Questions for the single parents

loriangel14, RN · Dec 27, 2015

I was in that boat when I was in school and had to go to clinical sites early. I hired a teenager from down the street. She came to the house and got them up when it was time for school. That way they could sleep in. How old are your kids?

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 27, 2015

Not a single parent, but have two siblings who are and have workarounds for before and after work concerns. What about partnering up with a neighbor? Perhaps there is someone who has the same issue as you but with after-school. Would it be possible to ask around and see if a deal could be set up where your kids go to the neighbor's in the morning and the neighbor's kids come to your house in the afternoon?

Are you 100% positive the shift starts at 0630? Verify that first. It could be that you would have the time in the morning if it's not truly 0630.

NurseBetty_RN · Dec 27, 2015

I was in that boat when I was in school and had to go to clinical sites early. I hired a teenager from down the street. She came to the house and got them up when it was time for school. That way they could sleep in. How old are your kids?

5 & 7

NurseBetty_RN · Dec 27, 2015

Not a single parent, but have two siblings who are and have workarounds for before and after work concerns. What about partnering up with a neighbor? Perhaps there is someone who has the same issue as you but with after-school. Would it be possible to ask around and see if a deal could be set up where your kids go to the neighbor's in the morning and the neighbor's kids come to your house in the afternoon?
Are you 100% positive the shift starts at 0630? Verify that first. It could be that you would have the time in the morning if it's not truly 0630.

Im not 100% sure on the start time but a friend told thats what she was told, and they attend a neighborhood Catholic school, most kids in the neighborhood attend the assigned public school. But i like your idea

NurseBetty_RN · Dec 27, 2015

I was in that boat when I was in school and had to go to clinical sites early. I hired a teenager from down the street. She came to the house and got them up when it was time for school. That way they could sleep in. How old are your kids?

How much should i expect to pay someone?

loriangel14, RN · Dec 28, 2015

Oh my I don't remember what paid her. It was a long time ago . Maybe find out what the local rate for babysitting is. She could get them up and walk them to school.

middleagednurse · Dec 28, 2015

Find a babysitter in your school district. Take the kids, the sitter can feed kids breakfast and put them on the bus.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Dec 28, 2015

I typically worked PMs, but also worked AMs on occasion as a single parent LVN. I used my child's after school program and also used a licensed family child care provider for the times I needed to work outside of those hours. I pay approx $100-200 per month.

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 28, 2015

Duplicate threads merged.

misstrinad · Dec 28, 2015

When I was a cna And started at 6am I used to use a before school program that opened at 530 and was able to drop my daughter off And just barely make it to work.

Is there any way you can drop them off at school at 615 and make it to work on time? Or is there a friend, grandparent , sitter, daycare you can drop the kids off at and they can take the bus from there? Otherwise finding a sitter to come to your house in the morning is your best bet...good job for a college student wanting to make some extra cash before going to class.

As for the rest of your question......Starting so early is sticky...when I started my first nursing job I started at 7am....luckily my daughter got picked up by the bus at 640 so I had just enough time to make it there. As a single parent I work day shifts....but depend on my family to help me when I get mandated for doubles or need some OT . I would like to switch to the hospital but would have to work swing shifts and wouldn't have a set schedule plus would have to start earlier (and I'm not interested in working in a clinic)....Instead I'm staying at a LTC facility for crappy pay because it is 5 minutes from my daughters school, 12 minutes from home, I work straight day shifts, my schedule is set in stone for am unlimited amount of time, And I don't start until 7am. Until my daughter is older this is what works for us.

Facilities have different start times....maybe you need to look into working else where if the other options don't work out.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Dec 28, 2015

I don't have advice to offer, but I want to say good for you. Just because Dad isn't willing to help you are still trying to find a way to make this work. I agree that maybe trying to find a babysitter to cover those inbetween times. You will also want to work on arrangements now for when school is out, late start days, snow/weather days, etc. You can't call off and won't be able to take vacation everytime their schedule changes.