Part time frustration - anyone else?

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

kerryfeehan — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 20:44:30 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

[quote user="Princess Ophelia Hermione MacBeth"]

I do have every sympathy but, when you are the nurse who doesn't have children can be incredibly annoying to be the one who has to fit their holidays in around the mums, cover the xmas holiday, etc to let mums be at home with their children, etc. Up to a point, I am sympathetic and in some practices it is workable with a bit of give and take on both sides. However, there are lots of mums who seem to take it as a god given right that work places will fit in around their needs and this is almost always to the detriment of the workers who don't have children. It is this that I object to. E.g. cover needed at short notice because another nurse is off sick. Who steps in to cover? Normally the childless nurse. Oohs emergency - who can drop everything and come in? Usually the childless nurse, etc. This might not be a problem when it is occasional but if this happens regularly or it is a small practice with limited other people to step in it cannot start to become a real bone of contention. However, I come back to it depends on the mum, her attitude and circumstances and the practices needs/facilities/staffing/structure so I am not completely anti-mums! I just think practices have to be careful when employing one and mums wanting to work school - friendly hours would flag up flexibility concerns to me. That said, mums tend to be RVNs with several years under their belt so it is a shame to lose them from the profession!

[/quote]

I agree

I am not anti mum either but one practice I worked at as HN I was working alongside 2 mums -and that was the total nursing team of 3 with 2 full time vets and one part time. It was a bloody nightmare trying to sort out a rota where everybody's demands were met that didn't leave me as a non mum absolutely knackered working split days every day because nobody was able to work the early start because of children going to school and nobody was able to work the late shift because of child care problems. I have also worked in practices where there has been a lot of bad feeling because nurses with children always took priority for summer holidays etc when the children were off school.Yes things have to be fair but that does mean being fair to everybody.

I don't have children and to be real honest I am fed up of being left with the shifts that nobody else wants. At what stage does being fair to mums become discriminatory to non mums?

[/quote]

Totally with you two on this one. I have experienced mothers leaving work early to do easter egg hunts at school with their children!?! Just as we had yet another emergency C-section come in. Fair enough for parent evenings etc but easter egg hunts?! blah!

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

Sal the 1st — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 19:47:10 GMT

[quote user="Sophie Millar"]

Practices will take what they can get when it comes to registered nurses so don't be put off by the lack of part time advertisements!

[/quote]

I don't think that is strictly true - it depends on being able to provide what the practice needs at the time it needs it and the price it wants to pay. I have been following this thread with interest. I am single, no children. I wanted full time in practice but to find a job in my immediate area I had to accept part time, 5 1/2 years down the line I have decided that I can now get by on PT, even if its a bit tight at times. Please don't over estimate your worth as a qualified nurse, I am working with 2 VCAs on exactly the same rate as me (which is a decent rate for the work I do) both working more hours than I am (unless one of them is on holiday/sick and I pick up a few extra hours). I know everybody will tell you being qualified is the be all to end all but the reality is a little different.

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

Sophie Millar — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 15:51:21 GMT

[quote user="georgina roberts"]

Hello,

im just going back to work after baby number 3, I've been very lucky with my practice as they have been brilliant about giving me hours that suit. What I would say is that quite often when we advertise for jobs we look for a full time nurse, but if someone came forward with a good CV and couldn't do full time hours we would definitely consider them. What I'm trying to say is, it might be worth applying for jobs, but mention in your cover letter what hours you can do.

good luck with finding somewhere!

[/quote]

I agree here - practices often advertise full time positions because they think that will get the most response. I have negotiated mums and newly qualified nurses into part time positions many times in the past. Practices will take what they can get when it comes to registered nurses so don't be put off by the lack of part time advertisements!

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

georgina roberts — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:07:33 GMT

Hello,

good luck with finding somewhere!

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

sarahpearce81 — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 11:10:44 GMT

There are practices out there that fully support part time staff, I work for one of them where half the nursing team are mummies and work part time, and the other half full time 'childless' albeit have furbabies nurses!

It is about give and take, our part timers work set shifts so they can plan childcare but these shifts are exactly the same as the full timers, so no discrepancy between the two. Myself and the other part timers will stay and do overtime when we are able to, but I do agree that it does fall down to the full timers who do not have child dependants that need collecting from school etc to step up when we can't......... Everything comes full circle in the end, one day the full timers will possibly be mummies themselves and appreciate the practice/team efforts to accommodate everyone.

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

SmegSlayer — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 08:00:39 GMT

[quote user="yol1"]

I work part time which is great and we have advertised for a part time nurse over the last few months with no takers. the few applications received all want full time which surprised me.

[/quote]

Maybe most nurses can't live off part time nursing wages. Not saying your wage offer is bad but given the state of VN wages in general, it wouldn't surprise me if this was a factor.

I was lucky in Cambridge as I was a part time locum so got locum rates. If I could get regular work of 16hrs/week meant that all my wage could go towards paying my extortionate Cambridge rent and I had full use of my student loan for everything else.

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

yol1 — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 12:14:42 GMT

I work part time which is great and we have advertised for a part time nurse over the last few months with no takers. the few applications received all want full time which surprised me.

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

Tinky — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 12:29:24 GMT

We want a part-time nurse, but are struggling to find one.... We're pretty flexible on hours too, however nobody seems to be coming forward!

