From A MoM To A MoM

dknunges · Apr 16, 2005

Did anyone go through lpn training while they had young children? I am about to start training in sept.. if all goes well. Do you think I will be in over my head, I know it will require alot of hard work but can anyone tell me about the number of hours spent studying a night? Any advice will help
Thank you so much

You are right in that it will require alot of hard work. How old are your children? When I went to LPN school my oldest daughter was in first grade and when I was in RN school my youngest was in Kinder. We made a date every night to study together. Granted it was only a few minutes for them but they each knew that that was our time together and that satisfied them and they would then be kept occupied by their dad while I really got down and studied. We always had a planned activity for a couple of hours on the weekend regardless of how much I needed to study I never let it make me give up our family time on the weekend. I also had a great husband.

This worked for me. It is very stressful but start early to prepare the young ones for the time your studies will take you away from them Good Luck

Donna

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2005

I can give you my two cents. I am the mother of a 1, 2, and 3 year old. I am also a step mother to a thirteen year old (on duty every weekend! LOL) I will be graduating in four weeks from LPN school. It wasn't easy, and if my instructors and nursing director weren't so understanding and sometimes accomodating with my absences I would not be here now. The work was difficult but not impossible, and I was easily able to study MOST nights 1 or 2 hours after my children went to bed. I think the key is having your children on a strict schedule and sticking with it. I am also taking online classes (pre-reqs for my RN through Excelsior) and I was able to handle that pretty well with only a few minor interruptions in the routine. In all this long dialogue I suppose I am just saying you can do anything you put your mind to, especially with support/help, but it won't be easy. Good luck!

BTW, not all nights will require 2 hours of studying and some nights will require more, but if you can schedule time when your children are asleep, playing, or doing homework, you should be fine.

Fiona59 · Apr 16, 2005

I remember my first week, studied at least four hours every night. It comes in spurts, care plans were the worst, they could take three to four hours every night(had the instructor from hell).

My programme ran year round so at times child care was a real issue. Clinicals also had challenges, daycares open at 0700 and close at 1800. Well, it was expensive but I managed to find a daycare worker who would be there at 0600 for me to drop the crew off. Managed to do evenings and nights by the sheer grace and goodwill of friends. Husbands job required him to be overseas during those months.

Don't count on the goodwill of instructors, they are there to be educators not shoulders to cry on. Several of hours told us straight up the first week, your childcare is your responsiblity, if you can't arrange for 24 hour availability its time to rethink being here....

So good luck, and if it does overwhelm you, thats all right. There is a time and a season for everything, its just getting the lineup right. Your children are only young once and nursing school will always be there.

sfgibson · Apr 16, 2005

Did anyone go through lpn training while they had young children? I am about to start training in sept.. if all goes well. Do you think I will be in over my head, I know it will require alot of hard work but can anyone tell me about the number of hours spent studying a night? Any advice will help
Thank you so much

Please allow me to give you some words of encouragement....

I have 4 sons, ages 3, 5, 11 and 14. I worked during the day ,40 hours a week and went to school in the evenings. I love nursing and this is what I wanted to do with my life. I am 31 years old and had my first baby at age 15. I was a young single black mom and yes, many people thought that I wouldn't graduate from highschool. I was not going to be a statistic. Now, I am an LPN working in a hospital and my patients thank me for doing simple things for them. At the end of the day, I feel like I have made a difference in someone's life....and thats what its all about!

I don't know what your faith is, but I know that God has blessed me to come this far and if you ask him, he will do it for you.

The school that I went to also had a valedictorian, who was a young, single black mom with seven children (2 sets of twins)!!! You can do this if you have the will and desire in your heart. Don't let anyone tell you that it is too hard to do with children and a full-time job.

Hope this helped,

[email protected]

pediatriclpn · Apr 17, 2005

My boys were 3 years old, and 16 months when I started LPN school. I seperated from my husband 2 weeks into the program (now divorced, yeah!) If it hadn't been for the support of my mom, aunts and uncles, and brother and sister I would never had made it. My oldest son had his tonsils and adenoids out at spring break, they both got chicken pox from the day care, and my oldest broke both the ulnar and radius, that year. I had strep throat several times, passed my first kidney stone that year. But I am proud that I made it thru and am proud to call myself an LPN! Best of luck to you, oh, and by the way, I was third in my class! :coollook:

lisamc1RN, LPN · Apr 17, 2005

I'm going to LPN school right now. My youngest is 2 1/2 and my oldest is 11. There are several students in my class with children younger than mine. It's doable but it takes planning. Eventually you'll develop a routine that works for you and your family. Good Luck!

DeeDaSweetee · Apr 18, 2005

Did anyone go through lpn training while they had young children? I am about to start training in sept.. if all goes well. Do you think I will be in over my head, I know it will require alot of hard work but can anyone tell me about the number of hours spent studying a night? Any advice will help
Thank you so much

Hi sweetmom.. I just finished my lpn prog on nov and took the test on aprl 5 2005(still no results)...I had to thank alot of people for the support.I am a very young mother and my daughter is 4 shes in preschool even shes supportive and understanding the reason i said that is because when i study she sees me and sits next to me and asks me for a piece of paper to write draw just like her mommy...i had no trouble with her when i was going to school i would drop her off to go to her daycare just before i went to school and picked her up when i was out of school...at first it will be hard and it will feel like your overwhelmed but youll get used to it and keep a positive mind and just keep rememberin its for a better future for your family..Good luck and wish you the best... :)

sweetmom · Apr 18, 2005

Thanks for the reply, I know it will be tough I am 22 with a 4 and 2 year old but I am doing it all for them. They motivate me everyday =) I just heard I passed the NET =) So i am on my way

Where are you from?

thanks

[email protected]

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2005

I'm a young mom too. 23 years old! I think it is awesome that you are going back to school. Good for you!

BeccaRN · Apr 19, 2005

When I was in school I had a 3 year old and 5 year old and worked full time. It took a lot of time management. I was lucky and had a husband and boss who supported me and would work with me.