Nurses- 3 long days or short days? What’s better with kids?

[CarryOnNurse20]

Thinking of career change. Currently do 3 short days (9-5 but quite flexible). I need to either do an extra day (so 4 short days) or consider 3 long days (8-6 3 x days for same pay). Benefits would be ill be paid for 4 days but only need childcare for 3 so will save there. I have a 4 and 2 year old. Not sure longer term eg with school age kids what would work best as DC1 has been in private nursery until now. So for school age parents what works best for you? DH is fairly flexible and supportive of what I want to do although would need to use before and after school clubs on my working days if I did long days.
Thanks!

I’m only part time but I do 2 nights a week, one of them at the weekend so my husband is at home, the other one in the week and I stay awake to look after the toddler when I get home. Ds5 goes to breakfast club that day but I’m home the rest of the week for drop offs and pick ups.

Personally I would do the 3 days and feel the benefits of 4 days off. However will these be set days and does your nursery stay open for the whole time you need?

Ours would not stay open past 6 for example. Could your DH do pick ups? Its a long day for the kids but I would prefer the 3 days. Also depends what kind of nurse you are.... specialist sat in a clinic v ward nurse makes your day feel different x

Thanks both. @bookish83 yes that’s what I’m thinking. And then 2 full days to be around for school pick up/after schools clubs/play dates etc. DH could do pick ups as could work a bit late if needed on my days off to catch up. That sounds great @Emmacb82. It’s more clinic type thing though hospital based so no nights but it is open weekends. Not sure I’d want to commit to one weekend day though as it would cut down on family time.

Don’t work a weekend if you can avoid it. As they get older there will be sports, parties etc as well as family time to fit in to the 2 days they are off.

I’m not a nurse but work in the NHS I do 5 short days to fit in with school but wish logistics let me do longer days. I would love to have a day to myself or do some life tasks.

If your DH can do the pick ups then the 8-6 day should work fine as long as you can manage to get tot work for 8 with the childcare. See if you can find out what time breakfast clubs and childminders locally open. Here it is 7:30am.

Bonus as you say of it feeling as if you have more time ‘off’.

It’s the 6pm finish which will be a problem if your DH can’t do pick ups. Any time after 5pm here makes a pick up impossible. My DH finishes at 6pm and on the odd days he has to do pick up then he needs to ask in advance to finish early as all childcare shuts at 6pm latest.