Any mothers in nursing school with preschool-age children?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Just wondering how well you cope with it. I have one elementary-age child, but my other child will be in preschool this fall in the a.m. 3 days/week. Outside of that, he will be home with me during the day. I'd love to hear from other mothers who have younger children and how you manage nursing school while taking care of them. It would be encouraging to read that it's do-able!

I got pregnant shortly after my first semester of nursing school. I planned to go back right after having my baby, but she arrived late. She wound up being delivered the day I was supposed to start clinical at different part of the same hospital. lol I think I was just a nut for even registering for classes that semester.

But yeah, I was very blessed and lucky to have a ton of support from my family and fiance. I was able to be a SAHM and nursing student. My mom watched my daughter when I had school and I was grateful her boss gave her a flexible schedule so she could work it around my school schedule.

Other women in my class had children and full time jobs. I give those ladies mad credit for finishing nursing school. Anything's possible as long as you are determined! Take each day as they come. Nursing school schedules are crazy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, General OR, CVOR.

I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old. I'm a single mom half-time, so I try to have the kids all weekend and then two weekdays (one of which they are in daycare), and the rest of the week they are with their father.

I have been fine with school so far, but my actually nursing courses start this fall.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It is definitely doable. I have three kids ages 9, 7, and soon to be 5. I am also 6 months pregnant and do no plan to take a break. My school just made changes so those who take a break will have to be place in a lotto in order to return. It's summer, schools out, and the kids are home. This is very stressful, but I am determined to make it work. My husband helps out, but he works a lot. My mother plays a major role in watching them while I am at school. Majority of my nights are late ones because I can get more accomplished when everyone is asleep. Just stay focus and good time mangagement will help you achieve your goals. You are not alone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, MR/DD, Clinic.

This is my second time in nursing school :lol2: First time around, my son was 1, and I drove an hour to school and then an hour home every. single. day. I worked on the weekends, nights, so was able to study during our down time. It was doable and not to terrible.

This time around, I have 4 kids; 11, 7, 4, and 2. I finished up 15 credits last semester, 9 this summer, and have 13 this fall (not sure how many this spring!). I plan on going on again for my bachelors after this round of school also. My husband trucks and is gone a lot, so I feel like a single mother.

It's difficult, but doable. You learn very fast that you must plan ahead and really prioritize. You make sacrifices and learn how to make the most of your free time.

I make a list at the beginning of every week with every assignment and when it's due (I put the due date a few days ahead of time so I stay ahead of my work) and cross them off as I do them. It's beneficial for me to actually SEE the progress.

A planner is a must, you may quickly forget when you work, when t-ball starts, or about that birthday party :lol2: But it's great practice, after all quality nursing care is all about being able to prioritize!

Good luck! Just know that you are not alone, I would say that 75% of my class are non-traditional students. Mothers, grandmothers, step-parents, and single parents. Get to know your classmates. You will all bring something to the table that will help out each other. Study groups with other moms are helpful also. Kids can play and moms can study.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
what a helpful post :rolleyes:

Ditto that! Geez......:rolleyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have no kids and its works out fantastic! Not so much for the half divorcee moms, etc. though....seems like it can be problematic

what a helpful post :rolleyes:

I know! I was one of the few males in my 20s with no kids or obligations. Definitely has been a plus! Especially when I graduate this december and work towards my CRNA

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've got three kids, ages 8, 6 and 4. My four year old was not in school at all last year, so he had to go to daycare while I was in school. This year he will be in school two full days a week! :yeah:

DH works on the road, and is usually gone M-Th, sometimes longer (like right now, he is gone for at least 3 weeks straight). No family in the area to help out at all. Yeah, it's rough, but I'm making it work, somehow! Last semester, I had one day a week where I only had one two-hour class, and I kept my son in daycare all day on those days so I could study in quiet. The rest of my studying was done after the kids were in bed. The only time I got super frazzled and started seriously questioning if I could handle it all is when all three kids and myself got the flu and it stretched out over two weeks. I had to miss a lot of class, and make up a test, but thankfully my instructors were understanding. I'm scared for the next two semesters when I have clincials- just praying no one gets sick or daycare doesn't cancel on clinical days!

I'm one tired mama, but I just keep telling myself that it's all going to be worth it in the end. I sometimes sit down and study with my oldest, it's kinda cool doing our homework together! And my littlest loves to have me "play nurse" on him. I got a lot of BP practice, learned a lot about bowel sounds from listening to his belly, ect. Memorized body parts in A&P using his body- I'd tickle him and then say the medical name out loud, and he'd laugh and laugh.

I guess what I'm trying to say is- it probably won't be easy, but it's definitely do-able. And like an earlier poster said- it does seem in my program as well that the older students that are juggling families seem to have an upper edge sometimes. We may be more sleep deprived, but we also seem to be able to handle what life throws at us a bit better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU/Pedi.

I am a single parent and have have twin daughters that are 4, and starting pre-K in the fall. I live with my mom, so at least I don;t have to work while I am in school, but she works so much that she can rarely help me with the kids. I recently found a babysitter that provides daycare in her home 24/7, which is great for clinical days. She will also help me with taking them to school or picking up when school starts. Because my girls are twins, they play together really well, which is good when I am in school because I don't have time to entertain them. I keep coloring books and a few toys in my room so that they hang out with me while I am studying, although it's too distracting when I need to really focus. I try to most of my studying at night after they have gone to bed, and I make sure they are in bed by 8:00 PM every night.

I make simple meals during the school week, like cheese quesadillas, tortilla pizzas, omelets, mac-n-cheese, etc or those frozen bag dinners. I do try to always keep sliced veggies and fruit on hand so that they eat decently (and I can take some in my lunches). I sometimes go over my flash cards while they take a long bubble bath or play with bath crayons. I pick out all their clothes for the week ahead on Sunday, and keep them in a shelf-type organizer that hangs in the closet. I put their socks and underwear with each outfit, and just grab their clothes in the morning and throw in the dryer to de-wrinkle (which I do with my own, also). If I have clinicals, I have a bag ready with their clothes in it so that all I have to do is put a jacket on over their pajamas, and take them to the babysitter, who puts them right back to bed. She gets them dressed and feeds them breakfast in the morning when they wake up.

Once in awhile I will take them to McDonald's and let them play and eat while I study. That way, they get to play for a long time, and I can study and still feel that they are safe. Basically, though, I am a boring parent, which makes me feel bad. I just try to do more with them during holidays and breaks. It is a temporary situation, and the outcome will be worth it.

I agree with the pp who said to keep a planner and keep on top of assignments, appointments, and other commitments.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have 2 kiddos and I am starting nursing school this fall. My son is almost 3 and my daughter will be 1 right before school starts. I am not too worried b/c I have a great support system and have people I can call at a drop of a hat that will watch my kids. I have made a schedule for my kids and will enforce it all summer to get them into a routine so when school starts it will be to my benefit. I make sure my kids are in bed every night by 9 and they wake up around 7 or so. They are GREAT sleepers and once they are down they are down for the night. By having them go to bed every night at 9 I know that I can study till 12 (which will give me 3 hours daily) and know that going to bed by 12 will still give me a decent nights sleep. If this would work for someone else please feel free to use it b/c whatever helps and whatever it takes know that in the long run it is SOOOOOOO worth it!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment