Which position for a nurse with a young baby?

Libby1987 · Aug 26, 2016

I'm an afternoon/evening person so I'd go for the 3-11. Easy childcare is huge. Sleep will be easier and in line with family's sleep schedule. Mornings/early afternoon are the best hours to do things with little ones and as she grows you won't have to miss out on much. Short commute. If you have a spouse and/or other children, you'll have 3 evenings to spend with them and you won't be tired.

Sour Lemon · Aug 26, 2016

I would pick the first one. There are too many negatives to make the second one appealing.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 26, 2016

Position 2 may have better pay, but do the tolls and parking negate the extra earnings? Between toll and parking alone, you are spending 1800 bucks a year. Then add childcare expenses and the fact that the shifts are nights (which I find worse than 3-11, a shift I like), it makes position 1 much more appealing.

NeoPediRN · Aug 26, 2016

Financially I think it'll balance out. I'm just torn between what's probably better for my family vs fulfilling career dreams. I likely won't get this PICU opportunity again.

NeoPediRN · Aug 27, 2016

Bump for more thoughts

nutella, MSN, RN · Aug 27, 2016

I had similar problems when my children were little.

The problems with the nightshifts are that you will be tired a lot plus if you are not getting out in time in am you will be stuck in traffic forever being super tired... You do not sleep as well during the day anyways and little noise may keep you up. I worked rotation in critical care after my first one was born and it was a drag. After the second one, I reduced to part time and per diem for a while and mainly did weekends and some nights only jobs close by.

I think what you are really looking at is the decision of which specialty to choose and if that would be fulfilling. You can have a great career in L&D/PP - it seems they are looking for nurses in that specialty a lot in my area. I know nurses who have worked in that area their whole career and love it.

Or you jump into critical care, which most likely means the less desirable shifts for a while, high stress during orientation, but further down the road you might find the work in the critical care more desirable because of the 1:1 / 1:2 , more control over what you do and such. I see you are from MA and think I know which facility you are talking about based on your description - the traffic in that area is nuts during regular hours. If you park in the garage and get out in time after nights you might be able to make it home ok but if you get out 15 minutes late you can get stuck. The second place will open a lot of doors for you if you can manage the first years ok while having a young child. You will need solid child care because you will not be able to call out due to babysitter problems. Perhaps see if your family gives you some support and what your babysitter options are. Your child will get older and eventually enter preschool and what not but there will be times when your child is sick/vacations and so on and you will need a very solid plan.

My husband had sort of flexible working times, which made it possible for me to work rotations when my child was very young but it was not without stress.

Perhaps make a grid with all the pros and cons. Also, if you plan on more children, you may want to think about a job that works best with your personal life....

futurecnm · Aug 27, 2016

Working nights you will be sleeping most days. It will be a lot more time away from your baby. Working evenings you will still be with your baby every day until 3. Much less time apart.

ProperlySeasoned · Aug 28, 2016

A question to ask yourself, "What would a man do in this situation?"

Libby1987 · Aug 28, 2016

A question to ask yourself, "What would a man do in this situation?"

That really made me think.

Being on the other side of raising my kids, and their dad getting to spend a lot of time with them after school and on the weekends, I'd go with the job that wouldn't give me regrets. Making an honest living and raising kids who felt loved and a priority is what I'd want, male or female.

My last one just graduated, I've got a min of 15 years left and still on a career trajectory after a solid if not exciting nursing experience.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Aug 28, 2016

This is a personal decision, that only YOU can make. However, I will share my thoughts/ experience for what it's worth.

Looking back.. 35 years later.. no JOB was worth taking time away from being a mother. Turn around and they're 2, turn around and they're 4, turn around and they are walking out of the door.

There will be many job opportunities, only one shot at being a mother.

Best wishes, whatever you decide.

RNbubu · Sep 2, 2016

Wow I loved the comment from Been there, done thst above. Right on point and exactly what I was going to say. No job or money is worth taking the time away from being a mom. Kids do grow way too fast. I would choose the position that would give me balance and ability to spend quality time with my kids. With that being sad, my experience working nights was that I had to arrange for child care for 14 hours at night, then I would come home and sleep during the day so I could work that night again, or If I had the night off I would try and stay awake like a zombie. Now that I work days childcare is mich easier and cheaper to find and I am actually awake and available to my kids on my days off. I am a single parent though, things might be different for those who have a spouse since many that I know favor night shift to work opposite hours from the spouse.

As someone else said it is a personal decision. Too many variables, what is needed or important to one person is not the same for another person. Best wishes.