Why Care And Nursing Work Is Good For A Parent

Parents know and understand that simply being a parent is a full-time job in and of itself, so pointing out how another job such as nursing would be fitting may seem a bit odd, perhaps asking too much. Becoming a nurse is difficult, and requires study and an eventual qualification. For parents looking for a job that provides a nice paycheck, there are some important points to consider when it comes to training and being a nurse.

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Being a nurse requires being able to care compassionately for people who are complete strangers. If you are a parent, you probably have a higher amount of compassion and empathy for others simply because you have children you care for. You know what it means to take care of someone who needs help because he or she cannot help him or herself. You learn from your child what it is you need to do as they grow up, and it is not only hard work, it is really rewarding work. As you grew as a parent, you probably were not thinking of all the skills you were learning, like communication and understanding non-verbal cues, planning, supervising, and critical thinking. Yet all of these skills are necessary in dealing with patients as a nurse as well, so the gap between parenthood and nursing should seem a bit smaller now.

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What is it that would be expected of you should you become a nurse? Let's look at what nurses working with children do as an example; especially since it may be a job you would be interested in doing. Nurses who have become Nurse Practitioners (NP) by passing their classes and the test can treat common illnesses, order medical tests, do some tests and procedures, write prescriptions, answer questions about health problems, and specialize in and manage chronic illnesses, along with so much more. Nurses have such a huge impact on family life, and often the nurse is the one who sees the patient for a longer amount of time than the doctor, so developing a relationship with patients is a gift nurses have that can come from parental experience.

There is always the issue of when you would go to school; are there even any schools nearby that offer a nursing degree? Is there anywhere that is flexible to be there for a parent trying to gain a degree? The good news is that there are educational establishments that offer online courses, such as Maryville's master of science in nursing. The flexibility of these courses means that even those of you raising children on your own have a way to find a good fit for your schedules, as hectic as they may be. So you can continue working your side job to raise your child and take your classes online while your child is at school or asleep, and when you get your degree you can decide on working hours that suit you.

There are different nursing degrees you can go for that can also decide when and where you work because the degrees themselves focus on different patients. As far as ideas for places to think of working at, being a school nurse means you can be close to your kid while you can also be a home care nurse to look after the elderly. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) require the least amount of training compared to Registered Nurses (RN) who need to pass a two-year program. Nurse Practitioners (NP) require even more training with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) being the minimum degree required to be an NP. You can learn more about nurse practitioner programs at GMercyU, and once you receive your degree it is an option to then focus on different concentrations, such as being a Certified Family NP (CFNP) or a Certified Pediatric NP (CPNP). Parents will find they will most likely relate to the CPNP since this certificate focuses on kid's health. Both of these concentrations would allow a working parent to find a job outside of a hospital easily if it is more doable for the parent to get the job done during the day instead of at night.

Downsides? Of course, there are some; especially given the hours you may be studying and working while your child is sleeping or going to school. Another mom talks about her love for her work but also feels worried over how her daughter is unable to attend sports activities because she helps so much with her two youngest daughters. She appreciates it greatly, but this is still a big sacrifice. However, she also feels that nursing has taught her to be a better mother as well as the reverse being true. Her family understands that you cannot take anything for granted, a lesson she has learned from this job as well.

As a parent, and single parent especially, this choice is very difficult to make, but there are some great pros to come out of having this career that go even beyond the higher salary. However, it is a decision that is truly up to you, so consider all the elements carefully.

Maintaining A Superb Relationship With Your Parents

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When you were growing up, your parents were your constant companions. Your relationship was filled with love, trust and fun. Even though you annoyed each other from time to time, it’s a bond unlike any other. But now you’ve grown up and have your own family to look after, maintaining this relationship can be difficult. You’re both facing new challenges from health concerns to changes in career. So it’s vital that your relationship adapts to this change in dynamic to help keep it in a strong and healthy condition. Here are some simple ideas you should consider to make you and your parents closer than ever.

