Single moms and every 3rd weekend

[belle005]

I have been reading through old threads about single moms working weekends, but can't really find what I'm looking for. I'm a single mother to 3 young children. They go to their dad's house out of town every other weekend. Other than that, they are always with me. I'm a brand new RN and in my interview, I mentioned I needed to work every other weekend and not every 3rd weekend like the rest of the floor. I was told that wouldn't be a problem. I got my orientation schedule and I'm on every third weekend. I already have to pay someone to sleep over (it's a night position), and pay someone while I get sleep during the day, and now I'm going to have to pay someone for weekends too??? I can't just sit home alone while my kids are gone - I have to work while I don't need the child care or I'm never going to make ends meet. I emailed my manager at once and asked for clarification. I'm hoping it just the orientation that will be every 3rd, but it's a very long orientation, so I'm not sure how I'm going to manage the every 3rd weekend even for the duration of orientation. And I have no idea what I'll do if they say I can't work every other weekend going forward.

Any other single moms have problems like this? How do you manage every 3rd weekend when your kids are only gone every other weekend? I'm really worried now about how I'm going to manage this.

[Isabelle49]

I would think management and staff would be thrilled that you want to work every other weekend, but then again this is nursing.

[codeblue22]

Doesn't sound promising at your facility.. I suggest looking elsewhere where RNs work every-other weekend, but as a new nurse you'll never get 8-hr dayshifts. Sorry, but it's the honest truth. Seniority will prevent that. So rather than going against the system (which will be hard to beat), try to either work with the system, or find a new place. Everyone is unique. I'm a single mom and 12hr night shifts work great for me. I don't get much sleep, but the tradeoff is that i only work 3 days/wk. It's an easy choice.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

At our hospital instead of every third weekend the requirement is 3 weekend shifts a month. However a lot of our staff members myself included like to work weekends because of childcare issues so we work almost every weekend. I work maybe one nonweekend shift a month. This allows people who do not like working weekends to not have to do so. All in all it generally works out however new grads are unfortunately at the bottom of the pile when it comes to getting their preferred schedule. With all the new grads looking for work you should be thankful for what you have.

That sounds like a fairly sane place :)

I actually offered to work all weekends (Sat-Sun-Mon) so I'd know my schedule in advance. I was told I couldn't because that would mean someone wouldn't have to work weekends as required....Huh? If someone volunteers to work them all, it's a problem? That place was nuts- like some ditzy sorority with some really good folks in the mix- but the 'sorority' making the rules. :uhoh3::uhoh3:

[honeykrown, MSN, NP]

Mehn how i wish my facility would hire you XTXRN so you can work all my weekends. i am on nights and every other weekend and my husbadn workds days and weekends off. it doesnt work out so well. Would you consider moving/

anyways OP instead of every other weekend with the kids father while not two weekends in a row kind of thing or tell the father he gets to keep them an extra week while you work (that is if he loves having his kids around and you guys are on talking terms). or maybe that weekend is sleep over night for them at their best friends place. And when you are off you can have the best friend over so the mum doesnt feel used.

[Guest296136]

I have been there, once you are off orientation I am sure you will be able to work every other weekend. I worked every weekend for a year when I needed to and there were many nurses willing to give up their weekends so I could do it.

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

When my kiddos were small, I hired a girl who was a senior in high school to sleep over @ noc when I worked. It worked out well for us---my kids loved her. Now they are all grown and we all still keep in touch w/ her.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

I had this same problem. I was able to negotiate a three week rotation with my ex that worked out great. Weekend 1-you have the kids, weekend 2- ex has the kids (and you work), weekend 3 you both split the weekend so you take the kids Sat and he on Sun or vice versa. This gives each of you the same number of nights with the kids, just a little irregular. Your other option is to find coworkers that don't mind switching their weekends to match yours. Good luck.

[momof3lv]

I think the only way to have great flexable hours in nursing is to work per diem, but then you dont get benefits. I did that after having my second baby, I didnt need the benefits and it worked out great, I worked when I wanted and didnt work when I couldnt, or didnt feel like it.

[Flo., BSN, RN]

If any co worker wanted to work my weekends for me, I would gladly let them. If mgmt is being weird ask your coworkers.