Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Ruth Browne — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:21:00 GMT

I was really lucky as my employer let me go part time when I returned from my maternity leave, so I now work 8.30-12.30 mon-fri and do a night duty a week. It means I'm not working for much if any money when I've paid nursery fee's but it keeps me in a job and once the little ones at school I'm hoping to up the hours a little.

I'm sure the right job will be out there, good luck with the search

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

susiejane — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:24:53 GMT

I had a baby last march and i was working for a small employer who pushed me out of my job. i was so worried i'd never be able to get nursing work again. then when my baby was 6 months i saw a job add for a new companion care practice that was opening for a full/part time receptionist. i applied as i thought part time reception would be ideal. when they read my cv and interviewed me, they said what a waste, we want you as a nurse. so i started off doing 16hours nursing a week, 2 days 9-2 plus rota wknds. now 10 months on we have expanded,so i do 8-7 2 days a week and another nurse does the same for another 2 days, and we have a full time nurse.

so i would say, make a strong cv, thats what got me the job, also try bigger practices. some on the small ones or older partners are stuck in full-time staff mode. try vet reception jobs until nursing post comes up, and try maternity cover as they may also want a job share.

also i fully understand the situation with your hubby. mine also is the main bread winner and i would put his job needs first above my own. although he is very good and drops her off and picks her up on the 2 days i work.

I am currently pregnant with number 2. i dont think i can go back to work after its born as i work long days, and im also worried about finding work when i eventually want to go back. good luck!!

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Louise Dick — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:50:44 GMT

I left my first practice in 2006 when my first daughter was born, and then had another daughter in 2007. In 2010 I felt ready to go back so I then volunteered for several months in a practice 5 minutes away from my house (!) where I happened to know the head nurse from my university days! I wanted to volunteer in order to get back into the swing of VN life without the prerssure of people relying on me to knwo things when I was really rusty after a long career break.

Fortunately the volunteering turned into a permanent position part time, two half days a week which suits me fantastically just now until my girls are both at school , when I may consider extending my hours (if they want me!). My daughter goes to nursery right across the road from the practice so this is really convenient too.

How about a job sharing situation? If you knew another nurse was interested in going part time etc you could effectively make up 'one' nurse together and work out holidays etc between you. This is a situation we have on the go at our practice and it seems to work well (we have 4 part time nurses).

Unfortunately as the profession is dominated massively by women this situation is always going to be prevalent, and I'm sure employers are used to dealing with it. Women have babies!

Louise

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Helen Brewster — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:06:43 GMT

I don't actually have children but I need to work part-time due having a knee condition that has developed over the years, which causes me a lot of pain to stand all day every day. I have had surgery and sadly my knees will always be a problem! I love nursing and don't want to move into management or teaching esp as just got my DipAVN! Luckily my current practice have been good amd changed my hours which has actually benefited them as well, as they replaced me and I was now extra - I am very flexible and do whatever is required. However, since looking to move practices or locum - part-time jobs seem to be very rare. I am not sure why as part-timers can be flexible and cost less! Surely more practices who just need help at busy times would benefit from a part-timer?

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Steph Phillips — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:22:50 GMT

Selena - can I ask, the kennel job you applied for, but was evening work.. what hours?? as that is something I wouldn't mind getting into!

Ok, on topic.. I have recently had a baby - she's 3wks old (and ammmmazzing!!) - my maternity finishes in April.. I already have an 8yr old, my employer was very flexible around school (my hours: 9.30 - 2.30, 5 days a week!) my dilemma now: I'm not going to be able to do those hours come April as I don't have anyone to depend on to have my daughter!

Yes it would be ideal if my hubby can share the load of childcare so I can work.. but realistically he earns far more than I do, and it would cost us £££'s if he cut his hours - not worth it for my 5hrs a day at minimum wage!! - So I reckon i'll have to find an evening job or something :( god knows.. cross that bridge in April!!

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Selena Carnell — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:34:08 GMT

thanks good to know what others do, it was a hard enough choice to stop nursing anyway as i was in a lovely practice (30 min drive away) but once i had taken child care and fuel i'd be working for nothing! I wish i had of looked in to into it more but never mind.

