I so wish I had started this all earlier

twinbee25 · Jan 29, 2005

Twinbee, I think what you said about having a good support system is so true. I think it will be critical for me to know that I can count on my parents, my DH and kids, etc. for support through all of this. I've read other posts on this board saying "you aren't going through nursing school, your whole FAMILY is going through nursing school!":chuckle I'm sure that will prove to be true! My goal these next few months (before starting my prereqs in August) is to "train" my family to be more self-sufficient and not count me for everything. I also need to work on my time-management skills and also get my house organized. Anything that I can do to make school flow more smoothly will help, I think. Any suggestions from those who've already started back? What works for you? I'm also worried about having time (or making time) to study. I know this will have to be a major priority, just not quite sure how I'll go about it!:rotfl: Oh, well, day by day, huh???

Hi wannabe...

well for me, it is only my 11yr old son and me living together...and after my son, my studies are my next priority. I will admit, during the semester, my son suffers not getting quantity/quality attention, but I do make up for it during breaks.

many, many times, I let the dishes go ...a day or two...study during laundry loads...do good to clean the bathroom twice a month! ...as I figure my studies/grades has to come before those things b/c it is my future on the line. At my age, I dont have the time to start over! My son is great, though it did take adjustment, and he is ADHD...so for my study weekend, I always try to rent him a playstation game or two...keeps him happy and occupied while I am studying...something we both have decided works for both of us!

so its not like I have to keep a husband happy right now...wouldnt even want to go there! LOL :chuckle ....on top of that I used to clean homes fulltime before going back to school, and its the last thing I want to do now! My goal is to have someone clean my home one day! :)

You are so right when you say that your whole family goes through school with you. My mom is the first person my son's school calls if needed, and my mom has a key to my home, so if she needs to pick my son up from school, she can take him to our place.

Yes, any "training" to your family now...will surely help!!! Good luck to you!! keep us posted.

making time to study...basically, I have no life right now...my life is my studies, and my 11yr old....I didnt even make it to a family reunion last september due to it was on a "study weekend". My priorities are different now while in nursing school...different even from when I was doing pre-reqs. It will take adjustment, and it WILL fall into place.

PhoenixGirl · Jan 30, 2005

but I'm only 23 and I feel the same way. I feel like I'm just in a time crunch to get all this stuff done and try to plan ahead. I start to feel so overwhelmed, there was all this time to get school done a few years ago, why did I not start? Why did I not know what I wanted to do?! I know that sounds dumb...

I have 2 little boys, married to a wonderful man, and I was a SAHM since my first son was born. I am spending all this time now doing prereqs online, and I could really kick myself for not having started it sooner. I have always had this personality I guess, where my husband or people would always bug me and say "you should go to nursing school!" and it's always been something I'd wanted to do, for some reason I just never thought I could do it. Well, now I'm doing it, and I do get in those zones where I feel like "WHY DID I NOT START SOONER?!" but, well, look at it this way, at least we ARE doing it now. At least we won't ever have to look back and say "I wish I went to nursing school..." because we are getting it done with!

When the attitude starts to get negative, just try and think positive!

Oh, and I can totally relate to this post:

I stress so much! HA HA HA. Like I KNOW I have to be at Clinicals M,W,F at 7 AM. SO leaves for work at 7:30 and the kids don't start school until 8:40 but they have an "early childwatch" at the school starting at 7 so SO will have to drop them off for an hour before they start... I feel bad about that:(. But I am out by 3pm once I start so that gives me time to get home for the bus at 3:45.
Well, one day at a time, right? We can do this!

I go over everything in my head all the time about my schedule, vs. husbands schedule and the kids daycare/preschool schedule. It's very stressful. That is another reason why I always kick myself for not doing this sooner when life was "easier." But then another poster said it best, these life experiences we have mature us and make us more ready for school. I guess I do beleive that because I am doing better in school than I have ever done in my life.

Rebecca

RedSox33RN · Jan 31, 2005

Don't ever feel badly about not starting earlier! The most important thing is that you are doing it now - whether your 23 or 63, it doesn't matter. You made the choices that were right for you at that time, and now you are making choices right for you at THIS time. Maybe your choices in the past didn't work out the way you intended or thought they would, but I'm a firm believer that everyone makes the best choices they can at that particular time.

My soon-to-be-ex MIL graduated from nursing school at the age of 57, and wasn't the oldest in her class! I have a woman in my classes now that is almost 60.

I don't think there is ever a "perfect" time to be in school. Several times I started taking pre-req's, only to have something come up........like pregnancy! LOL I'm now 37, a mom of 4, going through a rough separation, and attending a great college that takes me 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to. So no, it's not perfect, but is working well for me now. I had to drop out of Med/Surg 1 this semester, and will have to wait a year to take it again (my schedule was just too busy, and I had no study time, and I didn't want to fail), but it will all work out. I'll get there, but it's just going to take a little bit longer!

RNJoAnn · Jan 31, 2005

:yelclap:
I also went back to school at 38...for prereqs. I had never gone to college, never wanted to...my parents had 6 kids, and we were raised in the generation...get married and "happily ever after" (my parents are still together after 52 yrs!) ...but it wasnt in the cards for me ...so I am a single mom, now 42, and in my 2nd RN semester ...oh and I have a granddaughter 6mos old now (older son 21 is married), and I am still raising my 11 yr old son at home.
I have a great support system...my parents! And also a great bunch of other nursing students...I am in a great class, and everyone is so helpful and supportive!
The part you said about being more mature going back to school, I have to agree with you! It is amazing to see the difference in students and their age/study habits...of course you have it the other way also at times. But I wouldnt change anything, and definitely have no regrets now!
So go for it, and you can accomplish it! Good luck to you all in your studies and ventures!
twinbee

I feel for all of you. It's very hard to go back to school when you have a family to raise and take care of. I know, I did it for about two years. Worked full-time, went to school two nights/week and raised two children back in the early 90's. My youngest is 18 now and doesn't need my attention as much so I started back this January to finish up my pre-reqs at age 51. My oldest is 31. Believe me, it's much easier when you only have yourself to think about and it makes it alot easier to focus on your studies. I'm a lot more mature now than I was ten years ago!