Call each other regularly

Instead of making excuses for your lack of communication, do something about it. Schedule a suitable time each week where you can call and talk to each other. Even if it’s only for five minutes, your conversations can assist you in maintaining a good relationship. You can update each other on what’s going on in your lives and plan days out together. You can also use these conversations to find out about their health conditions and whether they need more help. Without these conversations, you might be unaware that your Father has hired senior care companions. Or that your Mother needs to have a hip replacement. Take an interest in their lives to stay fully involved.

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Ask for their help

Many parents feel they lose their purpose and feel insignificant once their children have grown up. But there is still a lot you and your family can learn from them. If you've always wanted to bake like your Mom, ask her to give you some lessons and share her tips. Your Dad could show you how to change the tyres on your car or how to start saving money more efficiently. If something goes wrong in your life, whether small or large, turn to them for support. This will make them feel important and that you appreciate their advice and wisdom. They then might feel more inclined to ask for your help whenever they need it too.

Let them know how you feel

As children, we don’t like to think of our parents no longer being here. But sadly, this is a harsh reality we all have to face. So make the most of every second you have with your parents.  Let them know how much they mean to you and how important they are to your family. You can do this by writing a letter or sending them a video via email. Surprise visits where you can both talk face to face also provide this opportunity too. They may even return your feelings of gratitude with their own and tell you how proud they are of you. This is a conversation will be one that neither of you ever forget, and it can instantly strengthen your relationship.

While these ideas can help you to maintain a healthy relationship with your parents, they all require two key ingredients. Time and effort. Making the time and effort to spend time or to communicate with each other is essential to preserve this special bond.

Do you really need money to have kids?

I have been chatting with friends online as well as over the phone lately and there seems to be this one topic that keeps popping up~ Finances and having babies. It appears the majority of people felt that you should be financially stable, have a house, vehicles, credit cards etc... before considering having children. I don't agree with that. I think that the number one thing you can give a child is unconditional love. Once you do that, the rest falls into place.

I am so glad I had the girls while we were young. Although we struggled financially, they never went without all the necessities. Our girls are so appreciative of anything you give them and have become very wise spenders. They are loving and compassionate individuals. William on the other hand has it all and then some. I still make sure to work just as hard to teach him all of the life lessons that we did with the girls. Now I also know some parents (ages 35+) that waited until they bought their house, acquired a cushy bank account and landed the job/career they desired. Guess what? 85% of them wished they had their babies when they were in their 20's. I have heard this from so many people I know!

My point is that babies need minimal "stuff" and a whole lot of love. I am not saying to be irresponsible and just have babies for the heck of it. Life has a way of working out no matter what your financial position might be.

What are your thoughts?

WTH Wednesday

I went to the doctor's office today and sat in waiting area like usual. I noticed there were two very adorable little girls (about 3 & 5) playing in the corner with the magazines on a little table. It seemed normal, for the first two minutes. I sat there looking around to see where the parent might be. There were not too many of us in the room so after ruling out that none of those people were the girls parents I got a little scared. I was chatting with another lady that was sitting next to me and we were both wondering where the parents were. She told me that the girls has been there since she got there at 9:30. By that time it was 10:40. Long time. Eventually at 11:25 the mother comes strolling out of the back office. Get this, her husband was right behind her. WTH?? Now you mean that both parents were there and they left these little girls alone to wait for you for 2 hours?? Oh the scary things that could have happened to those little girls. I just don't know how anyone could do that.

Get out and play!

I think radio has gone down tremendously over time playing really inappropriate things you would never want your kids to listen to. Now the other morning I heard something that was actually the best thing I could have heard in a long time. The radio personality was saying how we were finally going to see sunshine after so many weeks of off and on rain and clouds. He then goes on to suggest that it was the perfect weather for the kids to get out and play. He later corrects himself and says that in fact kids should get off their butts, put the remote down, the gaming controller down and go outside and play something. Kickball, soccer, jump rope, basketball, run, jog...anything to get active! He said that kids these days don't do that any more. It is so true. I am pretty glad that my girls (even at 12 & 14) still LOVE being outside playing volleyball, basketball and whatever else they feel like. You have to beg them to come in some evenings. I think children of today are really missing out on the good stuff. Sometimes as parents we have to get out and play with our children.