Kids while in nursing school?

nurse34 · Apr 15, 2005

Whats everyone doing with their little ones while they are in the 2 yr RN program?? Mine will still be pretty little, 2 and 5 when I start (hopefully). I guess it'll probably be daycare and kindergarten. I hate the thought of it....but its only 2 yrs right? I know the universities have child care but there are looooooooong wait lists (Im on em). And Im assuming Rn program will be 8 hour days right? Does anyone know what the first yrs schedule is usually like?

Hi hopeful! I'm in the same boat with you. I have a 9 year old and a 4 year old and I hope to start clinicals in the fall of 2006 AND I work a full time job. Needless to say.....I'm really, really nervous! I keep hoping and praying that I absolutely love clinicals and just soak it all up like a sponge! As for my kids...my husband works offshore and is home every other week so he will keep them and the other times, I have an awesome next door neighbor who has volunteered to keep the kids. Heck, they are over there so much anyway you would think that they live there! I also have other family members that will help too. Good luck to you!

greenivy · Apr 15, 2005

Whats everyone doing with their little ones while they are in the 2 yr RN program?? Mine will still be pretty little, 2 and 5 when I start (hopefully). I guess it'll probably be daycare and kindergarten. I hate the thought of it....but its only 2 yrs right? I know the universities have child care but there are looooooooong wait lists (Im on em). And Im assuming Rn program will be 8 hour days right? Does anyone know what the first yrs schedule is usually like?

Hi, I'm starting an accelerated BSN program in May (20 months straight til next Dec) and my kids are 3 and 5. Soooo, hubby and I have been trying out scenarios for a while now. My 5 y/o will start kindergarten this fall which should help but this summer both kids will be in daycare/summercamp 4 days a week. My schedule for summer semester will be M/T/W(8 - 9 hours on campus for classes) for the first 6 weeks then W/R/F (8 hour clinicals at the hospital) the second 6 weeks. Crazy. Thank goodness, dear hubby has a pretty flexible schedule and we found a daycare that is relatively flexible about days we use there.

So how have you been handling your study time for your prereqs? I've found it to be quite a juggle and I feel guilty about feeling like I'm splitting in dozens of directions.

nurse34 · Apr 15, 2005

Hi, I'm starting an accelerated BSN program in May (20 months straight til next Dec) and my kids are 3 and 5. Soooo, hubby and I have been trying out scenarios for a while now. My 5 y/o will start kindergarten this fall which should help but this summer both kids will be in daycare/summercamp 4 days a week. My schedule for summer semester will be M/T/W(8 - 9 hours on campus for classes) for the first 6 weeks then W/R/F (8 hour clinicals at the hospital) the second 6 weeks. Crazy. Thank goodness, dear hubby has a pretty flexible schedule and we found a daycare that is relatively flexible about days we use there.
So how have you been handling your study time for your prereqs? I've found it to be quite a juggle and I feel guilty about feeling like I'm splitting in dozens of directions.

Wow, it does sound like you and hubby have thought about this thoroughly! I already have a BS degree so I didn't have to take many pre-reqs. I did take AP1 and Nutrition in 2003 and I would just study after the kids went to bed but from what I'm reading about the clinicals....they are saying 250+ pages a week of reading, not to mention all the other stuff like care plans, assignments! This summer I start my non-nursing courses...I'm taking Lifespan this summer. I wanted to get those all out of the way before starting clinicals. I have been reading this book called How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Nursing School and last night....I was really wondering if I could do it! Some days, I feel pretty good and other days, I kind of feel helpless and think to myself.........what am I doing!!!!! It's going to be tough but it's only 2 years..........21 months to be exact!!!!!! ha!

BoonersmomRN · Apr 15, 2005

Every school's hours are different. My first semester will be M+W from 9-3 ( lecture) T+ T from 7-12 ( clinical/lab..clinical starts week 7) and then time for skills lab.

When I start ( Spring 2006) my kids will be 9+6. They will be in school from 8:20-3:30. Basically I will take them to school on my lecture days ( 9-3) and their father will have them on Tues/ Thurs ( like he does now) - those are my clinical days so it all works out. I will prob. do my skills labs on Tues/Thurs as well since I have those entire days to myself. As for afterschool I will enroll them in the aftercare program for probably about an hour a day M+W.

