Did Anyone Go To Nursing School While Raising Kids?

EMYSMOMMY · Dec 16, 2005

I've got a 3 year old and I'm currently in a BSN program. It is tough, but if you have help it makes things a lot easier. I do a lot of my studying late at night. There are many evenings I may be up until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning working on homework. However, I only go to school 8 months out of the year. As a family we do have to make some sacrifices... the house isn't always as clean as I like, the laundry sometimes piles up, and we eat a lot of spaghetti for dinner (it's quick & easy) but it's not forever and the payoff will be worth it for the whole family. I say go for it!! :rolleyes:

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Dec 16, 2005

I have two children and despite their father driving me crazy for two years, me having to live with my mother the first 8 months when I went back to college, and working 32 hours on the weekend, I still managed to get this far and get into nursing school.

I am moving to a new city ALONE this Spring and I will just do as much work as I can during the day while my 5 year old is in school and my three year old is in daycare.

When they get home, I'll eat dinner with them, give them a bath, play with them an hour, and then let them play their video game a while. I'll study while they are playing and then put them to bed at nine and then study till twelve and go to bed myself. on the weekends, I plan to let them play outside while I study it it's not freezing and take them to church each Sunday; in between I'll study.

I haven't started yet, but I won't go to work and it has to be done. You can do anything you put your mind to. Good Luck.

MADDOG70, BSN · Dec 16, 2005

I was 5 months pregnant with my daughter when I started and had a 2 yr old son. I did the Associates degree program. It was hard but my husband was supportive and my parents helped by babysitting. After they would go down at night I would do my studying. They are older now but I am graduating tomorrow with my B.S.N. so it can be done you just have to know you will be missing some things. But.... when it's all said and done and you land a great job with good pay .....it will all be worth it. Just remember there is an ending to it. Good Luck!!!

I have two great kids, ages 13 mos. and 4 yrs. I hope to start nursing school in August. My mom lives with me and watches them when I am at school, but I am worried I won't have any time for them. Any nursing school moms with advice for me? Thanks alot!

Zee_RN, BSN, RN · Dec 16, 2005

When I started nursing school, my triplet daughters were three years old. They came to school with me and attended the Child Care Development Center there. They thrived in that environment. Since I had gotten all the other classes done with first (the writing, psychology, A&P, etc.), I only had to attend nursing classes and clinicals, so that was 3 or 4 days per week. We still had high quality family time...and the quantity wasn't that diminished, in my opinion either. My daughters are 16 now, well adjusted, happy girls that do well in school. They are proud that I'm a nurse and that they had a part in making me one!

cnjroelker · Dec 17, 2005

I had two children while in nursing school and had a newborn my last semester. It was tough to study and spend time with them. You just have to make time for each. I studied for two hours a night and the rest of the night was spent with my family. Good luck to you. Hope this helps.

athena55, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2005

Hi Y'all, just wanted to add my five cents (smile):

I did the whole school thing with three boys (8, 6, 4), working full time 12 hour night shift and working part time as a clinic nurse at a Deaf School (on my off days) plus I was physically attending undergraduate school (BA in Anthropology) and via the Internet (long distance education) for my BSN.

I think the children handled it much better than I did! Thank goodness my ex-mom-in-law lived nearby and could watch the kids while I was working my regular night job. They attended grammer school and pre-school, that is when I either was in school or trying to take a quick nap before they all came home.

I cooked on my "off days" for the week. {Thank goodness for the microwave!} plus if we were not very busy in the ICU where I worked we could actually take a break, so most of us took a quick nap during break-time.

I am not sure I could do it now ( I am pushing 50) but... you do what you have to do, to survive. Thank goodness for on-line education! I am attempting to finish up my family nurse practitioner degree on line. Plus, the boys are now 21, 19, & 17 and used to their mom being away (army nurse corps) from time-to-time. I have a very supportive network of Army family/friends and without their help and assistance much of what I have accomplished in life would not have happened.

Good luck to everyone out there currently in school and I wish your new year 2006 is a healthy and happy one for one and all.

selulion · Dec 18, 2005

It is hard as I see. Don't think it is fair to the kids, though. The kidlets are only young once. Most people in school spend time studying and if they aren't they are thinking about school=less kiddo time.

I think it will be more unfair to them in the long run to NOT get a degree. I want to give them the best life possible. School will only last a few years, but my education will last a lifetime.:)

allnurses Guide · Dec 18, 2005

I have two children and despite their father driving me crazy for two years, me having to live with my mother the first 8 months when I went back to college, and working 32 hours on the weekend, I still managed to get this far and get into nursing school.
I am moving to a new city ALONE this Spring and I will just do as much work as I can during the day while my 5 year old is in school and my three year old is in daycare.
When they get home, I'll eat dinner with them, give them a bath, play with them an hour, and then let them play their video game a while. I'll study while they are playing and then put them to bed at nine and then study till twelve and go to bed myself. on the weekends, I plan to let them play outside while I study it it's not freezing and take them to church each Sunday; in between I'll study.
I haven't started yet, but I won't go to work and it has to be done. You can do anything you put your mind to. Good Luck.

Wow, the only other thing I might do is put my kids to bed about 7:30 p.m.

If my 4 year old doesn't get 12-13 hours of sleep a night he gets a bit cranky.

steph

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Dec 19, 2005

Wow, the only other thing I might do is put my kids to bed about 7:30 p.m.
If my 4 year old doesn't get 12-13 hours of sleep a night he gets a bit cranky.
steph

I tried 7:30. My daughter will fight it till 10:00. Might as well put her to bed when she'll actually sleep. My son, on the other hand, will go to sleep on command :rotfl: .

memily2000 · Dec 19, 2005

I am married, have 2 kids - 7 & 8, work 40 hours, have the nursing program (9 credit hours) and finishing last pre-req next semester (3 credit hour) = 12 hours. This is still my first year, but so far I am managing. The hubby is a big help. Luckily my kids are old enough that when we had the "mommy's going back to school" talk, they were very understanding, especially when I explained how we would have more money and how that would benefit them. Like someone else said earlier I think it has really helped them understand how important getting a good education and going to college is.

The best advice I can give is PRIORITZE. Does it really matter if the house is a mess or dinner is sandwiches occasionally? If there is a minor emergency (one of the kid's is sick or sad) will it be a disaster if you homework gets a C instead of an A? Don't try to be perfect at everything or everything will go to pot. It's gonna be hard, but it goes fast. Remember why you are doing it and that you HAVE TO DO IT! Don't make it a choice, I've seen people drop because they think they have that choice. You will miss a part of their life, but how much better will the rest of their life be because of it? Ask for help, that's what you mom is there for.

Check out "How to survive and maybe even love nursing school" from your local library. Good luck and be blessed.

memily2000 · Dec 19, 2005

One more thing... if you have to work... a night shift job that you can do your homework at allows for more time with them during the day.

lisamc1RN, LPN · Dec 19, 2005

I have 4 children, ages 12, 10, 8, and 3. My older children are in school when I'm in school. I only go part time so that my husband can be with my 3 year old on the days that I'm at school or at clinicals. I am very blessed with a husband with a flexible schedule. When I start RN school in the fall (I hope) I will also be working for the first time in 12 years! *gulp* My husband will be dropping his part time job and just doing his church pastoring job. He will be the main parent that my children see for those 2 years, as I will be gone from the house probably 50 hours a week. This works for our family. It's actually exciting! :) It can't be stressed enough to get a good, strong support system in place for you and your children. Best of luck to you!