I have a kids question!

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2016

Why have children.. if you have someone else raise them?
You will not get your old job back, but you can stay active in nursing by working 2 shifts a month as PRN.

The vast majority of working mothers raise their own kids. As do mothers of all levels of employment who send their kids outside the home, to school 5 days a week.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2016

I stayed home with mine until they were in school full time. It was a personal decision and I was able to afford it. Not everyone can.

I would not expect my job to be there if o took time off. People don't stop getting sick. The world continues to turn, but I don't regret the years I had at home. Kids grow up quickly. You never get that time back.

But, in today's society a two person income is often necessary and most important is to keep food on the table and a roof over the head of your kids. So many don't have the option. I did. I don't regret staying home.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2016

A lot depends on the type of nursing you do, and also your local job market.

I took a year off, and went back to a new SNF job. I needed an 8-hr day shift position -- pretty much impossible to find in hospitals, unless you are very senior staff. I don't regret that year exactly, but were I to make the choice over I probably would have gone per diem instead of quit.

I'm a critical care nurse. I felt like part of myself was missing, and I cried tears of joy when I finally got an offer. But it took a long time. When I started looking, nearly all hospital job postings (not only ICU, but floor--I was perfectly willing to put in more med-surg time if I needed to) required *current hospital experience.* I finally got an offer in an LTACH which is accredited as acute care/hospital, which gave me that current experience.

I now work 3p-11p half time. I dropped down from 0.8 after my youngest was born, and I'm planning to go casual once school starts (school age kids are SOOOO much busier than infants!!). But this way, 1) I won't have to let go of a job I truly love, and 2) once I'm ready to increase my hours, I only have to say the word. I may have to wait if it's not in their budget, but I won't have to convince anyone that they want me--they know me and are happy with my work.

Just my experience.

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Jul 21, 2016

I've been staying home with my girls for 10 years now. I wanted to spend the majority of their younger years with them - and we homeschool. It's been great.

I'm now trying to get back into the workforce (PRN), while I'm in school full time. I'm still planning to be home with my kids until I graduate. They'll be in their teens and able to be more independent.

I doubt any job would have held my position for that amount of time. But I wasn't in nursing before.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Jul 27, 2016

Those of you that have had kids, did you stop working for a few years to raise them or did you go back to your job after maternity leave?
If you stop working for a few years, is it easy to get your "old" job back??

My kids were older by the time I decided to pursue nursing. I had a kindergartener, a middle schooler and a high schooler.

I chose to stay home with my kids when they were younger. I did this by working from home in various self employed capacities.

I feel like your question is geared more toward nurses with young kids, so I guess I have nothing more to add.

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OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jul 27, 2016

Why have children.. if you have someone else raise them?
You will not get your old job back, but you can stay active in nursing by working 2 shifts a month as PRN.

I believe this is a horrible notion for daycare. You are not having "someone else raise your kids". My son has learned so much & grown so much in daycare. He would not be as outgoing as he is now if we didn't place him in daycare. He plays with a friend on the weekends & this boy is 1 year older than my son. The boy has never been to daycare a day in his life & doesn't interact with any kids other than my son on weekends. You can tell the difference between the two. Also, I can't imagine how difficult dropping that boy off at his first day of kindergarten will be.