Nurse mommies! Need advice!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello all!

I just graduated from an LPN program this summer and took my boards today. For the most part, I have been a stay at home mom during school, but now that I am done I am not sure what to do. My son is 14 months old and we are thinking of trying for the next one. I can't start an RN program until next spring at the earliest and who knows what will happen if I am pregnant before then. I have a job some-what waiting for me at the moment 30 miles away (I live less than 10 minutes from the hospital here in town). It is a casual position so I really don't know how many hours I will be getting, but IF I do take the position I hope it is less than 20 a week. Orientation is 80+ hours. Grandma is the daycare provider.

At first I was excited to start a part-time job, but now I am having second thoughts. I have been having a lot of fun hanging out with my son with no distractions, and I am much more focused and relaxed. I would like to get some work experience and don't want to "lose" what I just learned in school, but on the other hand, I don't want to miss this time with my son. I also don't want it to look bad if I get pregnant shortly after starting a new job (absolutely no guarantees, though, as it took me a while to get pregnant with #1), and I don't want to feel like I am taking advantage of my mom watching my little guy. I also feel like I have basically committed to this job because it is being "held" for me and I don't want to leave them hanging.

So, to take the job or not to take the job... that is the question. Writing it out helped immensely, but I still have so many jumbled thoughts in my head I couldn't possibly write them all down. I would like some semi-objective thoughts on whether I should focus on my family and put school and work on the back-burner, or should I give this job a go...

Oh, I don't plan on working full-time until the children are older, and I don't even know what will happen (career-wise)after the next child is born (if we are blessed with another).

Advice appreciated! Please and thank you!

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

How long would our commute be? Here in Atlanta a 30 mile commute would be easily an hour each way. In that case, I would not take the job. If the commute is reasonable and you can work only 3 days a week, it might be worth it. LPN jobs are scarce in some markets and you absolutely want to work your first year out of school. Otherwise, potential employers may consider your skills stale. Unless there is a compelling reason to have another baby immediatly, you may want to rethink that for a few months. Trying to go to RN school with a 2-1/2yr old and an infant will be a daunting prospect (14 month olds are fun, 2 year olds can be a challenge!). And Grandma may be overwhelmed. Only you can make that decision.

If this job requires full time after orientation, I'd probably reconsider. I wouldn't want to be away from my baby quite that much. Have you considered working part-time on the night shift? I did that for many years. And I worked every other night(2-3 nights/ week) and got up after about 4-5hrs of sleep so I didn't have to put my child in day care much. More like a Mothers Day Out. It wasn't easy, but it was what worked for us. By the time I had my third, I was working mostly Friday & Saturday nights so I could be up during the week(I was homeschooling my kids and I absolutely could NOT stay awake all day during the week.)

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

A wise woman (Mom) taught me this: You can "have it all" ... but you can't have it all at the same time. You'll need to decide what is the priority right now - your career or your home life.

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It sounds like you have alot going on. You have one little one with maybe another on the way soon. You are right out of school, and need work experience.

I agree with mustlovepoodles: I would look into something part time so that you can get your family time. Even if the orientation was full time, that would not be a permanent thing.

Good luck with everything!!

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I understand how you are feeling. I haven't graduated an LPN program, but I am starting one on the 20th. I have a 15 month old daughter and my husband and I would really like another child. I know we are probably going to have to wait til the end of the program or til I am stable in a job to get pregnant but I don't want to wait that long. We are probably going to see how the first few weeks of class go before we decide.

Do what is best for you and your family. I would definitely try to work at least part-time since you are fresh out of school. That way, you would have a little bit of job experience if you decide to take a few months off to be with your new baby.

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Parenting is a full time job(plus more)and you are always on call. So now if you take another full time job you will now have 2 full time jobs in addition to being a wife and running a household. I would try to find a part time employment or per diem employment and you may be able to take on extra hours if you desire. I think you will then be able to do both well b/c the other way something or someone will suffer b/c there are only so many hours in each day. If you have the luxery of doing that you can have the best of both worlds.

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That is a tough decision. Personally, if I could stay home with my kids and afford it, I would. There is of course a valid risk from being out of the job market, but maybe that's a risk you are willing to take. The other option is to consider if the job would be within your range of acceptable minimal hours. You can always look for another job with less hours, too. I guess the most important thing is to ask yourself if you will look back and regret missing the job or if you will regret the time with family more? You can do one or the other, and you can also still search for a middle ground. Good luck to you! I hope you feel secure in whatever you decide.

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Thank you all so very much for the wonderful advice! I decided to take the casual job and hope that it is not too overwhelming. I am really excited about it, but of course, won't know if it was the right decision until I have worked there for a little while. If I end up getting pregnant right away, so be it, and I can always keep working casual and hold of RN school for a while. I would love to continue hearing your opinions!

Thanks again.

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