CRNA school with children

Nursing Students SRNA

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Just looking for some advice on attending CRNA school with kids. I know it's probably not recommended thing to do but I'd love to go back to school. My kids are 9 and 11 years old and I have good family support. Has anyone gone through this? Please give any feedback, comments, suggestions. Thank you.

I just wanted to post that I am proud of each and every one of you who have children and are going back to school. Especially CRNA school. :) You are definitely setting a good example for your children. I am a new nurse but definitely thinking about CRNA school in the near future. I am definitely taking into consideration whether I'm married and have children by that time, since I just recently graduated and looking for a job now. But I do know that if I do have kids by that time, I am in no way neglecting them! So keep up the good work and make your children proud! And to the OP, definitely do not listen to what the negative post had to say. Definitely follow your dreams. You'll be glad you did :) The best of luck to you and to the rest who will be starting the CRNA program.

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I think it is incredibly selfish for someone to attend such a demanding program when they have kids, you are just neglecting your kids and its not fair to them. You should have thought about your career and future before you got married and had kids. I mean, most people usually dedicate their early to mid 20s for school and career, then they get married and have kids. This way they can devote themselves to their children. It shouldn't be the other way around.

I don't agree with avlis's position, but I understand it.

Lack of time, lack of money, not seeing your spouse, one spouse being stuck with the kids, etc., ... all can contribute to marital discord and unhappy children. Personally, I've seen two relationships (involving children) disintegrate because the in-school spouse/partner's schedule and school commitment caused financial and emotional hardship to the remaining family.

It takes an incredibly devoted partner to put up with the demands created by the other partner's full-time schooling, especially so with anesthesia.

If your family can balance the demands ... wonderful. I would venture to say that many won't be able to (and surface appearances are deceiving).

But I don't think that his opinion merits the opprobrium that he's received. It's tough to raise kids these days, and there IS a body of psychological evidence to support his position. But I'm not going there...

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Specializes in Cardiac ICU, L&D.
I don't agree with avlis's position, but I understand it.

Lack of time, lack of money, not seeing your spouse, one spouse being stuck with the kids, etc., ... all can contribute to marital discord and unhappy children. Personally, I've seen two relationships (involving children) disintegrate because the in-school spouse/partner's schedule and school commitment caused financial and emotional hardship to the remaining family.

It takes an incredibly devoted partner to put up with the demands created by the other partner's full-time schooling, especially so with anesthesia.

If your family can balance the demands ... wonderful. I would venture to say that many won't be able to (and surface appearances are deceiving).

But I don't think that his opinion merits the opprobrium that he's received. It's tough to raise kids these days, and there IS a body of psychological evidence to support his position. But I'm not going there...

I understand what you are saying ...but the context of your post and the one avlis posted are different yours is more realistic (this could happen if you don't have the support) where the other post is basically saying you are a fool if you want to go back to school after children are involved. I hope I am explaining myself correctly.:rolleyes:

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Specializes in CRNA.
I think it is incredibly selfish for someone to attend such a demanding program when they have kids, you are just neglecting your kids and its not fair to them. You should have thought about your career and future before you got married and had kids. I mean, most people usually dedicate their early to mid 20s for school and career, then they get married and have kids. This way they can devote themselves to their children. It shouldn't be the other way around.

Boy has this started a little riot on here. I am in school and have no children. I do agree with some of this post, but i guess it could have been said a little differently and there is more to consider than just the presence of children or not. I think age is a very important factor.

As i said i don't have children so i can only give my opinion and tell you all about what i have witnessed with my classmates with children. First of all, i have known since i got married at 22 that I wanted to go back to school and i am now 28 and have purposefully put off having children till after i am done with school because i don't think it's fair to your spouse or your children to go through what i have just gone through for my ambitions even though in the long run it will be better for their future.

With that said, if you have kids before you really don't have a choice right? With that comes the age question. In my experience with friends do it while they are young. It will be forgotten soon and fly by for the little ones, but the teenagers need both mom and dad. It's such a tough time in their life and they only see mom or dads decision to do this as selfish. Especially if your teenagers are already having trouble. It is much more important that both parents be with them during that time in their life than being able to buy them things, etc.

So, that's my .02. Hope it may shed a little light.

