Starting nursing school...

I am soon to be divorced with a 9 year old and 11 year old. I am also starting a 26 month program at Sanford Brown. I am terrified that it will be too much for me since I have no idea what type of maintenance or child support I will be getting. I am praying that I make the right decision to go to SAnford Brown since it is an accelerated program but very expensive. It is an inspiration to hear about other people in the same boat.

I know all of you single mothers out there can do it!!! I don't have kids, but my mom is a single mom, and we never got any help from my dad. She started going to nursing school when I was in middle school, but unfortunately I got pretty sick and she had to quit. While she was going though she was working, going to school, and taking care of my sister and I. I later decided to go to nursing school and just graduated. I know she is so proud of me and she is starting back to school in the fall so she can fulfill her dreams also. There were many people in my class who had kids, worked and went to school. Keep your head up it can be done!! It just takes a strong support system--which any kids should know how hard it is for a single mom! At least I did for my mom!! Good Luck to all!!

While I have no children, and I'm a 31 yr old male, I'm hoping to start nursing school in the fall here in Pa. I've been working in technology for the past 10 years or so and finally decided what I want to be when I grow up.

I'm excited and a little terrified at the same time, I'm lucky enough to be starting with a clean slate having never attended college previously so hopefully the loans will help offset some of time not spent working full time.

From what I gather it seems to be pretty hard to work full-time and do clinicals as well.

I think the most important thing is getting a support system in place, so that you can have time to study. Good luck to you!

it's not that hard as you think...for as long as you have the determination and you enjoy what you are doing there is nothing impossible...i know you can make it...God bless!

I am currently in nursing school and I am 31 with 2 kids (10 and 12) and a husband. It is really hard for me to find time to study. I used to be my daughter's cheerleading coach, my son's soccer coach, and head of their school's fundrasing and PTA group... All that got put on hold after I finished Intro to Nursing. I have been a CNA for 17 years and have been exposed to nursing all my life... (I remember going to work with my mom at night when she worked graveyard shift and she would show me things...) I really thought that it would be easier because of my experience, but it isn't. In the beginning it wasn't so bad... Adults I, Mental Health (never studied or cracked a book and got an A), OB/PEDS wasn't even all that bad... but Adults II is kicking my butt!!! It's all cardiac and respiratory and this is my second time taking this class! I failed it during the spring term by 2 stinkin' points and now I have to repeat everything that is involved with that class. Including the clinical... which is fine. I passed that with flying colors. It's not the clinical part that gets me... it's the tests. I study on average about 38-42 hours a week and I am so sick of it. I have NO life!!! I was suposed to graduate in August of 08, now it will be December of 08. I will start Adults III in the fall if I can make it through this Adults II...

My plan is this... I found out that after you complete Adults II you can challange the LPN boards, so I am going to do that during the summer that I am out for... that way, when I get to my preceptorship, which should be around October, I can work as an LPN and get the med experience on the cart that I need, as I am finishing my hours for school. That way, I can work as an LPN as I am waiting to take my boards for RN.

You know... I just can't wait til December!!!

I have also been nominated to be the president of the pinning committee for December, because I was the president for the committee for August and because i wasn't graduating in August, I stepped down. Then whadaya know... now I have to plan for the December one!

ARRGGGHHHH!!!! I just want this nightmare to end! I dream about tests and school... I just want my life back!

So, if any of you have not started yet... expect to put your life on hold for the next 2 years until you get done. Trust me on that... I thought that it was not true... but I had to quit my job just so that I would have time to study!

Good luck everyone!!!

I'm a non custodian father. I'm trying very hard to work at my cummy low paying dead end job, pay my child support, bills, be a good parent, and go to nursing school. It's a challenge that's testing me on every level. I'm just glad there's a forum here where we can support and encourage each other. I wish you all the best.

I commend you for being there for you children and trying to make a better life for you and them. As a child of a single parent with an absent father who never paid child support and was not really ever part of my life I think its great that you do those things for your kids. At the same time you are showing them how important an education is and they will appriciate how hard you have worked; and hopefully continue their education as I decided to do when I got out of high school so I never had to struggle like my mom did. Keep up the great work! You can do it!!!

I'm in a position where I don't have a choice.

Because I was out of work for three years (damn hi-tech industry ), I got behind in my child support. Family Court will not allow me to stop working long enough to create another career. Rather, I am forced to work full-time for rather little, just so that "I am indeed working full time." My ex would actually get more money in the mid-to-long-run if I could devote my entire week to school, but you can probably already see how hopeless that is.

SO...I will be working full time DURING the brutal long hours of my clinical coursework. Fortunately, the job I have should allow me to shift my hours all over the clock, so I won't have any scheduling conflicts.

Oh, I just finished my first course since returning to school -- TOP OF THE CLASS, BABY!