Mom & Nursing Student

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Hi Everyone, who here is a mom and a nursing student? How do you manage? Do you have any tips for other moms?

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I'm a mom of an almost 6 year old and a 9 month old. This was my biggest concern. How to manage school time, family time. My husband has been very supportive while I was completing my pre-reqs. I start cllinicals in august so Ill be going part time with my job. Lookin forward to that too!!! Good luck to all u wonderful mommys out there doin the damn thing!!! Your kids will be very proud of you. Way to set a great example

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Does anyone on here also work? I am hoping to obtain a PCT position to help us out with my school expense. I just don't know if I will be able to handle school, work, and be the mom my kids are used to having.

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Hi @RubySlippers06! Being a nursing student while working and being a mom is tough, but you can do it! All three things are demanding, and most likely, you won't be able to spend as much time with your kids as they are used to. However, if you talk with your children ahead of time about the changes they can expect, it helps them mentally prepare.

Time management is so important when trying to balance school, work, and family life; I highly recommend setting a specific time aside each day or week to spend with your family. Here are a few great articles I read about this same topic: Tips for moms in nursing school and How one nurse balances work, school, and life.

I hope that helps a little! Best of luck:)

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Musingmom, was it super crazy being in an accelerated program with an infant? My son will be 11 months when I start my accelerated program. Figuring out how to balance studying and being with him is one of the things I'm most worried about.

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I am starting an RN program in the fall, and am really worried about how I will juggle work, school, kids, etc. I struggled when it was just school & kids, but now will have to work as well. I've never been a super time-organizer, so that's something I'm going to have to work on. I'm also going to try very hard to dedicate one day to "just family stuff". My older kids will understand, but the younger (7 & 8) will not handle absent mom as smoothly.

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I have a 4 year old and an 8 month old (yup he was born right smack in the middle of a quarter of an accelerated LVN to BSN bridge). Its doable. Take advantage of any family support you have. My DH takes the boys to the park so I can get in some quiet study time, and that's great because they do something fun and Mommy isn't just locked in the office studying. You will have to give up time with them and that sucks, just remember what you are doing it for. Getting on a schedule is helpful and once you get in the groove it comes naturally.

My Mom went to nursing school when I was little and I don't remember anything negative about it.

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Specializes in ICU.

I have an 8 year old and have been doing the prereqs since last fall and will be in the program this fall. Oh and did I mention I am a new single mom? My son is very active in competitive judo which is seriously like a full time job. Practice several days a week and tournaments on weekends. We leave for Dallas next Wed. until June 30th and then we fly out July 1st for a week in Hawaii!! Yes, we have a tournament in Hawaii. I am so excited to go.

I make our time together count. We snuggle and hug a lot and we like to play card games. Even just sitting down for a couple of rounds of Uno here and there. I find myself letting him crawl in my bed more often than usual just to have some extra time together. He is happy and doing well and is glad I am becoming a nurse. I am showing him anything is possible. Which I feel is an important lesson for kids to learn. But if I ever felt like things were falling through the cracks I would step back and see what I needed to do to prioritize things. But things have been going so well I have actually started dating again and may have a new boyfriend who is completely supportive of me going to nursing school. So it can be done, you just need to be highly organized.

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I have a ton of respect for the single parents doing it all by themselves!! I have a two year old and she will be watching more tv then I would like while in school:( I know it will be tough but I'm doing this for her and it will hopefully payoff in the end.

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This is something I am very nervous about! I start my ADN program this fall and I have a 3 year old and 1 year old. It is so nice to hear all of these inspiring stories! Right now I plan on studying before and after school while my kids are in daycare and then when the go to sleep. I know that those plans might change as needed when classes actually start. I have mostly been a stay-at-home mom until now, so I'm worried about how they will react to mommy not being there 24-7. :(

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I'm going to finish my nursing degree in December and finally graduate after 5 long years. I started with a 1 and 3 year old. It has not been an easy road! It was easier when they were littler because they didn't really care that I was busy studying. I could let them play together or put on a video and they were happy, plus they still napped every day. Now they understand I need to study, but honestly they want my time and attention and I just don't have it to give right now. Thankfully I have a very supportive husband who takes them out of the house so I can study (I swear he must feel like a single parent a lot). When they were littler and my mother-in-law was healthy she was a godsend too because she would watch them. My best advice is study, study, study whenever and wherever you can. Remember it's not forever. And try to give your kids as much attention as possible (which isn't easy when you need to study). I can't wait for graduation in December so they can see me walk across the stage and know they were a part of me achieving something so wonderful. I can do a dedication statement for my pinning ceremony and you can bet it's going to be dedicated to my hubby and kids!

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Specializes in NICU.

So great!!

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