RN students that work and have kids

LTC86 · Aug 30, 2008

I am in my first semester of clinicals. I also have been married for 2 years and we have a 14 month old daughter. AND i work 24hrs per week!!! I am learning to be very very very organized and stick to a schedule like crazy glue. Hope all works out for the both of us:wink2:.

jennifers · Aug 30, 2008

i'm in my 2nd year of a 2 year ADN program. i work about 20 hours a week and have a 5 year old girl and a 2 year old boy. IT CAN BE DONE! I'm not saying its at all easy. You spend your entire weekends working or reading. Almost all spare time is spend hitting the books...but look i had time to get on here for a few minutes. You really need your spouse and/or family to be super supportive...but it is possible.

JettaDP · Aug 31, 2008

I'm a single mom, I have a part-time job, and I am a full time nursing student. On top of that, I participate in several school activities and organizations. I am an ASG senator, Phi Theta Kappa vice president, Honors Rep., and a student ambassador. Between all of this, I have zero free time.

Here's how my day goes:

I drop my daughter off at daycare at 8 a.m. From there I go to school and I stay there until 4 p.m. (I work on campus.) From 8 to 4, I go to class, work, go to organization meetings, and I study. At 4, I pick up my daughter and I spend every second with her until I put her to sleep at 9 pm. Then I watch one t.v. show. Then I study until midnight or so. Then I go to bed and wake up and do it again. On Saturday, my mom spends the day with my daughter so I can get extra study time in.

To say that I am busier then I have ever been is an understatement. But I have managed to get it done without having to sacrifice the time I have with my daughter. When she is home and awake, it is all about her.

You can do this. As you said, you are not naive to the fact that NS is going to be time consuming. It is even harder when you have to devote time to children. But it is 100% attainable. You will end up sacrificing more time with your family that you want to, but if you schedule your day correctly and try to stick to it, you'll end up spending more time with them then you originally thought.

Good luck! I'm rooting for you!

intuition · Aug 31, 2008

I am in my 3rd semester of nursing school. I have a 3 year old and 19 month old, and work 24 hours a week. I have managed to pull 4.0's the last 2 semesters. :confused: IT CAN BE DONE!!!

Like the previous posters have said, every available minute (besides a few min. every night to check this site) I am studying. I usually study from 8:30p.m.- midnight.

Another thing is to learn how to be organized and how to prioritize. I will tell you before this last break, my house was horrendous. I have a husband that takes care of the kids and picks up when he can. But I wouldn't allow anyone to come into my house. It was my lowest priority. It was clean enough so that we had clean dishes, and my kids had clean clothes. But I usually will do a VERY thorough cleaning during my holiday days off or breaks from school.

I hope this helps a little. Please don't let others scare you, I have had many people tell me I can't do nursing school with kids and working. Well guess what, I am proving them wrong. :up:

whiteoleander5 · Aug 31, 2008

Let me just say... i am only 20 years old, and live at home with my family. I have a boyfriend who is also going through school, and we have no kids. I have a crappy job where I am allowed to work 10 hours a week during nursing school (which i am doing now), and if i decide to quit alltogether next year when nursing school brings me even more stress...then i am completely ready to do so. (Thank god for my parents..) My main focus is getting through nursing alive & well. So basically the only priority in my life is nursing...

Most of the people in my classes are married with children, with jobs that they need and they definately work more than 10 hours a week like I do. I really think its amazing how they (and you) do it.

Although I dont have any real advice for you, I know there are so many woman like you who manage to get through it. And its definately all about planning your time, and not changing it for anything. Please dont be discouraged!

I completely admire you & others who are in the same position. :nurse:

Best of luck! :yeah:

kbmommy21 · Aug 31, 2008

i am in the last semester of a 2 yr ADN program, i have a 1 and 2 year old and work full time 36-40 hours a week. when i first started nursing school i had to work 6p-5a and start classes at 8a. yes you will be losing lots of sleep, yes sometimes you may feel like quitting, yes NS is probably going to be one of the biggest challenges you have in life but rest assure it is most definitely possible for you to make it through. i have managed to pass every class and clinical thus far, maintain a household, spend time with the family and work full time so know that this is possible. the key to my survival was having a good support system, studying hard, and taking a little time out for myself every now and then. just know that your goal of becoming a nurse is very much possible. hey, forget all the negative talk and people saying you can't do this or you can't do that, if you set your mind to it, anything is possible. BEST WISHES to you and enjoy this experience, it is one you will never forget.

