Blended Family and CRNA School

Nursing Students SRNA

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Afternoon everyone. My wife and I are preparing for me to embark on CRNA school in roughly 2 years. We are in the process of figuring out the best way to handle things but do not seem to have an idea of how to make it work with a blended family. I currently share custody with my ex for two of our kids. I currently do not have the best relationship with my ex and she is more often than not less than willing to be flexible or helpful. We manage on our own already extra curricular activities on the weekends, tutoring during the day, and now also therapy sessions. We have between the two of us 4 kids ranging from 10-8-8-and 14 months old. So add two years to that and thats what I am looking at to start school. So as it stands, we are saving money to help offset the salary loss, I planned on using the time the kids were in school to study and go to school assuming the schedules lined up, block off times of the day for the books and quality time with the kids and wife. Additionally, implementing better time management which is currently a work in process. Would love to hear from anyone who has completing or completed school under similar circumstances and what advice you could give. One of our concerns is not being able to make time for the family due to the rigors of the program, especially while having to deal with the blended family dynamics. Thank you.

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Specializes in MICU/STICU.

Hi sir! I do not know the best advice about your situation, and it seems so tough. I am sorry if I am replying with an inquiry about an unrelated topic to the one you posted.

I saw in your profile that you are already an APRN? What made you move from MSN APRN to CRNA (if I understood it right). Thank you

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Well, when I was finishing my BSN I started to go through a nasty break up and legal battle for my kids so all my money and time went into that. I didn't have the support system to be successful in a program like that,however, I knew the bedside wasn't my last stop. So I figured APRN was a good alternative. Since that time I have seen and learned a few things. 1) I still desire to go to CRNA school, 2) NP school was not what I expected and was left wanting more and 3) the job market is terrible for NPs in my area and without experience you can't get a job in most specialties. 

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Specializes in MICU/STICU.

Thank you for responding to my comment sir. I am also thinking of going to CRNA school but also have some things holding me back. Im older, im already 34 and plans to get married/start a family from next year. So in a sense I am trying to understanf your dilemma, as I felt I will struggle in CRNA school having to be on a new season of life and going through the stress of the school given im older and my not be as sharp as others. 
has thought of doing Adult Acute Care NP instead but I know I will not like it as much as compared to being a CRNA.

do you think age is a big factor in going to CRNA school? 

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Well as you know my life is hectic, I'm also 40 years old going to be 41 by the time a program starts so if age is the only concern I'd tell you that your age and experiences in life will give you an advantage over the younger peers and that comes down to wisdom. You probably by now know what works for you, how to manage your time and how to keep focus. Now as we get older we have to put a little more effort in studying but it's 1000 percent not impossible. Just look at the people who start med school, engineering degrees and so forth later in life. It's all about how bad you want and how much effort you're willing to put in. 

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Specializes in MICU/STICU.

I agree 1000 percent. Thank you for your wise words. I will keep that in mind and I pray you will have your situation sorted to when you apply to CRNA in couple of years. Best of luck to us! 

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Of course man. Best of luck in your journey. Rooting for you. 

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I had a similar situation where my husband was not my children's biological dad.  At the time, their dad only saw them 7% of the year.  I got accepted into the Army's program but was told by a judge I couldn't go and retain custody of my kids.  So I couldn't go to that program.  I was waitlisted for a few years on others, so I got my NP and finishing my DNP now.  My youngest will graduate high school this year so I'm starting to apply again.  

For your situation, I think a big part will play into will you have to move for CRNA school.  If not, balancing will be difficult, but any family life will be difficult with a CRNA program.  You are talking about working on time management techniques which I think is a fabulous idea.  Several CRNAs I have talked to said they put everything down on a schedule and made sure to take some time every week just to not do school stuff.  Good luck!

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Thank you for your reply and time. I like that idea of putting things on a schedule, it will definitely make you more accountable with your time management. Sometimes it is easy to overestimate just how much time you really have. And that is awesome, wishing you the best of luck in the application process. Glad to see you did not get discouraged!

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