7 replies to this topic

[nall]

I am currently a nursing student that will be graduating in May of this year. I am looking to find some suggestions on balancing a full-time job, a family with small children and being a full-time school. Does anyone have any fast tips on this balancing act that will make life a little less stressful?

[tracy9559]

i think you have done the really hard part. i went to nursing school as a single parent with 3 kids. i found the transition to just working fairly easy. if you can afford it maybe you can work 3-4 shifts a week. it was really nice to get some nice fat paychecks to treat the family to a meal out after struggling for so long. i think the whole family is invovled and stressed when you are in school, so now you can all start to relax and enjoy life. even though you will be going to work, when you're home you can just be mom without having to worry about studying.

hope that helps, good luck in your new career and remember to take care of yourself!!

[aussie-margaret]

have your uniform ready to go

Bag / work stuff ready to go

saves last minute panic looking for stuff.

have a small book and write down things you need, like phone numbers, how to page people,
drip rate calculations whatever you use.

Keep a diary to write down when you work and check your payslips and keep them.
Pay offices make plenty of mistakes, and never in your favour.
Make sure you chase any mistakes - underpaying is not good enough, and payoffices think they can get away with it because we are female firstly and nurses secondly !!

[AndreaP]

I am currently a nursing student that will be graduating in May of this year. I am looking to find some suggestions on balancing a full-time job, a family with small children and being a full-time school. Does anyone have any fast tips on this balancing act that will make life a little less stressful?

Congratulations first of all. Second of all, i have two kids and i work PRN status, night shift weekend 12 hours. i get a shift differential on top of my pay, which is more that full or part time status because i dont take benefits. i can do that because my husband carries our medical insurance. Something you might check out. And also, if nursing homes are your thing, I know some times they pay pretty damn good because they are desperate for help due to the extreme lack of interest in the field. good luck!

[LNDRN@RRMC]

Try looking into home care visits, that way you can set your schedule around your family. The genres include IV therapy, Maternity, Hospice, and infirmed care. Only down fall is that you have to drive around in your car. Good luck and congratulations!

[mattsmom]

Do you mean after you graduate or right now??? Will you go back to school fulltime AND be working fulltime? That, IMO, will be near impossible with a family..it was hard when I did that when I was single...

After I graduated, I worked medsurg fulltime for a year and got comfortable. Then I went PRN and made my own schedule...around my family's needs. PRN works great for those of us with families. I worked nights and we made a schedule to get the kiddos to school on time, etc. Hubby dropped 'em off at the hospital cafeteria then they had breakfast waiting for Mama to get off work. When I cooked, I cooked 'big' and froze family sized portions. I planned meals and shopping lists utilizing leftovers in more meals (like a turkey or a ham...freeze leftovers for turkey and ham casseroles) I did a lot of crockpot cooking too.

As soon as the kids are able, assign them chores to help out. Even if they can't do much now, you will get them in the habit of helping out and can do more as they grow.

Make sure hubby knows the rudiments of housekeeping and cooking and insist he pitch in as well. Too many women burn out trying to be the perfect mother, wife and nurse.

You may have to bite the bullet and consider some daycare help for awhile, until you find something that works for you AND your family and still gets you enough rest. I used Kindercare for awhile and the kiddos turned out fine...LOL! Good luck to you!

[AndreaP]

well said mattsmom...and some things i will also keep in mind

[jternrse]

Hi all!

I am 34, married mother of three boys, and a night ER nurse. Just wanted to introduce myself and let everyone know I'll be around. I have been reading the posts so far, and some are quite comical (anemic blood..hee hee) Just wanted to put in my two cents on pet peeves... The ER pt who comes in at 0200 with their "emergency" cough that they have had for three weeks, but did not see their doctor because the clinic can ask for money up front! Gotta love EMTALA!