Education advice needed

[AmericanChai]

I'm on my last pre-req to get into nursing school. Yeah!! :)

I am starting to have some doubts about whether I can survive nursing school with my family and sanity intact. I'm a straight A student but I was not taking a full course load. I have two kids ages 7 and 4. I'm going to be 35 next birthday. The 4yo has complex health needs, which is what inspired me to become a nurse in the first place.

My step mother just finished her RN degree and suggests that maybe I should aim for the LPN program first,and then to the LPN to RN program next. She says that the LPN's in her program had a much easier time in nursing school because of practical experience vs. the inexperienced students. Also it would give me an "out" if I got tired of nursing school that at least I could work after a year and pursue the rest later.

My next question is what can I do while I'm waiting to get into nursing school.I have about 1.5 years wait. My youngest will be in K so I will have time to get a part time job. Someone suggested trying to get a substitute school nurse job which does not require any training (scary huh??) in our district, or just a regular sub teacher since I have a degree in English already. Or I can get my EMT training or CNA while I wait so I have a job to fall back on in this uncertain time.

I'm just totally uncertain what is the best path. Keep in mind also that I quit my good job several years ago to be a stay at home mom, and I still want to be an available mom during nursing school. My kids are both high needs and they will only be small once.My fear is that I won't be around to see them or help them if they need my attention. I know that I will be very very busy, but I want to at least keep our bond going, KWIM?

I would appreciate any advice you can give me. Thanks! :)

[Jules A, MSN]

Hi,

I did the LPN program first and while I would disagree that it is any easier than the RN program for me having a shorter committment was perfect. I immediately went back for my RN but in the meantime was very glad that I had my LPN license. No matter which program you pick it is my opinion that your family will have to be prepared to make some sacrifices. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

I had 4 kids when I began nursing school, the youngest was still in diapers-the oldest in middle school. I started out part time for my pre-reqs but by the time I got into clinicals I wanted to be done, so I went into the full time(RN) program. You will find a balance. I would take my 2 youngest to McDonalds play land and study for hours while they ran and jumped around.

As far as jobs went I got my CNA lic and worked part time weekend nights at both the nursing home and the hospital. I found there were actually times I could study at work because it was night shift. Granted it was the hardest job for the smallest amount of pay I had ever worked for. But it had benefits too, I could see 1st hand what nursing was all about, I had a ton of reference material at my fingertips at the hospital, I could look up patients meds lists and H&Ps for what ever topic I was lerning in school and see the disease process 1st hand. By becoming a CNA 1st made my transistion into clinicals much easier.

My advice is get your RN 1st, you will only need to sit for Nclex once that way!!

Also--you say you have a 1.5 year wait before you can get into the program/...if I were you I would take some BSN courses, as you never know you may want to get your Bach someday and by staying in school you will maintain your good study habits.

[CrazyNurseGrrl]

First of all. You can do it. Yes, there will be insane moments/weeks/months. But you won't go insane (permanently anyway:) )

While on one hand it would be nice to do the LPN route first - I will say at my school, that one year of LPN is considered to be more difficult than RN. Because so much is condensed into one year.

I recommend you get your CNA and work at a hospital - that's one most of my fellow students do. It gives you real life experience, and let me tell you - it has helped a ton in nursing school. You go in already knowing so much, as well as being able to interact with patients.