Options for RN jobs and motherhood?

[BA_anthropology]

Okay, so I'm about halfway through nursing school (graduation is set for Dec 2011), and my fiance and I are discussing what our options are for my career when we choose to have kids.

Ideally, I will be able to work full-time until I'm eligible for maternity leave, take the leave, then return to work part-time afterward. What are the logistics of working part-time as an RN? Are there areas of nursing that have more part-time options (for example, are there more part-time options in home care than in hospitals?), and how relevant is years of experience in finding a part-time job? Also, is hourly pay any less for part-time RNs? And are shifts still generally 12hrs?

Thanks to anyone who has input!

[walkingrock, ADN]

Right now, it is easier to get a part-time job than a full-time job, in my unit. I think it has to do with retirement benefits...experience is not a factor in getting a part-time job any more than getting a full-time job--seniority is though! Most hospitals in my area are 12-hr shifts, mine is mostly 8-hr shifts...which I prefer after doing 12's for most of my career.

[NightNurseRN]

This is exactly what I did and it works out great! I worked full time (3 nights a week) up until I had my first baby, then I went back part time (2 nights a week). Working 2 nights a week still gets me health insurance at my hospital and no you do not take a pay cut. You can also go PRN which has a couple options. I am currently pregnant and will maybe go PRN after the baby (4 or 2 nights a month). At my hospital you get a set rate at PRN (usually mid thirtys/hr i think, and also shift diffs) but no health insurance. If youre husband has health insurance for you and your family it doesnt matter though. Good luck!!

[rockabye]

At my hospital, the only difference between full-time and part-time status is that part-time receives no free life-insurance and they don't have to work as many week-end and holiday requirements. Instead of doing 3 12-hour shifts a week, part-time works 2 shifts. Since we get paid by the hour, you still get paid exactly in proportion to the amount of time worked. The only time it might be difficult to do part-time is starting out on orientation. Other than that, I have never heard of a co-worker having a hard time changing their status from full-time to part-time or vise-versa, but we are also a pretty good sized unit so that probably helps.

[proudnurseRN]

In my hospital it varies per unit. Most managers aren't going to throw your training out the window and not let you go part-time, but some are more stringent than others. Some make you make up your schedule with a minimum of X hours per month (32/month I believe), others have you call in your availability at the beginning of the week... it just depends. Put those staff are considered prn and get called off first- and don't get paid more. At least, I don't think.

[ThePeony]

I work part time for a health dept because I have multiple small children (soon to be 4 of them), the logistics of doing 12's was just too much. I only work half a day at a time sometimes even less if I am just doing one home visit. I'm not in home health but rather supervise a small lactation program. I have a lot of flexibility of when I work, I schedule most of my meetings for when it is easiest for me, same with clinic days, and while home visits can often be last minute, I still have the ability to schedule them for when I am able to. I make less then I would working in a hospital but then again, I also wouldn't have the ability to do my paperwork or phone support from my house while my children are sleeping, at preschool, etc... in a hospital.