how old were your kids when you went to nursing school? I have a 6 year old son, 4 year old daughter, 1 year old son and am expecting our last baby this Dec.
I still have all my pre reqs to take and was thinking i would start those maybe next Sept (2006) and just take a class or two at a time. Alot of the classes i can take right online which is great for me.
For those who went to school while their kids were young, do you wish you had waited until they were older?
Hi there :) . My children were 5, 2, and 5 months when I started the actual nursing program. I attended college of course before then. The fall semester before NS I took the entire semester online which was wonderful because the baby was a newborn. You can do this. Yes, it is hard but you can do it. Just take it one day at a time and remember to breathe. Don't beat yourself up too much over some of the things that you are undoubtedly going to miss with your children. Like other posters have stated your children will probably learn how important it is to get an education. You will be a very good example of why to get it when you graduate high school and have no other major responsibilities. Best of luck to you and God be with you and your family.
I started my prereqs 4 yrs ago. My kids were 6, 5, 3, and 1. I took one or two classes a semester and I'm finally going to be taking my last prereq this fall. I was in no rush and now that I feel my kids can handle it a bit better I will be applying to the nursing program. At times I worry about how they will handle it but then my kids make me feel so good when they tell everyone mommy is going to be a nurse! I only pray that this teaches my boys that they too can achieve their dreams, no matter how long it takes. Good luck to you in what you decide to do. It isn't always easy for me but at the end of every semester I have such a great feeling of accomplishment.
My daughter was 2 years old and my son was 2 months old when I started prereqs in Jan. 04'. I was able to maintain a 4.0. average while taking about 5 classes each semester, but only because I had tons of help from my mom and husband with childcare (not housework). I can't study at all when the kids are around, so I wait until they are asleep, at my mom's, or my husband takes them out to play or to the park. This way whenever I am with the kids, all of my time is devoted to them. I am extremely grateful for all of the help and support I get. I start nursing school in August and hope that I can keep doing as well with my now 3 1/2 year old and 1 1/2 year old!!
My daughter had just turned 8 when I decided to go make to school for my RN (was a paramedic in my previous life). I was 3 weeks into nursing school (7 months later) when I found out I was pregnant with #2. She was born half way through 2nd semester. They are now 12 and 2.5, respectively. It was difficult, but we all survived. I had experience at similar stuff - I found out I was pregnant with #1 6 weeks into paramedic school. I guess me and school just don't mix . DH has 'forbidden' me from returning to school. Not up for #3 I guess :)
I have a 9 month old. I am taking an online pre req course for the summer and I will be going to school to do my pre reqs full time starting this fall! My son will be in childcare once I start fall session. I plan on finishing my pre reqs summer 06 and starting the LPN program fall 06. and then graduating Summer 07. I want to finish it fast and start working!
But see the reason I can go to school full time is because I don't need to work while in school because my husband is taking care of the bills and I got a student loan to pay for childcare & schooling.
But you should do whatever you think you can handle right now!
how old were your kids when you went to nursing school?
I started my nursing prereqs when my kids were 1 and 2 and continued through my third pregnancy, then I took a break for a while. I took my last prereq when my fourth child was a baby and entered nursing school when my kids were 10, 9, 7 and 1. I don't regret it at all; I really needed the outside stimulation and a chance to get out every couple of days. It wasn't easy, but I'm very pleased with the results.
My daughter was 5 weeks old and I was 17 when I started back to school. I went full time and finished my ADN by the time I was twenty. I was single, but my parents helped me A LOT (especially with watching my baby). I always tell people that if I was able to do it, they will be able to do it.
My daughter was 3 when I graduated from my ADN. I am hoping to get all this school DONE before she gets too old... that way I can have even more quality time with her. But I do not regret having done it while she was little... I would actually recommend it. While I think she did miss me (some) I think it was much less harder on her. I honestly think she misses me more now that I work full time, 7p-7a. I do regret that and I'm in the process of trying to change it!!
Specializes in Adult Med-Surg, Rehab, and Ambulatory Care.
My kids were 4 and 2 when I started taking the pre-reqs. Over the course of the ensuing years, I had another baby and when I graduated the kids were 11, 9 and 3. I was the part-time queen, taking a class here, one there, took a semester off when I had the baby and another off when the transmission blew on my van and I couldn't afford to take any classes.
It was tough, especially with the baby. Make sure you have a plan B for your childcare, and a plan C for that plan B. If I can do it, anyone can do it. :) Best wishes to you.
I started school in 1990 with a 5 and 10 y/o. Hubby went to the Gulf War and I finished my LPN in 1992 and then RN in 1994. Not easy, but I didn't have a choice so just did it - no online classes back then either. Good luck...you will appreciate it in the end. Ooops - I also worked full-time as a medical transcriptionist during the LPN years and then worked full-time nights while in RN schooling.
Thank you all for the replies. It seems everyone went back when the kiddos were small and i also plan to as well. I have the itch to start NOW but i know its not the time since summer semester just started...fall starts in Sept and i have to retake a math course which means i would have to be on campus. I really dont want to be on campus while in my third trimester. So maybe summer 2006 or fall.
I started school when my daughter was 6 months old. I also worked full time on the eve shift as an aide. It was tough maintaining that 3.0 at times. Lots of family support is all I can say!:)
I didnt decide to become a nurse or even go to school at all for that matter until I got pregnant. I started my prereqs when my daughter was 3 weeks old while working fulltime. She will be 2 on August 3 and I will be done my prereqs by the end of July (finishing A&P I and II this summer). Im praying that if I made it this far with excellent grades while raising a baby and working fulltime, I'll be fine during nursing school which I start either this fall (depending on if they get to my name on the waiting list...) or next fall. Either way I plan on getting my ADN then starting a ADN to BSN program. I want to do actual nursing but the BSN will come in handy in the future when I decide I need an office position. I figure I should get it done now while shes little, I mean she wont remember 'mommy being at work and school omst of the week and only home basically on weekends' when shes 14, by then itll be 'mommy is home 4 days out of 7'.
Good luck and congrats on your new arriving baby :balloons:
. DH has 'forbidden' me from returning to school. Not up for #3 I guess :)
lucky4timesover
88 Posts
Hi there :) . My children were 5, 2, and 5 months when I started the actual nursing program. I attended college of course before then. The fall semester before NS I took the entire semester online which was wonderful because the baby was a newborn. You can do this. Yes, it is hard but you can do it. Just take it one day at a time and remember to breathe. Don't beat yourself up too much over some of the things that you are undoubtedly going to miss with your children. Like other posters have stated your children will probably learn how important it is to get an education. You will be a very good example of why to get it when you graduate high school and have no other major responsibilities. Best of luck to you and God be with you and your family.
Sunny