young children and CRNA school

RNNJ · Oct 29, 2005

Hi whatnext!

I am not in CRNA school yet but I am about to interview. Having been an RN for 7 years with two kids I can tell you one thing. School with kids is hard, period. However, your career is not the only thing in your life. You may go for the career option and not get a chance to have kids or enjoy life with them. Somehow, I became even stronger and more energized after I had my kids! Life with kids teaches you more about how to set your priorities straight, be that at work at home or for your career, than anything else. Not only do I have kids, but one of my boys has Asperger's (High Functioning Autism). Life always has its challenges. But when you have kids and you come home after a long day at work, it is really great to be at home! Life is just better with kids. That is my two cents.

FloridaCCRN, CRNA · Oct 29, 2005

I am not a CRNA- or even a SRNA for that matter, but my advice would be to wait until you are completely finished with school before having children. Just from reading posts here I can tell you that CRNA school will be one of the most difficult and time-consuming things you will ever do. I have one child and it is difficult trying to work, study, and take classes when you have children. It is not impossible to do, but it will be much more difficult.

GCShore · Oct 29, 2005

Hello,

I am currently 11 weeks into CRNA school with a 21 month old daughter and a 5 year old daughter that just started kindergarten. Yes, it can be done with children; however, let me elaborate just a bit: :idea:

My hubby of 10 years is AWESOME! :kiss He now wears all hats (mom, dad, cook, housekeeper, bill payer, etc). Our children are also very used to schedules. What I mean is that if my schedule allows, I am usually home by 6pm to eat the meal that my hubby has fixed. I bathe our girls, while he does the dishes, and we put them to bed at 7pm. Then I am back to the books, careplans, etc til about 10. The clinical aspect is challenging because if you are at the hospital by 5am and then have clinical 8 or 12 hours, you are exhausted! But, you have to also postop and preop for the next day's clinical if you are back the next day. So it does sometimes make for LONG days and when they are back to back......sleep is like GOLD! My children have adjusted beautifully and so has my hubby (but then I knew he would.....I can't sing his praises enough!)

Serious conversations regarding finances, your personal relationships (with spouse, family and friends), and the amount of dedication it takes are needed in order to plan for something like this, but IT CAN BE DONE! I am not the first mommy, nor will I be the last! Everyone that I talked with said that the older my children got, the more they would need me.....so now is my chance to get school done! My youngest will never remember, and the oldest is chomping at the bit for me to get finished so that the bribe of a week at Disney World can be accomplished! :lol2: Best of luck to you in your endeavors!

Take care,

GCShore;)

Nicky032605 · Oct 29, 2005

Hi whatnext!
I am not in CRNA school yet but I am about to interview. Having been an RN for 7 years with two kids I can tell you one thing. School with kids is hard, period. However, your career is not the only thing in your life. You may go for the career option and not get a chance to have kids or enjoy life with them. Somehow, I became even stronger and more energized after I had my kids! Life with kids teaches you more about how to set your priorities straight, be that at work at home or for your career, than anything else. Not only do I have kids, but one of my boys has Asperger's (High Functioning Autism). Life always has its challenges. But when you have kids and you come home after a long day at work, it is really great to be at home! Life is just better with kids. That is my two cents.

:yeahthat:

TexasCCRN · Oct 30, 2005

We are the same age and i just started school. I have no children and have purposely waited to start a family till school is done. From my view if you can make a choice you should put school first, get it done, then start your family. You have plenty of time to have children. I would have liked to have kids by now age wise myself, but then I thought is it fair for my kids for me to have to miss so much of 2yrs of their life for me to get an education that I want. Regardless of the fact that it will benifit them financially as well. Kids don't care about those things. So if you can wait do it....33-33 isn't old to have children. Good luck with everything. Talk to some folks. Nothing anyone anyone can tell you can possibly prepare you for how busy school actually is.

GCShore · Oct 30, 2005

We are the same age and i just started school. I have no children and have purposely waited to start a family till school is done. From my view if you can make a choice you should put school first, get it done, then start your family. You have plenty of time to have children. I would have liked to have kids by now age wise myself, but then I thought is it fair for my kids for me to have to miss so much of 2yrs of their life for me to get an education that I want. Regardless of the fact that it will benifit them financially as well. Kids don't care about those things. So if you can wait do it....33-33 isn't old to have children. Good luck with everything. Talk to some folks. Nothing anyone anyone can tell you can possibly prepare you for how busy school actually is.

