Nursing is stressful enough, but if you add to that the demands of being a single mother, things can quickly get out of control.

If you’re caught between your two passions: being a nurse and being a mom, you can still have the best of both worlds.

Or, at least most of the time! Providing that you have your nursing degree, here are some of the best nursing jobs that single mothers can get fulfillment, as well as downtime, from.

So what are the best nursing jobs for single moms? 

  1. Doctors Office Nurse
  2. Public Health Nurse
  3. Home Health Nurse
  4. Case Management Nurse
  5. Nurse Educator

Below we’re going to dive in and discuss these further. 

*disclosure some of the links on this site are affiliate links.

Best Nursing Jobs for Single Moms

1. Doctor’s Office Nurse

While not all healthcare clinics are low stress, one that is would be a doctor’s office.

For example, you might decide to work as a registered nurse in a family medicine unit or at a pediatrician’s office.

Working here will give you that variety that most nurses want, but you won’t have the stress of emergency patients or an overwhelming workload.

One of the great things about a doctor’s office is that they’re usually open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., making it an excellent choice for busy mothers.

Essentially, you are at work while your kids are in school, and you get to spend most evenings and weekends with your family.

In addition, patients need to schedule an appointment ahead of time, and that leeway gives you a chance to prepare yourself for each patient so there aren’t any surprises.

A disadvantage to working at a doctor’s office is that the pay tends to be lower compared to nurses who work in a hospital setting.

Still, the added peace of mind and regularity in your schedule might cancel out receiving a smaller paycheck.

Why we like it:

  • One of the least stressful nursing jobs for single moms.
  • Typically 9am-5pm work hours. Not working 12-hour shifts mean you’re working when your kids are in school.
  • Few surprises.

➡️ Find all doctor’s office or clinic nursing jobs on the job board.

Related Article: The Best Low-Stress Nursing Jobs

Find Your Next Nursing Job

Use our nursing job board to start looking for and applying to great nursing jobs near you.

2. Public Health Clinics

If you want something that will have you interacting with a wider range of clients, then consider working as a nurse in a public health clinic.

A good example of this would be a WIC office, which is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

Besides nutrition, the WIC program helps with health screenings and referrals to community health and welfare organizations and professionals.

The WIC program is also a great resource for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, providing counseling, education, and support.

As a registered nurse, you could work with WIC in a variety of locations, including mobile clinics, county health offices, hospitals, community centers, schools, public housing sites, and more.

On the other hand, you could also take more of a backseat role and work as a nurse administrator for the office.

Rather than having direct access to patients, you would be the one behind the planning, coordinating, and communication that goes on between nurses.

If you prefer a more organizational role, then becoming a nurse administrator may be right up your alley.

Moreover, single mothers will have the empathy and personal connection to many individuals who visit a WIC program or another public health office.

The working hours are usually more manageable, too, with most offices being open during regular business hours.

If need be, you could probably transition this position to a part-time job if you needed to. That kind of flexibility will be attractive to many single working moms.

Why we like it:

  • Working with low-income families so making a difference.
  • Good for nurses who don’t really want to work in a hospital.

➡️ Find all public health nurse jobs on our nursing job board.

Related Article: 5+ Best Work From Home Nursing Jobs

3. Home Health Care

This next option isn’t for everyone, but it could be a good fit for someone with the right nursing credentials and access to a decent home health service in their area.

For nurses who have experience in acute care and are seeking in depth or one-on-one care with their patients, home health care could be a decent fit.

As a home health nurse, it will be your responsibility to travel to patients’ homes and help with administering medication, ensuring their safety, setting up doctor’s appointments, and assisting with any daily tasks such as dressing or bathing.

Yes, it can be a demanding job, but it tends to provide more stability in terms of scheduling.

Home health nurses typically have a roster of patients that they see on a regular basis, so there is less guesswork in that respect.

Some agencies will give you a list of patients you have to visit every month or week or whatever the case is.

It’s up to you to figure out what time or day to make your rounds. It’s a level of flexibility not common in most nursing jobs. 

That being said, it can be tough work to care for these patients, as they’re usually people who are elderly or whose health is declining.

