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...
You take the batteries out of toys and conveniently forget to replace them so you don't have to listen to the annoying song that your child loves. You're sleep deprived, money is tight, and you are in charge of household tasks.
The toys, messes, laundry, sleep deprivation etc doesn't go away when Mama goes back to work...just saying. Y'all ought to see my house after a day with Daddy! And I breastfed each for 1-2 yrs, they still come to Mama when they need middle of the night stuff...
I've done both, and both have challenges.
I will say that one of the best things about nursing is that it's flexible, and we have the choice of working part time or prn. So many moms have to choose between SAHM and working long hours -- by nature of their careers I mean, not financial needs. My sister for one, is a geologist and works for a gold mine; she didn't have the option to work PT when her son was born.
You answered your own question. Being a stay at home parent isn't for YOU.
about
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...
Go for it, sister! I have just gone back to bedside nursing from a Performance Excellence position and I am SO HAPPY to be back at the bedside. Yes, I felt my skills were waning as well.
Patients still drive me nuts but I LOVE the autonomy I have once again and I am not working in an office 9 to 5. I THOUGHT I wanted the cushy 9 to 5, predictable schedule, but it turns out I really prefer the flexibility of choosing the shifts I want to work!
If you go PRN, you can truly work only once per week. My contract is actually 3x per month, which is totally doable! I am in the ER. I find myself working quite a bit more, just because I like the extra cash - and in all honesty, I need the space from my stepkids. haha. Love em, but really do need my own thing going on.
Best wishes to you in your Nurse Practitioner program!!! Did you choose Acute-Care or FNP? That is the decision I am researching right now!
All the best to you - and best wishes in your decision. You can do it!!!
Wow I thought this thread was pretty much done and hadn't looked in a few days. Logged back in and lots of replies.
I have applied for a second PRN and am looking for more here and there, but I'm also trying to enjoy summer and have been outside more than inside the last couple of weeks. I normally hate summer...more of a cold weather person...but we've been having fun.
Anne Marie I went FNP for many of the reasons discussed here. I really don't want to work off-shifts and the acute NPs I know mostly work ER or nights shifts in the ICU. That and I think a lot of the acute care NP schools want ICU or ER experience. I worked on IMCU...high acuity but maybe counts maybe doesn't. I think FNP will be a good match.
Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN
5,047 Posts
The toys, messes, laundry, sleep deprivation etc doesn't go away when Mama goes back to work...just saying. Y'all ought to see my house after a day with Daddy!
And I breastfed each for 1-2 yrs, they still come to Mama when they need middle of the night stuff...
I've done both, and both have challenges.
I will say that one of the best things about nursing is that it's flexible, and we have the choice of working part time or prn. So many moms have to choose between SAHM and working long hours -- by nature of their careers I mean, not financial needs. My sister for one, is a geologist and works for a gold mine; she didn't have the option to work PT when her son was born.