Life with kids and nursing school?

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Hi Everyone:

I will be starting nursing school with a 5 year old and a 15 month old and I'm a little nervous on how to manage it all. I have an undergraduate and graduate degree already...so I've got the school thing down, but I have never done it with kids in tow. I want to be the best mom (and wife to my hubby) that I can, but realize that nursing school is a sacrifice. I will be in a 2nd degree BSN program that meets 3 days a week (one classroom day and two clinical days). Any advice on how to make it all work?

Thanks;)

Ness

This is can really speak to with three kids of various ages. It sounds like you have a pretty minimally demanding 2nd degree program, though -- ours was full time all year long!

Anyway, you get yourself a really good date book with lines to fill in, and you get ORGANIZED. You list all the numbers you need there, have all your information in one place. You have a cell phone and you do business in the car or while waiting in places. You study on the road, while at soccer games, or waiting in doctor's offices. You just make use of every single minute.

I really haven't ever had much of a break at all since I started school, and I'm pretty beat. But, I do feel my kids and my husband respect me a whole lot more now that I've found something to achieve as well, outside of just being the mommy/caretaker. I did that role exclusively for 15 years, but it just came to a point where it wasn't enough.

I feel I'm setting a good example for them, too.

Now, I do get a bit envious of the "kids" in my classes who just seem so carefree and easy and seem to have all the free time in the world outside of school. (Shoot, they just all look so tan and rested all of the time! :uhoh3: ) One talked about how she was going to go home and take a nap after a long clinical day, as I thought about the long evening I had ahead cooking dinner, cleaning up, doing baths, and just STARTING to study at 11 p.m.!

So, there are differences, but I also feel I've achieved a lot to have both family and a good career on the horizon. It can be very gratifying, and very exhausting as well. No getting around it.

I must admit, my husband was extremely supportive of me the first year -- really gave me the hours to study, especially on weekends. Could not have done it without him at all.

And I need to add, some of those "tan and rested" folks also seemed to not be able to manage their time all that well, and would stumble a lot academically. I knew I had to make use of time, and I usually came out even better academically as a result. It's strange.

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I have two toddlers and so far getting straight A's. If anything I think its nice going to school with kids because it gives me a push to do really well because Im doing it for me and my kids. It can be done but hard if you are working.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

You can do it. In fact most of the parents in my BSN program are doing VERY well!!!

I have two girls ages 5 and 9 years old that I homeschool, no daycare, I work anywhere from full to part time in the PICU, last semester I made 3 A's and 1 B. My husband also works full time and is a full time student (law) and does very well also. No I don't have my nose in a book all the time either! You have to have a balance with school and your life.

It's all about letting some things go, paper plates, organization and letting people help you (that would be my parents!), and having a great group of nursing school friends :) I love my friends!

You will do fine!

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Hi Ness,

I'm in a similar situation. I have five kids two eight year olds, 5yrs, 3yrs, 2 1/2 yrs. You're lucky that you have a 2nd BSN program with such a reasonable schedule. How long will it take you to complete the degree? I have a undergraduate degree in another field as well. My husband works from home and my mother just moved to the area so I'm hoping they'll help. My main concern is being stressed out and needing to study in the evenings. I'm afraid that I'll neglect my kids.

Farah

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Specializes in Neuro.

hi ness,

i have 4 kids and when i started school, i also worked full time. it can be done!! i took most of my classes online, so that helped tremendously, and i found out when i start ns in august, we will be the first class to take some of the classes online!! yea!!!

like cherokee post above,

do not stress about stuff i.e. cleaning, dishes, dinner, folding laundry lol - we do eat and have a "mostly" clean house but its not perfect. i don't always fold laundry lol but it gets clean...
it is okay to let some things slide. i have laundry piled up to the ceiling and we eat at mcdonald's sometimes, but that is okay!! you will get through ns and you will do just fine. the big thing is: prioritize you time and do not get behind. good luck!!

txspadequeen921,

we got 6 kids (17,14,7,5,4 and 3months) , no daycare , i work full time and we both are full time students

girl, i bow down to you!!! :bowingpur you are the queen aren't you?!? my hubby is also in school in the evenings, but...we are down by 2 kids to you!!!

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Ness you are a mom, so you understand the importance of scheduling. Keep that in mind. Schedule time everyday to study and everyone in the house has to adhere to your "quiet time". I found that at my house, I couldn't get that at home if the children were there. ( My husband is a softy and will always let his prince and princess get their way) So, I leave, on nights before a test or if I just need a night to study, he takes them and I hole up in the library until after bedtime ( He works nights so I have to be home). I hate those nights since I don't see either of them, but my grades last semester proved that the sacrifice was worth it. Just remember that it is all worth it.

I can speak from experience that your 15 mo will have a harder time letting you study ( my daughter is 18 mo), my son who is 3, plays really well by himself especially since I promise him that he and I will do something together if I can just get a few things done. He seems to understand and even tries to occupy his sister.

Best of luck - it will work out for you. I have a great support system around me and recommend everyone to do the same. Don't feel guilty if you need a night to yourself to study.

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Specializes in ICU.

I have a 5 year old and a 1 year old. I really think the key to success in school is organization. My kids are in the bed everynight at the same time (on the dot), so it allows me to relax (for a minute) and then get some studying in. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it.

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I probably would not call in as long I had slept ok in the day or two before my sleepless night/day. I used to work as a paramedic and got used to working 24 hr shifts--occ. was slammed and up the whole 24 hrs. Also taught my self to go to sleep easily--learned it from a chapter on relaxation out of a book "Childbirth without Fear" (I think) --(written by a man-what does he have to fear? He's not having the baby or squeezing a watermelon out of a straw....)

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OOPs-posted last entry on wrong site.....but I had a 6 week old and 1 yr old when I went from LVN to RN via Excelsior. I was taking A & P and Mircrobio again as they wouldn't accept mine from the 1970's. Found the best time to study was a 2am to 5 am--no interruptions except my sleep. It can be done...sleep was optional and broken up into a few hrs here and there. Is that why I have insomnia still today:lol2:?

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele.

I will be giving birth this summer, he's due July 4. I will then return to NS the beginning of September where I will be starting my 2nd semester of a ADN program.

I'm looking forward to being a mother! I'm also anxious about how I will handle being a mother for the first time and doing well while in NS.

I know it can be done, it's been done before by others. So thank you for this thread.

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