I let family discourage me!Should I go through Rn or do diff program?

nursemike, ASN, RN · Aug 20, 2004

I started school Jan 3 of this year and I'm confussed about if I should continue my classes and go through RN program or go LPN first. I'v even looked into the Radiology, and paramedic programs at Technical School to see if it would be a shorter route for me. My sister was talking about how she spends a lots of time with her children and etc and made feel like I wrong for going school. I feel like people try to discourage me from going school. Do ya'll ever feel that way? I work Friday and Saturday night and go school Mon-Thursday in morning when she is in school. I help her with her homework but make her do most of it because it won't help her learn if I do her homework. I know I need to spend little more time with her. I'm home with her in afternoons but that not spending time with her. I have homework to do too so try finish her and my homework too. Did any of ya'll have kids while in school. do ya'll think it is hurting her progress in school for me to be in school and not spending all my time with her? Sometimes you have to sacifice to improve. I will have to sacifice my time studying to get a better career and it will be worth it in long run. Any advice you can give me please because it is hard trying to go through college with a kid and not have much family support. I am 32 so that makes school even tougher but quitting or going to a technical school isn't something I'm going do because I got a loan and owe a 2,200.00 loan now and will have to start paying it back if I quit school. I don't think Technical schools have loans. Well, Thanks for any advice.

A dear friend of mine who is a single mom is starting school, now, and facing similar issues. I'll tell you what I tell her: Is it wrong to make your child eat a healthy diet and go to bed at a reasonable hour? Do you do it to be mean, or because it's better for her, in the long run?

Nursing school is hard. Any school is hard, but nursing is harder than many. Getting through it will mean both you and your child will have to make sacrifices, and if your child is young, she may not understand why? But I can't think of a field better suited to a single mom--decent pay, flexible hours, usually good benefits. If being a nurse means that you can give yourself and your child a better life, in the long run, then you should feel proud, not bad. If, in the process, you can help others and make one little corner of the world a better place, won't angels rejoice?

It is possible LPN school could be a more practical answer.

If being an LPN makes it easier to swing RN school, there's nothing wrong with that. LPN instead of RN is a perfectly reasonable and honorable choice, for that matter. But RN's do make more money and enjoy more opportunities, so I would say if you can, go that route.

Don't hesitate to take any help you can, but please don't let anyone talk you out of this. It is hard, and it's pretty intimidating, at first, but once you really get into it, it's also very exciting. At some point it will dawn on you that people are putting their lives in your hands. You may feel like throwing up when you think of it. But you may just decide that if you can handle that, there probably isn't much else you can't handle. As you learn, you will gain confidence, and determination.

God bless you.

P.S. Depending on where you live, there may be some pretty good opportunities for employment after one year of nursing school, like CNA or Surg. Tech. From some threads it looks like some places will let you test for LPN after a year in ADN school. Might help?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2004

It's tough when people around you aren't supportive of your dreams. Yes, if you go to school there is going to be time away from your child, that's a given. But you're making an investment in your self-actualization and in your family by going to school.

In modern times most parents can't spend as much time as they like with their child. Make it quality time and do what YOU feel you need to do. Everyone is going to have an opinion, just let it roll off you and good luck to you! :)

TinyNurse, RN · Aug 20, 2004

Stick to your dreams girl!!!! I've been a nurse 1 yr, 1 month now............ and lemme tell ya......... the time I missed with my son I can't get back,,,,,,,,, but I CAN provide for his future. Hunter is 4 now, and he knows about "nurse school" "graduation" "ER" and someday when he's in his teens or twenties I'm sure my mother or I will tell him of the difficult days of nursing school.

If you compare medic/nurse wages and time in school, it is well worth it to go for your nursing degree.

It's difficult I agree, but please explain "nursing school" to your child. So that they have an opportunity to understand,and help you reach your goal.

Yes,,,,,,,,,, you miss your child while everything is going on with work, school, etc....... but if you look at the big picture..... things can and will work out in the long run. Dreams do come true. I promise!! they did for me!!

oh,and after graduation and working 3, 12 hour days........... i still miss my son on those days.

nursing school is hard cuz nursing is sometimes hard

missing your child while doing the school thing is hard, cuz missing them while at work is hard.

Things change, but don't change that much.

best of luck to ya. never give up!

xo Jen

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Aug 20, 2004

About time with your kiddo: it's quality, not quantity that counts.

If you want to be a nurse, it's going to keep bugging you til you do it.

$2,200 isn't a whole lot, once you are working, as far as a student loan goes.

There is money for nursing school (and you sound like you would qualify). Check out http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/scholarship/bulletin.htm

You have to do some things for yourself, not based on what you think your family might or might not like. Maybe your sister can include your child in with hers a little while you are studying? Afterall, there will be a nurse in the family in a couple of short years.

And 32 is young, darlin, to be going into nursing. You need a few miles on you to make the absolute best of your training.

If your urge is to do it, then do it and don't look back. Throw yourself in and get going.

You're gonna be terrific!

Energizer Bunny · Aug 20, 2004

The first time that I started school, I didn't have nearly as much support as I do now. My FIL was abrasive about it and didn't think I should be doing it, but he was veeeeeeery old-school. I only had one child then and was pregnant with my second.

This time around, I have three little ones and yes, I feel guilty. The oldest will be in kindergarten full day and only have a sitter two days after school and my Aunt will come to watch all three on Wednesday nights for three hours. My youngest two will be in the school's daycare program, but it is also a licensed school so I know they will be getting education and plenty of attention, even if it isn't always from me. I know it is going to be hard, but in the long run, it is the best for all of us. dh has had to tell his mom to support me or shut up but everyone else is very supportive. There is just no way that we can live on his one income and because he is so much older than me, will be thinking of retirement in just over 10 years. What would we do then?

You have to look at the big picture and what is best in the long run. It is hard to not have the support that you have every right to expect from your family. You can do it.....follow your dreams.