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

ProBeeRN, BSN, RN · Nov 19, 2010

From someone with a school aged child- what's your plan during the summers or extended school vacations? The advantage to finding childcare for 12 hour shifts is that it's less days to coordinate. In the summer that's 4 days a week to sleep in and make pancakes for your kid, instead of trying to work out a 5 day work week. I went through nursing school a single mom (but with a very good support network) so I get where you're coming from.

GM2RN · Nov 20, 2010

GM2RN,
your acting like hospital nursing is the end all be all for an RN degree. WHY I chose the Nursing profession is really irrelevant to my post. I posted this question bc I am certain there are single mothers in my situation in the field of nursing who could offer alternatives to 12 hour shift work. If you have answers to my question, please post and I greatly appreciate it. thanks

Hmmmm....Well, I was actually the first one to reply to your question about alternatives to the hospital setting with what I could think of at the time. Then others have added to it. So you have gotten some good suggestions already, mine included.

The problem that still remains for you is that the alternatives are far fewer in number, and they are far less likely to go to a new grad. Plus, no one has even mentioned the fact that doctor's offices, and perhaps some of the others, are more likely to hire LPNs or MAs than pay for an RN to do the job.

So while it's not completely unheard of for a new RN to get a job that meets all of your requrements, the fact remains that you will be up against some stiff competition and run the risk of not getting a job at all for some time without relaxing your criteria. I know that's not what you want to hear, but that's the way it is at the current time.

Caffeine_IV · Nov 20, 2010

I'm a single mother of a 4yo but I currently live near family and work in a hospital on the night shift for 3days a week. I've worked night shift in a nursing home prior to this.

It's been the best schedule to fit MY needs. Being a working parent, I know I'm bound to miss out on some things but I've been fortunate.

I've looked at some 9-5 type jobs before but the pay is less (I'm down south) and I feel that I would miss out on more things.

I've interviewed for supervisor/shift manager positions as well and found that it would probably require some on-call and bringing paperwork home.

Currently, I don't have to miss work for appointments. I can often go on field trips and sometimes I can clump my days together and be off for 4-5days at a time. And there is the option to switch a night with another worker when there is a conflict.

If I did not live near family, I would TRY to get a 7a-7p position and have a regular sitter/nanny for those 3 days especially since my daughter will be going to K5 next year.

Best of luck to you!

GM2RN · Nov 20, 2010

GM2RN,
your acting like hospital nursing is the end all be all for an RN degree. WHY I chose the Nursing profession is really irrelevant to my post. I posted this question bc I am certain there are single mothers in my situation in the field of nursing who could offer alternatives to 12 hour shift work. If you have answers to my question, please post and I greatly appreciate it. thanks

I wasn't asking you to explain why you chose nursing for a career. Personally, I don't care, but I do see how you may have felt the question was implied. However, it was a rhetorical question at best. But even though I don't care to hear your rationale, the fact that you have chosen nursing, as it tends to be so opposite of the criteria you have established for yourself, does call into question your true priorities when there are other careers that would allow you to work your self-imposed schedule without so much difficulty.

cutekittenj · Dec 28, 2010

I'm a single mom with a daughter who is 3 months. 12 hour shifts can be difficult depending on the area you work in and what daycares are available. The day care hours where I live at are only 8 to 5 which definitely doesn't work out with my 12 hour shift schedule. I too wanted a job that was 8-5 no holidays and no weekends. The only problem in my area is that you have to have at least 1 year of experience to get a job at a health department or a school nurse because you have so much autonomy which can be overwhelming for a a new grad. Most doc's office are not hiring RNs b/c they are too expensive. Let me tell you, I understand where you are coming from b/c I tried to find something from 8 to 5 only to get my feelings hurt when I kept getting rejected. I ended up having to accept the fact that temporarily I will have to miss some of my daughters life to make her life better by working 12 hour shifts. I hope by the time she goes to school I will have 8-5 job when she is 5.So I do understand where you are coming from, but do know that your view is a little unrealistic as a new grad but won't be once you have a couple of years of experience.

