Hi all. I'm a pre-nursing student with a shift/family question. I hear about the shifts hospital nurses work (usually 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) My first choice would be to work days, but what if I get stuck working graveyard? I'm sure there are plenty of nurses out there who have a husband who works during the day and kids and also work 7 p.m.-7 a.m. but I'm wondering how do they manage...especially with kids who are school age? I'm married with two kids, 10 and 4.
I'm also hoping my husband will find another job where he works days every day, and will not have to work nights before I become a nurse. (Trying to avoid hiring a sitter.)
So, graveyard moms, how do you do it? Do your kids ride the bus to/from school? Do you go to bed right after work, and make sure you're awake by the time the kids come home? Or do you sleep until its time to make dinner, eat, then leave for work? How do your husbands feel about it? (I don't think mine will like it.) Do you still get to spend time with your families? Sorry for all the dumb questions, but I've never worked nights before and I want my family to be prepared if this happens. Maybe I'm worried for nothing and it's not all that bad. I would appreciate your take on this!
I work nights and prefer it that way. I have a 10 and a 5 yr old and new baby on the way in about 5 weeks here. Right now, my kids go to school all day, I sleep. Dh is home. He also works nights but we work alternating schedules so that one of us is always home.
When I did work days... On orientation four or so years ago I didn't like it... I saw my kids from like 8-8:30 and then they had to go to bed. I'd be gone in the morning before they were even up.
Working nights I can eat dinner with them, go to work, dh puts them to bed I'm home to drive them to school in the morning (or on weekends just eat breakfast with them) then I get up about the time they get out of school (or a little earlier if need be) and go pick them up, hang out, make dinner etc. I do not work full time though, I'm sure if I did it would be a little harder to balance everything.
Also with the new baby, hopefully by 12-13 weeks when I go back to work he/she is sleeping most of the night, then I can nurse during the day while "sleeping" or "resting" It worked well with my last baby honestly. I can't imagine being away from my kids for full time days... too much time away imo.
Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
i have a 10 and a 5 yr old and new baby on the way in about 5 weeks here.
congrats! and keep us updated about the baby. from your post, can i assume that you don't know the gender? i think that's refreshing, since most people like to know ahead of time.
Personally, I love working nights. I have adjusted to it. I work an hour away. So I make sure to get plenty of rest. I don't want to be too tired on the way home.
I pack the kids lunches before I head off to work. Husband gets kids up, with multiple phone calls from me to make sure they are up. He takes them to school, they usually are gone when I get home. I sleep till 3. When husband brings them home. Now on the days I am off. I go to sleep when kids go to school and get up to go get them at 2. That way I am not a Zombie when its homework time.
yes, I am up at night when they are sleeping, I do laundry, clean house quietly. surf internet.
I have found the hour drive home puts me to sleep. Now when I worked closer I would be on an adrenaline high for hours after getting home.
I don't miss out on kids, I try to not put too much on my husband. B/c I want to stay on nights!!!
Years ago I tried nights and even though I was much younger I had problems. One day I decided to take a nap on the living room floor. I woke up to see my daughter(then 4 yo) painted my toes(and the carpet) with red nail polish. :) I went to days shortly after that. good luck.
I have 2 kids who are still in elementary (9 and 7) So i chose nocs. i work from 10-6:30 am/. my husband work from 7- 8pm,but he works only 3 days.. (12hrs shift) so we see each other for 2 hours before i go to work. We can still see each other on his day off. I got 2 or 3 day off per week.
When i get off, and if my hubby works that day i drop the kids to school, get some sleep, about 4 hrs ,wake up again to pick them up,. help them with home works, sleep again a little, wake up to cook dinner, hubby comes home, we eat together, wash the dishes, put the kids to bed, then i prepare myself for work.
but i hate it when they put me 3 days in a row.
but i love it since i can still see the kids at day time, same as my hubby when he's off.
i can work from 7-3 pm since the kids dont get off at 3:00 but what about summer? where am i gonna put them? i dont want to pay babysitter or even daycare. too expensive for me.
So in the meantime, this is our set up. until the kids can be on their own,then i'll change shift.Its pretty tiring since i do laundry on my day off and some errands,clean the house etc.. but its fine.. its for the family anyway. we don't have much sex life (i mean me and my husband) unlike before but we still do sometimes; he he..
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Or it could be that my eyes were so bleary, I could not tell "M&M"s from "B.B."s....:rotfl: