mom's who are rns

Katnip, RN · Jun 1, 2009

You are taking a job that will 1. Give you more satisfaction which often makes a generally more satisfied person, and 2. Providing a more stable financial situation for your child.

Nights might be difficult, but you will probably have more free time with your child, regardless.

trixie · Jun 1, 2009

I worked 2nd shift (3p-11P), every other weekend/every other holiday for the first 14 years of my daughters life. At times she would be upset when I had to go to work. I told her to look around. Did she like the home she lived in? Did she like having food in the fridge? Did she like to have toys? Then mommy had to go to work to pay for it. She then understood the relationship between work and money to provide for us. It also made me really try to make the most of the time that we DID have together.

But yes, I had guilty days... When I missed school functions/ball games/birthday parties, etc.

cloister · Jun 1, 2009

I've worked 7p-7a for the last 16 years as my husband and I have raised our sons. I think I get more time with them by working nights. I did weekends for 8 years. It's all been worth it - I've had the best of both worlds, and now that my sons are teenagers, I'm applying to graduate school for an MSN.

I don't think you'll regret your move to acute care. Good luck!

changeofpaceRN · Jun 1, 2009

I did mostly 11-7 for the 1st 2 years of my son's life. It was hard but I was able to work around my husband's schedule to make it work for us. Recently, nights really started to bother me and my health so I am taking a new FT day job. This requires daycare for my son and I can't find anywhere "good enough". I have no family around otherwise I would feel fine working all the time. Strangers just make me feel uneasy. I know this will provide a better life for him and I'll be happier working days but those positives never creep up as fast at the negatives! It doesn't help that my unemployed (due to the economy) husband is whining over all the hours I'll be gone. Argh!

Emilysmom2, RN · Jun 1, 2009

I am a new nurse with 2 kids (8) (13) I worked weekends all through school. That was hard too. Now I work nites I recently reduced my hours to 3nites a week vs 4. I don't think there is a way to relieve Mom guilt. I think nite shift is good for Mom's we don't sleep much but I am home when they are and sleep when they are in school. Now that summer is coming that is why I reduced my hours and plan on doing some fill ins when I can. Sorry there are no easy answers. But now we can afford nice vacations and may even join the swim club.

Good luck

bingesu · Jun 1, 2009

My three yr old girl, asked me if I loved her, I told her that of cos I did. Then she wanted to know why I go to work and live her and not want to be with her?, I tried my best to explain that when I go to work, thats how I manage to buy her toys, food and clothes, she said okay. By the way I work nights 7p-7a, so the next day when I came from work and I was sleeping she woke me up asking where were the toys and all the good stuff I went to get from work?....

thekid · Jun 2, 2009

my baby is 21 months and I've been back and forth over whether it's a good time to return to nursing as well..and I'll tell ya after the tantrum he threw in Target the other day, I'm sooo ready to go back part time :) I was in nursing school when my first boy was about this age, I think he appreciated me more when he wasn't with me all day plus he was able to be with kids his own age..and I believe that is important. Don't feel guilty..

onetiredmomma · Jun 2, 2009

My kids are grown and on their own. They learned early on that mom had to work and that it included holidays and weekends. I never let them hear me complain about going to work. I have worked with nurses whose kids made them feel more guiltyabout working on holidays because the mom/dad complained about it Mom guilt is not easily overcome! Enjoy your time off with your son but recognize that he needs to grow and learn about the world around him as well!