Hi all! Sorry this is so long, I don't have anyone to brain-dump all of this to, and I'm just looking for advice from someone. No one in my family is in a profession like this and I'm always the one everyone else comes to for advice.
I am currently an LPN and work per diem for a staffing company. I make AMAZING money 15 minutes from home. 12 hour shifts, but as with any agency, you get cancelled and facilities drop contracts without notice, so it is a very unreliable source of income. I can't fully commit to traveling for work because I have a 6 and 4 year old, and no reliable babysitter. I am forced to work around my husbands rotating schedule. He works 12's & 8's days, afternoons, and nights.
I have completed all of my pre-reqs and applied for the LPN-RN transition course at my local college. My intent was to begin this fall, pending admission to the program. The program is part time 1 day class & 1 day clinical for the most part, near the end I heard it gets a little hairy and clinicals can be added, so you'll be in class up to 5 days a week.
This past week I have done a lot of brainstorming. Part of my life that is non-negotiable is my children and all that comes with them. If they are in sports, I am either coaching or watching. I will not miss these moments in their life. I am a mother before I am a nurse. I love my job, but the 12's make it impossible to be there. My son started football and I have just a glimpse of how busy our life will be as they grow up.
I have decided to either 'take a break' from school, or if I find a job that fits with our lifestyle and allows me to be there for all of my kids extracurricular's forego school all together. I have always wanted to become an RN and hopefully go to NP school but with the challenges of child care and being able to be there for everything, I'm wondering if working an office job as an LPN would be the best fit for me. We make enough to live, and I can pay my own bills with 4 agency shifts a month, but I guess I'm ready to settle into a career at this point. I'm 27, I've been in and out of school since I was 18 years old. Got unexpectedly pregnant 2x and dropped out of the RN program I was in, and completed my LPN.
The office job would be perfect. 8-4:30 so I can take them to school and be there when they get off of the bus, no holidays, weekends off. It just sounds perfect on paper. I don't want to say I'm 'giving up' on my RN dream but, right now I am so tired of trying to figure out childcare for my shifts, and how we are going to get them from point A to B. I am totally burnt out from trying to manage my life, I think I am just looking for convenience at this point, something steady. Has anyone else been in this situation? Do I sound stupid for doing all of this work to get into the program just to quit?
I know no one can tell me what is best for my life, besides me, but I figure if I can give everyone a little glimpse into it they could just give me opinions.
I've already got 2 interviews because I was tired of wasting time, but nothing is final at this point. One is for a Urology clinic, and the other is a denials analyst for insurance. Both of the hours are amazing, M-F and the insurance job is specifically for an LPN, the urology job is Med Assistant or LPN so I'm sure that pay isn't great. I know I won't make nearly what I am making now but, the hours will be steady. Any urology nurses or denials analysts that could tell me about their jobs?
I grew up needing rides from everyone else's mom and feeling badly asking to join sports due to money/having no family car. I get one chance to raise them and become involved in all they do, and that is why for me, it is non-negotiable.
Not trying to dissuade you and I completely understand making a parenting decision with a goal of correcting something from the past or feeling like you are correcting course, so-to-speak. I think many, many parents do that whether they recognize it or not.
But....being a little bit mistaken still isn't great just because it's the opposite of what you wanted to avoid. (Does that make sense?) You will feel like you are righting some misfortune from your past, but your kids can't be expected to ever feel that way because they haven't lived your life, you know? They won't necessarily feel the gratitude or understand how much "better" they had it. I understand wanting to be true to things that you want to change, I really do get it. But it's still very wise to understand that without flexibility we all simply run the risk of creating a different monster. It might be different, but very well could still be a monster.
Anyway, my $.02.
As far as your original question, MHO is a top priority (if it can be done without literally neglecting everything else) is to get into a financial position ASAP that will make it possible for you to prioritize other things besides an employer's needs well into the future. Children, family, sanity, sense of self, whatever. Again, just an opinion, but if you can miss some events for just a few years to put yourself in an even better financial position for the rest of your life and your kids' lives? I'd do that.
If you already have 2 kids, then there will never be a perfect time to pursue an RN degree. But since you have the option of a part time program, that is REALLY a great opportunity because I live in a big city and do not know of ONE part time LVN-RN program that exists anymore. I know that when kids are little they really need you, but I promise you that when they're 12, 14, 16 years old they will still need you, it will be just as hard to go back to school at that point, and the kids will be so much more expensive (braces, sports, car, car insurance, camps etc.).
Also, there is a happy medium between coaching/attending EVERY sports event and never attending/leaving your kids to beg other parents for rides. I'm sure that a PT RN program, PT work through your agency and your spouse's seemingly flexible schedule would be tough, but doable and totally worth it in the end if you are pursuing your dream (which ultimately makes you a better parent) and giving you the opportunity to make more $.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
11 hours ago, NurseChristinaB said:
Thank you ❤️
While I was replying to you, the urologist office called me back. The interview was not set in stone because I told them I couldn't start at 730am and I needed a start time of 8am. I thought that would be a deal breaker, but she said "Let me talk to the doctor, I'm sure we can work something out."
She just called me and they are interviewing me tomorrow, they said the 8am start time is something they can work out. I think that is a great sign, that this may be the route for me.
If they are in sports, I am either coaching or watching. I will not miss these moments in their life
Looks like you have your priorities in check.
21 hours ago, Jedrnurse said:
Kids will survive without parents being at every. single. thing
Agreed.
22 hours ago, NurseChristinaB said:
I think I am just looking for convenience at this point, something steady.
However, something has got to give especially when it comes to making a transition. Convenience may just not be an option. If you're not willing to make a change in your life, then maybe you can sit out a few years from going to nursing school and go back when you can manage.
JKL33
7,043 Posts
Not trying to dissuade you and I completely understand making a parenting decision with a goal of correcting something from the past or feeling like you are correcting course, so-to-speak. I think many, many parents do that whether they recognize it or not.
But....being a little bit mistaken still isn't great just because it's the opposite of what you wanted to avoid. (Does that make sense?) You will feel like you are righting some misfortune from your past, but your kids can't be expected to ever feel that way because they haven't lived your life, you know? They won't necessarily feel the gratitude or understand how much "better" they had it. I understand wanting to be true to things that you want to change, I really do get it. But it's still very wise to understand that without flexibility we all simply run the risk of creating a different monster. It might be different, but very well could still be a monster.
Anyway, my $.02.
As far as your original question, MHO is a top priority (if it can be done without literally neglecting everything else) is to get into a financial position ASAP that will make it possible for you to prioritize other things besides an employer's needs well into the future. Children, family, sanity, sense of self, whatever. Again, just an opinion, but if you can miss some events for just a few years to put yourself in an even better financial position for the rest of your life and your kids' lives? I'd do that.