how do you juggle rotating shifts and family?

parrotmom · Sep 27, 2006

Amy, I have had the same conundrum as my husband works for 3 days at a time away from home and I am starting a rotating shift of 7p-a. I am hiring a high school senior to watch the children after school till 7 on the days I work as I have to leave for work about 5 and then they are goingo stay the night at their grandparents who will take them to school. Check with high school counselors or local college/vo tech. These are great hours for some students

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Sep 27, 2006

The other option is to see it there is someone that prefers the night shift and work an ongoing trade.

Rj

Hello,
I'm interviewing for a position with a rotating shift. Three 3-11's and one 7-7 with every other weekend off.
Just looking for suggestions on how to cover childcare when my husband doesn't get home until 7pm, and my kids get home from school at 3:30.
Most afterschool programs end at 5:30 or 6.
Also, if the days rotate, how do you schedule sitters?
Thanks in advance!
~Amy

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 27, 2006

I could never juggle rotating shifts. No way. It's hell on your system and family life.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Sep 27, 2006

Answer: work nights :) There's no way I could make that work, and I too have young kids. I'd never see them and you CAN'T find reliable sitters (who aren't relatives who ADORE your children and don't have lives of their own) with that kind of schedule.

Can't see that schedule working with what you described. Not for long anyway.

texas_lvn · Sep 27, 2006

I could never juggle rotating shifts. No way. It's hell on your system and family life.

I have been doing it for over a year and am in the process of changing to all nights. Like SBE said, it is Hell. I get tired and the people I work with wouldn't understand. As for childcare, I agree on what has been said about the after school high schoolers. Some high schools will say they can't recommend anyone (liability), but place an ad in the paper. You will be surprised. Ask questions, and insist on the best for you and yours. You may also get a 1/2 housekeeper outta it at the same time. Good luck in your decision! And congrats on the job.

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2006

I went to permanent nights in order to alleviate some of the pressure - but it didn't help much. When I rotated, I just didn't feel like a member of the family. I was either sleeping or working or just plain cranky. My husband works a steady 3-11pm shift, so I'd get a high school student to stay from 6pm to 11pm on nights that I worked. Luckily, my husband also coordinated sitters because I was just too tired and confused to know anything other than when I should be at work.

I just took a job close to home and only day shift (07-1930) x2/wk. I would have loved to stay on my unit, but no one was allowed to work only day shift.

Good luck. Just because I couldn't handle it (I have three school aged children who need to get to hebrew school, soccer and karate during the week), doesn't mean that you will have as many issues.

Blee