Calling any Moms in Nursing School

U.S.A. Georgia

Published

Hi everyone,

I am SO excited about attending nursing school in the fall! I am a wife and a mother :redpinkhe, and I'll be commuting from the burbs to get to GSU campus downtown for their accelerated program. I wanted to hear from any nurses/nursing students that are also moms to see what your experience was like thru school. I realize it won't be a walk in the park or anything, and I'm certain it will be quite challenging. I'm going to pursue this no matter what. I just wanted to get some idea of what I'm in for.

Thanks!

I forgot to mention, my husband is a saint! I am sure you will say the same of yours when it is all done!!

Let me tell you first that I got through nursing school with two toddlers. Now, let me tell you a horror story. My first semester in nursing school we were told that there would be one very important class that we could not miss. Care planning was presented in its entirety in one long class period. I was leaving to drop my little baby at the nursery, having already put my 3-year-old on the preschool bus. My foot slipped on the top step and down we went. I am a little shaken up but I manage to keep hold of my daughter. She is screaming, but I know that it is just from fright because she hasn't left my arms. My butt hurts, but my baby is safe. When we get to the driveway she is still crying. I sit her on the hood of the car to comfort her quickly before we are late on the one unmissable day of nursing school. Then I notice the blood. Unbeknownst to me the baby's ear got snagged on a loose nail in the porch rail and was pierced. So I end up spending the morning in the ER getting my baby's ear stitched up and a shot of antibiotics to boot because the cartilage was involved. The moral of this story is: even if something truly horrible happens to trip you up, remember that you have to keep your head up and keep trying. Talk to your professors. Even if you think your situation is hopeless you might be surprised how accomodating they can be if they really see that you are serious and caring.

I enjoyed reading this post and all the responses - I am both a wife and mother to a 19 month old boy who is considering going back to school to get my BSN (call me crazy because I already have both a BS and an MS!!). I know it can be done :)

@Leahcar83 - one of my classmates in the my accelerated program also has her BS and MS, but was unable to find a job in the rural area where her husband is employed. The beauty of nursing is they need nurses everywhere. It isn't easy or cheap, but in one year you can be done.

@stoelke - it seems crazy to make the career change after already completing two degrees, but I feel the pull to nursing. I just started looking into the nursing program at the University where I earned my previous degrees, but have not yet determined the length of time it will take me. You said one year, which would be great! I know it will vary from university to university, but is that typical for the accelerated program?

Most of the Accelerated programs I looked into in WI and MN were between 12-15 months. I know some run 18 months. Depending on your other degrees and the length of time since you earned them, you may be required to take some prerequisites. Some can be taken right at your university or even a local community college for less $ if the university of the accelerated program accepts it. For me that was important because our local community college credits were almost half of what a university credit costs. The accelerated program I am attending costs $30,000 for 12 months/58 credits. Not cheap, but quick. Make sure wherever you go their nursing program is accredited. May I ask what state you live in?

I am so thankful to see this board. I am taking prereqs now to get into an FNP accelerated Masters Program, and have a 1 year old and a 2 1/2 year old who will be 3 in a couple of months who both stay home with me. My husbands taking his prereqs to get into medical school, so needless to say, we are a very busy family. We dont live anywhere near my family now, but may move back for both of us to go to school so that the kids can be close to family, and we can have people we trust take care of them when necessary.

It really encourages me to see other moms with younger children going back to school and doing this, because all things i've read have said that its going to a challenge. I welcome it, and can't wait to see how this journey turns out.

Specializes in Psych.

