I have been an LVN for 7 years. I was 22 when I started & I will be 29 this year. I know I'm not old but I feel like maybe I should pursue another career or something. I just had another baby & I am exhausted. My husband has been amazing & has taken the night shifts so I get to sleep at night.
I find myself being super tired in the morning if I get less than 8+ hours of sleep. If I don't take anything to help me sleep I don't sleep well. If I do take anything to sleep I am groggy the next day. I am usually dying for a nap & hoping my son will let me sleep for at least an hour, if not more.
This leads me to my question. Should I pursue the bridge program? If I'm this exhausted now, what will it be like when I'm in school & once I start work? Will my body be able to handle the long nights of studying & the 12+ work shifts?
I constantly feel like I'm on the verge of a seizure (I have epilepsy & bipolar disorder) & thankfully I haven't had a manic or depressive episode yet (knock on wood!).
What do you guys suggest? My mom is so gung ho on me studying to take the TEAS test to get into the bridge program but right now I feel like the walking dead & I feel like I shouldn't have a reason since I sleep at night.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
God bless your poor body, no WONDER you're exhausted!!! I agree w/all the PP, just wait until you're ready. Going from 1 kid to 2 is really hard, and it takes a while before you get in a groove and stop feeling like you're chasing your tail all the time (you do get there, trust me).
Maybe take some extended FMLA and rest a bit?
Yeah I didn't realize how difficult it would be going from 1 child to 2. Some days I feel like ripping my hair out! Especially since my body isn't letting me sleep.
Oh, I'm not working. I haven't worked since my first child.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Maybe go part-time or prn. I just recently took a prn position because I reached a point of super exhaustion and I am not pregnant. I do have a 4 year old though and I am finishing up my bachelors. My husband thankfully provides the benefits. Money is great but if your health starts suffering you may force yourself to a point of not working at all. Good luck! I think it is different (you will have more energy) when you aren't caring for small children or your kids are grown and gone. I considered what people thought until finally I looked deeply into my situation and chose to do what works best for me. It is okay to listen to opinions but do what works best for you, because you have to live with your choices.
I haven't worked since my first child. Especially not with this pregnancy since I had gallstones, gestational diabetes & preeclampsia. In the first trimester I had migraines so bad I couldn't get out of bed, if I did I would throw up. This pregnancy was miserable. Although the postpartum period was worse with my first son. I swear I didn't just have postpartum depression, I had postpartum psychosis with my first son. There was a whole period after my first was born I don't remember. My body might not be letting me sleep right now & I can feel myself getting depressed but at least I noticed the symptoms & made an appointment with my doctor before it got any worse. Now I can get medication & fix the problem before it snowballs into what happened last time.
Yeah I didn't realize how difficult it would be going from 1 child to 2. Some days I feel like ripping my hair out! Especially since my body isn't letting me sleep.
Oh, I'm not working. I haven't worked since my first child.
GOOD, I'm glad you're not working! You will feel less tired, but not for a while, considering the physiological struggles your body is having to recover from. Gallbladder removal 2 weeks after having a baby is a BIG DEAL. As for the going from one kid to two thing, it probably took me about 6 months to about a year to really feel like I had a good, solid "not have to think about it" handle on the 2 kids thing. You'll get there, it's just nuts in the beginning. :)
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
GOOD, I'm glad you're not working! You will feel less tired, but not for a while, considering the physiological struggles your body is having to recover from. Gallbladder removal 2 weeks after having a baby is a BIG DEAL. As for the going from one kid to two thing, it probably took me about 6 months to about a year to really feel like I had a good, solid "not have to think about it" handle on the 2 kids thing. You'll get there, it's just nuts in the beginning. :)
I was working when I was pregnant with my first & I was a lot healthier but I couldn't physically & mentally handle it. Especially since I wasn't diagnosed with bipolar disorder yet. But this time around was completely different & there was *no way* I could've handled working.
On top of that my second son has been a lot more difficult than my first. My second was really constipated & we went through 4 formulas until we found one that keeps him regular. Also when he first got constipated it threw off his sleep schedule so we are trying to get him back on track. It's been tough.
All that on top of the gallbladder surgery is just really tough. It will be easier once he has a normal sleep schedule.
I want to become an RN because I want more job experience. I can get more jobs as an RN vs. as an LVN. I also screwed up working as an LVN. I was offered a hospital position right out of school (I wasn't diagnosed bipolar at this time) but I turned the position down because I saw I could make more money in PDN than in the hospital. Little did I know how much PDN sucked & how unstable it was. So I jumped from job to job & have a horrible job history & I feel this is my chance to start over.
I know I'm still a nurse but I can't land a decent job. Especially with my long hiatus.
That makes sense. If that's the case and you feel that you and your provider have found successful methods for addressing bipolar, my vote is that you go get your RN once you've allowed yourself to rest with your baby a little bit. You've wanted to do it for a long time and you have the brain power for it :)
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
That makes sense. If that's the case and you feel that you and your provider have found successful methods for addressing bipolar, my vote is that you go get your RN once you've allowed yourself to rest with your baby a little bit. You've wanted to do it for a long time and you have the brain power for it :)
Good luck!
Yes, I have been working with my provider since I have been diagnosed. I really don't want to screw up when I become an RN like I did when I became an LVN. But I don't want to rush into it because I fear then I would screw something up whether it would be school or my career. I just need to take my time & do it when I feel ready.
I took like a 2 year hiatus from school after having my baby. Granted it was my first, so I had no clue what I was doing. Probably was the best thing for me as having a new baby & a very high stress job was anything but easy. I think giving your body & mind time to rest can only be beneficial to you. Congrats on your beautiful baby!
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I took like a 2 year hiatus from school after having my baby. Granted it was my first, so I had no clue what I was doing. Probably was the best thing for me as having a new baby & a very high stress job was anything but easy. I think giving your body & mind time to rest can only be beneficial to you. Congrats on your beautiful baby!
Thank you! Even though this is my second it isn't any easier. Trying to juggle my toddler with a newborn is difficult but not impossible. I don't think I could do it if I was working or in school. I take my hat off to moms who work and/or go to school. Especially single moms!
OrganizedChaos, LVN
1 Article; 6,883 Posts
Yeah I didn't realize how difficult it would be going from 1 child to 2. Some days I feel like ripping my hair out! Especially since my body isn't letting me sleep.
Oh, I'm not working. I haven't worked since my first child.