Start nursing school with a newborn at home?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi, Thank you all for reading! I have just decided not to attend a Johns Hopkins nursing program that begins in June, due to financial reasons. Since I was intending to go there, I turned down all my other school options that were more reasonable cost-wise. This means I'll be starting school in the summer of 2010, and ending 1 1/2 years later (accelerated program). HERE'S THE CATCH: My husband and I have baby fever. We've been together for 7 years, since we were young, and we feel like we've been waiting ages already. So, I'm strongly considering trying to get pregnant now, and trying this month and next (if we failed to conceive after two months, we would stop trying until after school). This would mean I would have a 2 or 3 month old baby at home when I stared a 1.5 year accelerated program. Now, I'm not an idiot... I know this would be hard, I'm just trying to decide whether or not it would be impossible. The idea of waiting 2.5 years just to start trying makes me want to die inside, but I know it would be the smartest thing to do.

While it may seem like I've answered my own question... we're still planning to try this month. I would love to hear from anyone who has done this personally, or known someone who has. I'd obviously love to hear words of encouragement, but I know I'll be getting more harsh doses of reality than kind words. :crying2:

Thank you again!!!:redbeathe:redbeathe

Specializes in NICU.

In the first class of the accelerated program I am in, we had to cover 30 chapters (1800 pages) in 4 weeks, plus a care plan, a group presentation, an academic paper, as well as find time to study for weekly quizzes and the final.

Just something to consider.

It's an incredibly difficult decision and sometimes when thinking about when to have a child, you realize that the time will never be right, so maybe you should just let nature take its course.

But, here is my situation; I have two kids, and was about to begin an accelerated nursing program this past fall (2008) with a 2 year old and a 6 month old. The program was full time evenings, so I was planning on being home with my kids during the day and my husband having them at night. I do not have much in the way of support where I live, besides my husband. The program was also going to cost more than $65,000. So, one week before I was going to start, I backed out. And I am so incredibly happy I did. Though I could have done it (you can do anything) it would have been HELL. My baby didn't start sleeping through the night until 12 months and with everything else, I would have been stressed beyond belief. But, I was sad to not start school at the same time.

So, I began applying to Associate programs, and was accepted for this coming fall into an evening program that will take two years. Even still I have mixed feelings about it. I feel like if I start this fall, then that seals the deal that I'm not having any more kids. Additionally, I think it's still going to be insanely difficult because my husband is also in school. It's so hard to know what to do, so I understand where you're at. I really do. I still don't know what my future holds right now.

I think the reality is, it is better to get nursing school done BEFORE you have kids, but you have to follow your heart. If you get school done, then you can have your kids and not worry about classes and clinicals and studying. If you have kids now, you will be in for a million more obstacles, but you will have a baby you will love more than anything you can imagine. Anything at all is possible.

Specializes in Pedi, OB, MedSurg, Psych.

Hi, nurse2b444, I just came across your post. I noticed it was from May, so most likely you have had time to decide if you're going to have a baby? I am in a similar predicament. I am in nursing school with one year left and want a baby. My husband and I are trying to WAIT, but it's tough, so I just wanted to know what you decided. Thanks

Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Are you on drugs?

Please decide what's a priority. Baby is always first (once you have one) and once you're in nursing school no one and I mean NO ONE is gonna cut you slack.

I teach and I don't listen to excuses. and yes, I HAVE CHILDREN.

seriously i dont get why people want to get pregnant while attending nursing school,why make your life so much harder,put yourself in this position when you can have your dream baby after nursing school-althought i seriously think that you should wait one year after getting your rn license so you can spend some time working in hospital,gain experience and then fairly earn your maternity..seriously if i was a hospital i would not considered to hire a pregant brand new rn, it is a period of very important transition from student to nurse,time to focus on the development of your nursing skills!! call me old fashion but i like to plan things accordingly;first school,then babies,of course life is full of surprises and i'm tolerant of that as well,everyone is entitled to their own preferences and choices.

Are you on drugs?

Please decide what's a priority. Baby is always first (once you have one) and once you're in nursing school no one and I mean NO ONE is gonna cut you slack.

I teach and I don't listen to excuses. and yes, I HAVE CHILDREN.

Finally a straighforward answer,I love it LOL

Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
I used to work with a great nurse who had waited until her kids were grown to go to nursing school. Kids were 28 and 16. One week before nsg school started, her 28 yr old son who had sole custody of his 6 and 8 yr olds dropped dead of a massive heart attack in her front yard. She got the children (and of course, she wanted them). The day before she started classes, her unmarried 16 yr old daughter gave birth, announced that she did not want the baby, and walked away. My friend went to her first day of school, stopped at the babysitter's on the way home to get her 6 and 8 yr olds, then went to the hospital and picked up her newborn. She was 52 yrs old. Two yrs later, she had her RN, and was the top student in her class. She was a great inspiration to me. When I started, I had a 2 yr old and a 5 yr old. The next month, I got my brother's kids ages 1 and 4. Before the semester was over I got my ex-husband's neices, ages 7, 8, and 9. So at the age of 22, I was the sole support for 7 little girls. It was very hard, but somehow the kids don't remember the hard parts. They remember it as a good time. So if my friend did it, and I did it, so can you. Granted, I would not have done it on purpose, but then I do things on purpose that others would not. So follow your heart.

