Family and CRNA??

Fish O< · Oct 20, 2008

I don't know about a woman's point of view as the student, but I do know as the wife of a student. We had our son while my husband was in nursing school and now he's in CRNA school and our son is 3. I wouldn't have it any other way. However, we waited until he got into school to start trying for #2 and we have been trying over a year. Now I am wishing I would have started on #2 earlier. Good luck.

MB37 · Oct 20, 2008

I'm a 29 y/o new grad, married for 3 years, who waited to try to have kids until NS was over. We're currently trying, although it hasn't taken yet. I just started in critical care and I plan to put in 3-5 years before heading back to school, and the goal is to have a kid or two in that time. My husband is older than I am, and it didn't seem fair to him to make him wait another 5+ years to even try. I'm also less than 9 months from turning 30, so it seemed like now was a better choice than after CRNA school. I figure I have more flexibility in when to go back to school than in when to have a child, so it makes more sense to me to put off the school a couple extra years if need be.

I've read several threads in this forum on this same topic, people ask the question frequently. The consensus seems to be that while it's very possible to go to CRNA school with small kids, it makes it a lot tougher and you'll need a good support system. You will not be able to skip clinical to stay home with a sick kid, so you'll need a few backup plans for day care. Otherwise, if your husband is around your age and you both don't mind waiting, remember that there are schools that will take you with only 1 year of critical care experience. You could start in Aug '10 or Jan '11 and be done 28 months later, so you'd only be 32-33. That's not too late to start trying for a family...

Good luck, whatever you decide!

beedog13 · Oct 21, 2008

I am a 37 y.o. 1st year SRNA. I have a 5 month-old son and 3 y.o. daughter. Although my 3rd-year law student wife just took Fall sem off for our cross-country move and to be with the baby alot, she will be finishing her last sem. of law school while I am in my 2nd and 3rd qtrs. of CRNA school. It can be done. It is hard, but it can be done. I am very involved in my kids care too--usually 2-2.5 hrs every evening. I go to bed by 9pm and get up 2-3am to study before classes at 8am. I am making A's and B's (you have to be willing to unwrap yourself from the straight "A" thing in CRNA school with a family life too--no one cares once you are there and after you graduate--everyone is smart in CRNA school--just stay in the pack--if you find competing against your classmates is your primary motivation for CRNA school then maybe you should second guess the family thing and maybe the CRNA thing too for that matter).

Bryan

beedog13 · Oct 21, 2008

Oops forgot...we also had our son while my wife was in in her second year of law school and I was working 50/50 days/nights in ICU. You can do it!

Bryan

simrope · Dec 10, 2008

I think you and your husband need to sit down and have a candid discussion about kids and your career goals, just remember woment have having kids at older ages lately, but also the longer you wait the more likely you may encounter problems. If you do decide to have kids be sure you have a great support system becuase speaking as a mother of several kids you will need a great support system.

yeSICU · Dec 11, 2008

I start in August, and I will have a 2 yr old and a 6 month old baby. My husband is behind me 110% and I have my mother in law to nanny for us 5 days a week. We bought a house 2 blocks away from the hospital that houses my program as well. I feel confident because I have a great support system and have done some serious preplanning. I have back ups for my backups. Everyone I have talked to that is in school or working as a CRNA has stressed that a support system is key. Make sure you have a plan before you even interview because they will ask about it. They did in my interview. I feel like if you can have your cake and eat it to... why not? I love being a mom and my husband and I were ready for kids and the responsibility. My husband and I both come from a family where our parents worked and went to school while we were kids. We had great childhoods and admire the example our parents set for us. It is totally doable from what I hear... I will have to let you know more when I dive in head first in the fall. Say a prayer or two for me...lol :heartbeat