Did anyone go through a nursing program with children (what age would be the best)?

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I have a 6 month old son and just finished my last pre-req to go forward with a nursing program. I wanted to be a nurse well before I even met his father and have been working toward this for a while! My last semester was horrible and extremely stressful. I am soooo scared to take this next step. My son's father isn't as supportive as I would like, as he thinks that I should be home with the kids until they don't need me as much (more independent). Although the whole time I was pregnant and taking classes (as well as once he was born), the rest of my family kept telling me they wanted to help, but I didn't get much. I say this because these people are the only support system I have in the area. My mother in law is VERY helpful, but she is retired and I don't think she should be watching my son ALL the time (she gets tired easily). My husband does not support day care and will not pay for it.

Ok, there is some back ground. My concern is that I really don't want to leave my son right now, but on the other hand I have been working so hard to get to this point. I finished EVERY pre req before hand so I could concentrate solely on the program. I guess my question is if you had it all to do over again, would you have been changed when you went through an RN program? Would you do it while they are under 2, wait until 4.....wait until 10? I want to do it, but I also know my limits and I think I would be so stressed that this may not be the right time.

Thanks all!

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April, this is just MY experience...

I'm in an Accelerated BSN program (due to graduate in Dec) I had the dream of becoming a nurse since 1998. I waited until my youngest child was in school fulltime (Kdg) before entering the program. The demands of school would simply not work with my families needs until now.

I'm glad I waited.

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I started a nursing program in 1998 and discovered I was pregnant in November of my first semester. I knew how stressful it had been up to that point and decided that at that point in my life, my new baby was a priority. I decided to use my biology classes and psychology classes that I had from my pre-reqs to continue on for my bachelors in biology and minor in psych. I got my teaching certification and taught for the last 5 years. Then, this last August, when my baby turned five, I applied to an accelerated BSN program and was accepted. I will be graduating this August (one year later) with my Bachelors in Nursing.

I don't regret my detour into education at all. When the time was right, I came back to nursing. You need to do what makes you happy and having a trustworthy support system is VITAL for any nursing program!!!! Good Luck! :):yeah:

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Thanks ladies! I am so torn up about this. I want to do what I set out to do, but I feel as though my little man should come first. We will live without me being a nurse for a little while. It isn't going to change our lives THAT much......and the schools will be there in a couple years!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I had to laugh when I first read the title of this thread --- I think all of us felt that our fellow students were acting like children at various points in the education process :D.... mostly like middle-schoolers on a bad day - LOL.

I waited till my youngest was old enough for nursery school before tackling nursing school & it worked out very well. By that time, both of us needed a break.

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He He....I never thought of it that way. I had to re-read that a couple times!

Thanks for your input!

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Started with a 2 year old, and ended up pregnant at the end of my first semester. Started my 2nd year with a newborn and 3 year old.

I wouldn't recommend it, but I managed, just graduated last month and took NCLEX today.

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