9 Ways to Get Back Into Nursing After Having a Baby

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It’s not uncommon for new moms to miss their nursing jobs and anticipation of returning to work, but after 2 or 3 weeks at home, many ladies have realized that the challenges of being a new mom are different from what they expected, but for many moms, there is a yearning to be both a career woman and a mother too.

Mothers can find themselves feeling trapped in an endless cycle of feeding, changing diapers, keeping track of baby’s schedules, and doing all the chores around the house.

With so much time on their own, many moms decide they want a new challenge once the baby is old enough, and that new challenge might be getting backing your a nursing career and working up.

The Challenging Arena of Nursing

Nursing is a field that requires a lot of dedication and a great deal of patience. Patients usually have a lot of problems to deal with, and nurses are called to help them through them.

Nurses are compassionate and caring in order to be able to give their patients the best care possible.

You have certain tasks and responsibilities that must be done on a daily basis, which can limit your freedom in choosing what you do during the day. It can be frustrating to realize that there isn’t a lot of flexibility in what days and which shifts you take.

Your job will also keep you away from your family, so if there is a time that you have to leave, it could be very difficult for your children or partner, or anyone else you are in charge of looking after.

There are many things that nurses have to deal with on a daily basis.

Some of them include taking care of lab results and insurance forms, scheduling appointments, learning different procedures and techniques specific to their nursing setting, and just learning their patients’ needs and preferences over time.

What are the Benefits Of Going Back To Work As a Nurse?

A job that you feel passionate about is something that can make you happy.

If you’re a nurse and there’s something that worries you about your job, ask your manager or a supervisor for help and advice.

Ask your family and friends for support too.

The nursing field is really varied, and there are so many options available to you. You may want to keep a registered nurse position with not a lot of responsibility, but equally, you may decide to transition into a nursing practitioner role and take on more responsibility after you come back from maternity leave.

Of course, there are always options out there for nurses who want to work part-time too.

It may not be easy for everyone, but it might be worth the effort because of what it can bring back into your life.

Tips for Successfully Returning to Nursing After Having a Baby

Returning to work after having a baby is always going to be a challenge, especially if it is your first baby. No woman knows how she will feel post-partum, and while some moms cope very well, others may struggle.

Here are a few ways that you can make that transition from full-time motherhood back into a career woman.

Go Part-Time To Begin With

A phased return after maternity leave is often a good idea. You will still have time at home to get used to being a new mom, as well as learn how your maternity leave was cut short or shortened.

If you’re returning to work part-time, this gives you more time at home and less pressure at work.

Part-time maternity leave is better for new moms. It gives them the opportunity to prepare for returning to work without having too much stress on their plate as well.

Speak To Your Employer About Your Needs

You may need to pump while at work, you may need to organize your hours around childcare, and you may need to take a little vacation time.

These things should be allowed by your employer, and if they are not, speak with them about your particular needs and ways that you can work these into your work schedule.

It will make returning to work easier.

Let Your Family Help You With Organization

Sometimes, new moms don’t realize how much they miss the routine of having their children around to feed and care for them on a daily basis.

For some women, this routine is what provides a sense of order and routine, and they feel lost when their children are not around.

To help you get back into shape, let your family help you out with some of the extra stuff that you may need to do, like doing the laundry or taking out the garbage.

They might even use this time to learn how to take care of themselves while living on their own. If they don’t have any kids, they can also use this time to find full-time childcare too.

Meal Prep

Food
A healthy food dishes are being displayed on the table

It’s a great idea to set up a few scheduled mealtimes in your diet. You don’t have to do it all at once; you can start making more of your lunches and having healthier options like salads, soups, and sandwiches available during the week.

These things can make life so much easier when you want to eat healthy meals on the go.

Looking at some prepare in advance freezer meals is a great way to make sure you have something healthy and delicious to eat after work.

Your family might even want to cook with you, as this will also help you get acquainted with new foods and divide your cooking duties too.

Network With Your Employer

Many nursing jobs require that you network with the people at your place of work.

You can do this by looking at trade shows, taking part in a career fair or job fair, or joining a professional association where the nurses are your peers and can offer tips and advice on how to fit back into the workplace after having a baby.

You can also talk to your manager and ask them if they have any ideas on how you can work into the day or fit in a few relaxation techniques that will help you rest.

This is a great way to get a chance to see if there are any ways that you can make your schedule work better for you.

Take Time To Be A Carefree Mother

New parents often have the tendency to think about their jobs and other responsibilities too much.

This doesn’t mean that you don’t take care of yourself. It just means that you need to take some time where new moms can be carefree again without having to think about everything all of the time.

There are plenty of things that you can do to help with this, like taking a long bath before bed, watching cartoons together, or just going for a walk for 30-45 minutes.

Integrating these things into your day is a great way to better yourself as an individual and allow yourself to be a better mother too.

Discuss Your Clinical Role With Leadership

Going back to work after maternity leave can be tricky, especially for nurses who get pulled into clinical roles at the last minute.

Many nurses in new mom roles don’t have the opportunity to prepare for this, and they might not feel like it’s what they want to do.

If your employer asks you to take over another clinical role that you don’t feel comfortable with, it’s important to speak with them about your options.

Work With Your Nurse Manager

As always, the best thing you can do is speak with your nurse manager about what you are comfortable with and what you think might work for you.

Working as a team is essential in any workplace, but it’s even more important when returning to your job after having a baby.

You need to make sure that everyone else is on board with all of your needs, and if they aren’t, then it’s important to bring this up immediately.

Make Use Of Maternity Leave Resources

Modern maternity leave rules allow new moms to take paid leave or unpaid time off of work.

This gives you a chance to explore your options and move forward into your new role as a mother.

If you want to work full-time, that’s okay. If you want to work part-time, that’s okay too. There is nothing wrong with either of these choices; there are just some situations where one might be better than the other.

These resources provide you with a lot of information on how to start your maternity leave in the way that is best for you.

They may suggest activities that you can do with your family, they offer ways to organize yourself at home while preparing meals and doing chores, and they give support when returning to work too.

Conclusion

When you are returning to work after a baby, there are many ways that you can make it easier on yourself.

Look at the things that you do every day to help keep your life organized and work into those activities when you can.

It will make setting up your return to work much easier.

  • Hi there…
    I’M REBECCA ALSTON!

    I believe that anyone can create a flexible, natural lifestyle without a ton of stress!

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