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I am in school right now...just started with a 3 year old, and I too, was worried about how to balance. As long as you can trust where your kids are when you are at school, and have a back-up for their sick days, then it's okay. It took me about a year to get these things straight. Good luck to you. You can do it. There's one girl who communtes over an hour to school & has 5 kids...now there's a tough one!

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Specializes in ICU.

There's one girl who commutes over an hour to school & has 5 kids...now there's a tough one!

Wow! now that's what I call dedicated!

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My comments are not directed only at women.... I think women need to have successful careers and not rely on their husbands. Then they will be making plenty of money and can work part time to spend the rest with their kids, but they should do it before having kids. And I'm not saying that working full time is wrong if you have kids..... what I'm saying is that the CRNA program is sooo demanding (way more demanding than a full time job) that your family life will suffer.

I give ANYONE credit who tries to advance their life and culture, regardless if the have kids or not. The jump from RN to CRNA will likely mean a far better quality of life for the entire family in the long run, which can certainly weigh out over "not being there" for 28 months, or missing your child's first steps. Price it ten different ways: This program is worth it. For the individual, AND the family.

I just got accepted to Northeastern University for the class of 2009. I am 36 and have no kids. My wonderful partner has the patience to wait a few years to have kids (She is 31.) Clearly I will be an old fart at mt kids soccer games. However, it is worth it.

No mater what the circumstances, those who work hard and juggle are bound to persevere.

Go whether you have kids or not. In the long run, everyone will be grateful.

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Just for those who have children and who are contemplating CRNA school:

Don't be discouraged by what other people say on these posts. It is an individual experience for everyone and what one person experiences is not necessarily what everyone else will experience. I was a bit scared to go back to school with my 3, but it is the best choice that I've ever made. I believe that you make the best of the situation. Yes, we cannot dedicate to 12 hours of studying a day like some without children, but we have the ability to balance school, work (if we decide to), and our families. My family does not suffer. Now, my personal life and time to myself is very diminished, but that is the sacrifice I was willing to make. I don't think it is fair to assume that someone's family life will suffer. I actually was taken aback when I read that thread and just take it now with a grain of salt. I believe those who have children have a greater challenge because we have additional responsibilities to fulfill. It is very much "doable" as I am in my 1st year and see that my family life is still very much alive. I get to spend time with my family and children and my husband is very supportive. I think the support is key. Someone who is single with kids, now that is a huge challenge!

My children will see what I've accomplished with the challenges I've faced. It is the best move that I've ever made. I love this field!!!! Clinical is awesome and being a CRNA will be the ultimate outcome to all of this hard work! Good luck to everyone and for those who have children, don't sweat it. As long as you have a good support system, you can get through it. Don't let anyone bring you down!

;)

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I think it is incredibly selfish for someone to attend such a demanding program when they have kids, you are just neglecting your kids and its not fair to them. You should have thought about your career and future before you got married and had kids. I mean, most people usually dedicate their early to mid 20s for school and career, then they get married and have kids. This way they can devote themselves to their children. It shouldn't be the other way around.

OMG!!! I had to read the post like 4 times because I thought I was misreading it??!! I have always found great comfort at Allnurses.com, and this forum has saved me in so many ways, given me confidence to believe that I could still fulfill my dreams and in turn be a role model for my family while providing them with a better life and a better future. Through this forum I gained support for my dreams and the confidence that I could overcome and break the chain of poverty in family. I, who usually have so much to say, am now speechless... I gotta think about this one.:madface:

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I think it is incredibly selfish for someone to attend such a demanding program when they have kids, you are just neglecting your kids and its not fair to them. You should have thought about your career and future before you got married and had kids. I mean, most people usually dedicate their early to mid 20s for school and career, then they get married and have kids. This way they can devote themselves to their children. It shouldn't be the other way around.

Wow, what an incredibly IGNORANT statement to make.

I was making 30k as a nurse, now Im making 200k+

I was 33 when I had my fist child 39 when I started anesthesia school, It was a little hard for 28 months, but now I have the time and money to devote to them for the rest of their lives. I can pay for their college help them as they start a career/family etc.

It is never to late to better yourself.

I hope your life goes as smoothly as the fairy-tale picture you painted, but if it doesn't keep working on it.

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I agree.....its about sacrafice for the family as a whole!!! Go for it!!

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I'm glad your agree. having graduated 6 months ago and now working my first job, I am extremely happy.

I suppose I should changer my user name from GSRNA to GCRNA..

gc

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