Was nursing really for me?

Hello everyone,

I graduated with my BSN in 2005 and have had quite a hard time adjusting to the demands of nursing. I just can't except jobs that may require weekends, nights and holidays. This makes finding a job quite hard. I have 2 small kids and do not want to be gone when they are at home and home when they are at school. I want to be home at night and on weekends and holidays with my family. This is VERY important to me. My mom worked the "crazy" nursing hours so I know how this feels. At the same time, knowing this I truly believe I should not have chosen nursing. I love the job but just not the hours that it sometimes requires. I am thinking about switching to early elementary education unless I can find a job that suites my personal needs. Sadly, I feel like I am the only one who feels this way. Any advice from others who may feel the same as me? Thanks

Have you considered school nursing?

You don't have to leave nursing just b/c you don't want to work weekends or holidays...unless of course you just don't want to be a nurse. There are many options out there. Home health. MD office. Public health/community health nursing. Working in a clinic. Employee health nurse. Insurance reviews and so on. Just don't expect to work in a hospital and never work weekends or holidays unless you're in management. And my mom worked (and still works) a job 5 days a week that included weekends, some holidays, and so on...but I knew it was to put food on the table and clothes on my back and now as a grown up I can't thank my mom enough for the sacrifices she made for me....so chances are that your kids will understand that too. Good luck.

I kind of feel the same way you do so being in a similar situation I think you may like being a school nurse, working in a clinic or being a clinical nurse. These jobs usually offer a more traditional (9-ish to 5-ish) work schedule than a hospital schedule. Be sure to check out all of your options before you give up completely on something you worked so hard to achieve!! Best of luck to you!

exactly what everyone else said:

home health, school nursing, medical office, outpatient surgical center. there are many, many options available to you.

Or, if you've been working as an RN since 2005 (and can do without the benefits), consider going PRN/per diem. That's where I am, and I couldn't love my flexibility more. I only choose the AM shift, and I'll only work weekends every once in a while.

I'm a single mom of an 8 year old who switched from hospital nursing to public heath nursing at least in part for the more family-friendly hours. I love having my weekends and holidays back! I applied for PH jobs straight out of nursing school but most places wanted some hospital experience -- so, I worked in a hospital for 1.5 years, and was then able to get a PH job. It took a while -- you and I are not the only two nurses in the world who want to work M-F 9-5 -- but it is doable.

Good luck!

If you don't need full time work find a per diem job and just work one shift a week. I worked 2 8 hour shifts when my kids were little, swing shift. The benefits were that my husband had consistent alone time with the kids that not many dad's get. The kids often preferred "dad" dinners than "mom" dinners. The other positives were the rare "mom" weekends away I took, I didn't have to call home half a dozen times to check up on my husband like my other friends did. During the summers I was home all day with them, we could go to the park in the morning, a picnic lunch and then one or two days a week I would go to work. No big deal. Frankly when they were little they went to bed around 8p so I was working for 4 hours while they were counting sheep. If your husband isn't supportive than this idea won't work.

Also hard to find part time work that pays as well. I frankly never found the hours " crazy" I've been so glad to not do the M-F 9-5 grind. But if you feel nursing just isn't for you then research other opportunities.