I really need some advice..Im taking my core classes for nursing pre-reqs now at Georgia Perimeter College, I will be done with that by the end of summer 2010. I am also planning to get married around that time frame. I am going to start applying to different colleges in GA now(MCG,emory,mercer etc..). However, most of the people i know advise me to not get married until i become an RN, my fiance is an Engineer and i know he will help me with everything, but since ive heard the program is so "hard" that nursing school and having a family kids etc dont mix and can become very stressful because i wont be able to spend the right time with my family can cause problems.I really dont know if i should wait till i become an RN or just get married to the love of my life and continue school...To all the married people in nursing school can you please give me some advice of your experiences...
I'm married (3 years) with an almost 3 year-old and an 18 month old. I'm hoping to get accepted into a program for Spring 2011. I currently go to school full time and am a SAHM. I think the key is time-management. Yes, nursing school is going to keep you busy, but if your fiance supports you and you guys set time aside for the two of you, I think you'll be fine.
I got married right at the beginning of nursing school: I even missed the first two days of classes since it was an out-of-state wedding from where I normally live. We lived together beforehand for a couple years, but once school started everything did change as far as our day-to-day life goes.
The school is hard, and you will be expected to make sacrifices if you want to do well. I have the most supportive husband in the world. For us, this meant that he was doing more chores then before, and that he would understand when I got home late from clinicals and just wanted to sleep. I work FT too, so take that into account when you're planning "family time." More then that, I don't have a whole lot of time for my friends. I don't go out as much, or even want to since I'm busy all the time with work and studying and school.
If you plan on having kids, my advice would be to possibly plan it so you have the baby right after you'd graduate. But beware, too, since we have had 2 drop-outs due to pregnancy complications. The stress of school and clinicals can be a lot of pressure on a pregnant gal.
You and your new husband would have to be prepared that a lot of the time, he would have to pick up the slack. My husband has now learned how to cook, and even does my laundry for me when my schedule is too hectic. We enjoy our time together late at night, watching our favorite shows after my homework is done, or by emails I send him at work. I also have 1 day off (Sunday) from everything that I make sure is our day together.
And honestly? I'm about to graduate in a few more months, and I couldn't picture life any other way. Its been hard, we've buckled down, and I'm fortunate to have such a loving and supportive husband. Its worth it in the end. Just make sure you both have clear expectations of what the time during school will be like. Good luck!
If this is really what you want to do, then I'm sure your future hubby will be supportive. That's the reason why you are marrying him in the first place. It's a partnership and he needs to know that this is what you want to do right now so you can be there for your family in the future. Marriage can be stressful, but so is life, if you can balance the two and make sure you take time to be together then that's all that matters.
I think you should wait off until after nursing school , not cuz I don't think you can do it, BUT I think you'll get to enjoy marriage more after graduation. You'll be swamped with school work that the next thing you know you guys have been married for a yr or two.
Put off getting married if it affects your financial aid. Who wants to start a marriage with large loans? So depending on whether you're under your parents financial aid package, your own or will have the mix of you and your new husband, figure out which is most beneficial. Also there is no reason you have to get married and immediately start a family, that can wait.
I'm not married myself, but I can tell you that my great grandparents got married straight out of college and went through medical school together--this was in the 1920's--imagine being a woman in med school at that time! If they could do it, so can you! You just have to commit knowing that it won't be easy, but it will be well worth your effort. Good luck to you!
A girl in my class is engaged and is planning her wedding. It is not easy, but it is doable. She says its very stressful. At the end of the day, it is what you think it is best. If you want to get married, then go ahead! It's very much possible. However it would be wise to hold off having kids while in nursing school. Most of my classmates are married and have kids before they entered the program, so they don't have much of a choice.
It depends on the type of wedding you want to have. If it's going to be elaborate and time consuming i'd do it now or after you graduate. If it's going to be simple- you should be able to do it any time. Also consider the fact that you might want a honeymoon, in which case it probably wouldn't be a good idea to do this during school. As for having a baby, WAIT! When I had my son I had preeclampsia and had to be on bedrest for 30 days. What if I had been in nursing school then? I am a single mommy going into the program, so it's a bit different- but I know it's going to be ridiculously hard with a child, although I wouldn't have it any other way :]
I got married while taking my nursing school prereqs. I actually got married mid-semester, which wasn't a great idea (the timing, not the marriage).
If I had to do it again, I would have waited until after nursing school to get married. School was expensive (my employer didn't pay for any of it), and I qualified for a lot less financial aid with a spouse. You can get A LOT more financial aid as a single parent than as a married parent.
I would have had to take out far less in student loans if I'd had a baby, gotten through nursing school, then got married. My husband and I still would have loved each other.
my husband and I married 2 months before I started nursing school. School is tough, but it consumes my time no more than my old, full time job did.
living on just his income was an adjustment (we lived together prior to getting married-so I was also working and contributing financially then), but we're okay and even just bought our first home 2 months ago--and done quite a bit of remodeling.
bottom line is that time management is key. You MAKE time for your husband and family and friends. Its crucial for your sanity. It really is. Sometimes its OKAY to take a few hours off here or there-heck even a day or two to just regroup.
as for children, we are waiting to try til after the NCLEX.
futureflrn
60 Posts
I'm married (3 years) with an almost 3 year-old and an 18 month old. I'm hoping to get accepted into a program for Spring 2011. I currently go to school full time and am a SAHM. I think the key is time-management. Yes, nursing school is going to keep you busy, but if your fiance supports you and you guys set time aside for the two of you, I think you'll be fine.
Best of luck to you.