I am a new grad RN working in pp and loving it. However, I have full intention to continue on to become an NP. Also, my dh & i want to start having kids w/in the next 2 yrs. I am debating about working as an RN at the hosptial and holding off on begining my NP b/c i will only be working 3 12s. Thus, there will be less babysitting expenses. However, this will put off becoming an NP until the kids are about to begin school. Or, should i just start on my NP in the meantime & just put the kiddos off an extra yr or two? However, I'll want to work in a clinic as an NP so i'll prob work 5 days/wk.
I know my dh & and i are the ones that need to figure this out. I'm just wondering what path you all took & how it worked or didn't work for you. Thanks!!!
Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.
I also started my NP program while my kids were young. My ds was 6 mos old and my dd was 2 years old when I started. I am still in the program now going on four years and will graduate in August. With having such little kids, I could only go to school part-time because child care was an issue, plus I was nursing my ds. My parents, who are wonderful and help out once per week, live almost two hours away and are my closest relatives to where we live. It wasn't too difficult during the beginning when all I had was class to go to, but with clinicals it's a different story.
Personally, if I could do it all again I would have returned to grad school before having children, or after they were both in school full-time. I could have banged out the program in two and a half years without having to worry about having a sitter here or having my dh take off so I could do clinicals. I don't regret my choice at all, but it definitely would have been easier on the whole family if we didn't have children while I was in my program.
Specializes in Critical Care, Orthopedics, Hospitalists.
Hello! I've just started my MSN program (going for CNS) with the plan of having kids shortly thereafter. My goal has always been for me to obtain my masters by age 30 and then start with the baby making full time. I might even be a bit early with that goal! The MSN program is hard enough to do while working FT (which I have to do), I can't imagine having kids on top of this! I barely see my hubby and dog atm!. :) GL
I might even be a bit early with that goal! The MSN program is hard enough to do while working FT (which I have to do), I can't imagine having kids on top of this! I barely see my hubby and dog atm!. :) GL
Spacklehead, MSN, NP
620 Posts
I also started my NP program while my kids were young. My ds was 6 mos old and my dd was 2 years old when I started. I am still in the program now going on four years and will graduate in August. With having such little kids, I could only go to school part-time because child care was an issue, plus I was nursing my ds. My parents, who are wonderful and help out once per week, live almost two hours away and are my closest relatives to where we live. It wasn't too difficult during the beginning when all I had was class to go to, but with clinicals it's a different story.
Personally, if I could do it all again I would have returned to grad school before having children, or after they were both in school full-time. I could have banged out the program in two and a half years without having to worry about having a sitter here or having my dh take off so I could do clinicals. I don't regret my choice at all, but it definitely would have been easier on the whole family if we didn't have children while I was in my program.
Good luck to you! :)