Accelerated OU program and two small children

I will be graduating from OU's 2nd degree program in a few weeks. I do not have children, but my closest friend in my class has 2 daughters age 3 and 6. Not only did she make it, she made it with honors. There were many moms in my class who will be graduating.

As far as hours studying, I would say plan on a few hours a day on average. The program can become pretty intense at times, especially during the first clinical rotations. Many of the classes are taught in shortened sections within the semester and the second semester consists of 17 credit hours.

For a parent of small children, your biggest problem might become the frequent changes to schedule. Its important to understand that just because you have those kiddos at home doesn't mean that you will get special treatment. Throughout the past year we have had many changes to our schedule for both lecture and clinical. You also may be placed in off hour or weekend clinical rotations. I think for my classmates with children, this has been the biggest challenge.

I graduated June, 2007. One of my classmates was a mother of 5 school age children. She did well and seemed to keep the family going at the same time. It can be done. I think the key though is an understanding, supportive family.

Cheers,

Dave

Thanks! I would love to hear more stories.

I am not so worried about the clinicals or lectures changed as its temporary right? What I am worried about is how much time I will need outside of school/clinicals.

I am worried sick. My kids will be 2.5 and 1 when I start.

Lisa

It will be a challenge but it can and has been done. Its important that you have a supportive family. Make sure you communicate with them well and often. They need to know your schedule just as well as you do and be sure to let them know that there will be changes from time to time. Try not depending on just 1 or 2 family members to watch the kids {if they are not going to day care} utilize responsible sisters, or aunts, BFF's Dad's family etc although its good to have stability with your children sometimes you may need to give your primary care relative a little relief from time to time if they become ill or have an appointment etc.

Also take into acount the extra time outside of school or clinicals that you will need {3-4 hours a day} to study and how and who will take care of your kids during that stretch. I'm not in Nursing School yet but I will be in May 08 and I have 2 children 3 and 5 years old. Who will watch them PLAGUES me. There will be times where I have to be at clinical at 7 am and they don't have to be in school until 8am who will take them... who will pick them up... what if there is a snow day... a half day...

This is where communication and family support are essential so believe me I understand where you are coming from and you have a little time to make plans backup plans just-in-case-plans. Its a small sacrifice for such a big payoff you'll make it work. If you are really concerned find out your options. Maybe you'll want to do the traditional program in its full length and that is just fine too.

Candy...

Thank you. I am sort of stuck doing the fast accelerated program since I carry the benefits and when I am in school I can not work. We financially can not afford for me to be out of work for two years doing the traditional program if that makes sense.

I have my parents, my sister in law and husband as my support. I wish I knew the structure of the program a little better. I know I will need study time that I am hoping to do primarily when the kids are asleep. Again not even sure that will work when I have to get up so early.

I have a over active mind and I over analyze everything and so afraid of failure. I do not think these are the best traits going into the program so I am trying to change my thinking...

I am taking two pre req nursing classes this sping while I am due to give birth so I hope this is sort of what I am to expect come next May.

Anyway what program and school are you going too? I wish when I started the program my children were your childrens age. At least you have school that they are in and when u have the sick days and such its not such a burden on ur family.

Thank you again.

Yes I completely understand. No need to explain :} Have u found any other accelerated OU program threads of students currently in the pgm? Also it wouldn't help to contact the school {I don't know if you've had orientation just yet} and pick somebody's brain that has time to talk for a minute. Be sure you have your questions ready and well articulated; maybe you can get a heads up regarding your "theoretical schedule" it may be a little different considering its accelerated. BTW how many months is it?

To answer your questions: I will be attending an accelerated pgm through Henry Ford Health System partnered with HFCC. I heard they do some partnering with OU as well would you happen to be in that pgm?

As far as starting school at my kids ages. I've been in school since my daugher was 1 and son 3. Seems better to me the younger they are the least likely they are to remember you not being there for them as much being that Nursing School is over quick {although it seems like forever}. I also plan on returning for my BSN and then pursue my CRNA. Any future plans for you?

Can it be done? I am supposed to start in May of 09 and I will have a 2.5 and 1 year old. IS this just crazy to think I can do it? I read how hard it is and I freak and think wow maybe I cant do it? I do have a decent support network, however how many hours a day do i need to study along with school.