artistnurse · Aug 31, 2008

Hey everyone, I need some advice or encouragement from anyone who is currently in a nursing program or has completed one that has young children and had to work while in school. All I have been hearing is so discouraging. I have kids ages 11,6,4. I am in a 2 year ADN program and I am actually going to school part time this first year until all my kids are officially "in school" full time, it will end up taking me either 5 or six semesters. I also work 15-20 hours per week. I have not heard one encouraging thing from anyone about being able to handle this all. I am soooooo excited to finally get started! All I hear about is reading every word, and 8 hour care plans. Yikes! I am not naive to the fact that this is going to be very challenging and time consuming, but I would like to hear from some of you that my goal to become a great nurse is an attainable goal! I would also like to hear about what you may have struggled with during school. Surely I am not alone in feeling like this. Thanks a bunch!

I think we all hear that...that it's "IMPOSSIBLE" to do this and "IMPOSSIBLE" to do that....I say, you gotta do what ya gotta do. It won't be as easy or ideal...but you can do it. I know several nurses who have done exactly that. Work and school and kids. I really think that the whole atmosphere of nursing in general could stand to be a little more encouraging as not all people who want to become a nurse fit into a certain box. I am fortunate enough to have wonderful, patient instructors so far. Not everyone has/had that and still did it. You can tooo.

You can do it...the key is organization and flexibility. Not everything will go as planned, especially with kids. But organization and planning will help you make the most effective use of your time with studying and caring for your family...and also talking to your kids about what life's going to be like for them while you're in school. Have them help you with chores, etc. to save time....you will adapt. Go for it!

Kasia3 · Aug 31, 2008

I dont have any kids yet but I go to school and work,4 days a week or sometimes two days a week,I guess depends on the week:).It is not easy because you have to be really organized and control your time.Sometimes I leave my house at 5 am,go to clinical,eat something quickly along the way and leave for work.It is frustrating at times but I want to work and basically have to work and I'm happy that I do.Of course my opionion can change once I have the result of the first test.

Ok last words:I figure and think that it doesnt matter if you work,have kids or have all the time in the world.Ultimately it is up to you if you pass.

I seen people who didnt work while taking nursing classess that still failed.

Meridian · Sep 1, 2008

I just graduated this year and I think half of the female students had kids. I know one student who was married with SIX children and another who was divorced with FIVE (all under 12) and had a part time job. We even had a number of women who had children while in Nursing school. One of the male students had kids and he was a single father and they all graduated on time. It's not impossible. I think you'll be able to do it.

jkfickle · Sep 2, 2008

I think we all hear that...that it's "IMPOSSIBLE" to do this and "IMPOSSIBLE" to do that....I say, you gotta do what ya gotta do. It won't be as easy or ideal...but you can do it. I know several nurses who have done exactly that. Work and school and kids. I really think that the whole atmosphere of nursing in general could stand to be a little more encouraging as not all people who want to become a nurse fit into a certain box. I am fortunate enough to have wonderful, patient instructors so far. Not everyone has/had that and still did it. You can tooo.
You can do it...the key is organization and flexibility. Not everything will go as planned, especially with kids. But organization and planning will help you make the most effective use of your time with studying and caring for your family...and also talking to your kids about what life's going to be like for them while you're in school. Have them help you with chores, etc. to save time....you will adapt. Go for it!

Well said. Most of the students in my cohort are "non-traditional" students. WE are the bread and butter of their program. They could stand to make classes more convenient, and do more to accomadate the needs of their students. I am not asking for them to make the program itself easier, just the organization of it, as well as their culture of, "nothing but nursing matters".

I am a single Mom who must work 32 hours to carry insurance. I do not receive finanacial or assistance otherwise from my childs father (not for lack of court order and trying) I am making sacrifices, and unfortuantely so is my daughter. I only have 4 quarters to go. One day at a time, if you are comitted, the sky is the limit. Good luck to all :yeah:

LMRN10 · Sep 2, 2008

Hey there...I see your in IL...I'm in Northeaster IL.

I have been going to school since 2004, finishing my pre-req's part-time. I work full-time (40+ hours/week) and I have a 3 year old daughter. It CAN be done and don't let anyone or anything that you read discourage you. You need to figure out how your schedule best works for you and you need to have a stable support system in place so you can study when necessary!! I know with a 3 year old, she usually doesn't want me to do my homework...she wants me to play! But you have older kids, so you might be able to get away with it while they play with her!

You can do it and you will...just hang in there and like I said, don't let anyone's comments discourage you! Where there's a will, there's a way!