Working Mom's And Students - Any Advice?

jenac · May 14, 2003

Pace yourself and prioritize. Sleep fast and know that you cannot do everything all of the time. When it comes down to it- and you have to choose between playing with your child or cleaning, choose playing. :) Good luck-and know that your in good company here. So many of us have been down that exhausting road.

cna on her way · May 14, 2003

I agree with jenac totally. Make the most of your time with your child and concentrate on the future. The housework will be there later and kids love chicken tenders and fries!!! Good luck!

Berta · May 14, 2003

Ditto, play with you child. Later they will look back and remember the time you spent with them, not how clean or dirty the house is. I work full time, have 2 kids age 3 and 8, go to school, and take care of my elderly mom. Some days there just isn't enough hours in the day. You and your kids will survive even if you only have the energy for peanut butter and jelly. The best advice I can give you is this.. make sure you get a good night rest, and always keep you eyes on your goals. Good luck, Berta

Dublin37 · May 14, 2003

I am trying to also. And I'm not working! I know it will really be insane when I'm actually in the program :eek: I've got 2 kids in school, but I worry about when they're sick. I hear if you miss more than 2 clinicals, you're dropped. . Other nurses have told me have 2-3 babysitter backups. Then of course, there's the mommy guilt! ugh. Heather

k9's mom · May 21, 2003

Enjoy your 2-year old- before you know it she'll be graduating. I had to learn to let the housework go to spend time with my boys and cram for tests. Something has to give, don't let it be the time spent with family and friends! The housework will always be there! There's not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything so prioritize by order of what matters most to you. Best of Luck

marilynmom, LPN, NP · May 22, 2003

I too am a mother of 2 young girls (ages 5 and 17 months), I am a SAHM by day and full time student by night (when hubby is home to watch them). Last semester I took 14 credit hours and made straight A's, this fall I plan on taking 18 credit hours. You CAN do it. Is my house clean or organized or straightened- NOPE! LOL There is always dishes to be washed, laundry to be folded, stuff to put way, etc etc etc You all know how it is. But I make sure I spend time with my kids and do my studying at night when they are in bed or maybe a few hours on the weekend at the library. But my family comes first...always.

I just got finished with Anatomy and made an A. You CAN do it. It is a lot to learn but I really enjoyed my class and because I enjoyed it I liked to study for it and I got a ton out of it and I had a really hard teacher as well. I used a lot of index cards, read my notes over and over and I would come home and retype them while they were still fresh in my memory.

Good luck and stick around here, we will help you through!!

Marilyn

Ricky RN · May 22, 2003

Juliababy,

You are already on the right track by getting A&P out of the way before starting your nursing courses. (some schools require it as a prerequisite but some allow it to be taken concurrently and that is a heavy load, believe me) Try to combine your "kid time" with your study. Use your childs body to identify anatomical structures to whatever extent you can. You get some study and they get to spend some time with you plus they get a kick out of it. It also amazes people when a little kid points to various bones and uses the correct terminology. Last piece of advice, forget that you ever heard the words "social life". When in nursing school, I had a full time job, three kids (twin 5 y/o girls and a 7 y/o boy), a seat on my county planning commission and the presidency of the university nursing club and I still graduated with honors. It can be done but there is no half-way. You have to be totally committed and willing to grit your teeth and do whatever it takes to make it through one-day-at-a-time. Good Luck!

jschut, BSN, RN · May 22, 2003

Juliababy~

As said before, prioritize! Let some housecleaning go if you need to, but be sure to take time for your family.

It is hard, but you can come here and vent anytime...

God bless ya bunches and best of all to you! You can do it!