I just finished an accelerated BSN pgm (12 months from OU). I think the other posters had some great ideas and comments and I agree with all of them. I have an 11 & 14 yr old. And a great husband that took over everything I was doing with them (homework, picking up/dropping off, meals, etc) so I could spend almost all my time out of class studying. I usually did not study on fridays and just watched TV with the family. I did absolutely study on sat and sunday and sometimes all day sat and sun. Like you I could not afford to not work for more than 1 yr so the pgm was perfect for me. You will need a lot of study time. Don't go in thinking you can study and hour or two late at night and that will be enough. BUT, it is absolutely doable. AND, it is only 12 months. I would like to add that planning is a big part. Read all these posts to your support system so they know what you (and they) are getting into. Tell them you will need them to be you for the length of the program but that it will be over in 12 months (if yours is 12 months, I assume it is). Know you will probably feel guilty that you will not spend much time with your family for the next year. My kids are older but even I got the "You're studying AGAIN" routine? Make sure you have backups if your kids get sick or need something that you would normally give them but can't since you are in school. I did not do much except school and study the whole year. My house was a mess, the outside even worse, and I never picked up a non-text book to read during that time. I hope I am not scaring you off. It is hard. But you CAN do it. Repeat. You CAN do it. Others have. Many of my class had very young children. One was delivering in the last 2 months of the program. The only ones that dropped out were those who had no help from anyone else and had to miss clinicals or not study because their children needed to be picked up from school or were sick. And just think, after this relatively short period of time, you will have no trouble getting a job and can work 3-12's and be with your kids and your family a lot. There is also a unique side to all this. My husband has grown so close to my 2 kids. Closer than I would have ever thought. I believe that without this time with them, he would never have forged such a bond. He may have been "forced" into it but it turned out good. Also, it's easy to forget you also have a husband who will miss you. I guess because he is an adult and we just expect him to understand. So maybe once a month take some time just with him. I also noticed that some times during the program were easier for me. Everyone had different times. So I spent more time with my family then. I truly believe you can do it.

I am still in the process of taking my pre-nursing courses for OU, but I will be in your shoes and it scares me too. I have a two year old and I am very nervous about being able to keep up with the demand of the 2nd degree program. I loved reading these posts because it gives me hope that I too can complete this degree even though I have a young child.

I do have a question for you though, Lisa621...

Once you had your interview w/ OU, how long do you have to wait

until you actually can start the progam? What I want to know is, how many semesters are in between the interview and the actual start date of the progam they assign you to?

I don't know if I can answer all your questions.... But I applied in December and got accepted into the January 09' start... Over a year to wait.... I believe they changed the way they are accepting students though, which could be good and could be bad... You NEED to talk to Kristine White at OU about their policy now... I think this site is great to get some info but DO NOT rely on what people say on here about school policy you will end up being very upset when someone tells you what their view is and then you realize that the truth is not what you had relied on.... Just my advice.... And as far as the interview they waived mine because of my GPA but from what I have heard and read on here they waive it for almost everyone since everyone who gets accepted has a very high GPA.... GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steph-

I applied in December and was accepted to the May 09 program so mine was about a year and half. I am taking the three nursing courses now.

My interview was waived as well, however my gpa is actually not that great for those courses. I was 18 and so clueless when I took over half of the classes that go toward the gpa for acceptance.

When you apply (at least in Dec and prior) you apply with a preference semester about a year out and if it fills up with people with better gpa's like malenurse then you would get into the second semester.

I also heard they are changing the process and am very curious as to what they are doing diferent now.

I would be curious to hear what they changed.

Thank you for the reply. I am not aware of any changes....yikes!

I think I will have to e-mail Kristina to find out this information.

Some of my pre-req grades are not that great either. I too was 18 when I took Bio 101 and Chem 101. Did you ever think that those grades would come back to haunt you years later? :-) I have a finance degree so I never thought the grades I got in my science classes would ever matter!

Congrats on getting into the progam! I still have to take BIO 121, but I'm thinking of retaking BIO 111 since it was such a long time ago that I took that class. I don't want to feel lost in anatomy.

Also, are you currently pregnant right now? I can't remember what you wrote in your last post, but that would make sense if you are going to have a one year old when you start the program. Congrats on that too.

I too have thought about having another baby, but I'm so nervous about school. Sometimes I feel like I'm choosing...Nursing degree or another baby. Anyway, I'm sure you had similar feelings. But, I'm glad to see that you are doing it.

Thank you and to malenurse for the heads up on the possible changes. I will try to get some information for myself ASAP.

Steph