RN mama schedules

Trauma Columnist · Feb 10, 2006

When our sons were little, I worked 3 12 hour night shifts. This allowed me to help with night time stuff, dinner, etc., and then I could get them off to school in the morning before I went to bed. I did this for many, many years.

allnurses Guide · Feb 10, 2006

Numero Uno - Work Part Time!

I work 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. two days a week and my 4 year old goes to preschool 2 days a week. I'm not a big fan of preschool by the way. But this one is very low key and mostly play oriented. My 16 year old daughter gets him ready in the morning and my inlaw's pick him up.

I liked being home at 3 for my older kids so I would be there after school and evenings.

Kids need you whatever their age. It is tough - my sons played sports and it was hard to attend their football games on Friday night when I had to be up to get ready for work at 1:45 a.m. Some days I went to work on 1 hour of sleep.

I'm hoping to not be working at all . . . goal, as stated previously, is stay at home mom.

If you are working while your kids are at school - that is the best way.

Good luck.

steph

rpv_rn · Feb 10, 2006

When my chidren were toddlers, I worked 3 - 1130 pm shift 3x/ week. Money was tight but I considered that even 3 days were too many days away from them when they were that young. If we had been more financially stable, my choice would have been not to work when they were that age.

Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2006

When our sons were little, I worked 3 12 hour night shifts. This allowed me to help with night time stuff, dinner, etc., and then I could get them off to school in the morning before I went to bed. I did this for many, many years.

Trauma,

Were you able to work 3 12's right in a row and have four days off, or is that too draining? I'd love to know your opinion on that. :coollook:

Thanks.

mandana · Feb 10, 2006

When our sons were little, I worked 3 12 hour night shifts. This allowed me to help with night time stuff, dinner, etc., and then I could get them off to school in the morning before I went to bed. I did this for many, many years.

I also want some information from you on this!

How did you find that 4th day, or the 1st day off? Was it tough for you to get back into a more "normal" daytime routine on your off days??

I'm naturally a night owl, if left to my own devices, I'd go to bed around 5AM and sleep until 1PM, so I feel like this would be a good choice for me. I just worry about not being able to get back into the swing on my off days.

Amanda

camay1221_RN · Feb 10, 2006

I worked part-time PM shift, every other weekend, two shifts one week and three the next. I never worked the three consecutively.

Currently I am working a day/PM rotation, and I absolutely hate day shift! In April, I will change my weekends to eight hour nights and work my two PM shifts during the week. I ultimately seeing myself going to straight nights, but that won't be for a year or two.

jrring1019 · Feb 10, 2006

Weekends!! I have 3 children ages 7,6 and 4. I had them very close together and I became a weekender when #2 was born. The hospital where I was at had a good weekend program and I eventually made as much as a weekender as I used to full time. Now I am PRN in 2 places and I will still only work weekends, or a 4 hr shift (7p-11p) once a week. I learned early on that it is very hard for me (in the mommy sense) the day after a night shift.