Once I get into longer days ( semesters II,III,IV) I will have to make a lot of adjusting. Not sure how yet but I am just taking it one..semester..at..a..time :)

Fun2, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2005

I guess I'm considered one of the lucky ones. My hubby and I own our own business, so he sets his own hours.

If that wasn't the case, my 7 yr old would go to daycare before/after school. My 13 yr old would have to ride the bus.

hikernurse · Apr 15, 2005

I wish I knew :rolleyes: . Most of mine are in day school, but I still have a 4 yo and a baby to find care for. Our school won't give us our schedule until orientation in July/August (we start in August), so I'm not sure where to start. I guess we'll find out how flexible DH's hours can be! My parents are retired and can pinch-hit, but I'm worried about it.

I guess it has to work out so it will somehow :).

Melissa

shukry · Apr 16, 2005

I wish I knew . Most of mine are in day school, but I still have a 4 yo and a baby to find care for. Our school won't give us our schedule until orientation in July/August (we start in August), so I'm not sure where to start. I guess we'll find out how flexible DH's hours can be! My parents are retired and can pinch-hit, but I'm worried about it.
I guess it has to work out so it will somehow :).
Melissa

Hi, I have 3 children. My last one is only 9 months, by the time I join Nursing Sch. he'll be one year. I am scared, confused and stressed, but I need to do this. Where do I go from here?

lucky4timesover · Apr 16, 2005

I have three little boys ages 5, 2.5, and 8 months. When I started nursing school this semester it did take a little bit of maneuvering. My hubby went to 3rd shift so he could be home before school and pick up from school our oldest. The two littlest ones stay with my mother who I pay like a day care. Studying is hard bc hubby has to sleep, so its just me with them in the evening hours. I just tell myself 1.5 more years and I will be home free. You can do it, it just takes a little imagination and a little bit of sacrifice but it is all worth it.

shukry · Apr 17, 2005

I have three little boys ages 5, 2.5, and 8 months. When I started nursing school this semester it did take a little bit of maneuvering. My hubby went to 3rd shift so he could be home before school and pick up from school our oldest. The two littlest ones stay with my mother who I pay like a day care. Studying is hard bc hubby has to sleep, so its just me with them in the evening hours. I just tell myself 1.5 more years and I will be home free. You can do it, it just takes a little imagination and a little bit of sacrifice but it is all worth it.

You are my Hero Lucky4timesover. What time do you study? and How many days do you go to school? You are lucky to have your mom to help. Good Luck. You can do it!

lucky4timesover · Apr 17, 2005

Hi Shukry, yes, I am extremely lucky to have my mom to help me. I have been blessed with a very supportive family. My husband, mother, father, and of course my beautiful kids are all my biggest cheerleaders while I pursue my career. I go to school 4 days per week. I have one 2 hr day, one 5 hr day, and two 7.5 hr days. This of course doesn't include the homework aspect. I have also been blessed with a great recall ability so this helps tremendously. I usually start studying @ 5 pm after I do homework w/ the oldest and get dinner started and a load of laundry in the washer. The two year old usually watches a cartoon movie during this time while the oldest is playing in his room. I grab my books and put the baby either in his exersaucer or in my lap while reading. Then it is time to get dinner off the stove and put the laundry into the dryer. I get all the kids fed and then wake up hubby about 8 pm bc he leaves at 10. This gives him a little time to play with the kids before they go to bed at 8:30. Hubby and I visit with each other for about an hour then he gets ready for work and then leaves. I then try to get the dishes done (doesn't always happen though:uhoh21: ) and then read or write up my paperwork until 11. Then its time to go to bed and get up @ 5:30 to start the cycle all over again the next day. Like I said hubby keeps the oldest one in the morning when he gets home until he takes him to school. He also picks him up from school until I swing by the house about 30 minutes later on my way through to get the two little ones. Also, my parents live 25 minutes away from me and 50 minutes away from my school, so I spend an enourmous amount of my time in commute. I know most people would say just put them in a daycare here, but I have seen the daycares here and I would not have a moment of peace with myself if I did that. I am not typically a trusting individual when it come to my children. I just wanted to say that you can do it. Yes, it is hard and you get tired, but it will all be worth it when you get your degree and can have a job doing what you were meant to do.

not now, RN · Apr 17, 2005

There is a woman (27 years old) in my class with six kids, the youngest being 2 years old. I asked her once how she does it and she replied "If you want it bad enough you figure something out. We (she and her husband) have a schedule and we stick to it religiously."

Don't worry so much about it, if you want it you can do it.