NOC with kids home for summer break?

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Specializes in Hospice + Palliative.

so, I'm a new grad, have been applying for jobs for several weeks and had pretty much resigned myself that it would take me 3-6 months to find a job (since that seems to be the norm in my area) Imagine my (excited) surprise when I got a call for an interview for a job this week! I'm obviously crazy excited at the prospect, but I'm also left a bit anxious. I had anticipated that any job I got as a new grad, I'd be working nights - which I'm totally okay with, and actually want. This job is full time 11-7. However, I had been expecting that I woudn't actually *get* a job until after my kids were back in school in Sept, and then I'd sleep while they were in school (and next summer I'd have plenty of time to enroll them in camp so I could have hubby drop them off in the morning, I'd sleep, and then pick them up in the late afternoon) But if I get this job, what do I do about sleep + the kids THIS summer?! It's too late to enroll them in any camps, they're all full. How do you handle nights and sleep with kids home in the summer? I'd appreciate any tips/advice/been-there-done-that you can share :)

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

depends on their ages. If older, they can be expected to fend for themselves and not leave the house till you wake up and NEVER wake you unless someone is bleeding. If younger, I recommend finding a high school kid to watch them at your house or get another babysitter. Next summer will be the same. Camps are not every day that they are on vacation, so you will have to do some planning. Be sure to have a fan or something in your room for white noise to block out their activities.

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How old are they? I'll be working NOCs after my residency begins....my kids range in age from 8-15.

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Specializes in Hospice + Palliative.

I have 4 boys: 15, 13, 10 and 7. They're old enough to be home with me while I'm sleeping, but I'm concerned that I just won't be able to actually sleep because they'll be nutty. Plus - that's a prtty crappy summer for them to just be in the house quiet while I sleep. In past summer, we've pretty much spent every day at our neighborhood pool (which is what I'd planned to do this summer, before the job possiblity)

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you learn to split your sleep. I sleep from 8-12 and then we do something in the afternoon till about 5-6 when hubs comes home and I go back to bed OR you learn to stay awake till about 2 in the afternoon and then hit the sack then - either way they have about 3-4 hours (depending on your SO's schedule) to fend for themselves. I'm lucky in that I live 2 doors down from my mom and there are plenty of kids on the street so they will go to my mom's and play with the kids in the neighborhood. Some days my parents will take them to the pool. I'm also sort of lucky this year in that the teachers were on strike till October so mine don't get out of school for another 2 weeks.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Hire a college student to take them to the pool.

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I have 4 boys: 15, 13, 10 and 7. They're old enough to be home with me while I'm sleeping, but I'm concerned that I just won't be able to actually sleep because they'll be nutty. Plus - that's a prtty crappy summer for them to just be in the house quiet while I sleep. In past summer, we've pretty much spent every day at our neighborhood pool (which is what I'd planned to do this summer, before the job possiblity)

First of all, you don't have the job.

Second usually the orientation is usually day shift.

Third, your kids will get use to having a working mom, you all have to make changes.

Fourth even if you ace the interview, you probably will not start until your references are clear and you would be the next orientation class which would be in July or August.

Good luck

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Specializes in Hospice + Palliative.
First of all you don't have the job.[/quote']

True! But I'm an anticipatory planner - I like to think things through. Isn't that pretty typical of nurses? ;)

Second usually the orientation is usually day shift.

During the phone conversation I had with the hiring manager, she told me that the job is nights, and that the orientation was also nights.

Third, your kids will get use to having a working mom, you all have to make changes.

Clearly we're all going to have to adjust - just as we did when I was in school full time. I don't think anticipating *how* to make that adjustment means that I expect we won't do it well. See above - I'm a planner ;)

Fourth even if you ace the interview, you probably will not start until your references are clear and you would be the next orientation class which would be in July or August.

This position is in a county facility, and they check all references (and do all background checks) prior to inviting you for a formal interview. I have already cleared those hoops, and she indicated on our call that if I am hired, orientation would be soon(her exact words were, "if you are extended an offer, orientation will begin quite soon"). Even if it's mid-july or early august, my kids don't go back until september so that's potentially 6-8 weeks.

Good luck

Thank you! I am really excited about the opportunity, and I know if I am extended an offer my family will pull together and we'll make it work :)

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Specializes in Tele, Med-Surg, MICU.

I found that midnights gave me good balance as a mom: could see them in the AM, and before I went to work. It was just that I felt so exhausted all the time I couldn't stick with it.... But I loved working the actual shift and the balance in my life.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
True! But I'm an anticipatory planner - I like to think things through. Isn't that pretty typical of nurses? ;)

During the phone conversation I had with the hiring manager, she told me that the job is nights, and that the orientation was also nights.

Clearly we're all going to have to adjust - just as we did when I was in school full time. I don't think anticipating *how* to make that adjustment means that I expect we won't do it well. See above - I'm a planner ;)

This position is in a county facility, and they check all references (and do all background checks) prior to inviting you for a formal interview. I have already cleared those hoops, and she indicated on our call that if I am hired, orientation would be soon(her exact words were, "if you are extended an offer, orientation will begin quite soon"). Even if it's mid-july or early august, my kids don't go back until September so that's potentially 6-8 weeks.

Thank you! I am really excited about the opportunity, and I know if I am extended an offer my family will pull together and we'll make it work :)

Check you neighbor hood for a college student will to take them to the pool. I know we have a list at the comunity center of college students looking for summer work. Ask the community pool if they know of anyone or will they allow you to post a want ad at the pool.

I hired a local high school senior to watch them swim in our pool while I slept a few years ago. Most places work 12 hours so you are looking at only 3 days a week.

If you live in Massachusetts I have a daughter, and a son, that would LOVE that job :yes:

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If you graduated locally, perhaps you could post a request at your school for current students. I don't have to worry about this summer as my mother in law will be coming up to stay with them (full days orientation) but I'm looking into it for next summer.

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I think it's a good idea to plan ahead. It'll be a definite adjustment for all of you. Maybe you will work 12hr shifts and only be missing a few days a week? I would just make the most of your days off. Good kids will understand things come up and that Mom has things she has to do as well. Good luck with getting the job!

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