Feeling discouraged about nursing school (baby on the way)

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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So, it's getting close to that time to start applying to nursing programs for my bsn, but I've run into another life challenge I didn't foresee. I am married, 22 years old, I have a 3 year old son, a 1 year old son, and I just found out I'm pregnant with number 3. We weren't trying for another baby because I'm in the middle of my degree, so this was a big surprise.

I was supposed to graduate this fall with my associates and begin my bsn program in the spring. Due to this pregnancy I'm having to postpone my last semester at my community college until the spring of 2017. I will be ready to go to nursing school in the fall of 2017, but I'm feeling very discouraged now.

Before I found out I was pregnant I felt confident and ready to begin my nursing school journey, but now not so much. I'm a very driven person and I don't give myself the option to fail. It's probably my hormones and the thought of our lives changing again to welcome another child into our family, but I'm feeling like nursing school will be impossible for me now with 3 children under the age of 4. I'm having anxiety about being able to do this, but before I was pregnant nursing school couldn't come fast enough.

I guess this is more of a public vent than really asking for advice, but if there are any young moms or dad's out there with 3 or more children of such young ages going through or have been through nursing school, I'd love to hear from you and what your experiences were like. I knew for sure I could do nursing school with my 2 children because we have an awesome routine and I've been very successful throughout my pre requisites, but with 3 children?? I'm just not too sure anymore.

I do want this more than anything. I know what it's like working in health care and I won't fail. I have no option to fail, so I won't let myself. If worst comes to worst, I would put nursing school on a temporary hold for maybe 1 year until my oldest started pre-k or even kindergarten.

I'm sorry this is so lengthy. I feel better getting it off of my chest and onto paper (well, internet paper) haha.

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

I had a 4 year of and 2 year old when I started pre-reqs for my bridge program. I had my third, who is now 16 months, the week of finals. I had unexpected complications, I was 27 when I had him, but I managed. I did have to push off the nursing program a year to give me some time to recover. I've maintained a 3.96 through the whole ordeal, it has never been easy, but I have refused to give up and its worked for me because I don't allow myself to make excuses to not get school work done. For me, going from two to three kids was much more difficult than I expected, its only worked because my husband is more than willing to pick up my slack so I can finish. I knew if I stopped going to school after my third was born, I would likely never go back. My advice is to keep going, you may have to take it day by day at times, but it can be done if you want it bad enough. My life revolves around school/family/PRN job and I'm ok with that because its a temporary sacrifice. I have a tattoo that says "Give it all you've got" that I had done a month after I decided to go back to nursing school. It sounds silly but its served as a reminder during the most difficult times that I CAN do this and do it better than anyone would have expected out of someone in my position. You got this, just keep on keepin on and it will be worth it. GL to you!

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