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

Selena Carnell — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 10:41:54 GMT

ta, found it

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

sananbaz — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 09:11:10 GMT

The company name is Doggy and Co, working from home giving online advice to the public. Don't know anymore than is in the advert, so I have no insider knowledge of the company!

I would put a link to it but don't know how on my phone!

HTH x

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

Selena Carnell — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 08:24:30 GMT

[quote user="sananbaz"]

For those looking for a job - just saw a suitable job on the job page, wanting working from home RVN

[/quote] I can't see that one at all..or I'm being blind lol

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

lbt — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 17:48:59 GMT

Hi LBRVN That's a pity :) - but good luck with your search. Being a locum I see the desperate shortage of vet nurses out there - and I definitely think that more practices should consider the part-time options. I have worked in a few clinics where that does work very well.
The clinic I am currently locuming in is desperate for any permanent VN to join the team as currently they have no-one (only me, a locum). They were initially only wanting someone who could commit full-time but now they are considering any part-time options, flexible shifts - but zero replies to their ads so far, which have been in all the various vet nurse media. So if anyone near Hertford wants to find out more then see this link to their job ad (hope I can put it here? admin pls remove if not ok):
http://www.vetnurse.co.uk/jobs/4131/default.aspx

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

LBRVN — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 14:42:26 GMT

[quote user="Recruitment Team"]

You've probably already realised, but you are far from being alone! Have you checked out the 'Veterinary Working Mums and Dads' page on Facebook?

Set up for nurses in your situation, it's a good place to share ideas and get a few pointers

[/quote]

Thanks, I'll have a look for the FB page ^^

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

LBRVN — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 14:41:12 GMT

I'm not Sarah, I'm in the north west

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

Recruitment Team — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 14:02:22 GMT

You've probably already realised, but you are far from being alone! Have you checked out the 'Veterinary Working Mums and Dads' page on Facebook?

Set up for nurses in your situation, it's a good place to share ideas and get a few pointers

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

Sal the 1st — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 10:28:16 GMT

[quote user="Princess Ophelia Hermione MacBeth"]

[/quote]

I agree

I don't have children and to be real honest I am fed up of being left with the shifts that nobody else wants. At what stage does being fair to mums become discriminatory to non mums?

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

Sarah Milne — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 21:50:13 GMT

Hi LBRVN,

I just wondered if you are located in Scotland?

Kind regards,

Sarah

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

JaneRVN — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 18:16:04 GMT

Link to my blog post - I'm the RVN blogger for vetsonline the Vet and VN Times website

http://blogs.vetsonline.com/maternity-roulette/

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

sananbaz — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 17:13:59 GMT

For those looking for a job - just saw a suitable job on the job page, wanting working from home RVN

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

Louise B — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 16:56:18 GMT

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

Selena Carnell — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 16:10:57 GMT

i struggled finind a part time job after i returned having spent 7 yrs as a full time mum, i did eventually get a job but had to take full time - i work 10-7 and 8-1 on alternate days, and 1-4 weekends no on call luckily. my husband works away a lot and i live over 30 mins away from the practice so not easy at the best of times. both mine are at school and the school has a breakfast club which lets them in at 7:45 and feeds them, then i have an after school club who will collect them and take them till 6 pm - so when hubby is away i have to leave at 5 to get home for 6 to pick them up which is hard on the others in a small surgery. but i have no other option.

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

sananbaz — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 16:08:16 GMT

I understand your point, but would like to add that over the years, I have worked with nurses that have worked flexibly to go to college, do dog agility, care for relatives, care for puppies, and all sorts of other reasons. This wasn't in anyway official 'flexible working 'but accommodated the needs of colleagues. I myself was always partial to a later shift as I used to hate early mornings (motherhood came as quite a shock!), and regularly swapped 7-3 for 11-7 (or similar). There was also no end of volunteers to start early and finish mid afternoon. Everyone is different and has individual preferences, which are not necessarily related to parenthood. I have also worked with a nurse with diabetes that needed set hours and breaks so that her food/insulin intake remained stable. There was also a deaf nurse who struggled when rota'd to work alone, so the rota was adjusted. I find it particularly disheartening in this day and age of equality and diversity, that individuals don't accept that everyone is different and may need reasonable adjustments to allow them to continue working for a whole variety of reasons.

Arlo - perhaps you should also start a list of practices willing to consider flexible working patterns.......oops, sorry I forgot, all employers legally have to......

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

Louise B — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 15:08:27 GMT

I wasn't being critical of you particularly LBRVN - you sound like you would be flexible / fit in with practice needs so I am genuinely surprised that you are having problems. Have you tried vetfone? where are you based?

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

LBRVN — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 15:05:45 GMT

Yep, Smegslayer that's just what I mean.

It doesn't seem to matter why part time is needed there just seems to be a real lack of jobs available that aren't part time.

RE: Part time frustration - anyone else?

LBRVN — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 15:03:26 GMT

Then surely all staff should be flexible whether they have kids or not.

At my last practice I worked with a girl who had horses. She did lots of shows with them & because of the commitment she could never stay late or work extea hours. Surely that's similar?

As I said above, I'm happy to do my fair share of earlier, lates, bank holidays, weekends etc. It's just that I can only do these over 3 weekdays. It's not so much that practices won't consisee parents it's that they won't consider anything less than full time.. Regardless of the reason that part time has been requested.