Is nursing a family friendly career?

#1 kabailz13

Posted 07 May 2010 - 10:51 PM

I have completed my first year of Bachelor of Nursing and at a crossroads....

I'm wondering, is nursing really a family friendly profession? In particular, as a new graduate, would I be able to find work that could relatively easily fit around my growing family?

We currently have 3 young kids and TTC #4 (and last). I had it in my head that I could work weekends or a couple of night shifts throughout the week until the kids are older. Now I'm not sure if that is really a viable option??

So, to all those nurses amongst us, how do you fit in nursing around your children? Am I delusional or have I picked a family friendly career to pursue?

#2 TwistedIvy

Posted 07 May 2010 - 10:55 PM

As far as I am aware, working nights and weekends *is* pretty viable, as there are plenty of people that *don't* want those shifts.

#3 Guest_tigerdog_*

Posted 07 May 2010 - 10:58 PM

I think it would depend on the timing of the shifts and whether or not you have a good support network around you. I don't nurse but I do shift work to a six-weekly roster with a mixture of overnights, evenings (1-9pm) and day (9-5) shifts. This can be exhausting and I imagine nursing would be even more so as you're on your feet all the time and expected to really be on the ball to avoid potential life-and-death errors.

I'm very lucky as I have a supportive partner (who also works but who has taken time away from the workforce on occasion to be a SAHD) and my mother and other relatives also do some of the caring for my DS. He is also in daycare 2 days a week (note: if you can afford daycare for a few days a week go for it, this will be your sleeping time!).

Good luck, it's hard but if you have the passion for the work (as I do mine) it can be done!

#4 Guest_Padmé Amidala_*

Posted 07 May 2010 - 10:59 PM

Yes, after your Grad Year. I work one shift a week - either Saturday or Sunday afternoons. My ward has a self rostering system so you can choose which days and shifts suit you. I choose to work on the weekend so that DH can look after DD (and also for the penalty rates.

)

#5 kabailz13

Posted 07 May 2010 - 11:35 PM

QUOTE (Padmé Amidala @ 07/05/2010, 08:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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ok, so I really need to work full time in my grad year do I? Are any grad programs part time?

#6 Guest_Padmé Amidala_*

Posted 07 May 2010 - 11:42 PM

QUOTE (kabailz13 @ 07/05/2010, 11:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ok, so I really need to work full time in my grad year do I? Are any grad programs part time?

I *think* you can work part-time but no fewer than 4 days a week and the shifts are *usually* less flexible (where I work anyway). A friend of mine took maternity leave halfway through her Grad Year and had to go back and complete the remaining 6 months the next year.

ETA - you only really *have* to do a Grad Year if you want to work in an acute hospital - if you want to work in Aged Care, I don't think you *have* to do a Grad Year.. but if you don't do it right out of Uni, it's virtually impossible to get a job in a Hospital, IME.

Edited by Padmé Amidala, 07 May 2010 - 11:45 PM.

#7 cheekymonkey

Posted 07 May 2010 - 11:46 PM

Depends where you are. The hospital I work at used to only do full time for grad year but will now let people do it part time.

BTW - I used to work only weekends (with the odd afternoon shift) between having my DSs. Now I only work nights. 3 a fortnight and mostly Fri-Sats when DH is home and doesn't have to work the next day so I can get a couple hours sleep when needed.

#8 Mianta

Posted 07 May 2010 - 11:48 PM

I think it is. I do a mix of mornings, afternoons and weekends (no nights because of a health issue) and I manage a 4 day week pretty well with 3 kids and a husband who works full time. I do have family support but I also use child care and I used a lot more child care when we lived out of state away from family and it has always worked well. I also agree about people wanting to avoid nights so you may find they will happily roster you on where needed but weekends are in demand from many nurses so you may miss out sometimes there.

Be aware though that when working in a public system you may find they will roster you on where they need you rather than where you need shifts and they will require you to do a certain amount of AM,PM and NDs. Working casually, with agency or at a private hospital does offer a little more flexibility.

#9 Guest_The 7 Dwarfs_*

Posted 08 May 2010 - 04:04 AM

Depends where you want to work.

I work in aged care which is extremely flexible. There are so many RN's who work there 2-4 permanent shifts a F/N and can basically choose the shifts to suit them. Me and DH work around each other and we are both currently working F/T, our children never need to go to childcare or be looked after. There are plenty of other RN's who do the same.

I didn't do a grad year, not for this reason but because we didn't move interstate in time and TBH I'm not sure if I will do one now. From friends who have done them, they were very inflexible and you basically got what you got and worked a rotation of shifts and everyone had to have their turn working nights. I remember wondering the same thing at the end of last year. Now I'm happy doing what I'm doing, suits me well because of the flexibility and TBH I really dislike the personal care side to nursing (especially when pregnant) and enjoy not showering, cleaning, transferring people or making beds etc. Of course the down fall is I've probably railroaded myself into this specific area, however I always planned on doing midwifery and hope to start that P/T next year

. I'd have a grad year from that also, so it seems pointless really to do 2 of them.

Plus the pay is much better, instead of grade 1, year 1, I'm paid grade 3, year 4 rates and have done plenty of grade 5 shifts

#10 ~TSC~

Posted 08 May 2010 - 08:00 AM

I guess the answer is yes and no.  It really depends on where you work, the area, your manager etc.  If places were more family friendly they'd have many more nurses willing to work.  It depends on your family support structure a lot too - if you have someone who can always care for your children out of hours then that helps a lot too.