Actually, waiting until after school would be a smart move. :rolleyes: In my situation, I already had children when this desire remanifested itself (I had orginally planned to do CRNA, then met my hubby, and got sidetracked.....no regrets). I think that in my situation, I am a better student now than I would have been 6-7 years ago. And yes, believe me, kids are definitely aware of the time spent studying or away.....my smallest (21 months) will never remember; however, my 5 year old may.....so that is where the Disney World bribe comes in:chuckle ......she puts up with me being "gone" for 2 years, then she gets to meet Mickey up close and personal!

Best of Luck,

GCShore

PS The comforting part (for me) is that she noted last week that she thought that "it hasn't been that bad so far!"

jenniek · Oct 31, 2005

I have also waited to have children until after school is finished. I will be 33 when I'm done with school, and feel that will be a good time to give it a go.

Depending on the program and whether or not you would have to live away from family for a portion of the program is something to consider. I am currently living 8 hours from home for the fall semester, but will be returning home in December. Some programs have clinical sites quite a few hours away, with class time in between clinical days. This makes for a lot of drive time or time away from your family.

Jennie

rn-tam2 · Nov 24, 2005

I am glad to read your post. I am a mom of 3 girls 11,6,2.5 years old. I just went through my first interview for a CRNA program and hope to God I get in. I have allready been in school a year and a half doing my BSN completion,(spring semester left) and feel a sense of urgency about getting in before my children are much older that they allready are. I will have been in school for 5 years by the time I am done (If I am fortunate enough to be accepted here). Just in case I am looking into other programs too. My husband is very supportive and has adapted to my being in school thus far very well. It has been a big challenge, but we both know that it will be well worth it for the family as a whole if I can achieve this dream! Wish me luck, I hope to be hearing from the school about the interview before Christmas.

thorRN · Nov 24, 2005

Do your school now. You will see that the time does pass quickly. You will do better without the "mommy-guilt" and be able to not get distracted by duties that really should be more important. If you have littel children, they need you so much just to be there. I too have a wonderful, supportive husband, but I miss too much of the special moments when I'm gone for school. If you start having kids when you're 33 or so, it'll be better for all of you. There is plenty of work to be had, and much of it is part time and willing to give you flexible hours to just have you on their team.

Not an easy decision, but better to get the hardest work(the longest hours) out of the way first.

Good luck!!!!!!!

jabsmom · Nov 24, 2005

I too have applied to school with a 6 year old who is very excited that mommy will also be attending school. My husband has just returned from the miidle east. He was gone for 15 months - completely out of the day to day routines of our lives. However, my son has showed us that life continues as if he had never been gone. THe time away was challenging, but it can be done with little reprecussion. I know that being in school for 27 months will still be a challenge but as my son said.."I'll still see you most days mom..so no biggie!" I find if I can make a special time for us at least once a week..even for a few short hours..it makes all the difference in helping your family adjust to what must be done to meet the goal at hand. I learned that Change ALWAYS happens it is how you respond to it that matters. Be Flexible and go for it!:balloons:

SproutRN · Nov 24, 2005

I guess I am speaking from the most experience. I am 23 days away from graduating from CRNA school and I have a 4 and 6 year old. I did not plan to go to CRNA school with kids, but everything fell in to place for me to attend at this time. The first 13 months of my program were didactic and I have been in clinicals for the last 14 months. I spent most of my time during didactics in the library and away from home. I would see my kids and make the most of the time we did have together. Since I have been in clinicals, I have had a little more time to spend with the family. As I prepare to take boards in Jan., I will once again spend a lot of time away from home during the day. The key is to make the most of the time you have with them.

It has been a long and HARD road but I have a wonderful very supportive husband who has taken great care of my kids. If you do not have someone in your life who is very supportive and willing to take up the slack with kids, etc. Then I would certainly wait until after CRNA school to have them!!

Good luck to everyone.

Sprout :nurse: