Needing advice on being a nurse! Especially Moms going through school

[MizMaverick]

I am currently a stay at home mom of a 4 and 1 year old. I went to tech school for graphic design about ten years ago. I got a job in my career field, worked there for 8 years and last year the company went under. And with the internet advertising $5.00 logos and $10 web design the whole field is a water down mess. So hence I am at home trying to figure out my next chapter in my life. A couple of weeks ago I was taking my 4 year old to school and I was walking down the hallway and noticed a sign on the wall. It said "You want to be a nurse?" I thought to myself "that would be a pretty cool job since I like helping people." The issue or butterflies in my stomach is...can I do this with kids at home? I have been looking up many articles where you have to spend at least six hours of studying for this which if I mean if I have to do it I will but I have a guilt on my shoulders about not being able to spend time with them. I am picturing myself down in the basement studying all night while my kids are with my husband every day...or am I stressing out to the extreme?....

[dsb_fam]

Let me give you the perspective of an adult who was raised by a single-mom. My mom worked two jobs while attending school at night and had three small children. She took us to her job cleaning office buildings at night and we had adventures hiding and playing. She made it a priority to tuck us in and then would stay up past midnight to study. We ate alot of spaghetti and ramen, and I never really noticed. I am sure I complained as a child that she was busy, but what I do know is that I really don't remember her being gone. Instead, she is my hero! She went to college and graduated after my alcoholic father left her with three children and zero assistance. She worked three jobs and I never felt like I missed out on anything. All I knew as a child was pride and love for her as my mother. All I know as an adult is that her work ethic and character are something that I try to emulate. You got this!

[SaraFutureNurse?]

I am also a (primarily) stay at home mom to a four year old. He did start pre-school this year, so three days of the week he is in school full time. I also have a 16 year old who is quite a bit more independent, but even so, I truly treasure the time I have being with my family, running errands, cooking, etc.

I started my nursing pre-reqs three years ago and just went pretty slowly. I took a lot of classes online, but took my sciences on campus. It was hard trying to balance my schedule to meet everyone else's schedules, but we made it work. Most of my evenings are spent working on homework, and I have done my fair share of studying after everyone else has gone off to bed.

This spring I will complete my direct transfer degree in pre-nursing, and I've started applying to nursing schools. Every school that I've applied to is at least a one hour commute (without traffic) each way daily, and I know that if I am accepted I'll be relying heavily on my husband, mother in law, aunts, cousins, etc. to help with getting my youngest off to school and picked up in the afternoons. Luckily, my husband told me when I started this journey that he would be by me every step of the way to help out.

Yes, it's totally scary entering a new career field and starting school over again, especially with so many people relying on you daily. However, I am here to say that it can be done. I've gotten really good at time management, as well as understanding that sometimes homework needs to take a backseat to playing star wars with my youngest. I just know that in the long run, it will benefit my family so much when I am working as a nurse. Plus, I'm proud that I've shown both my children that education is supremely important as well as working towards goals.

Good luck to you - it's hard, but it is so worth it.