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

Nurses General Nursing

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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!

Specializes in acute care.
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!

Check out Visiting Nurse Service of NY. They start out at >70k, if I recall correctly.

http://www.vnsny.org/careers/positions-by-specialty/home-health-nursing-internships/

There may be an occassion w/e though, not 100 percent sure. But I'm sure they have something that fits your needs.

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cant do weekends or holidays, no childcare and no family around

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cant do weekends or holidays, no childcare and no family around

You're going to have problems then. Who is watching them while you're in school now? You will probably have to look into paying for private childcare. If you absolutely cannot work any nights, weekends or holidays you will have a difficult time finding a job as a new grad. Isn't it well known that the vast majority of nurses do not work m-f 9-5? As other posters have mentioned, those 9-5's are coveted by many people and they usually do not go to inexpiernced new grads.

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I work in case management. You work from home, you make your own hours and appts, you have the flexibility to go out and pick the kids up from school. You are off all the holidays with pay, and no weekends. Not sure if they hire new grads though in this field. And not ALL case managers work from home. Oh, and the pay is excellant, a lot more than any patient care jobs I've had.

Home health might be pretty flexible, too, in terms of running to pick up kids and such. Some do hire new grads, though I myself would not feel comfortable in that sort of job without experience.

Doctors offices are good too, though a lot are open on weekends now. And if you can even get one to hire an RN, the pay will be low.

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Specializes in FNP.
cant do weekends or holidays, no childcare and no family around

You are going to have to hire childcare. I don't think such a job exists for a new graduate. 8-4 Mon-Fri opportunities are going to go to people with with experience, and whom have "paid their dues" so to speak.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

Not to sound starky, but "beggars can't be choosers" It is hard enough to get any job as a new grad, let alone one that pays well, does not require weekends, and is only 8 hr shifts. As others have pointed out; these are usually reserved for the experienced/seniority nurse.

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If there's a will, there's a way. There are many single mothers in nursing that make it work. As others said, you will have to look into hiring childcare if you have no other options. You could start asking around now for recommendations from other parents.

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Honestly, I think you should apply for the job you WANT/NEED and work your childcare around that. It will be MUCH easier to find childcare to suit your schedule then the other way around. Have faith it will work out. Good luck!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
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

I'm sorry to say it, but as a new grad it is highly unlikely that you will snag a 9-5 weekday only job making 60K.

You need to look at things realistically. There's too many other new grads out there for you to afford to be very finicky about what you get after graduation (see all the "I can't get a job!" threads). If you need the money, look at hospitals but accept that the hours are going to be horrible and that you will have to get childcare. If you really want the bankers' hours, look at clinics and doctor's offices but accept that you won't be getting the big bucks.

Also, childcare can be a tax deduction which may help ease the financial burden a bit.

There are lots of single mothers in all areas of nursing. If you want it you can find a way to make it work...but accept that you may have to make some compromises at first. Good luck.

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Specializes in MDS Coordinator.

I have 4 children, although I'm not a single mother. I have just accepted a new job as an MDS coordinator. I work 9-5, M-F with no weekends. The pay is also good. When I first graduated nursing school, I had to work at the bottom of the barrel, but after several years experience, I've finally found a job with these hours. I agree with the other people here---you are going to have a very tough time finding the type of job you have outlined here. You need some experience under your belt, and even then, it is tough.

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I agree that there are some sacrifices that may need to be made upon graduating and working in an area of nursing that isnt my 1st choice is a sacrifice Im willing to make but I am not willing to compromise on being a parent. There is also no childcare available on the weekends, nights or on holidays so the hospital is not an option.

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Specializes in maternal child, public/community health.

Chances are you will either get the hours or maybe the pay (In my area, you would not make $60K even in a hospital as a new grad unless you worked a lot of overtime and/or nights and weekends.). The highest paying jobs almost always have lousy hours or require many years of experience. It is unrealistic to expect to make $60 straight out of college in most career fields. As a single mom, I understand your desire to put parenting first but that means you may make sacrifices. When I graduated, I worked in a peds clinic because of my commitment to my children and grandchildren. The hours were great (my schedule included one Sat morning a month and one evening until 7but some worked M-F) but the pay was not. After a year, I took a different job.

Some jobs you could consider:

  • clinics
  • outpatient surgery (will not be 9-5 and may include some weekends)
  • clinic-based or health department public health (probably best to have experience before doing home-based)
  • insurance company (use nurses for various things - not sure if they would take a new grad)
  • school nursing (but may not have the same days off as your kids if you work in a different district and will need backup care for when your kids are sick - which you will need for any jobs)
  • an organization like American Heart Assoc, etc hire some nurses
  • occupational nurse (if you worked at a place big enough so you have a more experienced nurse with you - again, may want experience before you go it alone)

Again, as others suggested, you could work nights in a hospital. Obviously, you are near a nursing school. Perhaps you could get a couple of nursing students to stay with your kids overnight while they sleep, you can get them off to school before going to sleep and be up to pick them up from school. you would be a little short on sleep the nights you work but it would only be 3 days a week if you did full-time. Or you could do 3 days (assuming you can get a day job as a new grad) but you would need someone to be with the kids before and after school. Again, you could perhaps get nursing/college students. But with a hospital job, you WILL have to work weekends and some holidays. If you do not want to do that, you will not be able to get a hospital job.

Being a single mom is tough. If you really want a M-F day job, you will probably have to look a while. I know you would like us to tell you there are lots of jobs out there for new grads that meet your criteria but the reality is that there aren't. If you are willing to move (especially if you do not have strong ties to where you are), that always makes it easier to get a job.

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