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

jane Lewis — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:25:38 GMT

Im currently on maternity leave and have a 7m old son. I used to work full time and on calls before i fell pregnant. Having spoken to my employer they have agreed i can go back in november part time doing 8.30-5 two days a wk plus every third saturday 8.30-3.30 with no on call duties. My husbands mother is having the little one although I seriously considered childcare as its a 20min drive in the wrong direction to drop off and pick up the little one but in the end it makes more sense financially still. I consider myself very lucky to have a supportive employer whos willing to let me work flexible hours that suit me. Experienced full time nurses are in short supply and i think ur best bet would be to state what your looking for and chance applying to local vets or apply to vets advertising full time positions as i find alot of them wil consider job shares or part timers. Hope u find something suitable. Good luck x

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Claire Kellett RVN — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:46:39 GMT

Hi there - I returned to work when my son was 6 months old to a new job, unfortunately my previous job could not accomodate a part time VN which was fair enough. I worked 8-12 mon-fri and covered 1 in 2 Saturday mornings. I then left there and came to my current job, I used to work earlies one week Mon, Wed and Fri 8-2 then lates 10.30-7 the week after that. Then it was a 2 day week for 2 weeks after that doing the same shifts. I also work 1 in 6 saturdays. This worked well until my son started school. Fortunately I have an understanding boss and they looked into how the rota could work to accomodate school hours. I now work 9.15-1.15 Mon, Wed, Thurs and Fri and 9.15-12.15 on a Tuesday. I still work 1 in 6 Saturdays.

I must admit I have fallen VERY lucky with my job and also my boss.

I hope you find something. I have found that it is a matter of being thrown into a situation and you seem to cope. My sister in law used to look after my son when I worked shifts. When I was on a late shift she would drop off/pick up from nursery, give him his dinner, bath him and get him in his PJ's so that when I got home it was just a matter of cuddles and bed.

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

ginny — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:27:34 GMT

I returned to work 2 full days a week and two Saturdays plus one Thursday every 3 weeks. I used to be HVN at that practice but stood down as HVN as couldn't do the job with a baby. I did nurse clinics instead - the role was created by another nurse who did clinics and the practice manager. I also worked Saturday mornings at another practice and they offered me hours during the week after a couple of months.

My next job, when my daughter was 4years old, was 1 full day and 2 half days - plus one full weekend 8.30am Sat til 8.30am Mon (including Sat and Sun nights) and one Sat til 3.30pm. It was a practice I had worked at about 10 years before but was just around the corner from my daughters school! My husband worked his weekend shifts (he works in construction) around the weekends initially but this did cause a bit of friction as he could earn my entire months salary if he did a weekend - it was a case of doing some maths!! I had the same childminder since my daughter was 8months old but sadly she retired at the beginning of the year so we now use after school club. As my husband is currently working in Australia my bosses have let me drop the weekend but still do the Saturday til 3.30 Thankfully the weekend was covered by another part time VN (9.30 -3) with 4 children!!

There are part time jobs for VNs out there but you need to be prepared to be flexible, I doubt you will get one without at least some Saturdays to cover. There are options - childminders, childcare vouchers, tax credits etc (none of which I qualify for sadly!).

I hope you manage to find something.

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:17:29 GMT

[quote user="Louisa V.N"]You're right Gillian, you dont know individual circumstances and it is no more practical for my husband to stop half way through milking 200 cows to do a 20 minute round car trip to to take his son to school than it would be for you break off half way through an operation to do the same![/quote]

OK.

Speaking personally, as that is the only thing I can comment on, it is amazing what juggling you can do if you have to. No one is saying it is easy. I just think mums who want to work need support from their partner - that's all.

Sorry if I have offended anyone - it has been a bad few days so I am rather grumpy.

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:12:38 GMT

[quote user="Selena (Hypnorm) Carnell VN"] I don't know many part time VNs, but a lot of part time vets. My days of working weekends and night duties are over really.[/quote]

Do the part-time vets take part in the weekend rota? I am part time but still work weekends - I don't like it but I would have to be in a very large practice to be able to allow some staff to not work weekends - the other vets would be very peeved!

I don't see why 8 - 4 wouldn't be feasible - you'd be there for the busiest hours of the day. I suppose it depends on whether there are enough nurses to cover the evening shift ... some people like having a lie-in!

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Steph Worsley — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:04:10 GMT

we currently have 7 part time nurses and each shift seems to work for each one

1 nurse does 8-4 mon and tues (it is a little bit flexible and she sometimes does 9-5 if childcare dictates)

1 nurse does 8-1.30 wed-fri

1 does 12.30-6 wed-fri

1 does 11-3 mon - fri, again flexible and sometimes does longer shifts if required

1 does varying shifts mon, tues, thurs and fri in theatre

1 does 3-9 mon-fri

and the final one does 8.30-4.30 mon, wed and thurs

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Selena Carnell — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:53:37 GMT

my ideal hours would be some thing like 8-4 or 8-1 3 days a week. I don't know many part time VNs, but a lot of part time vets. My days of working weekends and night duties are over really.