I am fortunate that I have my sister to help out. If I didn't have her, I would hire a college student and pay them like 20 dollars a night (60 dollars a week). I know how you are feeling and I know it's tough to leave your child with someone else for a while to work maybe nights, weekends, and holidays. But just remember it won't be forever. However if you continue to wait for the perfect job, it may never come making you more and more frustrated. But you ever need to talk more, feel free to pm. Good luck to you.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 28, 2010

i dont realistically see being able to find quality child care to cover nights, weekends or holidays for a hospital job. it just isnt going to happen, especially for holidays.
as for salary, im not sure where any of the previous posters live but here in ny, rns that work in the hospitals start @ 80k, so i thought it was completely reasonable to expect 60k out of the hospital.

if you want to work in a hospital, you're going to have to work nights, weekends and holidays. there are many options for child care; you just have to look for them. perhaps a retired woman from your church would like to be paid to have your kids sleep at her house three nights a week. i'll bet she'd love to have the company on holidays, too! perhaps your neighbor's teenager would like to earn money for sleeping on your sofa. maybe you could arrange to work opposite nights from a co-worker and take turns watching each other's kids.

but it's not going to happen if you don't make it happen.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 28, 2010

loveblossom,
i appreciate your suggestions and others as well. i am def not making excuses. i just know what im willing and not willing to compromise on. i know that hospital nursing is not an option for me for many reasons. i take being a parent very seriously and being a single parent even more seriously. i am my childs only parent, therefore it is vitally important, in my opinion anyway, to be there for my child for things like holidays, homework, dinner, etc...also, the reality is 12 hour shifts are not really 12 hour shifts after reports are done + commute time. youre really gone more like 14 hours. thats alot of time to be away from a child even if it is 3 days a week. and lets not forget if your relief nurse doesnt show up for her shift or is late. not a good scenario for me and my child.

a holiday is more than just a date on a calendar. if you find it necessary to be with your child for holidays, there's no reason santa cannot come to your house on december 23 or 27. if you're off the weekend before memorial day, have a picnic and put flowers on your family's graves then. fourth of july fireworks are a lot of fun, but your child can go with you one year and a friend the next.

if you absolutely cannot compromise on anything, nursing is probably not for you.

nursynurseRN · Aug 30, 2012

i think home health nursing will work well for you

beeker · Aug 30, 2012

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.

This should have been considered before starting nursing school. Good luck is all I can say. I had several like you in my class, and they are all still unemployed " because of the economy & no one is hiring" when in fact, people are, but when you are new you can't be so limited with your availability. You are going to have to find a babysitter, just like the rest of us.

beeker · Aug 30, 2012

i think home health nursing will work well for you

As a new grad with zero experience, being alone with no one to ask questions to or help with drawing a lab, seems like a bad idea.

missladyrn · Aug 30, 2012

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

Your expectations are not realistic at all. All the jobs you want will have a lot of competition, and unless you know someone, the likelihood of you snagging a m-f job with no bedside experience is not good. As in getting struck by lightening type odds. You are self imposing WAY too many limits. The good jobs require bedside experience or experience period. I think you need to be a bit more realistic with your expectations. You are not the first single mother ever to become a nurse. How far into your schooling are you? Is it too late to change majors into something that fits your desired schedule?

For the record I work with quite a few single moms, both Nurses and Techs. They all work nights & weekends. You CAN do it, you are choosing to make excuses why you won't. Hiring managers don't care for that.

MJB2010 · Aug 30, 2012

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!

Lots of single moms work 12 hour shifts. Lots of people have no family around to watch the kids. There are a lot of nurses, and hospital employees that make this schedule work. It depends on how bad you want it. Some LTCs hire for 8 hour shifts. But nursing is a 24/7 job, and you knew that when you picked it. Low man on the totem pole in ANY job is going to have to work the less desirable shift. That for a nurse includes weekends and holidays. Most places rotate them.