Going into their homes can be a potential health risk for you, as it’s not a sterile environment like a hospital.

You shouldn’t jump into this line of work, but if you’re genuinely interested, then by all means, learn more about it.

The nursing world (and elderly patients) definitely need people who are passionate about this type of nursing, especially as the bulk of the national population continues to age.

Why we like it:

  • Can have very flexible hours.
  • Opportunity for in-depth one-to-one care
  • One of the best good-paying jobs for single moms that also gives flexibility.

➡️ Find all home health care nursing positions on the Nurse Money Talk job board.

Related Articles: 15 Unique Non-Bedside Jobs for Nurses

4. Case Management Nurse

Going off of the home health nursing job, you might want to try being a case-management nurse, since they also establish long-term relationships with their patients.

These nursing professionals can work in a hospital setting or in a community healthcare center.

They work in conjunction with a team of medical professionals, such as physicians, doctors, and therapists, to provide the best care possible for their patients.

A case management nurse might work with individuals who have dementia, diabetes, cancer, or any other life-threatening illnesses.

This can be a rewarding line of work, as you are collaborating with a team that is dedicated to seeking the best care and practices for individuals.

The collaborative nature of the job can help to relieve some of the stresses that naturally come with a nursing career, too.

Rather than having a direct, one-on-one relationship with the patient, a case management nurse works more in a behind-the-scenes capacity.

For example, some of their duties might be scheduling doctor’s appointments, checking insurance, and collaborating with a health care team to come up with the best possible treatment plan for the patient.

As long as your organizational and time management skills are solid, you can do very well in this type of role.

It might also be one of the few healthcare careers that are less stringent about working mothers heading home early or working from home.

Why we like it:

  • Good for nurses who don’t like direct patient care.
  • Many positions are Monday through Friday 9-5.

➡️ Find all Case Management Nursing Jobs on the nursemoneytalk.com job board.

Related Article: Can a Nurse Work From Home?

5. Nurse Educator

Finally, you might want to consider becoming a nurse educator. Even though you will have to obtain the necessary certification to educate and train, it can be a job that provides more stability and predictability.

Essentially, a nurse educator assists in preparing student nurses for their upcoming careers.

Not only does the position keep your nursing skill set and knowledge up to date, but you are also helping to shape the next wave of health care professionals.

Best of all, the schedule is much more relaxed than working in a typical hospital setting, and your days don’t get tied up as easily with patients.

Don’t worry, even if you don’t consider yourself a teacher, you can still achieve great success as a nurse educator and trainer.

There are a couple of different avenues you can take with this. You could work adjuncting for nursing student clinical.

Or you can take the role as a full-time faculty.

Something to keep in mind is while you can find some positions that will accept nurses with bachelor degrees, many are looking for a minimum of a master’s prepared nurses, and most would prefer a nurse with their DNP or Ph.D. 

Why we like it:

  • Family-friendly 9-5 hours.
  • Usually off on the holidays along with your kids.
  • More relaxed than a many hospital job.

➡️ Find all case management nursing jobs on the nursing job board.

Related Article: 5 Best Jobs for Pregnant Nurses

Find Your Next Nursing Job

Use our nursing job board to start looking for and applying to great nursing jobs near you.

Final Thoughts. 

So, there you have it; five different nursing paths for single mothers who want to continue to pursue their nursing career.

A single mom with her daughter.

Fortunately, there are plenty of options out there, and more companies are beginning to offer better packages and policies for maternity leave and working moms.

The fact that you’re in the nursing field already shows that you have empathy and a nurturing spirit that can make great gains in a healthcare setting.

Plus, your motherly duties have strengthened your resolve, discipline, and time management skills.

Motherhood shouldn’t take away your job. If anything, it should strengthen it!

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2 Comments

  1. FYI, public health nurses in my area are required to assist in the event of a natural disaster such as a hurricane. They are required to do 12 hour shifts staffing local shelters. I am a single mom and this is a problem with my job. It is normally 8-4, but this duty expectation causes major problems with me trying to navigate what to do with my kids when something like this happens which unfortunately is at least yearly where I live.

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