kids and being Nurse

Jennifer, RN · Jul 25, 2006

My husband is a high school teacher, off holidays, weekends and summer from mid-June through mid-August. He can be home at 2:30pm about 2-3 days a week, so those days I work 3p-3a or 3p-11p. And I work 4 weekend shifts a month (usually 7a-7p or 11a-11p) to total 36 hrs a week. I also have to be on call 2 call shifts a month. I don't want to work part time because then I lose short term disability, vacation, and sick pay. We have 3 children, ages 8, 3, 16 months. My husband and I work opposite schedules 3-4 days a week, but the rest ot the week we spend time together.

I hate working evenings. My preferred shift is day shift. When I work until 3am, I usually get home around 4am, sometimes later, then have to be up about 6:30 with the kids. I miss sleep. But I sacrifice sleep so that my kids can grow up with their parents taking care of them, rather than strangers. If I had no other choice but to put my kids in daycare, I would, of course. But I have choices, which entails sacrificing sleep, time with my husband, sanity, etc.... My husband is very supportive and a very active caregiver to his children, so that helps too. We also laugh A LOT as a family and try not to take everything in life so seriously.

For nurses wanting flexibility, I do recommend the ER. The main reason I transferred the my ER was for the flexibility in the schedules. I can work any shift, 4, 8, 12 or 16 hrs. Thank goodness I transferred so that I could find out that I LOVE the ER. Can not imagine working anywhere else. Absolutely LOVE going to work now.

nursecher · Jul 25, 2006

For nurses wanting flexibility, I do recommend the ER. The main reason I transferred the my ER was for the flexibility in the schedules. I can work any shift, 4, 8, 12 or 16 hrs. Thank goodness I transferred so that I could find out that I LOVE the ER. Can not imagine working anywhere else. Absolutely LOVE going to work now.

That is awesome that you love your job so much!

KarryRN · Jul 26, 2006

I'll be watching this thread. I'm an RN, but have been a SAHM for over 7 years. I tried to work 2 12 hours day shifts when my first baby was 10 months old, and I quit after 3 months. I just couldn't take being away from her for that long. I now have 3 kids ages 7, 5 and 2.5. I just now feel like the kids are old enough for me to go back to work. I'm taking an online refresher course this fall. I eventually plan to work nights and sleep while the older two kids are in school. I'll just need to have someone watch my youngest. I have family in town, and next fall he'll be old enough to attend preschool. I hope this all works out.

pyrolady · Jul 26, 2006

I agree with MBA as far as the nursing shortage goes. I just left a hospital management job....the higher ups were sending home nurses every day because of "census". and I watched my unit being shortstaffed. Hollered for more help continually and asked for at least back up MST's and was told that if they "let them have the extra MST they would get used to it and it wasn't in the budget to do so" therefore they went short - afterall, why get used to having adequate help??? Hospitals are not short staffed they are staffed that way purposely and management only lets you know what they want you to know. Also, if there is such a shortage, why are there such long waiting lists for people to get into school (other than not enough teachers that is....)? It's not like there's no bodies going into the profession. Beyond that - work wise, I was a working mom who quit (before nursing degree) at one time because I DID add up all of the costs involved in my working and it was literally more cost effective for me to stay home. Daycare, lunches, gas, wardrobe, time away from my precious sons. If your hubby can stay home and you work perhaps it might be a way? I have a friend who made a deal with her husband - she is a nurse - SHE works and HE stays home and takes care of the house. Has worked so far for the past six years and counting, they don't hurt for anything and dad gets to be Mr. Mom.

NurseyTonyaLPN · Jul 26, 2006

I have small children. I work for an agency, and when they call me for a job, I make sure I have a sitter lined up and call and tell them if I can work. I made friends with a neighbor with small children and get her to babysit so I don't have to drive far and so if my husband has to pick them up b/c I'm at work, he can just walk them next door (he only has a work van so he can't drive them). If my mom is available I have her babysit and still pay her what I would pay a sitter since she's out of work due to a back injury. I find that 11-7 works best for me. I only have to get a sitter for a couple of hours, I nap when the kids do and sleep after they go to bed for the night, or if I'm really tired, my husband gets them ready for bed so I can crash earlier. If you're a single mom of course it will be harder. I couldn't even imagine nursing school or nursing as a single mom but I know people do it all the time.

