single mothers: best area of nursing to go into re: hours and salary?

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I would like to hear from the single mothers who have found an area of nursing that works great for them in regards to being able to be their for their children as well as financially support everyone well. I dont see how 12 hour shifts would work for a single mom w/o family around to take care of their kids, when would you ever see your kids and who would put them on the bus and take them home from school? Im an RN student trying to get a head start of where I apply for jobs when I graduate. Thanks!

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The only thing I can think of off the top is a doctor's office. The pay is less than working a hospital, but working hours would be while kids are in school and you would have holidays off. It also just occurred to me that school nurse would be good for hours as well, plus summers off where you could do PRN work if you need the money.

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The only thing I can think of off the top is a doctor's office. The pay is less than working a hospital, but working hours would be while kids are in school and you would have holidays off. It also just occurred to me that school nurse would be good for hours as well, plus summers off where you could do PRN work if you need the money.

Perhap home health. The hours are reasonable, and the pay is probably more than in a doctor's office.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

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Home health hours would be good for single moms, but I'm not sure home health is a good fit for a new grad. I believe there are some new grads that have made the transition to home health successfully, but it's not something I would recommend, nor would I want a new grad practicing on me. It's nothing personal, but in my opinion, you should have some acute care experience before practicing by yourself in pt's homes.

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public health. Flexable hours, nights, weekends & holidays off. You can leave if your kids are sick.....It's a good place for a mother.

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i apologize for my ignorance....public health means what exactly?

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Those are all very good suggestions if it is doable in your area.

It's not in my world. Those plum spots are available by seniority and experience. I've been working ten years now and still don't have the seniority to be working in outpatients or some of the public health units (nicer locations, if I wanted Inner City, it would be mine).

This has been a problem for me most of my working life. Due to my husband's job, I'm basically a single mother half the year. It was hard when I was in school and started working. Many childcare centres don't open until 07 and that's when day shift STARTS. So my choices were limited. Doctor's offices, working weekends when they were old enough to spend the day by themselves (12+).

Nursing can be rewarding, but the system isn't going to change because we are mothers. I work with women in their late 20s and early 30s who think because my children are now in their late teens, I should work their weekends, evenings and night shifts so they can be home. They feel they are the only ones deserving of summer holidays and Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Canada days at home. I've missed soccer games, cubnight and all sorts of things I wanted to attend because of the job.

With hindsight, I would have picked another line of work, when they were younger, because those are events I'll never get back. Now I just have my future grandchildren to hope for and live through.

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Clinic nursing. No 24/7 and noweekends. Unless it's flu season.

Try to get clinicals in places like that so you can have foot in door.

(wic clinic, public health, google clinic in you area to also get an idea.

And Dr'S offices.). I graduated may 08 and just got a job I like and

think is good fit for my kids and I.

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as a single mother w/no support, I could never work weekends, holidays or 12 hour shifts. Im also in a position where I need to make at least 60K starting in NY. would public health fit this criteria? how about clinics? doctors offices? remember im in NY

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as a single mother w/no support, I could never work weekends, holidays or 12 hour shifts. Im also in a position where I need to make at least 60K starting in NY. would public health fit this criteria? how about clinics? doctors offices? remember im in NY

Honestly, you're options are very limited. The reality is that nurses work weekends, nights, holidays, and 12 hour shifts. As others mentioned, the jobs with more desirable schedules are hard to come by and usually go to experienced nurses.

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How about school nursing?

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Specializes in OB.

Don't necessarily write off 12 hour shifts as a single parent. I worked them for all of my son's life.

With 12 hr shifts you are only arranging care for 3 days a week. If you work nights once your child is school age you are gone mostly during their sleep time, can sleep while they are in school and can be awake and have good time with them during the after school hours and even be available to pick them up from after school activities.

I really didn't find it difficult to find a sitter willing to have my child for 3 nights/week. It's easy for them as they get paid for a sleeping child.

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