ABSN and young kids

SKYSTHELIMIT · May 27, 2007

It's very doable if this is what u really want. I have a 3 and 6 yr old, I'ma single mother. Tough and challenging and sometimes overwhelming but if you learn how to manage your time well, this is the key. Create a routine and stick to it daily.

ffweste · May 27, 2007

np_wannabe - I am in the same boat, I start my ABSN next week. My children are 18 mo. and 3. I wasn't a stay-at-home mom when I went back to school though. So, I have a pretty established routine. Everyday, M-F, I am at school from at least 8-5:30 with the children at daycare. I spend Saturday and Sunday with them, study while they nap and sleep. If I need a late night at school my husband (who works nights) picks up the kids and takes care of them for me. I plan on this being my routine with my husband taking more weekday nights for me.

NESS2bNURSE · May 27, 2007

I started a similar thread a few days ago...I will have a 15month old and a 5 year old when I start my ABSN. Little scary! My fear is that I won't have enough time to study between doing the laundry, cleaning the house, cooking meals, food shopping, etc. All of the posts I received were very positive. I think it is just learning how to manage every minute of your day. I am going to try to involve my son in my studying and make him a part of my team...holding the flashcards, pointing to things in my book and asking me what they are (5 year olds ask lots of questions anyway), etc.

Good luck next week!!! Let me know how your first week goes.

np_wannabe · May 27, 2007

I actually just finished my second week. It's hard for me, but it's VERY hard for the kiddos so far. My 2 year old says, "please don't go to school--I hate when you go to school." It's also the first thing he said to my sister when she came over yesterday. My dd is 4, and she asks me to ask my teacher if I can come home early. I know kids are resiliant....they'll adjust...yada, yada, yada, but I'm not sure I want to make them adjust. they didn't ask for this. and this isn't the only way. the local cc has a night/weekend option, and it looks like the day program (so far) would be better than what i'm doing now.

this isn't the only option available to me.

i feel like since this is something that effects the whole family, i need to take that into consideration....do what is best for the family (cc) vs. doing what is best for me (ABSN).

It's been hard for me, but I'm SOOO busy with school, I barely have time to notice how much I miss them....but when I do, I bust out into tears pretty quickly!

I don't know what I'm going to do yet. the application deadline for the cc is June 1. I may just apply and see what happens...

ffweste · May 28, 2007

NESS2bNURSE- thank you! I am really excited and am glad that I took 21 credit hours last semester in the hopes to get ready for nursing school. Not the same level of classes as nursing school but 12 credit hours of science. I feel like family wise we are prepared, just hope am I :)

np_wannabe · May 28, 2007

I've been doing a lot of thinking over the last 3 days, and think I am going to switch and go to the cc. It'll take longer that way, but I will have a life! My family hasn't seen me since I started the program 2 weeks ago (and I haven't seen them). Even though it's only 4 days per week, I have to go to the library to study on my off days.

One of the things I love about nursing is that it allows for a work-life balance and allows me to revolve my work around my life--which is how I like it and how it's been since I had kids 4 years ago. The ABSN is very contrary to that. My life--and my family's life--is revolved around school.

I'm going to sit on it one more day and decide. But I'm 90% sure that I'm not going back to the ABSN. It's a great program, but it's not the kind of life I want.

smattles1of2 · May 28, 2007

I'm in the same boat too. I have a 3 yr old and a 17 month old. I was a SAHM for 3 years before I started school. I am now in my second semester of an accelerated BSN program and so far it's going good. I got 3 Bs and 1 A my first semester (but our school has an A is 95%, so it's harder to get an A) but anyways, I find that I just study at different times. I study before classes start, during class at times. I also keep the kids in daycare on days off of school or later in the day so I can study.

You can do it! It'll be a little crazy at first due to the change in routine, but you'll get it. Good luck! Your kids will look up to their mama and be proud!

np_wannabe · May 28, 2007

I'm in the same boat too. I have a 3 yr old and a 17 month old. I was a SAHM for 3 years before I started school. I am now in my second semester of an accelerated BSN program and so far it's going good. I got 3 Bs and 1 A my first semester (but our school has an A is 95%, so it's harder to get an A) but anyways, I find that I just study at different times. I study before classes start, during class at times. I also keep the kids in daycare on days off of school or later in the day so I can study.
You can do it! It'll be a little crazy at first due to the change in routine, but you'll get it. Good luck! Your kids will look up to their mama and be proud!

And did you and your kids just get used to never seeing each other? if so, how long did that take? it seems like I'm either in school, studying, or feeling anxious because i'm not studying and should be.

Lisa CCU RN, RN · May 28, 2007

I'm confused. If you do the night and weekend option are there less classes or something? If you do nights and weekends, then that means you will be gone at night and on the weekend and you'll still have to study. Won't that be in the mornings? How are you gaining more time?

I go to school for a BSN and I'm busy all week. My kids go to school and daycare during the day. When I pick them up, I play with them, do homework, cook. Then they have me all weekend. I study if I have a day off during the week and when they are asleep.

np_wannabe · May 29, 2007

I'm confused. If you do the night and weekend option are there less classes or something? If you do nights and weekends, then that means you will be gone at night and on the weekend and you'll still have to study. Won't that be in the mornings? How are you gaining more time?
I go to school for a BSN and I'm busy all week. My kids go to school and daycare during the day. When I pick them up, I play with them, do homework, cook. Then they have me all weekend. I study if I have a day off during the week and when they are asleep.

Good point--I should clarify.

The accelerated BSN is just--that accelerated. It is 3.5 semesters long, starting each May. The first semester (which is only 12 weeks, BTW, since it's summer) is 14 hours, second is 12, third is 17, and then 8 hours for the first six weeks of the last semester.

The night/weekend program is at the local cc. It is 4 semesters taking 12 hours the first semester and only 9 or 10 the remaining three. You meet two evenings (from 6pm to 9pm) most of the day Sat and a few hours on Sun. So, I'll be in class fewer hours and spend fewer hours studying each week. Since my kids are 2 and 4, one is not in school yet, and the other is out by 1pm.

I hope this made more sense.

Lisa CCU RN, RN · May 29, 2007

Well, do you know for a fact that you can just quit the BSN and enter the CC program? There is a lot of competition in nursing schools and may be a long time before you get in the CC program.

IMO, I'd stay in the ABSN.

1. You will have a BSN and no further study needed if you ever want management or to advance.

2. It will be over with in a year and a half. The kids will be around 3 and 5. They are protesting your going to school because it's different. Trust me, they will adjust. I think it's better to get this over with before they enter grade school. Think about it. More money for nice school clothes, supplies etc. It gets so much more expensive to care for them as they get older. Yoy can't dress them in onesies and socks anymore!

Plus, you will be around to help with homework and not have to struggle to do yours and help with theirs.

3. This is not forever. You are not getting a doctorate or anything, ya know.

You could make a pro and con list, but I think you are suffering more form this than they are. They will adjust and you are making yourself happy which will trickle off on to them.

You can include your kids in your study you know. Practice health assessment on them and have the 4 year old pretend to be a patient. It helped me alot and my kids thought it was really fun. I can't stop my seven year old from reading and filling out her 2nd grade workbook.