Mommies that are Nurses!

I currently work in a nursing home. 8 hour shifts. If you get into the right nursing home because they all are not the same it can work out nice with a family. My full time job is a modified position so I work 52.5 hours every 2 weeks and it is considered full time with benefits and the pay is awesome. I make more there then my previous nursing home working 80 hours every 2 weeks. Now the previous nursing home was very stressful. It had 60 rehab beds and they pretty much took any patient. So some very sick and time consuming ones. So didn't always leave on time and hard to take breaks being the only RN in house. My new job there is always at least 2 RNs and 3 for 1st and 2nd shift. So if you would be interested just do your research and ask questions! One of the things I love about nursing....so many different options for us! Good luck

I quit my position in the hospital after the stress and anxiety from it, I'm guessing, caused me to have a seriously traumatic miscarriage. I have been doing home health and just started working as a home dialysis nurse and absolutely love it the hours are wonderful! I am in clinic most days 8-430 and my boss is very supportive of family life work life balance I love it! 

One option is to try to get work in a dr's office. It's normal hours (around 9 - 5) and no crazy rushing around.Could you take your maternity leave then take extra leave without pay for another few months while you look for another job? It would mean you still have insurance and you won't have to go back to work so soon. And when you do go back it will be much better hours. And if money is an issue then cut out extra expenses now, before baby arrives. Cancel non essential services and down grade all services you're able to if you need to keep them (eg internet). Also, while you're on leave if you have a mortgage you should be able to drop your payments to only cover your interest for the time you need to take off work. If you're renting and paying a higher amount in rent then now is the time to find another home with cheaper rent.We have a family of 6 and live on very little income. As in technically below the poverty line. But we live a wonder, healthy and safe life with everything we could possible need just by being VERY careful about what we choose to spend money on. And I homeschool our children so we personally have the expense of all our educational resources.If we can make life work on little money, then so can you. Where there's a will, there's a way.

I went PRN. Currently 25 weeks along. I work 1-2 days a week. The pay is so much better and I pick my own schedule. My hubby has good insurance through his job so that didn't need to be a factor for us. It's allowed me to manage stress much better. And I feel healthier and am not dreading going back to work after maternity leave as much either. Good luck!

What state are you in? I'm in CA, and will have have 12 weeks paid (st 55% non-taxed), and then I will be taking an additional 4 months unpaid that my hubby and I have budgeted for. When it comes to breast-pumping breaks, your job is required to give you adequate time. Do you have a break nurse or a resource nurse that can cover you during those breaks?If hospital life is getting to you, consider working in a clinic or a doctor's office. Or you could work to do triage over the phone (depending on your experience level). The only downside is that these jobs would have you working more days a week... like a traditional 9-to-5. 

I'm not pregnant yet (first ended in miscarriage) but that's major reasons I won't be going back to work. Remember you HAVE to get pumping breaks, review your state laws and don't be afraid to use them. Get a water bottle with oz measured, every hour try to just get back there and guzzle even 10-20 oz! Try to find somethig to reduce stress like yoga.