Question for Nurses who are MOMS

[ThePrincessBride]

Hello everyone,

I am a 19 year old who is pursuing a BSN. One of the aspects of Nursing that I find most appealing in the fact that there is great job flexibility. Where I am from, a Nurse can work 80 hrs one week and have a free week the next. Or they could work just the weekends. The salary is also decent enough to point where a nurse can work part time as well and still get by.

HOWEVER, I have heard that Nurses are oftentimes required to work some holidays and weekends, but usually they are compensated with not having to work the next holiday and weekend.

I have no kids yet, but I would like to have several children if possible. So my questions to nurses who are moms:

1. Do you consider Nursing a family-friendly field? Why or why not?

2. Has your job severely impacted your family life in a negative way? If so, how?

3. If you are a single mother to 3-5 children, has your Nursing job afforded you to take care of your kids financially as well as save for retirement?

4. Finally, if you had to do Nursing all over again, would you? If not, what other field would you choose?

Please also state which field of Nursing you are in. Thanks!

[eharper]

Thank you keepmovinglpn, this is good to hear. After reading this thread I called my DH and was freaking out to him and he tried to help calm my nerves (which he was somewhat successful at, lol) but reading your post makes me feel much better, thank you again .

[keepmovingrn]

I'm glad your feeeling better eharper. You stay focused on school and doing what you have to do to get to where you want to be. I promise you will not be sorry:hug:.

C.

[CNM2B201?]

so basically...if you work in a hospital you will never see your kiddos?? I too am second guessing my career choice if it means never seeing my family.

[RNKPCE]

I think you will find that working in a hospital in itself does not mean you will never see your kids, it depends on each individuals particular circumstances.

[K nurse-one-day]

It doesnt mean you'll never see your kids. Idk where some people get this stuff. You can work full time, part time, PRN, on call, nights, days, evenings, weekends. Whatever best fits your personal situation

[CNM2B201?]

I dont see how a brand new graduate nurse would survive working PRN or Per diem...how would you ever learn anything or feel confident?

sure weekends would be great, as would days..but how many GN's get those positions??? arent nights the most common shift offered to new grads? other posters have stated how hard it is to work nights and be there for their families.

[K nurse-one-day]

You wont be a GN forever.

Do whatever u want, has to be ur choice

[MRSJONES]

Hello im a 32 year old mother of 3 2 teens and a 10 yr old...im n ga now but will b going back home(philly) in april..m looking for a lpn program but im a lil scared of going back to school and i dnt knw what school would be best for me...do any1 have ne suggestions or advice

[loveblossom]

Like a few people said its always best to have a support team to help,but that's true with ANY job.Kids get sick and we can only be in one place at a time.I have always worked 7pm-7am or 11-7am...works out great! My DH stays with the kids when I'm at work.I also have a transportation service for the kids to drive them to school and back just in case one of us has to work an extra shift for whatever reason.My kids are both preteens..and when they were smaller I would try to work doubles on the weekends and no work during the week...I also worked home care a few times....I believe that nursing IS flexible and family friendly because there are different hours/shifts avalible.I KNOW that if my family situation changes,I can find another job that supports that..even if it means I'll be making less money...for instance,once my sons start liking girls and all that I probably wont be working overnights,I dont want any teens sneaking into my home when I'm at work and I dont trust my DH to be that observant lol.So,I'll try to find a 7am-3pm job.

[CeilingCat, ASN, RN]

One thing I am sure of : finish nursing school before you even consider having kids. I've watched classmates drop out because of either medical complications/c-section or because they can't handle the stress in addition to all the stress their body is under being pregnant.

Is the nursing field mom friendly or unfriendly? Any job can be unfriendly when the hours they need you conflict with the time your kids need something important. A child is a huge commitment, and you'll be worrying about them even when you're at work. You can work towards a nursing position that does not require weekends/holidays. But your 1st job out of school may not be so flexible. Be aware that if it snows, the kids get off school most always. When it snows, the nurses are needed even more in the hospitals because you're more needed. And you can't expect any special treatment because your child needs you. Bottom line: it can be done, but for best results wait to do it with a committed partner.

The good news is once you've got a little experience under your belt, you can have more say in when and where you work. I have a friend who works only Fri-Sat-Sun (12 hr night shifts). She is considered fulltime and gets benefits. So the baby is with her 4 days a week. And her husband, who has off all weekends, is there for the baby when she is at work.

[gusblom]

Thats right, keep us men out. Don't you think we have family and commitments the same as you? One day you'll wake up and find the nursing profession overtaken by men. And yes, we are responsible fathers as well

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

Thats right, keep us men out. Don't you think we have family and commitments the same as you? One day you'll wake up and find the nursing profession overtaken by men. And yes, we are responsible fathers as well

Lol...right.

Fact is this: I'm a woman, women given give birth and need maternity leave, and there are FAR more single mothers than single fathers. Face the facts.