How can I encourage my nursing student husband?

Hi muesli. I was a newlywed...only married for two weeks when nursing school started...so I was nervous about getting through all this and still being a good spouse. Things he did to make it easier on me were cooking dinner without complaining (I didn't want to take a break from the books during the evening hours), not expecting that the house was clean all the time, and celebrating my small successes. I think the key is to remind eachother that you can make it through anything...it is just a few months...countdown!

Tell him "Honey I cant wait till your a nurse then maybe I can get a tummy tuck and a boob job" lol that would do it for my husband!!

In all seriousness---I dont think there is anything you can do to motivate him...except to reinforce how much nicer it will be when he is finished.

Some times the more you push the more they resist.

Best of luck with the new baby!!!

I would say if he just wants support and for you to believe in him, do it. I remember when hubby was in nursing school, but then he was my boyfriend. He missed many a day of nursing school tending to some serious personal issues. He believed he received much leeway with his teachers, but that was because he was up front with them about what he had going on. He did have to make days up after most everyone else had finished, which set him back time-wise taking the boards, but he made it.

I remember once harping on him about money when he was in school. Just a word of advice--don't do that. Just let him know that you wholly and truly believe in him...that you know he is doing what is right and best...and leave it at that. I liked to ask about his clinicals or material he learned that day, just as long as he didn't look too stressed out and needed to watch football with a beer instead of think and talk.

On the day of his RN boards, we drove 1-1/2 hours to the test. I was entering my second trimester of pregnancy at the time. I found a brand new crib for $25 and stuffed it in the back of this little car, which actually forced us in the front seat to move our seats way up to the front. That much torked him off alone with his big ol' legs being crammed in, but then he had 265 questions--the max!--on his boards, and he was convinced he failed. My gosh he was grumpy for 2 days to EVERYONE. I supported him and discussed the options of retaking if need be, but I told him that I believed he passed. I tried my best to be positive and supportive. At no time did I really think he failed--that's how much I believed in him.

When I got his Pearson testing center quick results online, I was at home and he was at work. I was mean and told him the website was down. He is totally not technology savvy for these things anyway, so he believed me. I arranged for flowers to be sent to his work with a huge "CONGRATULATIONS, RICHARD, NEW RN!" He wasn't grumpy anymore.

My husband is not the smartest book-wise, but he is the damned best nurse I've ever met. He runs absolute circles around me.

Good luck to you, your husband, and your newborn! I wish you the best.

Try and take as much off his plate as you can, do his share of the house work when you are able and let him know he can go off and study, you got it handled. Also let him know how proud you are of him, how amazing he is for doing this and it will be worth it in the end. Be his cheerleader and biggest fan. Listen to his unloading (there will be a lot) with an open ear and nice hug.
Thats all I needed, just knowing my long hours and grumpy mood were okay to have.

I was not married when I was in nursing school, but my husband and I got married during our first year as brand new nurses. Sometimes, I think that may have been even harder.

If he is starting to feel the pressure of "no income, all outgo" remind him that once he passes boards, he'll be making FABULOUS money. If he thinks he can't pass boards, remind him of all the first year residents who dont know their left ear from a hole in the ground, yet they made it through med school.

Taking care of a newborn can be rough. But realize, that as long as they are cared for, and their needs are met, they don't know which parent is meeting those needs.

I hope all goes well for the both of you, and that all goes well for your wee one. It can be a huge adjustment, but nothing is forever.

My husband was awesome during nursing school. I look back and am grateful he took care of the practical things.... like making sure there was enough ink and printer paper for all those care plans and path papers. He also took over most of the cooking (during the week) and bill-paying. He protected my study time and did not complain that he had to take a back seat to school. He listened without judgment when I had a bad test, and always had a word of encouragement, even when I had a hard time believing in myself. He stepped up in the parenting department as well.

I would just look for the little things you can do to make things easier for him. With a newborn on the way, make sure you have an awesome support system so neither of you have to worry about what happens if he/she gets sick; who will miss work, etc.

And always, always, always remind yourselves: This too shall pass!

Try to set up a schedule with your hubby and your newborn that will allow him time to study and sleep. If he has clinicals in the am, don't let him wake up to take the NOC shift with baby. Encourage him to either shut himself in or take off to study. Meanwhile, remember that you too should take some time and take care of yourself. Good luck!

well with me i was the one in nursing school and he was in your position. i don't think that there is a way to encourage him except to just listen to him and just give him a hug when he needs it. we don't eat when we are in nursing school so i didn't know if he cooked or not (smile), i didn't sleep or really care if the house was cleaned. i was trying to remember lab values or what cushings disease was. but when i finally got a chance to breath and looked at the world around me, the hugs were there and a plate of food at the computer table, so that let me know that my babe was in my corner, so days i came home crying my eyes out, i just wanted him to listen and run me a bath, because him telling me he understood would have made it worst because only other nursing students can understand what its like. now that its all over and i am a nurse, i tell my husband often how great he was for going through all of this with me (for better or worse). so it will get better and he knows you love him. so you be encouraged!!

I feel such sympathy for those who have significant others and spouses, and/or children, to attend to during nursing school.
I lived like a hermit, did without more sleep and food than ever in my entire life,,
A lot of relationships split up, some because the other partner felt threatened by the $$ and power the new nurse would have, and some because they couldn't be supportive and hang on.
Nursing school separates the winners from the losers on the relationship playing field.

I learned to survive by stashing granola bars and bottled water with additives everywhere, in my backpack, in my vehicle, around the house, in my study area, etc.
I'd say be as understanding as you can possibly be, and as supportive as you can possibly be.
It is pure hell finishing nursing school and getting thru your State Board and orientations, but, in the end result IT IS ALL WORTH IT!