Do any of the nurses here working 40 hr weeks and going to school, have children?

nursemichelle80, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2011

No kids here. Not sure how people manage that. I can imagine it is extremely difficult!!

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2011

i bet if these people exist, they have no time to go on AN. lol

foreverLaur · Nov 28, 2011

My best friend is a single mom of 2 (got divorced during nursing school) and works four 10 hour shifts a week and is also taking 6-8 credit hours every semester. Needless to say, she is not a member here and I rarely see her!

TeleNurse2010 · Nov 28, 2011

Do any of the nurses here working 40 hr weeks and going to school, have children? If so, what are your shifts like, and do your kids get off to school in the morning on their own? Thanks

Yes, I do. I have a very good support system. My son just turned 11 and can see himself off to school in the morning, however, I have to drop my other child off to my mom sometimes, who takes her to daycare. My children's father also helps out a lot by getting the kids to where they need to be, and being there for them while I'm at work or at school. Luckily my class is only one day a week. It's tough, but having a good support system helps.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 28, 2011

My last job I worked about 32-40 hours a week and was taking classes for my BSN; I also had a 6 year old. Fortunately my last job was straight day shift so that helped to make it all possible. I'd drop the son off at childcare on my way to work. They took him to school and picked him up afterwards; then I'd grab my son on the way home. I worked the classes in wherever I could--most were online so that helped.

It would have been a lot harder had I not been on day shift, but I could have probably figured out a way to make it work if I wanted to. It would have been tough, but I think doable.

DookieMeisterRN · Nov 28, 2011

When my youngest was in kindergarten (about 15 yrs ago :/ ) I started back to school . I worked 12 hr nocs and had grandparents that watched her at noc and I picked her up and took her to school than went to class, than back in time to meet the school bus. When I really got in FT with pre-reqs I worked Fri/Sat/Sun 12hr nocs than took 14-18 credit hours during the week. This worked perfectly as I was home during the week to get the kids off and home when they were. Did I have a life ? No, but you suck it up and do what you need to. While in NS it was a little easier as I found a job working flexible 8 hr swing shifts and my DH was always home from work in the early afternoon. A lot of times I had school than go straight to work and no time for me but in the end it totally was worth it and wouldn't change a thing.

cindyloowho · Nov 28, 2011

I work full time night shifts (3 12s, which is really 3 13s) and have a PRN day job where I do about 8 to 12 hours a week. I am taking 6 graduate level credits for my MSN and have a son in kindergarden who gets out at 3 and we have to take to 2 extra curricular activities durng the week. No family in town but I couldn't do it without my husband! We tag team caring for the house and kid. My life is full for sure, but I still get out and have fun quite a bit :-)

LuckyinKY · Nov 28, 2011

I work full time nights, have 2 kids and I am attending nursing school full time. I work on an acute psych unit which works out well since my patients usually sleep through the night. After 11pm, I just need to do q 15 patient checks which I usually have another tech helping with. I have plenty of study time on night shift. My husband works near my work and our 4 year old goes to preschool on campus, so my husband just picks me up and I drop my son and him off before either going to class or home.

Right now I have class every weekday but Wednesday, so I work Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday nights, so I only have to class one morning after work from 8-10am and can just go to bed the other days. I also have my mom helping out until I graduate in May which helps some, but we were juggling it pretty well even without her help.

rntj · Nov 29, 2011

I recently rec'd my BSN from Grand Canyon Univ. online while worknig 36 hours a week night shift and having a six year old daughter. It was definitely tough but my time management skills in my daily life really improved. I can't speak to going to classes, but doing the online thing was definitely doable. I managed it by working the same three nights every week, and then during my days off I would write my weekly research paper. I felt like I was ALWAYS reading or studying, and you also have to do several discussion posts and replies as well. Now that I am done I can't believe I ever found the time to do it, but I did. Of course it certainly helped that I have a husband to share parenting duties.

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Nov 29, 2011

OP if you are not coping with everything, can you do study externally? That would save travelling with petrol and time.

LPN2day_RNasap · Nov 29, 2011

Seems as if the MAIN element in MOST of these success stories is a hubby to help. Anybody a single mom doing it?? *That might just impress and inspire me :)