New Grad RN and Single Mother Job Options?

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I am not an RN graduate yet, but will be soon enough. I am thinking ahead because I forsee a huge challenge as far as finding my first official RN job. I am a single mother, my child will be 7 years old when I plan to take the NCLEX and then start job searching. My child's father is not in the picture, and my family is far and unable to help. I am really on my own. Anyone else in a similar situation worried about employment as a new grad RN?

In a perfect world, I would have loved to do a residency program in a hospital. I am located in Southern California and thats what most of my classmates are going into. However, in my situation I feel these are the 2 options really available to me:

1) Find a clinic job that is M-F 8hr day shifts that is also open to hiring new grads. (Downside, the pay is so low, around $20-25/hr. for new grads. For California thats about the lowest I've seen for pay)

2) Work in a hospital anyways, will likely be asked to do nights and rotating weekends, which would mean I would be relying heavily on a sitter/nanny to watch my child. Finding a sitter who would be willing to put up with my variable schedule would mean probably paying a sitter $15-20/hr at minimum, however if im working in a hospital here in CA I could expect to earn $35-40/hr. Still that means after paying the sitter, I am netting potentially only $15-20/hr... 

There are so many RNs out there that are single mothers, have you ever had this dilemma? How did you handle it and still earn enough to support yourself and your kid(s)? I'm at a loss.

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Specializes in Certified Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurse.

I am in Connecticut.  Consider home care with a Medicare agency.  You could be a case manager.  My husband traveled when I was a new nurse, and day care was not available for hospital shifts.  I got a job with a home care agency new graduate program.  Twenty years later, I am precepting a new grad.  My chance to pay it forward.

Best wishes for your new career.

jbudrick

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I'm sort of in the same boat but my father does help watch my son. But he even has to take him to work with him sometimes. I'm wondering how you got through nursing school in this scenario? Wouldn't you have needed help, who helped you then? In my situation, if my father can't help me, I just know I'll either have to find a day care (well, night care). I do have a place that has 24 hour care, it's expensive though. The other option, depending on your home, is live-in care, partially covering the room and board with a little extra (check the laws). That ends up being cheaper and they are always there so you can leave as arranged. Check out au-pair companies too as those are sometimes cheaper but usually live with you. 

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Specializes in Certified Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurse.

I actually almost had to quit nursing school because I had to leave the house for clinicals at 6:30 a.m.  The day care didn’t open until 7:00 a.m.   I hired a girl working at the day care to come to my home and take my child to day care on clinical days.  It worked out well.  

I had some impressive job offers.  We decided we didn’t want live-in care.  My first job as a floor nurse didn’t work out.  They wanted me to work double shifts.  I couldn’t do it due to child care.   Somehow I made it through the day care years.  I stayed home when my child was sick.  Fortunately, it wasn’t often.  Home care worked for me.  

I really wonder about the nursing profession as a whole.  What other job expects every employee to be available 24/7?  I know nurses who can only work weekends.  Employers want them to be available to work full-time days for two weeks of orientation first.  How do you arrange day care for that unless you have family?  

Some really creative ideas are needed to find an answer that works for each nurse.

Best wishes as you begin your career.

Diana

 

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