Nursing careers and family...

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Hi all...I'm a 40-y-o mom of an 8-y-o, finishing up my pre-reqs in anticipation of starting nursing school in fall 2003. I've been fortunate in that, with my previous career, I was able to work from home and set my own schedule. As a result, I've never had to rely on daycare or the like. I know that this will change as a student :) but in looking ahead to when I get a real nursing job, I'm trying to find a field where I could more or less match my work schedule to her school schedule. By the time I graduate, she will be old enough to stay home alone for limited time, but I hate to leave her home all day during summer vacation...yet she'll be too old for traditional daycare... Anyway, the point of this ramble is, what career options are available that would allow me to work minimal hours during the summer? What are the standard minimum hours a PRN must work, and can those vary throughout the year? Any other suggestions? (I'd love to be a school nurse, but right now they're a rarity in our school district:( )

Thanks in advance...

for me working weekends has solved my solutions....i work f/s/s and am off mon-thurs .i'm able to go on class trips /be a leader of a brownie troop/ and also have days to myself during the school year....in the summer time we go on many day trips/and the weekend is a good time for them to catch with ther dad for some quality time....good luck and welcome to nursing ! = )

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

As an RN I work weekend nights to get around daycare use. And it works GREAT. You are entering at a time when you can almost "set your own schedule" in many places. As a matter of fact, a place where I interviewed, I would do just that. Self-scheduling is great. Per diem and Oncall positions have their advantages. But if you are looking for medical insurance and tuition reimbursement.....look at part or full-time only, obviously.

Til my dh retires from military in 4 years, I will work this way so that I am here for my 10 and 3 year old kids when they are. Then, I may change. Good luck to you. I am also a "late entry" nurse and love it very well.

I have just started Baylors - 7a-7p Saturday and Sunday, get paid for 36 hours. It's a great schedule. My kids get to know their Dad, and I don't have to miss school things (they are 6 & 10). The hospital just sent a survey around asking if people would be interested in working full time throughout the school year (Sept-May), and have the summer off and get full time benefits. Something to think about!

Specializes in ICU, nutrition.

One of the hospitals here in town has a "seasonal" RN position where you work 9 mos out of the year and are off during the summer. I don't know how many of these positions they have open but it must work because of nursing school instructors and nurse practicioner students wanting to work full-time in the clinical setting in the summer while they are out of school. So it's good for moms/dads who want to stay home with the kids in the summer, and for those who want to do travel nursing once a year.

Also, I work nights, and when my son is older (he's starting kindergarten this year) I'll have him stay home during the summer and be reasonably quiet while I sleep. I get up at 2:30 or so most days anyway, and I have to sleep with him and hubby home every other weekend.

I worked weekend option while my kids were young thier dad would evern bring them up on my lunchbreaks when they were babies to breastfeed. Our prn pool where I work has a " mother's hours" pool and these nurses only work during the day at thier convence. you also might work for a temp pool. Any way , there are lots of options, and as my kids have grown and our needs changed, I have always been able to work out a schedule that is good for all of us. Good luck in school, you will find the best job and hours for you and your family!

I am still in school and will be for a few more years. I have a 4 and 1 year old. How did everyone handle daycare during school hours and also getting all the studying in that needs to be done. I have not started nursing courses yet, but will be taking A&P in the fall and am worried about studying and retaining everything while trying to spend time with the kids.

Thanks

Debi

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