Is This Red Flag?

[Anonymous]

I'd be worried there's a reason she can't get a job as a nurse. My younger sister got a nursing degree and then couldn't get a job at most places (except a dialysis place) because she had been arrested for something at one point. (I don't remember what, but probably drug related? She went through a few really rough teen/early 20s years but has since straightened up.) Anyway, yes, this would be a red flag.

There's a huge nursing shortage in the country, especially with aging boomers and people living so long but needing care, so if she's not working as a nurse, there's a reason and you should make it your business to find out what it is, (if you're interested in hiring her.)

[Anonymous]

OP here. This nanny charges $25-30 per hour for depending on how many children and the ages. I guess it just seems strange she went for a degree, only to never use it. Maybe she could be either hiding something, or waiting for a job. She obtained the degree in 2013 but she was with her last nanny family for 2.5 years, and still looking for another long-term position. That is odd to me.

[Anonymous]

Nurses are required to work a certain number of hours a year in addition to continued education. If she was with her last family 2.5 yrs, maybe she doesn't have a current license anymore. I'd probably pass based on her degree and evasiveness regarding her reasons for not using it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My husband asked her that very question and she kind of skirted around it. She seemed eager to change the subject. She does have glowing references. It's just odd that stew never worked as a nurse ( only have been a nanny) but has a nursing degree.

Perhaps she never passed the boards? Perhaps she got into the position and hated it. New nurses in this area really don't make much, unfortunately (like 22/hr to start and that's at a hospital position- nursing homes etc pay less usually). Nursing is hard and there's so much more responsibility given to us than there used to be (good & bad IMO). Even if worst-case scenario and she has some malpractice issues, clinical or nursing errors don't necessarily translate into unequipped to care for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are interviewing nannies for my infant. We really liked one nanny. She's very qualified with a degree in nursing. My husband finds it strange that she is a licensed nurse but works as a nanny. Most nannies I've seen are nanny whole pursuing a degree. She may just enjoy being a nanny but it is odd to go to school for a degree and never use it. She is also getting paid less as a nanny. Are we being too judgemental or is this a red flag?

What kind of degree? Two year or four year? RN or LPN or something else? You and your husband might not be aware there are several levels of being a nurse.

[Anonymous]

I have a masters degree in psychology but prefer working as a nanny. Just ask why she chooses to work as a nanny and not a nurse.

[Anonymous]

She is a licensed nurse? Passed the tests and everything? Huge red flag for me, just because one of my family members is an RN and I know RNs can get paid $35-45/hr, $1,200/week easy even for a temp position ("travelers nurse 3 month gigs), even for someone who has spotty resume, and $80-90k with 2-3 years good experience at a hospital (needless to say, full benefits). Heck, with OT, quite a bit of nurses make 6 figures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is a licensed nurse? Passed the tests and everything? Huge red flag for me, just because one of my family members is an RN and I know RNs can get paid $35-45/hr, $1,200/week easy even for a temp position ("travelers nurse 3 month gigs), even for someone who has spotty resume, and $80-90k with 2-3 years good experience at a hospital (needless to say, full benefits). Heck, with OT, quite a bit of nurses make 6 figures.

That is salary for an experienced nurse. It's tough out here for new grads and we start way way lower unless you're in California where they're unionized! OP didn't say whether she was licensed (which you can look up that information online- just go to your state's board of nursing). OP just ask her again why she doesn't want to practice as a nurse. She should just tell you.

[Anonymous]

I hired a nanny like this in DC last year, she had a nursing degree. She had glowing reviews from her last family but I found her really lazy. Like, she skipped DD's bottle because she didn't feel like feeding her. She waited to do this till after the one week trial, then when I fired her after seeing her skip bottles she wanted one month's severance which she didn't get. I'd keep looking.

[Anonymous]

Are you in the DC area? Entry-level nursing jobs here often require horrendous hours (I don't mean total number, but times -- newbies start with the transition shifts and night shifts, typically) and have very little flexibility in the case of emergency (e.g., nurses got "locked in" at Children's for 3 days during the heavy snow this winter -- yes, they get well compensated (including for sleeping), but there's no flexibility to say no). Does she have other responsibilities (kids/parents?) that might make the lack of flexibility for entry level nurses problematic?

[Anonymous]

I am not sure why many posters are bending backward to provide reasons why the nanny is not working as a nurse. The real issue is that when asked "why are looking for a job as a nanny instead of as a nurse" the nanny was unable to answer and wanted to change subject. there are legitimate reasons why a person with a nurse degree decides to change career but then the person should be able to easily explain them. when she can't, there is a problem. For $25-$30/hr OP should be able to find a nanny without even the shadow of a red flag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure why many posters are bending backward to provide reasons why the nanny is not working as a nurse. The real issue is that when asked "why are looking for a job as a nanny instead of as a nurse" the nanny was unable to answer and wanted to change subject. there are legitimate reasons why a person with a nurse degree decides to change career but then the person should be able to easily explain them. when she can't, there is a problem. For $25-$30/hr OP should be able to find a nanny without even the shadow of a red flag.

Lack of healthy parent boundaries is the real issue. In some other countries you don't get to choose your path in life. Here we do, and no "explanation" is required. Good for the nanny to move on away from intrusive people.