Balancing nursing school and life

broke1 · Jul 23, 2005

I'm a single mom of 4 and I homeschool my kiddos. I'm done with my prereqs and gen eds and will start at JHC in Jan. In your opinion is it at all possible to continue to homeschool while in nursing school? I know people work full-time and are nursing students. I also know young single nursing students who party 5 nights a week instead of studying and still get through the program.
chembob

Assuming you work to support your kids, the math doesn't add up. Your credit load probably won't be any less than 12 hours. The formula I was given was to plan on 3-4 hours of study per week, per credit hour being taken. You also have to look at your class schdules and travel time to and from clinicals.

Would you want a nurse that partied 5 nights a week and just "got through" caring for one of your kids?

chembob · Jul 23, 2005

Assuming you work to support your kids, the math doesn't add up. Your credit load probably won't be any less than 12 hours. The formula I was given was to plan on 3-4 hours of study per week, per credit hour being taken. You also have to look at your class schdules and travel time to and from clinicals.
Would you want a nurse that partied 5 nights a week and just "got through" caring for one of your kids?

I do not work, nor do I plan to. And, no I would not want the "partying nursing student" to care for my kids. I was just using that as an example of how others prioritize their time.

broke1 · Jul 23, 2005

I do not work, nor do I plan to. And, no I would not want the "partying nursing student" to care for my kids. I was just using that as an example of how others prioritize their time.

Sorry, I wasn't implying anything, only using an example.

Again, I would use the credit / study hour formula. It seems to work for me. I

jab3da · Sep 3, 2005

Assuming you work to support your kids, the math doesn't add up. Your credit load probably won't be any less than 12 hours. The formula I was given was to plan on 3-4 hours of study per week, per credit hour being taken. You also have to look at your class schdules and travel time to and from clinicals.
Would you want a nurse that partied 5 nights a week and just "got through" caring for one of your kids?

I think it goes back to the old saying of "What do you call a person that graduated last in his/her class at medical school?...A DOCTOR" Going to nursing school or any school isn't about focusing only on school. That's just a good way to make yourself crazy. Maybe the nurse that partied 5 nights a week still got straight A's at school. What someone does on their personal time is their business.

broke1 · Sep 3, 2005

I think it goes back to the old saying of "What do you call a person that graduated last in his/her class at medical school?...A DOCTOR" Going to nursing school or any school isn't about focusing only on school. That's just a good way to make yourself crazy. Maybe the nurse that partied 5 nights a week still got straight A's at school. What someone does on their personal time is their business.

We have all see good doctors and bad ones as well as good nurses and bad ones. I think what you do on your own time IS your business. Nursing school is a huge time committment, and unless you're being forced to go, it's on your time.

It's possible to get straight A's in nursing school without studying while staying out late partying every night. Winning the lottery is also possible.

Dratz · Sep 3, 2005

You have 4 children that you homeschool? Just wondering who will be watching them while you attend classes? Nursing school is pretty demanding. In my college we are required to do at least 2 hours of independant/research/study per hour of course content. in daycare. Trust me when I say this, it was very very hectic.

Depending on your course load, and how you manage your time, I guess it would be possible to do both. But somewhere along the line, either you or your children will be shorted. Every free moment of time that I have will be spent studying. I am lucky in that my youngest is now 14 and can fend for himself but he struggles so much in school that I end up having to help him a lot. Hubby will have to take over in that department now I am afraid.

If you can do it all, more power to you. As for me, there is no chance in heck that I could do all that homeschooling PLUS maintain my GPA in nursing school.

Also, don't forget to take some time just for YOU!!.

Just my thoughts :)

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Sep 3, 2005

Given that you say you don't work nor intend to....I think you will be fine. You could homeschool the children in the evening rather than day or vice versa to accomodate your nursing school schedule. When you are through with them and have them watching tv or sleeping you could review your notes and study.

I am a firm believer in studying but if I told you that I studied lots I'd be lying to you. By this I mean, if you write good notes and absorb the material you probably won't need hours and hours of study time.

Organization is a prime key. I don't have little one's but do have 2 jobs and a spouse so I read my chapters take good notes review and I am all set. I have excellent grades and at the top of my class :) .

I wish you the best of luck, and I am sure you will do superb!

gymrat33, LPN · Jun 22, 2006

Organization is key. I work 3 days a week and don't intend to stop working. I get up early ( 3:45am), go to the gym, come home to see my wonderful hubby off to work, and study. I'm in Micro now which is in the evenings. My mom and mother-in-law are wonderful. They help w/ the kids and so does hubby. My mother-in-law is going to be taking my kids to school in the fall when I start nursing and she will pick my dtr. up from preschool at 11:15. I've arranged my schedule so I am home most evenings except when I work. I think I have one evening class but I will have to check. Otherwise I'm out of school and clinicals by 12noon at the latest. I take my notes to the gym and within an hour and 1/2, I've got everything memorized. It can be done. You really can't slack too much when you go through school especially with kids, husbands, homes to care for. Everthing falls into place. My kids know I'm in school and they actually help me study. Good luck. I believe anyone can do anything they set their mind to.:pumpiron:

kathye1350 · Jun 27, 2006

Hi, just wanted to let you know that I feel your pain. LOL I did not homeschool my kids while in school. However, I was and am a single mom of SIX! It was hard and anyone who says different did'nt pay attention.lol I also worked part time in between there somewhere. I went to school while my kids were in school. I got home, did their homework, made dinner, did baths, did laundry for the next day or two, tucked them in around 8:30 and studied my butt off till around 1:00am every night. Some of school was easy for me because the terminology was something I grew up with. My mother is a retired nurse of thirty years. But the rest was not easy. I truly believe the only way to do it when you've got so many other things "to do", is to..... Just do it! I know that sounds crazy, but it is the only thing that worked for me. I just did'nt have time to DO anything else but school, home, and work. Not neccissarily in that order everyday either. lol. I wish you all the best. Just know that you will make it through, you will survive. And if it truly is what you want, you will do it with good grades even!! Good luck and hope to chat sometime.

kathye1350 · Jun 27, 2006

I just wanted to add also, that although my kids had to do without some things they WANTED, they never did without anything they NEEDED!! Sacrifice is a major key factor in succeeding. I believe that whole heartedly. In the end, it has payed off beautifully. You see, I did'nt start school until I was 29. And I went in not only knowing that being a nurse is what I wanted to do with my life(taking care of others), but also knowing I would be able to provide a much better life for my kids as well. We, as a whole, are much better off than we were before I went to school. I'm just saying, yes, there will be moments where you want to scream, pull your hair out, cry, and cus. But, it is SOOOO worth it!

SnackCake · Jul 8, 2006

Wow, I do not know how you would do it... I am in an accelerated program in SW Missouri and the moms in my class are always talking about how much they miss spending time with their kids. I have a cat and boyfriend to occupy me and I feel very guilty b/c I have little time for them. If your program is anything like mine, you will be expected to devote a good 75% of your life to it. This means if someone gets sick, you will need to decide if you can afford to stay home. Plus, since clinicals are during the day (when school would be, I assume?), after 8-12 hours on the floor the only thing I want to do is get my feet rubbed and collapse in a heap BEFORE I start for 2+ hours of homework or studying. In my opinion, if you want to be a proficient nurse and a wonderful mom, choose one or the other because you will sacrifice one duty in order to tend for the other. Wow, that's a tough decision, good luck!