Work from home nurse job M-F?

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

Need some insight from other nurses that work from home as a nurse or work a non-bedside job. I got offered a WFH position however it comes with a pay cut. I’ve worked in a busy ICU the last 2.5 years and COVID really burnt me out as a nurse. 

I do want low stress, and work from home sounds very appealing just not sure if it’s the right move as it is also a Monday-Friday job no nights weekends and paid holidays (office closed) I have small children and want to enjoy them and the pay cut isn’t really a problem. Would this be career suicide? 

Thanks 

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

I really don't think anything is career suicide (except maybe criminal history).  I changed specialties several times; I started working med-surg after 20 years with no med-surg experience; I was able to get a great job after 3 years of not working much at all.

There seems to be a lot of angst with people worrying about accepting "the wrong job" and killing chances for the future.  I don't know where this comes from.  All nursing experience is nursing experience.  It all counts.  No job will disqualify you from something you might later want to do.

You got offered the perfect job for you right now.  Take it.  When it's time to do the next thing, the next thing will appear.  Don't get hung up trying to plan the whole rest of your life; allow it to provide the occasional pleasant surprise.  Enjoy your kids while they're still small.

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They hiring?  LOL. 

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TriciaJ, I suspect some of this worry about career suicide comes from the rise in applicant tracking software. I read about nurses who want to make the switch from LTC to acute, but can't find a job because employers are looking for recent acute care and look right past the LTC nurse. Applicant tracking software can sift your job application right out and no human eyes will see you application depending on how HR sets the parameters on their software. 

When I started nursing in the analog days, you could walk over to nurse recruiting, pick up an application, chat with the recruiter about what jobs they are lookin for and make a good impression. 

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7 hours ago, TriciaJ said:

I really don't think anything is career suicide (except maybe criminal history).  I changed specialties several times; I started working med-surg after 20 years with no med-surg experience; I was able to get a great job after 3 years of not working much at all.

There seems to be a lot of angst with people worrying about accepting "the wrong job" and killing chances for the future.  I don't know where this comes from.  All nursing experience is nursing experience.  It all counts.  No job will disqualify you from something you might later want to do.

You got offered the perfect job for you right now.  Take it.  When it's time to do the next thing, the next thing will appear.  Don't get hung up trying to plan the whole rest of your life; allow it to provide the occasional pleasant surprise.  Enjoy your kids while they're still small.

Thank you! I needed to read that.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
3 hours ago, RNperdiem said:

TriciaJ, I suspect some of this worry about career suicide comes from the rise in applicant tracking software. I read about nurses who want to make the switch from LTC to acute, but can't find a job because employers are looking for recent acute care and look right past the LTC nurse. Applicant tracking software can sift your job application right out and no human eyes will see you application depending on how HR sets the parameters on their software. 

When I started nursing in the analog days, you could walk over to nurse recruiting, pick up an application, chat with the recruiter about what jobs they are lookin for and make a good impression. 

Yes it was nice to be able to do that.  Online applications have made things way more difficult.  But I just can't see toughing out a job that's killing you and turning down a perfect one in hopes of making a computer happy one day.

I'm still hoping at some point humans realize that computers can't completely take the place of human senses.

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

On the contrary, it could be a door to a whole new way of using your nursing intelligence and degree. 
When going down a path in life, always keep your peripheral vision open for side trips. Sometimes they lead to wonderful otherwise unseen things. It has for me, and I have never regretted it for a second. 

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Specializes in LVN.

I work from home full time.  There's some separation anxiety when transitioning from a "normal" nursing job; but then there's evenings/weekends/holidays that I'm with my family.  If that interests you, but this particular job is too much of a pay cut, look at other WFH options and see what else is out there.  ? Good luck!

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Hospice,IV Therapy.

If you do get a WFH job it's definitely not low stress. Also, you have to arrange for child care because you will have to have your attention solely on the job during working hours.

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5 hours ago, Sue Damonas said:

If you do get a WFH job it's definitely not low stress. Also, you have to arrange for child care because you will have to have your attention solely on the job during working hours.

My children are young and both go to school so that’s not an issue. Main concern is going from bedside 3-12 hour shifts, to M-F non bedside job. 

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Home Health, Corrections, School Nurse.

My  personal  response to schedules has been interesting, and I've worked all the permutations:  7 on 7 off, 3 12's, M-F, etc.   It seems whichever one I'm doing seems great in the beginning, and then I get jealous of the other ones.  3 12's is great with a lot of time off, but the days you work are basically work and recover,  and you have to do your requisite weekends and holidays.   When you first start M to F, and you are home "early " every day, and no staying over to do documentation, weekends and holidays off,  it seems great.  But then it seems like you never have enough time to want you want on the weekends.   The grass is always greener!  But, if you like what you are doing, the schedule is secondary.

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.
On 4/28/2021 at 12:51 AM, Nurseynurse1116 said:

My children are young and both go to school so that’s not an issue. Main concern is going from bedside 3-12 hour shifts, to M-F non bedside job. 

But will you be fine working when they get home from school? Will you be able to leave to pick them up from school if they get sick, or do you have someone to do that? What about when they're off for whatever reason and you have to work? 

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