twotrees2 · Aug 2, 2006

I changed jobs less than 6 months ago.
I have been in healthcare for 18 years and 14 as an RN.
I got tired of dropping my kids off at the day care at 0645 and not picking them up until 8 PM.
I now work 7-3, 8-4 or 9-5---desk job and do 4-8 clinical hours per week during those times only.
How does everyone do it: no family nearby, husband travels as a pilot...what does everyone do for child care and holiday child care??

i have been blessed that my job works with me making my schedule around my family so i dont have to work unlkess i have a sitter. sometimes i dont get all te hours i need to make the bills which makes it difficlt but i have a disabled son i have to be home lot for and no siter will touch in our area - its not easy - prayer helps a LOT. good luck.

twotrees2 · Aug 2, 2006

No, this is a myth! Nurses that manage to be assigned to good shifts worked years for the company/department. New grads do not land the great shifts on average. I know lots of nursing students who think the same as you do. I tell them I worked in Health Care and I know that X, Y, and Z hospital/clinic/facility will not give new grads good shifts and are not very understanding about schedules or kids. However many do not believe me because they think there is nursing shortage and they are the ones in control not their future employers.
They are wrong because the so-called nursing shortage is a myth too. Check out posts where experienced nurses cannot find employment or refuse employment due to poor working conditions! :uhoh21:
In any case, the positive thing is as a nurse who has put in his/her time, you can usually move on to other things. The opportunities are there, but it is not there for every new grad to grab. Naturally there are exceptions to this rule, but believe me those are few and far between. Experience matters in health care as in any field.
In addition, facilities are not desperate to hire and fill open positions. Refer to all of the posts where bedside nurses are complaining about short staffing and high nurse-to-patient ratios. Sometimes management prefers it this way. According to many of the nurses on this board, it is cost effective.
All I have to say is go into nursing with your eyes wide open. The politics sounds like it is no different then any other field of study. Good luck.

yur very right on th management wanting it kept short - i really belive that is in many places - cost effective? maybe - dangerous for staff and patients? definatley - right now we had 3 good nurses quit due to the politicking of this same issue - off to greener pastures i suppose - right now th emanagement is having to work the floor during our "shortage" until they hire staff ( which they have hired and fired a few caus ethey just didnt work - one stole narcs her first night there! ) anyhow- i am hopping they have a new light around them after they are done working teh floor and trying to get thier work done. ( this facility refuses to use agency - when short the higher ups have t9o fill in - ) we will see what happens - maybe getting a taste of what their medicine casues will make em wiser. who knows.

twotrees2 · Aug 2, 2006

Well...I guess it's all in what works for that person's lifestyle [mouse] Yep! [/mouse]! The way it's hit my life...If a person wasn't a single parent it would be alot better..or if they were financially set, so that they could afford not to work fulltime...and wanted flex hours like perdiem, etc...yes then it's a definite bonus. Also, a person can work some extra hours with that flex time available..if they need it/get in a jam etc...so that is nice. For those who are single parents and needing childcare...and wanting the kids to have a 'normal' life i.e. be home for dinner/homework/be home on weekends when the kids are home... etc..well, then it doesn't always fit so well!
I hope to set myself up financially so that one day, I can just work perdiem/part time and choose my hours to fit my family, that's my goal! I'll get there eventually with Gods help!!!

we arent exactly set up financilly for me tyo work perdiem either - but with hubby and a son with disaboilities and my bad health issues that make it impossible for me to work full time let alone overtime - it sure is rough but we scrimp and just live with what we have. i contribute my blessings to the good lord cause without him wed never have survived this long.

My daughter was a light napper, too, and it always takes me a while to go to sleep. We moved half way across the country- no family.
Having a child definately changes things. I had to put off nursing school because I wanted to stay with my child. Hubby's sleep schedule was more important, as he is the main breadwinner, and I KNOW he wouldn't have lasted changing poopy diapers and feeding in the middle of the night.
BTW, are you a rottie fan? Our "first" child was a rottie who was well trained, and there wasn't ANYTHING that dog couldn't do. He died of bone cancer at 7, and I'd love to get another one, but I was sick of people being afraid of my dog.

not to change the subject - but also check your house or rental insurance as ourhouse insurance made an unannounced check and dropped our ins due to our dog being a purebred - they would not ins us till we got rid of her and noone else would pick us up cause they made sure everyone knew why they dropped us. one of our saddest days taking her off to the pound casue noone wanted a 8 yr old dog and on ethat may drp their ins to boot.