Which job should I take?

[dxlpochacco]

Hello HH RNs! I tried posting this on the case manager forum, but they're shy over there and you guys have been MORE than helpful on this forum.

I need help choosing jobs. A little background. I am a new mom with a 9 month old. I initially wanted to work for the federal government doing health policy or public health program planning, but since I've had him I decided that for now, my dream job is to be able to spend more time with him.

SO here is the dilemma. I currently have a job as a clinical instructor for nursing students 2 days a week (7-3pm). It's not bad. I like teaching and I get to be with him most of the week. The downside is that I have to still leave him with a baby sitter during those days. Every night before I have to leave him, I get super sad.

I have been searching and searching for work at home rn jobs and finally got an offer to work from home as a case manager. I would still have to do some patient visits (do 10 visits a month, that I can schedule myself so it might amount to 3 days a month if I plan well) but the majority of the work will be telephonically.

That sounds perfect right? The catch with the case manager job is that it pays less ($28/hr vs $38/hr for the teaching job). I know that the case manager job is full time but I could always supplement either option by working prn at the hospital one day a week or every other week.

The benefits of a full time job isn't really a factor since my family gets their benefits from my husband's job.

I'm worried that working as a case manager, although from home, will actually take more time than 40 hours a week and it won't be as good for my son as I thought. On the other hand, even if I'm working from home and busy, I could always spend 5 min or 10 min here and there to play with my son.

What do you guys think? Which would you choose?

Thanks!

[Burlshoe114]

I am a mom, too, so I hope I am giving good advice!

My son is 2, so there is a little age and ability difference between our children, but I can pretty much tell you that when I am working from home and my son is awake, I get almost no work done. At least not well or for a significant amount of time.

Young children simply don't understand why it is that Mommy can't play when they want attention. And they want attention now!

I have had phone calls with my son grabbing at the phone and throwing tantrums when he can't get it. I have him pushing me away from my laptop and wanting me to play with him when I am charting. And I also have a stay-home husband who is supposed to be looking after our son while I work, but somehow he views our son as my responsibility when I am physically in the house.

How I have ultimately worked around all of this is that I wind up driving to the office in the morning to do the case management. It is the only place where I can reliably get peace and focus on what I am doing. I see patients from about 11am to 3pm, then come home and take over our son's care until he goes to bed. Then around 8pm, I will pull out the laptop and chart until it is bedtime for me.

Not exactly ideal, but it works. And yes, some weeks it will go longer than 40 hours. But then there will also be days when there is less work as well, so it sort-of evens out. Also, don't be fooled by the "only 10 visits a month." That is an esimate, and the agency will pressure you to do more if they are slammed, which happens.

I think I would look at the job itself and decide which career path is more appealing to you, rather than base your choice on the schedule. Like you said, you could always pick up shifts for more money in either scenario.

Hope this helps!

[caliotter3]

I would stick with your current job. The case manager job will turn out to be more of a headache than you are going to bargain for. Save something like that for later when you are better prepared to be away from your child for longer periods of time.

[KateRN1]

I worked from home editing books and journal articles when my son was an infant and I can vouch for the above. It's almost impossible to get anything done. I had a teenage daughter and a husband at home, but the bulk of child care fell to me (I had the boobies!) and it took me far longer than I expected to complete my tasks. Deadlines would drive me crazy and I would get so stressed out about getting things done. I learned my lesson with that and never will work from home again. Give me an office with a door any day.

[Summers_Off]

Let me second...well, third... the comment that WAH with a little one is not what it seems. My son is three and even at that age it's not any better. Unless I leave him in front of the TV with a constant supply of Goldfish, I'm not getting ANYTHING done. So he still has to go to daycare because the former is not an option except under extreme circumstances (mild fever, snow, school closing). Even when I fire up our personal computer so he can "work", he still ends up in my lap within minutes.

[dxlpochacco]

Thanks everyone for the advice! I do plan on having sitter with me if I do decide to stay at home and work, but you guys have a good point. I'm supposed to do a share day for the case management position so I'll get more info then, but because of your posts, I am leaning towards not taking it. I'll keep you guys updated.