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Louisa Cocks — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:12:21 GMT

You're right Gillian, you dont know individual circumstances and it is no more practical for my husband to stop half way through milking 200 cows to do a 20 minute round car trip to to take his son to school than it would be for you break off half way through an operation to do the same!

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:23:14 GMT

I am sorry if I seemed abrupt - didn't mean to. I do have sympathy that it is difficult to work around children. Believe me, things are equally hard as a vet! That was the reason that I ended up setting up my own practice. But I do think that other professions find things equally difficult yet vets and VNs seem to think they have cornered the market as far as inconsiderate employers!

As far as what people do, speaking as an employer, one of my VNs (the head nurse) came back initially to work 4 - 7pm every day, then changed to mornings when little 'un went to pre-school, and now works 9 - 4 now she is at school. The other VN does 2 days of 8.30 - 5pm as this was when she can get childcare. This is great as she covers the SVN's college day. As you can gather, we do work around their needs as much as possible and have gained two very loyal, settled members of staff. The flexibility works for us. However, this will generally only happen if you are already stable in a practice and they are willing to accommodate your requests. Expecting a brand new employer to accommodate you is probably expecting a lot.

As far as Dads are concerned, I do realise that some jobs are not very flexible, and that is fine. My point is that if Mum wants to work, it is unlikely to happen unless Dad IS able to take some of the burden. You can't be 100% responsible for little 'un as well as take on a busy, unpredictable job. You will end up doing neither job to your own satisfaction which will end in your tears.

[quote user="Louisa V.N"]My husband is a dairy farmer on a small farm with not many staff and couldn't break off from milking cows to take or collect our son from school, its just not practical.[/quote]

couldn't, or would rather not? I guess it depends how much travelling time he would have, but it doesn't take that long!

I am sorry to seem argumentative, and I don't know individual circumstances, but I am showing my feminist tendencies by saying that women should stop taking on 100% of the responsibility for childen which took 2 people to create!

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Louisa Cocks — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:19:49 GMT

I went back to work when my son was 10 months old, I started in a new practice doing a job share with a friend. I was employed as practice nurse and worked 12 hrs a week, doing 3 - 7 three afternoons a week and my friend did the morning shifts. My mum looked after my son when I was at work. This worked brilliantly for 3 years until it was time for my son to start school. My boss at my request tried very hard to find a way for me to work school hours but without changing all the nurses rotas it proved impossible. By mutual consent I left the practice with the understanding that if a suitable job came up then I would have first refusal. We moved house not long after I left the practice so it's probably a bit too far for me to work there again.I am actually pregnant again and due in 4 weeks so doubt will be returning anytime soon and do have to admit that I worry sometimes I will never find part time work in a practice again. I do wonder why there arent many job shares out there as it seems there are a lot of people in the same boat. Also agree its not that easy for most Dad's to change their work routines. My husband is a dairy farmer on a small farm with not many staff and couldn't break off from milking cows to take or collect our son from school, its just not practical. Anyway I wish you luck on finding a job soon.

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Selena Carnell — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:08:26 GMT

Nowhere in my post did i suggest that i wouldn't be willing to work through school holidays, i just stated that the additional child care needed would be difficult, I also never stated that i wanted to work only school hours. Your post came across very abrupt, if the profession is crying out for experienced VNs, why are there very few part time posts. And as in most VN cases I expect the hubby is the main earner in the household, so asking him to change his hours or not do trips away for work would not be possible he would lose his job. I am interested in hearing from people who do VN and have a family too, and how they manage things - if my mother was well enough then i wouldn't have the child care problem but she has heart trouble and is often ill.

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:55:56 GMT

Just curious - if you feel vet nursing is particularly bad at working around someone wanting to work school hours and no school holidays, which job/jobs do you feel WOULD be able to achieve this???

It seems to me (as an employer of two flexible part-time VNs who have recently had children) that some people expect an awful lot of concessions be made to them but aren't happy to make any themselves. If Mum wants to work then Dad will HAVE to make some changes to his working routine as well.

Re: Anyone continued nursing after having kids?

rachel smith — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:34:49 GMT

hi, im having so much trouble trying to get a part time posistion, even trying to get locum jobs is proving hard! i did send out loads of letters to local practices stating hours i could do...i did get a bit of work from this unfortunately that practice didnt really let nurses nurse and i was told by another large hospital that they dont have part time staff!! Good luck x