What area of nursing works well for a mom?

Published

I am a stay at home mom who will be graduating from nursing school soon. My husband works the standard M-F hours. I am trying to decide what area of nursing is conducive to being there for my kids and for family time. I love picking them up from school and hearing about their day, helping with homework etc. I've learned that most of the important struggles that my children are going through are revealed to me in the car on the way to the grocery store, etc.

I understand there are no perfect hours out there, but am very curious to hear everyone's experiences of what works/doesn't work for them. I also understand that what works well for one person, might not for another. But would still love to hear some feedback on this.

And surgery is out for me. I love the idea of getting to know my patients individually and working with them on a long-term basis, but at the same time, my kids do and always will come first. Ideally, I'd also love to have a job that is mentally stimulating. Is there such a position out there for a *new grad*? Kids grow up so fast and I don't want to lose touch with what's going on in their lives.

Any advice?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ccu.

I was a stay at home mom before becoming a nurse.

I have no idea what would be the perfect job for a mom, I'll just tell you what I do. I work 3-11's, 3x/week. Because I was a stay at home mom for so long ,it isn't a hardship for us, for me to work part-time. I like 3-11's b/c I don't have to get up super early, I get the older kids on the bus in the morning, am able to take my little one to and from pre-school and I can get a TON of stuff done before I leave for work.

Downsides, are that I'm not home when they get off the bus, not home for dinner or homework on those nights that I work. I also don't really get to see my husband on those days since he works M-F as well. Obviously, if any after school activities fall on those nights I miss that as well. I try to take off those day swhen I can, and those are a big part of the reason that I only work 3days/week. I have considered going to midnights, but I'm really just not a good day sleeper!

Oh, I work at a hospital, on a cardiac-neuro IMCU :)

Next year when my little one starts full day kindergarten I will likely look to move to days on my unit or elsewhere. I have also tossed around the idea of home-health.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If actual family time is important, then you might want to switch to part-time eventually.

I am mainly a stay at home mom, but I work one day of every weekend. With the per diem freedom of being able to work the days I want to work and the higher weekend pay rate, I make a good wage.

To get where I am, I worked full time for 4 years, got lots of experience in my area and built useful contacts.

Many of my fellow mom co-workers of school aged children like 12 hour nights. After spending some time after school with the kids, they go to work, come home in time to see them off to school, and sleep while the children are in school.

A plus is that my husband has been called on since the boys were babies to do full day childcare and spend lots of time doing (and appreciating) the work of the at-home parent. There is no "babysitting"(he hates that term) when my door-to-door time (including commute, walk, leaving late) is around 14 hours.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the responses. The hospitals in my area offer 12 hr shifts as far as I can tell (except for OR). I have found that the mental health hospitals in my area do offer 8 hr shifts. Mental health is something that interests me, so that is a possibility (if they hire new grads).

For those moms who work 7p-7a, how hard is it for them to flip their schedule for half the week?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I am doing 7p-7a it just works out better right now. As far as flipping my schedule on the day that I get off work and have a stretch of days off I only sleep till 1 or 2 then get up for the rest of the day and usually go to bed around midnight that night. The rest of the week I am up when my son is up and sometimes if I am feeling really tired I will nap when he does (if he actually takes one since he is getting ready to stop taking naps all together.).

12 hour nights is a good shift for a working mom. I am much happier that I am doing 12 hour nights then when I did 12 hour days and my husband working days. It was too hard for us to be getting home around the same time and do dinner and then bath and beditme all in a reasonable amount of time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

With school-aged kids, I work 7p-7a. I get up when they are home from school, and most days, I get home in time to see them off to school, as well. I do sacrifice sleep sometimes, but I am still able to make most games and practices and even occasionally help with school activities. We do pay a good bit for child care (an au pair) that allows for these hours, though. I am only working this schedule through this duty station (I will have 2 1/2 years as a FT M/S RN when we leave here). Although this works for me now, I cannot see carrying this on for much longer, until my kids are older. Next duty station, I will either get a M-F job that works with school hours, work PT or most likely, work PRN. I could probably do 3 11-7's without a huge issue, but I'm not a huge fan of 8 hr hospital shifts, so we'll see what happens. In order to do my time when I was a new grad, this is the best shift for me (my kids will be in K, 2 and 4, this year and the youngest was in FT preschool, last year).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

At the aged care facility where I do my placements the nurses work 8 hour shifts 7-3.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PCU/Telemetry.

I am not a mom but I don't have any trouble flipping b/t day & night schedules on my days off. I usually go into my first night shift having been up all day (usually with a short afternoon nap). That night is pretty hard but once I get home that morning I'm guaranteed to sleep well that day. I try to work three nights in a row which helps me immensely. After my last shift, I only sleep from about 8:30-2:00, then get up & stay up till whenever I am tired enough to go to bed again (usually I've built up enough of a sleep debt that I'm ready to go to bed when my husband goes to bed which is normally about 10 or 11 p.m.). Then I sleep all night & am ready to get up and live a normal day shift life for me days off.

A lot of the moms I have worked with, especially those w/ young children, work night shift weekends. Or part-time night shift (some do part time days also). I've known nurses who work as little as 4-12 hrs a week but they are still able to keep up their skills & enjoy being both a nurse & a mom.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Unfortunately nursing is a 24/7/365 job. All students know that going in. I interview and hire many people. As soon as a new grad starts telling me that they want certain hours, on certain days, in a certain area....sorry. No call back from me. One of the few benefits that nursing longevity /seniority gets you; is to be able to work your shift of choice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Unfortunately nursing is a 24/7/365 job. All students know that going in. I interview and hire many people. As soon as a new grad starts telling me that they want certain hours, on certain days, in a certain area....sorry. No call back from me. One of the few benefits that nursing longevity /seniority gets you; is to be able to work your shift of choice.

I already get this...that's why I'm trying to find out about the career avenues that are out there before applying to positions. As a *new grad* I also am ignorant about the many areas of nursing that are out there since there are so many available. I may decide to work night shift at a hospital for 1-2 years and "pay my dues" then move on to something else. I completely understand the issues of hierarchy with nursing. I agree with you that if a new grad isn't flexible, they are less likely to get a job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in DD, PD/Agency Peds, School Sites.

The nursing positions I've had in school settings have been wonderful -- fantastic schedule.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac intermediate care.

Have you looked at research nursing? Though you don't get to use as many of the hands-on skills that you would in an acute care facility, there is research done in both hospital and office settings. I was in research for a long time, and my hours were 7-4 or 8-5, which us quite family friendly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion