Options for parents and spouses with strict schedules

Emergent, RN · Apr 24, 2017

What you need is a better support system. Since you don't have a natural one such as family, you're going to have to artificially create one. That will take some organizing and money.

You can't exactly walk into job interview, as a new grad especially, and expect it to fit into the hours that you described to us. That's an unrealistic and farfetched plan.

TexRN, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2017

That's why I was asking about places that would have those hours. I know I can't go to a hospital that normally does 7 to 7 shifts and ask for 7 to 4 hours.

Wuzzie · Apr 24, 2017

You are definitely in a pickle. It sounds like you need 8 hour shifts or a non-traditional 12 hour shift and to cultivate some help. 8 hour shifts are more commonly found in the LTC setting while a non-traditional 12 can often be found in an ED setting. M-F office jobs usually don't take new grads and they pay less. As for getting more pay as a new grad because of your experience probably not going to happen. In nursing the only experience that counts is nursing experience.

TexRN, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2017

Maybe I can have a traditional hospital job and instead of working thurs thru sat i can work the same days my husband does and find a nanny to pick up my kids and take them home. That way my husband and I will have the same days off. Thank you for your responses. I will be negotiating in my head for quite some time!

Wuzzie · Apr 24, 2017

Maybe I can have a traditional hospital job and instead of working thurs thru sat i can work the same days my husband does and find a nanny to pick up my kids and take them home. That way my husband and I will have the same days off. Thank you for your responses. I will be negotiating in my head for quite some time!

What you need to remember is that you may not get a day shift position at all. New grads are frequently placed on nights or rotating shifts and it's doubtful you'll be able to request specific days. You can try but risk sounding like you will be difficult to work with. I wish I had a solution for you but I fear that you are going to have a challenge making this work unless you are willing to take a lower paying job. Once you get a year under your belt you will have more choices.

Eglute · Apr 24, 2017

I would suggest looking into "in home" providers in your area or close to work. Some of them have more flexible and longer hours then regular daycares. I used to work 2:30PM - 10:30 PM Wed - Sun (now am 8-5 Mon- Fri) and my husband works 5PM - 1AM Tue- Sat. He would drop my son off and I would pick him up. You could arrange that school drops off your 5 yo at provider home. It's possible. My son is now 5 but we been maneuvering since he was 9mo as we do not have any family here as well. I am at school now too so that made things more difficult but still, we found the way. I can't afford to hire a nanny, they ask more than I make per hour. In home providers in my area usually charge ~$40 for day, $25 for half day.

Good luck!

TexRN, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2017

I really don't want to come across as difficult to work with. However if I don't get the right schedule then I most certainly will have issues. And I can't do night shift. I get really sick doing that. I had to do that in the army a few times and my immune system just tanked.

Wuzzie · Apr 25, 2017

I really don't want to come across as difficult to work with. However if I don't get the right schedule then I most certainly will have issues. And I can't do night shift. I get really sick doing that. I had to do that in the army a few times and my immune system just tanked.

While I certainly sympathize with your situation you are really painting yourself into a corner with your schedule constraints. To the point that you are likely going to render yourself jobless. I have to ask...did you even look at the types of schedule nurses have prior to going to school? I'm not very optimistic that a hiring manager is going to be willing to pay you what you want, give you the strict hours that you want, in the area that you want and only day shift. Something is going to have to bend and it won't be the employer, especially with the glut of new grads available to them. I wish I could help you more but it seems that you are searching for a unicorn.

TexRN, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2017

I am not limiting myself to any specialty. If I have to work in a nursing home I will. Like I said, I am willing to take my time and research and be patient. I don't want to job hop. But I'm definitely looking into the possibility of a nanny that can retrieve my kids from daycare/school on my work days.

Wuzzie · Apr 25, 2017

That certainly would change things. I wish you the best.

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 26, 2017

I think LTC will probably be your best best as a new grad. Out of all the people I'm graduating with, I think I am one of the very few that got a day shift position (and that even starts between 8a and 11a, so more like a swing shift anyway) and they were all 12 hour shifts. I can see a few options for you: work 12 hour shifts opposite your husband, work night shift, hire a nanny or some form of after school care, or work LTC with 8 hour shifts. Primary care/urgent care positions will be difficult to obtain as a new grad because they typically (and probably rightfully) require some experience.

I am not trying to put you down, but you are trying to find the perfect position that is unrealistic for many new graduate nurses.