Working nights with kids/baby

[ERWnurse, BSN, RN]

Alright nurses. I am wondering what you guys did who had kids and a baby that work night shift. Is it DOABLE? My husband works 1:30-11p so he wouldn’t be home until 11:30. My baby is going to be 12 weeks by the time I need to start. He wakes up usually twice in the night. My other is 3 and her father will likely want her on the nights I work. I am going in tomorrow to tour the unit I’d be hired on. I’m not sure that I’ll be on nights but I’m assuming I will be. At what point do I bring up my concerns to the unit manager?? Suggestions are welcome too!  

[Sour Lemon]

5 hours ago, ERWnurse said:

 At what point do I bring up my concerns to the unit manager??  

Never. They are your concerns, and your manager has his or her own family to worry about. Lots of night shift nurses have babies and make it work. There are a million different ways to accomplish that, though.

It's perfectly reasonable to ask for the shift you'd prefer, but none of the other stuff really matters to your boss.

[ERWnurse, BSN, RN]

2 hours ago, Sour Lemon said:

Never. They are your concerns, and your manager has his or her own family to worry about. Lots of night shift nurses have babies and make it work. There are a million different ways to accomplish that, though.

It's perfectly reasonable to ask for the shift you'd prefer, but none of the other stuff really matters to your boss.

Thank you for your input, that makes sense. I don’t want to walk into a new job though and come off as entitled “what is the chance I can get a day shift?”. You know what I mean? Or is that a fair question to ask even brand new?

[Nunya, BSN]

5 hours ago, ERWnurse said:

Thank you for your input, that makes sense. I don’t want to walk into a new job though and come off as entitled “what is the chance I can get a day shift?”. You know what I mean? Or is that a fair question to ask even brand new?

Whenever I've interviewed for a job it's for a specific shift that was posted.  And the person(s) who interviewed me always made sure to mention which shift it was.  Yep, nights, got it. And they'll mention working weekends and holidays, yep, got it. And some holidays aren't paid, yep, got it.  I wouldn't put it like you did if I didn't know, I would just ask which shift has the opening (s). Then if it's both I'm assuming they'll ask which you prefer, but chances are high that it'll be nights, so put your game face on if you want the job.  But you need to really be thinking about what you're going to do with your baby as you'll probably have to get a private babysitter for the evenings you'll be working since your husband won't be home.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I found nights an easier schedule when my daughter was school age. I could put her bed at night before work and get her off to school in the morning after work before going to sleep. Then I'd get up right before she got home from school and have the evenings with my family. 

I had plenty of support from my Mom and sister who made themselves available to watch her anytime that we needed though. You'll for sure need some planned child care for the gap between you leaving for work and Dad getting home and those hours are not going to be easy to cover unless you have family willing to step in like I did.