My situation - I was employed part time (.8 I think!) on busy heavy surgical ward.  I took 2 lots of maternity leave and family leave when having children.  When the maximum time (in Tas they have to give you leave until your baby turns 2 which I took both times) was up, they would not consider transferring me to an area that was more suitable.  I can't work shift work due to my husbands business and him not being home a lot.  Particularly at nights.  So I resigned.  I then got a casual position in a day procedure unit so just worked what suited there.  I am now a permanent level 2 working 0.5 but it is still some late evenings etc.  We are open 7-7 so it's still not school hours.  But my boss is extremely flexible with days off, rostering etc.  So at the moment it works.

School age children present problems as school hours are less than day care.

So yes, nursing can work.  It depends on what you want to do.  My dream job will probably never be less than 0.8 hours so it's likely I might never do it!

#11 Maple Leaf

Posted 08 May 2010 - 08:15 AM

Sure it can work. I worked weekends only for while and it was fantastic. *higher hourly rate as well!*

#12 Babybear

Posted 08 May 2010 - 06:44 PM

I think it depends if you go private/public large hospitals or find work in smaller clinics etc.

FWIW my entire female family member population are all nurses (except for me). I remember waiting patiently on xmas mornings as a young child for my mother and grandmother to arrive home from their 4am shifts in order to open our pressents - it was agony! LOL

Other than that though as a family who had limited extended family support I believe it worked well to hav eone parent work in the day and another at night at various times. Not sure if it was helpful for their marriage though......

I know the women in my family have found it useful at different times to work night shifts and still be able to come home and get kids off to school etc before having a sleep.

Funnily enough all of my family nurses have prefferred aged care nursing - however they have all ended up with dodgy backs due to the heavy lifting etc involved.

So I couldn't say def. one way or the other - not having actually done the job myself. I can only report on what I remember some of our family experiences were.

#13 FluffyChickenhead

Posted 08 May 2010 - 07:56 PM

yes, it is, if you can get shifts that work around your family life, and you have a good boss, well its great. You can get much more permanent part time hours that suit your family. You can also go part time at any stage of your career without it impacting your career to greatly.

TBh I think its a great career If your a nurse you will always have a job if you want one.

#14 JustSmileAndNod

Posted 08 May 2010 - 08:02 PM

Hospital system - Not really! I now work in aged care and I work 9-5pm, I have the option of leaving work early once my child starts pre-school too. I have occasionlly been able to take my kid to work in emergencies as I have my own office etc. I highly recommend aged care!!

I did want to work in the hospital but they could not guarantee certain shifts so I left.

#15 Guest_The 7 Dwarfs_*

Posted 09 May 2010 - 07:09 AM

QUOTE

Funnily enough all of my family nurses have prefferred aged care nursing - however they have all ended up with dodgy backs due to the heavy lifting etc involved.

Thankfully things have changed, I can honestly say I don't do any lifting at all.

The PCA's on the other hand, I've seen a few of them take short cuts that I'm sure they'll pay for in the future.

#16 Guest_BBlessed_*

Posted 09 May 2010 - 08:10 AM

Have you thought about doing your 2nd year and then deferring the final year and doing some work as a Div 2/enrolled nurse? See how family friendly it is before you commit to the final year of study?

#17 rachelle2

Posted 09 May 2010 - 08:22 AM

I think nursing is a family friendly career. I am back at work for the last 3 months after returning from maternity leave - I currently do two 12 hour shifts a week. I do a set night shift on Tuesday night (my Mum looks after DS in the morning until lunch time) and I do a weekend shift (DH is home with DS). If I didn't do shift work - to work the equivalent would be a 3 day working week (mon-fri) and I would have to have DS in childcare for all of those days. Currently I don't have to have DS in childcare at all - which is something that is important to me.

All the best with your studies. You don't have to do your grad year right away - or move to QLD (and don't get paid for a while LOL) and they are a bit more flexible as desperate for nurses

.

ETA:- If you ALREADY have a position and then go on maternity leave - the award states that pretty much they have to be flexible and give you whatever shifts you want for up to 5 years I think.

Edited by rachelle2, 09 May 2010 - 08:24 AM.

#18 JustSmileAndNod

Posted 09 May 2010 - 08:14 PM

I don't do any lifting, in fact I can go days without actually touching a resident!

#19 kabailz13

Posted 10 May 2010 - 02:35 PM

Thanks for the opinions everyone!

Anyone else have any input?

#20 Maple Leaf

Posted 10 May 2010 - 03:16 PM

Oh yes, wanted to add about the lifting..As an RN in an aged care facility, I am in charge of all the meds, so my shift consists of wound care and med rounds. I don't do any lifting, showering etc... patient care needs are done by the Personal Care Assistants.

Edited by Alyk, 10 May 2010 - 03:16 PM.

#21 SierraV

Posted 10 May 2010 - 03:27 PM

I think it depends entirely on where you work. In a hospital ward with a nice NUM and self rostering, yes it can be very family friendly. But if you don't have those two elements, it can be very unfriendly. I'm trying to talk my NUM into letting me roster on permanent nights. Not happening so far.

I've heard aged care, community and GP clinics are better for the 8-5/9-5 type of work load.

#22 Kafkaesque

Posted 10 May 2010 - 03:36 PM

Hi I'm also studying nursing and am at the end of my 2nd year and been having similar thoughts. As far as I can see it can be very family friendly but as has been mentioned I think that is after you have done a grad program. When I first looked into nursing was told that most hospitals would do part time grad programs but that seems to have changed in the last two years (here in WA at least) due to the budget restraints and big stops on employing permant staff.

I was on the verge of quiting last week while on prac because the situation looked so dire but I will stick it out and just cross my fingers and hope that it works out in the end.