what hours are available for ADN RN

Kaseyrn2b · Apr 1, 2005

Helllo. I am new but have been reading post for quite some time. I was a student in an associate degree RN program but I dropped because I had an infant who had many medical issues. I have reapplied for this coming up fall. Working in NICU has been my dream for quite some time but I am concerned that I would not be able to get decent hours starting out. My husband is a shift worker, nights and days, and I dont want to abandon my children(2 little boys). I dont need to work full time so I am hoping maybe relief or part time might have day shifts. I know I have a way to go before that time will come but I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing by returning to school. When I was in school before, I never considered that there might only be night positions available to me. I live in texas and I know shifts are different everwhere. I would love to get some input from someone who knows what nurses hours are really like.

Hey there!

I am a lurker too :)I am not a nurse, yet, but here's my 2 cents. I hear you, I have a 22month old and a 6 yr old, and I'm a SAHM right now. From what I can see, I think any NICU nurse most likely needs to start out full-time for training purposes. The hospitals in my area all have 12 hr rotating shifts for NICU nurses. I believe in the information that preceeds these messages there is information pertaining to beginning shift work for new nurses. I think I remember reading most new NICu nurses are encouraged if not required to rotate shifts to see what happens on day vs night shifts. I have hopped on our local hospital sites and looked at employment postings to see what I'd be looking at once I graduated. Another idea might be to contact the nurse managers in charge of hiring for the NICU units near you. In the end, I think you'll just have to see where your family is when you graduate. Its something I have worried about too, going from SAHM, class mom for my daughter etc, to full-time working mom, possibly of night shifts etc.This contributes to my timing this so my youngest will be in Kindergraten by the time I'm done w/ clinicals.I know, realistically there will be some things that change for my family, but I beleive it will be worth it in the end and by no stretch of the imagination am I the first to have these issues! It seems every other potential nurse I meet has a cherub or 2 ( or 4!!!)Many things can happen btwn now and graduation...You could change your mind altogether about what specialty you prefer, your hubby could have a new job etc. I know its a difficult decision, but hang in there. Others have told me just to concentrate on school right now, and make the other decisions when we get there!! Good Luck, hth!!!

quiby · Apr 1, 2005

Hey there!
I am a lurker too :)I am not a nurse, yet, but here's my 2 cents. I hear you, I have a 22month old and a 6 yr old, and I'm a SAHM right now. From what I can see, I think any NICU nurse most likely needs to start out full-time for training purposes. The hospitals in my area all have 12 hr rotating shifts for NICU nurses. I believe in the information that preceeds these messages there is information pertaining to beginning shift work for new nurses. I think I remember reading most new NICu nurses are encouraged if not required to rotate shifts to see what happens on day vs night shifts. I have hopped on our local hospital sites and looked at employment postings to see what I'd be looking at once I graduated. Another idea might be to contact the nurse managers in charge of hiring for the NICU units near you. In the end, I think you'll just have to see where your family is when you graduate. Its something I have worried about too, going from SAHM, class mom for my daughter etc, to full-time working mom, possibly of night shifts etc.This contributes to my timing this so my youngest will be in Kindergraten by the time I'm done w/ clinicals.I know, realistically there will be some things that change for my family, but I beleive it will be worth it in the end and by no stretch of the imagination am I the first to have these issues! It seems every other potential nurse I meet has a cherub or 2 ( or 4!!!)Many things can happen btwn now and graduation...You could change your mind altogether about what specialty you prefer, your hubby could have a new job etc. I know its a difficult decision, but hang in there. Others have told me just to concentrate on school right now, and make the other decisions when we get there!! Good Luck, hth!!!

Thanks for the input. I cant believe our kids are almost exactly the same age. Mine are 5 1/2 and 23 months. How is school going with the two of them? When I was in before my little one was only 4 months old so he just slept and thats when I studied. Once we realized how many medical issues he had(worst being not breathing for up to a minute) I quit. My grades were good so I know I can handle it if I can find time to study. Well good luck to you and thanks for reminding me just to get through school first. I know my hubby wont change jobs and I fell in love with NICU when my son was there. I thought it was such a special place with the most special caring people in the world. Told myself right then that I wanted to be one of those people. Up until then I knew i wanted to be a nurse but wasnt sure where. Guess I will just have to wait and see what happens.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2005

I agree with Kaseyrn, that you really should work full-time, at least at first. It's really hard to get into the grove only working 20 hours or so a week. Most hospitals offer rotating shifts, and most nurses need to do nights at least some of the time. Everyone has children and spouses and childcare concerns, but you just have to find a way to make it all work. Just get through school for now, and follow your dream. You'll find a job that suits your needs later on. After the first year or so of full-time, you'll probalby be comfortable enough to go to part time or PRN - which in some hospitals means you give YOUR availability and they schedule you when your needs meet theirs, and in others means you have to pick from the shifts "left over" after the regular staff has been scheduled.

Good luck!!!! It'll all work out, really. :)

sparkyRN · Apr 3, 2005

Not to put a damper on your plans, but I think the job reality for all new hospital based nurses is a fulltime position initially. The hospital makes an investment in training ICU nurses and needs a return on that investment. Many offer sign-on bonuses to help pay back student loans with the stipulation that you will work fulltime for "x" number of years. Even if you refuse the bonus, the chances of finding a parttime NICU postition without any experience are almost non-existant. The good news is that just a couple of years of experience, having proven yourself capable, will open up the opportunity to change to a parttime or PRN position (if available). It can be hard when you have little ones, but lots of us have done it. You learn to make the sacrifices (working nights or weekends) for yourself in order to make it work for your family.