Hi! It sounds like we are in the same situation... wife, mom, burbs to downtown, etc. We're even the same accelerated program! I'm in the A2 semester at GSU. I have 5 wonderful children (ages 12 - 3) and a fantastic husband. They understand (except for the 3 y.o. who could care less that mommy has to study ALL THE TIME) that what I am doing now will benefit all of us in the future and they are happy to help me succeed. They are all so proud of me and I couldn't do it without their support. :redbeathe

I try make my family a part of what I'm doing. My husband (poor guy :uhoh3:) listens to me explain fluid/electrolyte imbalance, how specific disease processes work, etc. My kids quiz me before an exam. They also help around the house. My husband and 12 y.o. love to cook, everybody cleans (if I fuss enough), and they entertain one another so that I can study. I do miss just hanging out with them as much as I use to, but I still make time for weekly movie nights at home. Just have a talk with your family and let them know what to expect for the next 16 months. You'll definitely need them!

About the program: You will have have about six - seven classes in your first semester. Patho, pharm, health assessment, nutrition, etc. We did all day on Monday, 1/2 days on Wednesday and Friday. Friday was also lab/ clinical day. You can't fall behind, because it is very hard to catch up if you do. It's intense! Make sure that you take advantage of days off (including weekends) to study. I think that 1st semester was one of the hardest things I'd ever done, but I learned so much! It was so worth it & I feel like a stronger person because I survived.

I have many extra responsibilities that most other students in the program don't have. I don't have to time to go to study groups or things like that, but I have still been able to maintain about 3.7-ish program GPA. It's not easy, but you can do it! Just the fact that you got accepted into this program in the first place says that you are no stranger to hard work (it's a competitive program). Remember, you have already proven yourself to be capable and I'm sure you'll do great! :yeah:

You can send me a message if you'd like more info. I'm happy to help!

Specializes in None yet.

ALL of these posts' were EXTREMELY informative and VERY helpful!!! THANK YOU! I have been a stay home Mom for 9 years, got my real estate license in 2006 - NOT a good time to get licensed!! Anyway, tried real estate for 2 years, made no money - decided to change my career and get into the medical field. I took Basic Arryhthmia and EKG courses, got certified in both, but having a hard time getting a job, because I have no working experience in the medical field. So, I am volunteerng at the hospital on a nursing floor- medsurge. I have committed to 240 hours of volunteer work. I am hoping to complete the program by June 2010. Once I have completed, my hope is to obtain a permanent paying position at the hospital, so that I can go back to school for nursing. I am 46, so changing my career a little late in life, makes me want to get through school, as quickly as I possibly can! I would LOVE to take an accelerated nursing program!! I too will be starting from the beginning, having not taken any classes as of yet, to get into a nursing program. So, again, all this information was very, very, very informative and helpful!!! Excellent!! Thanks again, everyone! I'm up for the challenge, and looking forward to when I can finally start!!:)

Hi. I'm a mother of two, 3 and 10 month currently taking my pre-requisite at Gwinnett Technical College. I will be done next summer and then make my way to either Emory of UGA for their MS in Nursing. Alot of the advice that has been given were extremely helpful in many areas. Congrats to everyone who made it into a Nursing program or like myself getting the classes to eventually get into the program of choice next year.

Hi ATLbubbles,

I live outside ATL and I am working on my pre-reqs. Did you only apply to GSU? I will by applying to the accelerated BSN program at KSU but I didn't know if I should apply at GSU as well. I should be able to apply Jan 31 to KSU. Did you consider KSU or was GSU your first choice?

HI! I am 28 years old and a wife and mother of three little boys, ages 6, 4, and 2. My middle son has Autism and it can seem like he is three children in one some days..lol...I was in nursing school when my husbend and I found out we were pregnant with our first son. I decided to drop out and allow my husband to finish his degree. I have now been back in school for two years and I should graduate next May!!!! I have loved being in nursing school! The best advice I can give you is don't feel guilty when you have to ditch the family for the weekend to study! The first day of class last semester our nurse advisor came to us and said "You are going to have to put your family and children second and nursing school first if you want to make it" I thought, whatever! My kids and husband are my first priority! BUt I learned real quick that she was right. Nursing school takes up alot of your time, but you just have to remember that you are doing it all for your family not just yourself. Just keep your mind on the prize and you can do it! Good luck!

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