a friend and i were having a discussion. i am graduating in 4 months as a RN. i know that i will have to start on nights, as most advertised jobs on the hospital website are night jobs, the 7p-7a shift. i accept that as the new nurse, i'll have to start on nights, and be on nights possibly for quite a while.
i'll have 3 kids, 1 in kindergarten, 1 in preschool, 1 infant. also, one husband who will not be working, as my income will support the family. so i will work 7p-7a, come home, take my son to k, come home and sleep until 3pm or so, while hubby takes care of hte little one. wake up when son comes home from school, spend time with them, eat dinner, then back to work. and on days off, i was hoping (dont know if it'll work b/c i havne't done it yet) come home that one day, sleep til 3, wake up and then just go back to bed at 11pm or so with hubby, then next 3 days do normal awake during day/sleep at night schedule, then day i go back to work wake up in am, but take long nap before going to work. seems like the having 4 days off, taking son to school, having time in afternoon/evening with kids/family is a good amount of time to me.
she, being someone who is not graduating ADN program for another 2 years says that she'd never work nights. thats not enough time wiht her family. she'd not even work 7a-7p. thats not enough time. she wants 8-5, no matter hwere she has to work to get it. her hubby works, her daughter will be in daycare, she'll be working 5 days a week. seems to me the time is comprable, if not more time doing the night shift thing, but she just refused to hear it.
so, my argument is all in theory, since im not actually going to be working until May. so, do all of you seasoned 7p-7a nurses think you get enough time with yoru family? do you or yoru family ever feel cheated out of time? etc etc.
