Out of nursing over a year...this stay at home mom thing just isn't for me!

Marshall1 · Jun 20, 2016

Working PRN and going to school online is definitely do-able. I did exactly that when working on my Masters. No problem at all.

You are most likely not hearing back because you have been out of the work force for so long..at least where I live that is an issue for nurses - especially hospital based - because a lot has changed in such a short time. You may need to look outside of the hospital setting at nursing positions to get something going - even PRN.

As far as staying home, though I don't have children I didn't work for a few years, I realize now that was a mistake..I should've, for a variety of reasons, remained in the work force even if PRN. I understand a lot of people would think it wonderful to not work at all, but for me, like you, my skills and confidence waned, not to mention boredom and also anxiety about going back work, to the point I declined a few positions offered because I was so worried about going back after being out of nursing so some length of time. I'm back working now and would not stop working again - even if I only worked one day a week. You can do both though - online and PRN.

thebeccalc, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2016

It's absolutely doable! I have a coworker who works two shifts per week and is in an online MSN program and has two children under the age of ten, and she's killing it at every turn.

I totally understand wanting to get underway with school first though to see how your life needs to be scheduled.

MaiBee · Jun 20, 2016

See the long gap in emplyment is part of what's really scaring me here. Nursing seems particularly unforgiving when it comes to this because it is so technical. For the first position I applied for (PRN in PACU) I received a call back right away from the recruiter saying my background looked great. She did a phone interview later and I submitted references and took their personality test thing online. She said the next step is for the nurse manager to decide who she'd interview. I touched base with the recruiter recently when I didn't hear, and she said she's still waiting for the manager to decide who to interview and the position is still open, so I'm hopeful. Meanwhile I inquired about a GI lab PRN with the same recruiter, but then I got the school acceptance and got worried about scheduling so I haven't formally applied. I switched my license over to my new state and my ACLS is still current, so I hope I'm not too rusty to get hired! But that is a big factor in why I have a sense of urgency to get back. That and 3 year olds are terrible conversationalists.

RNperdiem, RN · Jun 20, 2016

I worked as little as a 4hr prn shift every week when my kids were little to keep that little bit of nursing going in my life and have something that was mine outside of the home. The little bit of money was good and a sanity saver.

Being home with young children in a new community is a lonely gig, and the isolation can wear a person down.

Go ahead and apply for any prn nursing job you can get. If, after starting school, work and school is too much, you can always quit the job.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2016

I quit my floor nursing job of almost 5 years a bit over a year ago. My family was relocating so I figured I'd take some time off to prepare for the move, sell the house, etc. I planned to start working again shortly after moving but decided to wait a little while in order to get the family settled, find daycare for my youngest and make sure my older child was adjusting okay to her new school. Suddenly the school year is over and I'm wondering where the time went!
I applied to a family nurse practitioner program and found out recently I was accepted. I start in the fall. Meanwhile I've finally applied for a couple of PRN positions that I haven't heard back on, but now I'm not sure how work will mesh with school.
I'm a little lost. I miss nursing, I miss my nurse friends, and haven't really found my place here in this new city. I want to work, but don't want to start a new job at the same time I'm about to start school because I'm scared the schedules won't mesh and I'll just end up quitting. It's an online program so hoping I can find something that works.
Guess I'm just wondering if there are other nurses out there who've become stay at home moms and struggled with keeping their identity as a nurse. I don't even feel like a nurse anymore.
I'm sure I'll feel better about it once I'm in school and learning again, but right now I feel like I'm losing my skills and just sort of languishing in my house. I know a lot of nurses would love to quit and stay home with their kids but it just isn't for me...

I sat out of nursing for a good while in order to be home for my kids during some tough times in middle school/high school. When I decided to dive back in, I found a couple of PRN jobs. I worked fairly frequently at first, in order to convince them that I was indispensable. :)

Once I established myself there, I began to back off on my frequency. Now I only work once a week or less. I am a known quantity, I'm dependable once I commit, and I know what I'm doing. They'd prefer I worked more, but they accept what they get out of me. If you can work your way into that kind of gig, it's the best of all worlds.

Congrats on NP school and good luck!

Remy Ox · Jun 20, 2016

I think when school starts, will keep you busy and might be okay anyway even if PRN job doesn't work out. I migrated to canada from Portugal and failed the RN exam cause my enlgish was not as good as now, they let me take RPN exam after english class, and I passed but was not happy working there. Came to America after I married, and I had to wait for my green card to start work. I know the feeling of being bored not working a nurse. I took education here and helped me feel part of nursing again. School may help a lot! It will work out in the end =)

MaiBee · Jun 21, 2016

This sounds like my ideal. Get a foot in, get established, then from there do what I can. The one advantage to all this time off is that for the first time ever my daughter has been able to participate in gymnastics (she begged for years but my inconsistent work schedule made it impossible) and I've been able to attend school events, I know her friends, and I can check her homework every night. She loves it. But I need to get back...but I still want to be there for her (and for my little one). Hoping to find a way to make it all work.

dcwang · Jun 21, 2016

I would feel like it's a luxury to be a SAHM or work as much as I want. I prefer that than being married and having to make ends meet or be the primary breadwinner.

MaiBee · Jun 21, 2016

I totally get that and it seemed that way at first, but the reality is I wanted to be a nurse since I was a kid and am really proud of that accomplishment. It is more than just the income...it's something I'm passionate about. The other issue is that in a couple of years my husband retires from the military and given his careerfield is unlikely to find employment that pays as well as what he makes as a military officer...by then both kids will be in school and I'll have been out of work for so long I probably will be unhirable. I think pp's suggestions about prn may be the best of both worlds...I keep my skills, maintain my hireability, but still have time for family and school. Not a dig at people who love being SAHMs...and not even getting into the fact that at my last position, working full time I barely made enough to cover childcare...just saying that there are a lot of factors to consider.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jun 21, 2016

I would feel like it's a luxury to be a SAHM or work as much as I want. I prefer that than being married and having to make ends meet or be the primary breadwinner.

Being a SAHM is not for everyone. While it may seem like a luxury, it's not. You are actually working longer hours as a SAHM with no adult human interaction. Take it from someone who has done both. I'm so happy to be back out in the world again!

~Shrek~ · Jun 21, 2016

I would feel like it's a luxury to be a SAHM or work as much as I want. I prefer that than being married and having to make ends meet or be the primary breadwinner.

As bad as it sounds, this is a reason why I will not have kids if staying at home is not an option for me. I may fall in love with the most amazing man in the world, but if we cannot afford for me to work part-time and be a SAHM, then we will just enjoy each other's company and live a full life without kids.

Of course, this is very personal and just depends on the individual. It's not really about my kids' safety, but about what values they are getting from their caregivers, especially in this day and age of "anything goes".