Kids, Working, and Nursing school?

[MirandaB123]

Hi everyone!

I’m new here so not too sure how this works.

For starters, I have all of my nursing pre request and planned on going to nursing school until I became pregnant with my first son.

That was 3 1/2 years ago and I decided to put school (especially nursing school) on hold for the time being. Fast forward, I now have a 3 1/2 year old and an 18 month old.

I considered going back to school a few times but always kind of brushed it off as I have a Etsy shop that keeps me pretty busy and my husband has a good job so there’s no need for me to HAVE to work.

Recently I’ve really been regretting not going back to school and keep thinking that I’d already be a nurse by now if I had just stuck it out. I’ve always wanted to get my nursing degree and eventually advance to NP but the thought of committing to 5/6 years of school really scares me because I don’t know how it would work with having a family, job, bills, etc.

Is it too late to go back now? I just don’t know what to expect with two toddlers and juggling everything. Some days it’s already hard for me to balance out working from home, taking care of the kids and house, back and fourth to sports for my 3 1/2 year old. My 18 mo old stays home with me and I usually work 4-5 hours a day for my online store.

Idk, really just looking for advice from others out there who have done it or are considering going back with family and kids.

Thanks I’m advance!

[MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN]

You can do it, but you likely will need help from others. Your spouse will bear the biggest burden of helping and then if you have extended family/friends, from time to time you will have to lean on them.

I started nursing school with a 2 & 4 year old in tow. I tried keeping my full time job in the city but after a month in I was struggling and my spouse & I made the tough choice for me to quit, be home full time with kids, while also being a full time student. I didn't have the online shop you did, at times it wasn't bad, but other times it was hard, stressful and I wouldn't always get much of sleep. It kinda ebbs and flows in my opinion. I'm not a type A personality though, I don't have things structured to the minute, I'm a kinda go with the flow type of person (which you need some of in nursing school anyway), so if you are type A, structured, it won't be as bad for you.

There will be times where you will have to sit and choose whether you are going to study, or spend time with your two kids you haven't seen much of the day before because of class or a clinical. You may start feeling like you and your spouse feel more like roommates than a romantic couple because there may not be a whole lot of quality time for the two of you after their work, your school, kids and your business....there is a real reason nursing school is straining on couples, even harder I think for those of us with kids. There will be sacrifice, there will be times you feel like a crap mom (--like having one or both of your kids burst into tears because you are leaving for the day/night again), there will be times where you may experience tension with your spouse (even if you are the best of couples) because juggling it all is hard on everyone, especially if something unexpected comes, like a sick kid, etc. Just go into this knowing it is temporary and in the end, it'll be worth it if it is something you really want.

And you absolutely need support from you spouse, it was rough at times and I had my spouses full support, I can't imagine if my spouse had not been all in. You have to prepare your spouse for what they will be asked to do as well, they will have to support you maybe like they've never done before and that can be rough for them too even in the best of situations. There may be days when not only do they have to pick up the full household and parenting load, but also emotionally support you through the challenges of school you will experience. At times you going to nursing school is just as rough on them as it is on you.

You can do this, just go in to it knowing that at times it can be challenging, but seriously, if you can make it through this, you can make it through almost anything.