FT Working Mom & Student?

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Hello all! This is my first post here but i've been leafing through some of the posts the last few days.

To make a long story short I got my associates in business six years ago and have a decent job. The plan was for my dh to follow his dreams and secure a job that would allow us to not live extravigently, but not to have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck either. Well even LONGER story short, its been six years and he still hasn't taken the neccessary steps to securing that job and here we are worrying about finances every week. So i've taken matters into my own hands and decided to go back to school to persue nursing, something i've always been interested in.

I'm looking at a path that will hopefully allow me to graduate in the Spring of '12. The only thing is that I will have to take a pretty agressive courseload for someone who not only works FT, but is mom to a 3 year old. I'm in my 5th week of my first semester. I decided to start out kind of easy so I wouldn't get discouraged. I'm taking A&P I and Lifespan Psych. Next semester i'm looking at A&P II, Micro, Algebra, and Spanish I. Looking at that on paper it looks like a lot! I'm hoping to take the Algebra, Spanish, and lecture part of A&P online. I'm a total visual learner so online classes rock for me. Half of the time I don't "get" what is going on in an acutal lecture because my brain is not processing it!

It my corner I have the fact that school has always come somewhat easy for me. Not saying i'm not going to have to work my tush off but I would be more hesitant taking that many classes if I always struggled in school. I also have a Dh that is 100% supportive...90% of the time lol. He's already been warned that he is going to have to start helping out a lot more at home than he does and not to expect me to do much more than studying when ds is asleep.

I want to get through all of this while my son is still young and I'm not missing games and events because i'm in class. Phew. I guess I needed to get all that out lol.

Basically i'm just wondering if there is anyone else out there crazy enough to be a FT WOHM and a FT college student as well?

Karla

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I am right there with you. I too have an AS in Criminal Justice and have a decent job. I work full time, have two kids under 6 (5 1/2 and 4) and am home alone at night. I take A&P I online with in class labs. I am struggling a bit with study stuff in chemistry. I can't really get together with study groups, because I have my kids. Kids and studying do not go hand in hand!

You are lucky that your husband is supportive. Mine is in the only sense he says "do what you want". He will pick up the slack, but will definately hold it over my head later. He doesn't understand wanting to be a nurse and leaving a career that pays well when all is going well. I wanted to do this because it is now or never. The longer I wait, the longer it is until I am a nurse.

You can do this and it will be worth it. It just takes perseverance and patience. I am having to give up a few soccer games and a few practices, but in the long run it will be worth it.

Best of luck to you.

Nancy:yeah:

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Specializes in Interested in ER, L&D, Surg/Med.

good luck to both of you!

YOU CAN DO IT! :w00t:

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Specializes in none.

I am in the same boat as well, I work 40 hours a week at a hospital and have 2 children ages 13 & 14 at home. I'm scared I wont be able to make it with a full time job. But I have to have the insurance. My bf and I have lived together for 10 years and have no plans to marry so his insurance is not an option. I'm in research now and have applied to nursing school for the Spring of 2009. IF there are any secrets to making it happen I would love to know them! Good luck to you! Jenn:nurse:

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I'm in the same boat. Right now I'm working on my pre-req's. I have about 4-5 more, then I will apply (and hopefully get accepted) into the nursing program at my local CC. I also need to work full time...gotta pay those pesky bills!! Luckily, my husband is a huge help with my 6 and 12 y.o. girls. They complain that they miss me, though. It's very hard to only see my little one as I drop her off at the bus stop in the a.m. and put her to bed at night.:cry: I work in retail, so I work 2 nights as well as every weekend, plus go to school 2 nights and both mornings before work and on both of my days "off"!!:bugeyes: I'm lucky if I remember what day it is and where I'm supposed to be! I know it will be a long road, but I'm sure it will be worth all the hard work and sacrafice. I just worry about how I will be able to keep working when I start the nursing program. Anyone else know if it's possible to take this on, or am I delusional???

Anyway, it's nice to know I'm not the only "crazy" person out there!

~Leighann

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Well, I recently finished my B.A. and am taking pre-reqs to an alternate entry MSN. I have a one year old, work forty hours a week at a very good job. I fortunately have my fiance to fall back on and have the opportunity to save my money to live off of if I can't continue to work full-time. Just keep at it and whatever you don't don't quit in the middle of semesters--always finish them out--even if you have to go one semester and stop to save money, go another...

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Hi Paytonsmom,

It does seem like a lot but if you have support and you're determined you can do it. I'm going back to school in Jan to take chemistry. I'm the mom of 4 boys, the smallest only 4 months old and I'm going to make it work. This has been a dream of mine for too long and like you, am not going to put it off any longer. Seems like you've given your husband ample time to get things together, now it's your turn. Four classes does seem like a bit much, have you factored in study and sleep into your schedule?? Good luck.

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Well I am taking my pre-reqs 2 science classes. I am a single parent of a 2 year old boy, and I work full time. I am doing well, but it is hard. Yesterday I had the day off, so I sent my son to daycare as normal and I spent the day on campus. I must say I feel like I am at a huge disadvantage. Being able to go to open lab, and sit in the library and study, I got so much done. I was so productive. But I have to deal with the fact that I have to study at the kitchen table, aftrer bath time, after making dinner, after preping for the next day, after my little one goes to bed. It is what it is and we have to work it out to acheive our goals.

:up:

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msdeannah - I know what you mean about feeling so much more productive when you're not at home. Its amazing how much more I get done at the library than at home w/ the distratctions. Do you have family that wouldn't mind watching your son once a week so you can have a few hours of library time? I bribed my dh for a few hours at the library each weekend so I can focus on what needs done and it has done wonders for my studying.

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Specializes in tele, oncology.

Me too!

I'm going part-time now (7 hrs), working 50-60 hrs a week, and have kids. Luckily hubby is understanding and helps alot! Our youngest just turned 2 and loves to "help" during homework time, so I know I'm not gonna get the grades that I'd otherwise be capable of, but so be it. As long as I do good enough to get in the bridge program, and eventually get some scholarships, that's good enough for me.

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Well I already have family recruited for Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays, since those are my class days, so I don’t really want to ask much more of them. Plus I work during the day and take classes 3 days a week, I rather spend the rest of the time with him and study late nights. It’s hard but it’s working so far. I got an A on my first chem. Test, and I am becoming optimistic about my A&P exam on Saturday. I will definitely work part time if I get into a nursing school. Hopefully my 401k will survive the current market and I can use that, my modest savings, and tax returns to get me through a couple of years.

Oh shoot I’m rambling again. Sorry!!

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I'm there with you too!!! I have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and have been working as a police officer for the past 5 years. It's not what I always wanted to do, I wanted to get into either the forensics field or into medicine. Well, I live in NH and there's not a ton of need for forensics, so back to school I go!

I'm still working 40 hours a week as an officer and going to school at night. I'm starting out with 1-2 classes a night, taking my prereqs, but starting next fall, I'll be 4 nights a week with my nursing sequence. On top of all that I have a little boy at home (he's 11 months...gonna be 1 on 10/5). So you're definately not the only crazy ones! Luckily I have my BS in CJ, so all my core credits are done, it's just the prereqs and into nursing!

:yeah:Good luck to you all!! We can do it!! :yeah:

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