Having a life....

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Peds ER.

So often on this board and in school I hear about us nursing students who are sacrificing life and limb to get through school. In my first year of school I dedicated my life to school, put my children's, husband's, and my own life on the backburner. I distinctly remember our instructors telling us to tell our family and friends that we will see them when school is over. After missing countless soccer games, tee ball practices, dance lessons, etc. last year I decided that my kids were not going to be this age forever.Although I know I am doing this for them I cannot look back and know that I missed out on so much.Things that you can never get back. I had to make a conscious decision to put school behind my family and my life and I think it is the best decision I have made. Granted I have gone from all A's to B's and a couple C's, not to mention I have been lectured on "not working to my potential" by instructors who then fully understand once I tell them why. This year though, my house is pretty clean, my kids are very happy, I know their teachers, I haven't missed a soccer game, tee ball starts in 2 weeks and I can't wait. I am posting this to see if anyone else is not being consumed by school. How have you done this? I do realize that some people cannot afford to not get all A's , but for those of you who actually go out on the weekends, have lots of time for your family and for yourself...I would like to hear from you..maybe suggestions on how to have a nice balance between life and school would be great as well.

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Specializes in tele, ICU.

so i gather once i start school in the fall, it's a completely naive thing for me to think that i'll be able to plan a wedding while in nursing school?

the way i balance school and work now is by cutting back my hours at work to 70% time.. of course, if i'm not at work, i'm in class.. and i try not to fall behind on studying so that i can spend the weekends doing whatever and not feel guilty about it.

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

I was complaining in the other post that I can't sign my son up for tee ball due to school. Aside from that, I am home quite a bit. I go part-time right now, and they only go to a sitter once a week. I have arranged my schedule around my husbands so usually one of us is home with them. I have had to rearrange parent teacher conferences but I always am able to get in to talk to their teachers. I was able to get my son into wrestling this year. We only missed one class due to my PTK induction. I am down to working 2 days a week, but my kids have me home most of the time. When I do go full-time, they will both be in school during the day, and I will take day classes to be home at night. So far, if I have to go to school my kids say " again?" but they say that any time I leave the house LOL. I think it can be done. I may be kidding myself, but I am going to do my best to juggle it all. Hopefully I can keep the sacrifices to a minimum.

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Specializes in Peds ER.

bigmona~ no I don't think it is completely naive to think you can plan a wedding while in school. Now hopefully the wedding is being planned for after you graduate though! hehe jk.

Achoo you have it figured out great. Of course it can be done. It sounds like you are almost doing it already. How old are your children? Good luck to everyone and thanks for replying.

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

I have 2 boys, ages 4 and 6. One is in kindergarten right now, and the other is in early childhood 2 1/2 hours a day. With the 2 year waiting list they have here, my youngest will be starting kindergarten the year I'd start. If I get in sooner, he may have one semester at a day care right down the street. It wouldn't be the worst thing, and I think he'd do fine. I actually will have to put them in day care over the summer, as my CNA course will be 7-3, 3-4 times a week. It will be fine for the summer. I think the program is only 6 weeks. They can play with the other kids there, and I won't feel too guilty LOL.

Big mona, weddings themselves are stressful to plan, along with studies, but you can do it. I would definately arrange your honeymoon during spring or summer break though! ;)

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Specializes in tele, ICU.

LOL you guys are giving me hope! It's going to be a long engagement and I think the actual marriage will happen a few months after I'm done with school. So that'll give me plenty of time to plan things out and hopefully after I graduate I won't be so poor from school debt that I can still afford a honeymoon :)

Those of you with children amaze me with your multitasking abilities! My mother also went to school while working full time and raising my sister and I. She reminds me of that fact every time I start to get whiny about how it's hard doing work and school at once...puts me in my place.

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

You know it's funny... I got my RMA 10 years ago, and I always said I don't know how I did it back then. Working, dating, getting 4 hours sleep and still passing exams and such. Well here I am doing it again, with even more responsibilitites. I guess where there is a will, there is always a way :)

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Hooray, Itsy Bitsy, for getting things into perspective! Too often I've seen people get really anal about their grades and feel they just have to have straight A's and perfect kids and a perfect marriage and a perfect house ... it ain't gonna happen in the real world! The world is still going to turn if you have B's and C's and you'll put a lot less stress on yourself and your family in the process. Strive for your goal, but don't kill yourself and neglect your family in the process. Good for you, thanks for your refreshing post.

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Specializes in Peds ER.

Thank you Carolanne, it really is so nice to hear that.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
Hooray, Itsy Bitsy, for getting things into perspective! Too often I've seen people get really anal about their grades and feel they just have to have straight A's and perfect kids and a perfect marriage and a perfect house ... it ain't gonna happen in the real world! The world is still going to turn if you have B's and C's and you'll put a lot less stress on yourself and your family in the process. Strive for your goal, but don't kill yourself and neglect your family in the process...

Right on!

Let's not forget to celebrate our lives. :balloons:

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As important as it is not to push ourselves over the limit, it is also important that we do not just settle for the minimum. It is true that the classes are tough and at times you could care less about how you did on a test, but we should always aim high everyoppurtunity we get.

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Specializes in private duty/home health, med/surg.

I know what you mean about not feeling like you have a life. Fortunately, I "don't work" (not really, I'm a mom with 3 kids) since we're scraping by on my husband's income. The CC I go to doesn't have nursing classes in the summer, and that really helps. During the school week (I'm on spring break now) I feel like from the time I get up to the time I go to bed I am running with no break since everything I do revolves around my children & my schooling. I've given up on housework during the week other than the occasional load of laundry. I do make time to relax on the weekends.

Remember that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. When I am working as a nurse, I only want to work part-time. I love nursing school & I love the idea of working as a nurse, but my priority right now & for the next several years will be my family.

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