3rd Shift with Young Children at Home??

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I will be going back to school for nursing shortly and was wondering if any of you are working the 3rd shift and have young kids at home? If so, what is your schdule like?

Thanks

Cheryl

mommy to 3 almost 4 (edd 12-19-05)

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Specializes in L&D.

I work 3rd shift and I have an 8 and 6-year-old.

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I work 3rd shift and I have an 8 and 6-year-old.

How is your schdule working out? What is a typical day for you when you work? i.e do you take the kids to school, when do you sleep, etc

Cheryl

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Specializes in L&D.

Well, the kids don't start school until after Labor Day so, right now they are home with me. I used to have them in a home based daycare, but she decided to go back to school and is no longer doing daycare so, they're home with me. Because of having no daycare right now, I asked to work Th - Saturday night for three weeks until they start school, that way I can just take a couple hour nap Thursday before work, try to get some sleep on Friday (I have great kids that will try to keep it quiet and I can sleep on the couch while they play quietly in the same room. They can make cereal for breakfast for themselves, make a sandwhich for lunch and get snacks on their own, so...

It will definately be a little different for you since you have a little one on the way. Is it possible for you to get part-time daycare for the little ones just so you can get in a few hours of sleep? Uninterrupted sleep really works best for me. Any family or friends in the area that may be willing to take the kids for a few hours so you can sleep?

Congratulations by the way on the new little one on the way! :)

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I work 7p-7a. I only work 3 days a week. Children are 5 and 7. Hubbie at home nights. Kids got to stay home from daycare for the first time since I am out of school. They loved it. This summer I came home and slept with them until about 10:00am. I would fix them breakfast and they would let me sleep until lunchtime. NOBODY is allowed outside while I sleep. Mother in law is next door so she watched them sometimes while I slept. I work two weekends a month and that isn't so bad because the hubbie is home with them all day. Now that school is in session they ride to school with him and I come home and sleep away. My friend on days said she doesn't get home until 7:30-800pm and she just sees her kids for a while then they go right to bed. My kids come home from school and I help with homework,feed them, and help them bathe before I leave for work. This schedule seems to work for us. :)

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Specializes in Women's health & post-partum.

Admittedly this was a number of years ago, but--when my kids were small, I hired a sitter to come in for about 4 hours while I slept. Then I'd get up and take an evening nap (11 to 7 shift) before I went to work. Later I had them in a day-care/pre-school arrangement.

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I will be going back to school for nursing shortly and was wondering if any of you are working the 3rd shift and have young kids at home? If so, what is your schdule like?

Thanks

Cheryl

mommy to 3 almost 4 (edd 12-19-05)

My kids are 6 and 9 years old. This schedule works out great for my family. Both of my children are in school during the day. I get home in time to get them on the school bus and then I sleep during the day. I get up about 30 minutes before they get home and then I have a good 3 hours to spend with them, fix dinner, help with homework, and get things ready for the next day. I work every other weekend which is nice because hubby is home. I have a part-time babysitter that comes in from 6:30 until about 10:00 pm during the week when hubby is working. I work 3 shifts a week with occassional on-call hours because I work on a closed unit.

If I worked during the day, I would only get to see my kids maybe a half an hour in the evening. :o So, if you can handle working nights....this would be something to consider.

Valiere RN

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Specializes in cardiac, GI, ER..

I aslo work 7p-7a, I am a single parent and it works out great for me. I have two kids 4 and 12 and they stay with my sister when I work . I do fri,sat,sun 7p-7a and thats it. that way I am home during the week and always availible. I love it. I sometimes feel guilty about the weekends but it is more money on the shift i work so i will get over it. My sister does alotof things with them when they are there so it is not that bad. I wish you luck it is a hard descion but you will make the best one for you.

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It will definately be a little different for you since you have a little one on the way. Is it possible for you to get part-time daycare for the little ones just so you can get in a few hours of sleep? Uninterrupted sleep really works best for me. Any family or friends in the area that may be willing to take the kids for a few hours so you can sleep?

Congratulations by the way on the new little one on the way! :)

I have a LONG way to go Jen!! I figure when i do start nursing school, the new baby won't be a baby anymore and there is a great daycare by my house and the school district here have the before and after care.

Eventually i would like to work the 3rd shift 3 days a week and plan tosleep while they are at school or daycare.

Thanks for the congratulations.

What made you change your mind about switching from being a L&D nurse?

Cheryl :)

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My kids are 6 and 9 years old. This schedule works out great for my family. Both of my children are in school during the day. I get home in time to get them on the school bus and then I sleep during the day. I get up about 30 minutes before they get home and then I have a good 3 hours to spend with them, fix dinner, help with homework, and get things ready for the next day. I work every other weekend which is nice because hubby is home. I have a part-time babysitter that comes in from 6:30 until about 10:00 pm during the week when hubby is working. I work 3 shifts a week with occassional on-call hours because I work on a closed unit.

If I worked during the day, I would only get to see my kids maybe a half an hour in the evening. :o So, if you can handle working nights....this would be something to consider.

Valiere RN

Thank you Valiere :) Your schedule sounds great!! I really wouldn't want to work a day shift position for the reason you stated...only seeing the kids a half an hour in the evening. That is no good for me.

Thanks again.

Cheryl

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Specializes in L&D.

What made you change your mind about switching from being a L&D nurse?

Cheryl :)

Simply that they weren't hiring new grads at the time. At the moment, I can't even see doing L & D anymore. I get so much variety every day on my unit. I can't help wondering - would I be bored in L & D?
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I work weekends only, 7a-11p on Sat. and Sun. I have 3 children at home, 9,3,and 9mos. This works out great for us because I'm home all week with the boys, and I'm only away from them for 2 days. Granted, I have no weekends with my family, but it's not going to be forever. Sometimes you have to do what's best for you and your family, and it all works out usually!

I will be going back to school for nursing shortly and was wondering if any of you are working the 3rd shift and have young kids at home? If so, what is your schdule like?

Thanks

Cheryl

mommy to 3 almost 4 (edd 12-19-05)

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