Nursing and Family

Altra, BSN, RN · Feb 29, 2008

I've answered a couple of different posts asking this lately.

Bottom line: I work 40 hours a week. No more or less than the vast majority of working adults. This means I have the same amount of time for family and personal interests as anyone else.

Several patients & families have recently asked me if I am "always working such long hours." I'm not sure where they get that idea. I tell them the same thing as above.

Now if they would just get a clue about what I'm actually doing for them in those 40 hours ...

pagandeva2000, LPN · Feb 29, 2008

How does your nursing career fit in to your family life? Do you miss a lot of your families lives? Is it decently flexible, or not?

I work Monday thru Friday at my primary job in a hospital clinic. My son still lives with me and is 21 years old, my husband works evenings. I do work per diem assignments on the weekends often (usually Saturdays). It works out fine in regard to spending quality time, I guess, because I don't have to do any major cooking unless my husband is off with me, my son cooks for himself and is an affectionate introvert. Now, do we go out a great deal...not really, although that is starting to happen a bit more often. Most times, we are all too tired to deal with life and are more comfortable spending time in doors sleeping. :typing

TazziRN, RN · Feb 29, 2008

With facility nursing you get used to celebrating holidays on other days because you will have to take a turn working them, but otherwise it works out fine. With clinic or home health, etc., it's easier to have a more normal family life.

Xbox Live Addict · Feb 29, 2008

When I was in LTC, it was hard to have a life of any kind away from work. Since I worked evenings, and most weekends, most of my family and friends were at work when I was still asleep, and when I got off work, they had gone to bed. For me, those were some incredibly lonely days. At times I felt like a Benedictine monk. The only thing for me to do after work was to go home and watch TV alone. My friends and family were in bed. The only things open that late at night in my part of the country are Wal-Mart and strip bars.

RNperdiem, RN · Feb 29, 2008

I work per diem. I work as much or as little as I want, and my husband watches the kids. I am able to make my schedule around his hours of availability. I am required to work on major summer and winter holiday, which is fine with me. I like to work all of the "minor" holidays too.

I miss very little family life with my 2 kids. I sometimes look forward to work to get paid to get away for awhile.