it gets to Union Station,and then he has to take 2 buses to get to the hospital, all of which won't get there in time. There's a shuttle that goes to the hospital, but hte earliest one is 730am. His shift starts at 7. So he has to take our car.

It seems such a pain to live here with the buses, trains, etc...and not be able to use them! I really wouldn't mind doing it if i knew how. I need to try to learn. Its on my list!

I would *prefer* hospital work, but i also would probably enjoy an urgent care setting. I just don't have much ER experience, and i thought you had to have that magic 1 year of specialized experience. I'm going to scout out the area around here and pick up some apps and just see i guess. I actually don't mind evening hours, but of course days is better! :p

Thanks to everyone who applied. I feel like i just don't know where to start. I've been staying at home with my boys ever since i had them, and i think some p/t work would help us with $$, get me out of the house, and improve things all around.

I'm going to PM a few of you too!

I interviewed at 4 other hospitals and even though they only advertised mainly nights, once I was in the interview 3 out of the 4 offered day spots as well

That's awesome! I told my DH about that and he was like if i interviewed and they didn't have what i wanted, then screw em! lol Maybe that will happen for me.......

How about submitting your resume and asking for the hours you want anyway? With so many hospitals short of nurses, maybe one will take you up on your part time offer. It would be cheaper for them to hire you part time than to pay an agency nurse to cover the shifts you would fill

I never thought about that really. I've always "taken what i could get" so to speak. But that's a good point actually. Thanks!

the reason it is so hard is because too many people want day jobs in order to accommodate family. Why not consider night work "temporarily" or prn at more than one facility or agency work? Could you or hubby rent a car? Pay someone to take you to work? Ride the bus (remember, this is temporary). Good luck!

Don't worry Snowy. Between the lot of us, we'll get you through this and find a solution that works for you. :)

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