Single mother nurses

MelodyRNurse · Jan 5, 2009

I do think the salary is decent to provide a good home for children as a single mother, however I do not yet have a mortgage or care payment.

I have to rely of family a lot for help with shift work. There are a lot of resources, especially other single mothers, day care centers that are open at night, and after school programs. There are even some hospitals with their own daycare.

agent66 · Jan 5, 2009

Well i find it terribly stressful, is tough and expensive to find daycare for the hours i work where i live, almost makes it not worth the while of going to work when you add in the cost of parking etc. I have been saying for years that an onsite daycare even just at night would be so great, would likely enable more girls to pick up shifts when they are short as daycare is often the issue we cannot come in. I do only nights, ship the kids to their dad's for most of the nights, but i still have to take them to and from school. Picking up shifts last minute is out of the question, as my family are not close by and all my friends are nurses as well , and i hate to impose on them on their days off to look after my kids. Pay wise is great, but i am exhausted with the long hours plus managing everything else , ie school and extracurriculars. Kids are busy no matter what the age, and lucky for you your family are close by and willing to help you out. Best of luck to you.......try to remember to take time for yourself with the busy schedule if you are able

mstzydeco · Jan 5, 2009

I am a single mother I try to work night shift and then my 12 year old be gone to school when I get home and I pick my 4 yr. old up from the baby sitter and I hate that he is in pre k. So he go to school from 12-3. And if I work two jobs I do weekends only on the other job 32/40.

laybell · Jan 5, 2009

I'm a single mom, still in school and not yet a nurse, but I thought one of the greatest things about nursing was being able to have a flexible schedule. I have two children also and of course I want the morning shift because it would be easier for myself and them. As a new grad would I be "stuck" to the evening shift? Would the flexibility not be there?

medicmama921 · Jan 5, 2009

I was a single mom all through nursing school - when I started they were 18 months old & 2 1/2 years old. No family around, very few friends, fresh off a divorce with the father not at all involved. It was one of the most difficult things I've ever done! But I made it, & I am lucky enough to have an 8-5 weekday job now. Thank God for daycare - as much as I hated taking them, I had no other choice. I am remarried now, but we work opposite shifts, so I still drop them off in the mornings & pick them up in the afternoons. All I can tell you is it takes alot of patience, & for me, alot of prayers! But it CAN be done...keep your chin up - you are a strong woman to survive being a single mom. You CAN do this! :) Just know that hospital work is not your only option. There are several other opportunities to be found, but sometimes you really have to seek them out. And as someone else said, as difficult as it is to find time for yourself, it is a MUST if you are going to stay sane! Remember that you are important too - don't neglect yourself. The kids need you & you can't be there for them if you aren't in the right frame of mind. I learned this the hard way...my best friend is going through this now. Try to see what job opportunities are in your area. Best of luck to you - you'll be in my thoughts.