No offense meant.

But that's just nuts. If you have a choice, why would you even consider sacrificing your children's youth? They are young only once. Seems like YOU guys didn't have a choice.

But this follow your heart is crap.

I used to work with a great nurse who had waited until her kids were grown to go to nursing school. Kids were 28 and 16. One week before nsg school started, her 28 yr old son who had sole custody of his 6 and 8 yr olds dropped dead of a massive heart attack in her front yard. She got the children (and of course, she wanted them). The day before she started classes, her unmarried 16 yr old daughter gave birth, announced that she did not want the baby, and walked away. My friend went to her first day of school, stopped at the babysitter's on the way home to get her 6 and 8 yr olds, then went to the hospital and picked up her newborn. She was 52 yrs old. Two yrs later, she had her RN, and was the top student in her class. She was a great inspiration to me. When I started, I had a 2 yr old and a 5 yr old. The next month, I got my brother's kids ages 1 and 4. Before the semester was over I got my ex-husband's neices, ages 7, 8, and 9. So at the age of 22, I was the sole support for 7 little girls. It was very hard, but somehow the kids don't remember the hard parts. They remember it as a good time. So if my friend did it, and I did it, so can you. Granted, I would not have done it on purpose, but then I do things on purpose that others would not. So follow your heart.

So got pregnant with your first child at the age of 15????:eek: Sorry I dont see nothing inspiring in your or your friend story.Hopefully you guys didnt adopt all those kids for a goverment check

Specializes in Operating Room.

I would never have kids in nursing school. I know life sometimes throws you the unexpected, but if it was a choice, NO WAY! I am glad that I went to college young and will be done with ns young so I don't have this dilemma. But for those with baby fever, why not wait until 4-5 months until graduation and get pregnant then? You would have the majority of your education done and a short while after graduation, you welcome your bundle of joy. Your kids have one childhood, you should devote your energy and spend time as much as possible with your child...nursing school is NOT going to allow you that time. Kudos for those who did it, but I'm sure it wasn't easy.

Specializes in Medical Surgical.

i agree "follow your heart" is just a lot of wishy-wash. What about your child's heart, who is so young and needy only once? What will happen to that heart you followed when you have to choose between a paper and teaching a little one to walk or talk? What will happen to your instructor's heart when she is forced, for the safety of the public, to make you follow the same guidelines and standards as everyone else even though she grieves for what it's doing to a little one? What about follow your HEAD? Haven't we women learned by now that yes, we can have it all, just not at the same time?

Hi, nurse2b444, I just came across your post. I noticed it was from May, so most likely you have had time to decide if you're going to have a baby? I am in a similar predicament. I am in nursing school with one year left and want a baby. My husband and I are trying to WAIT, but it's tough, so I just wanted to know what you decided. Thanks

we did decide to wait. we've got a countdown till when we can start trying, and its always hard to wait. but once we made the decision, and it obviously made the most practical sense, it's easier to see the big picture. it'll just be so much easier when school is completely over and we can set up our lives intelligently, not having to consider exams, etc. I'd much rather have my baby be center of attention at all times when I get to be with him/her, not have "baby time" be something I have to schedule around school work. so hard though! If you have a year, maybe you wouldn't have to wait out the full year, just until your 6-7 months out from graduating? I don't know though, people have brought up the possibilities of a difficult pregnancy interfering with your graduation, not to mention a premature baby throwing your calendar off. Also, it doesn't seem like the best idea to go into your job search either very pregnant or with a newborn at home. Could you afford to take some time off after school with a newborn, before you started looking for a job, and would that be detrimental to your newly established skill set?

All that being said, it's never "convenient" to have a baby, every new family has to make arrangements and sacrifices; it's just a question of how many you're willing to make.

Sorry it that was too much.... it's just all the stuff I've been wrestling with since May.. :-)

good luck!

Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
we did decide to wait. we've got a countdown till when we can start trying, and its always hard to wait. but once we made the decision, and it obviously made the most practical sense, it's easier to see the big picture. it'll just be so much easier when school is completely over and we can set up our lives intelligently, not having to consider exams, etc. I'd much rather have my baby be center of attention at all times when I get to be with him/her, not have "baby time" be something I have to schedule around school work. so hard though! If you have a year, maybe you wouldn't have to wait out the full year, just until your 6-7 months out from graduating? I don't know though, people have brought up the possibilities of a difficult pregnancy interfering with your graduation, not to mention a premature baby throwing your calendar off. Also, it doesn't seem like the best idea to go into your job search either very pregnant or with a newborn at home. Could you afford to take some time off after school with a newborn, before you started looking for a job, and would that be detrimental to your newly established skill set?

All that being said, it's never "convenient" to have a baby, every new family has to make arrangements and sacrifices; it's just a question of how many you're willing to make.

Sorry it that was too much.... it's just all the stuff I've been wrestling with since May.. :-)

good luck!

Glad you thought it through.....when my firstborn came, I was so totally MOMMY that nursing and hospitals and patient care was just a "hobby."

It's a nice feeling when you don't have to worry about school and kids. Really nice.

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