I'm in my last semester of uni to become an RN and will be 30 when I graduate. I've put off starting a family for the years I've been at uni and now I'm trying to plan out when to start. I know that ideally I should wait until I've gained a contract so I can be entitled to maternity pay but I honestly don't want to wait that long.
I'm wondering what would happen if I got a new grad program and could only do 3-4 months? Would I be able to finish it later? If not then would it be difficult for me to get a job after the break with such little experience? I'm thinking 3 months is better than none. How do people juggle having young kids and doing shift work?
Dear Wants to be a Mom
Congrats on your accomplishments. You are soon to be an RN!
Have you considered waiting until you've worked a year to start a family? By then, you'll no longer be considered a new grad, you'll have insurance and be eligible for baby bonding leave. You'll also be solidly marketable.
I have seen new grads start a residency program, and then drop out due to pregnancy. It depends on the facility as to whether you'd be allowed to return and complete your residency later with another cohort. Be sure and read the contract to make sure you're not financially liable.
Completing a residency is considered completing new hire orientation for a new grad, so planning to not complete a residency is also planning to not complete orientation.
A year may seem like a long time when you are longing to start a family. But in the long run, it could make things a lot easier for you, career-wise.
Best wishes whatever choice you make, and yes, many nurses successfully juggle a family and shift work.
Here are some other thoughts that I had when I called you selfish and I do apologize. Remember, the hospital only has a limited number of slots for interns. If you take one and don't finish, someone lost out that could have had your internship. Secondly, the area you were going to orient to lost an employee that they were probably counting on having. I commend you for thinking this through and working for a year. And again, I apologize. Sometimes we old graduates forget what turmoil new graduates go through because it was so long ago.[/quote']
My question is why does this matter to you. This is not your life and not your place to judge this lady get a life why don't you. You act like the money the hospital pay comes out of your pocket. Have your babies Sarah.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
My question is why does this matter to you. This is not your life and not your place to judge this lady get a life why don't you. You act like the money the hospital pay comes out of your pocket. Have your babies Sarah.
So since deciding to wait I've felt pretty depressed. I'm realising more and more how important having a family is to me. The hospital that I will be starting my program at in April has just put up an advertisement for RN's. I emailed the nursing director and he said that although they prefer you to start in April when the program starts I can apply for the job and see what happens. This would start in January and if I continued with it would include maternity pay I'm assuming. This way I could start trying for kids around April 2016 instead of September 2016-(to finish the Grad). My question is does anyone know if I was successful in getting the job could I ask to continue on that contract and not commence the Grad program?
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Thank you everyone,
So since deciding to wait I've felt pretty depressed. I'm realising more and more how important having a family is to me. The hospital that I will be starting my program at in April has just put up an advertisement for RN's. I emailed the nursing director and he said that although they prefer you to start in April when the program starts I can apply for the job and see what happens. This would start in January and if I continued with it would include maternity pay I'm assuming. This way I could start trying for kids around April 2016 instead of September 2016-(to finish the Grad). My question is does anyone know if I was successful in getting the job could I ask to continue on that contract and not commence the Grad program?
If you get the job, I would ask the hospital just to be 100% sure. But do whatever makes you happy. I have learned if you listen to other people & not yourself, you will never be truly happy. Good luck with everything!!!
So since deciding to wait I've felt pretty depressed. I'm realising more and more how important having a family is to me. The hospital that I will be starting my program at in April has just put up an advertisement for RN's. I emailed the nursing director and he said that although they prefer you to start in April when the program starts I can apply for the job and see what happens. This would start in January and if I continued with it would include maternity pay I'm assuming. This way I could start trying for kids around April 2016 instead of September 2016-(to finish the Grad). My question is does anyone know if I was successful in getting the job could I ask to continue on that contract and not commence the Grad program?
Hi Sarah, it sounds like you're coming to some resolution about when to start a family, and it's sooner rather than later. Like other posters said, it's a decision only you can make.
Sarah, I'm not sure I am clear on your question. Are you asking "If I start working in January, can I forgo the new grad program that starts in April?"
That's a question only the hospital can answer and it is "Will you make an exception and hire me but not put me through the new grad residency program?"
It's doubtful they would hire a new grad outside of their new grad residency program if the residency program is their standard on boarding process for new grads.
You referred to a contract that (I think) you mean they would give you in January. Contracts are generally only for the residency programs. If they hired you as a standard new hire, there's no contract.
Sarah, I hope I answered your questions but I'm kind of guessing here that I'm clear on what you're asking. :) Let me know how I can help.
It is such a personal decision so I'm sure some people must think it's strange that I'm asking for advice from complete strangers on this. I guess it's just that I've thought about what to do for so long and I just can't find an answer that makes me happy in both the career and children department. After much thought last night I think I will stick with my grad program as there is much more support and i want to leave a good impression at this hospital so they will consider me for future employement after I have my children. It's a sacrifice I feel I have to make for the sake of my career and in the end for my children as well. Thank you everyone for your kind words I appreciate it more than you might think.
I am almost 30 and think about this a lot. I chose to forgo applying for an ELMSN program in favor of children first (I am a Hospital Lab Assistant/ Phlebotomist/ Biology Major). It would be so much easier if I had met my husband early, had kids early and then had a career. I am sorry that you are feeling depressed...career and children often do not mix and I have much sympathy for your situation. I hope you can have them!
Are you worried you will find it difficult to secure a job later? It's such a hard decision for me because on one hand I don't want to waste 4 years of study but on the other hand I don't want to keep putting children off when I'm now turning 30 in December and also have the added risk of infertility due to my past exposure to carcinogens:(
When did she say she would leave for a couple months? Kindly show me, did I miss it? I know she said she wanted to work for 3-4 months then have the baby. But I don't think she said she wanted to take a couple months off, I'm sure she would take off as much as the hospital would give her since she wouldn't have maternity leave.
Since OP has taken what she needed from marie o'brien's post it doesn't matter now, but in the original post OP did mention a "break" to "finish it later". An assumption was made it would be for a couple of months since that's what a lot of new mothers do.
Being able to control ones reproductivity (my neologism) has its pitfalls.
Women complain about the discrepancy in salary to men but this may be why. Most men don't plan a break in their career path once they start. Employers have to eat the cost of that lost worker and will sometimes discriminate to avoid it.
Yelhsa85
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