Mom and Nursing Student: What should I do? How should I do this?

Texasnative · Jul 3, 2015

Do not ever give up! Get motivated, get obsessed with being a nurse. Do not let anyone tell you its hard, you can't do it. My philosophy is if any man or woman did it, then I can do it!

Good Luck and Keep at it!

jewels77 · Jul 3, 2015

I just finished nursing school with 4 children. It is completely doable. The biggest piece of advice I could give you is to plan and organize your study time. Get a calendar and schedule study time. Prioritize what you need to study for the next exam and assignments you need to do. In my last semester I had 3 classes I was required to take. It was hard but I got it done. Don't give up. If your husband is supportive that helps as well. I've also heard that retaking classes is much easier the second time around. You can do it!

Janielange1 · Jul 3, 2015

i was in the exact place as you 13 years ago. My daughter was 1 and we were hoping to get pregnant again... I decided to postpone.. I just got my license last year... My husband was fantastic, couldn't have done it without him... I will say that it was better timing just because my motherinlaw had retired and she was able to help when my husband had to work...

it all depends on what's right for you.. I truly believe that there's never a "good time" for nursing school!ðŸ˜…it's going to suck no matter what!

goodluck in your decision. Always remember, that you can do anything you set your mind to!!!

Erin0240 · Jul 3, 2015

This by far is one of the hardest classes. I telling you taking it twice is not a bad thing in fact you will be better the second time and more secure. I struggled had have no kids. Your passion is enough to make it worth the struggle.

pscampbell · Jul 3, 2015

I just wanted to say a few encouraging words here too...I don't have children and I am an older student (47yo). Nursing school is just hard, no joke. There have been many nights I've not been able to sleep, I've cried myself to sleep and told myself I can't do this. You know what? I'm still here. I've always been a straight A student until I got into nursing school, and it took me some time to accept that some B's and one C+ is just fine with me. The first semester was the hardest, and I wanted to quit lots of times. But that first clinical....when you get to work with patients who are truly suffering, and you do something compassionate that helps them get through whatever test or blood draw you are there for....it makes all those hard days and nights totally worth it. THAT's when you'll know you are in the right place. DON'T GIVE UP...EVER. You're just in the "adjusting to nursing school" learning curve. Lots of people fail a class here and there. Lots of people fail the NCLEX the first time. And if it gets you down, don't let that keep you down. Pick yourself up, brush off your knees, and put one foot in front of the other. This is not the last time you're going to feel this way; lots of nursing students cry every day their first semester. And that does NOT make you a pansy either. I'm all for tough love, but the biggest lesson I have learned so far is that you will have TONS of great fellow students who will help you through this. Our Assistant Dean in orientation stressed numerous times that we need to support and help each other; lean on your fellow students and let them lean on you. Good luck! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!

SapphireSky26 · Jul 3, 2015

You can do this! Nursing school with kids is not easy, but (as other posters have said) it is possible! I started nursing school with a 12 week old and a 3 year old. I graduate next month! There have been many times that I felt like I couldn't do it, but I got through it. I continuously had to remind myself that my family is the reason that I'm going through the program. While it's difficult to give up family time to study, my success in the program is what is best for them long-term.

It sounds like you have a great support system! Don't hesitate to use it! Best of luck in your program!

annaliese1 · Jul 3, 2015

I am a single mother of three children. I am 27 and my children are 1 1/2, 2 1/2, and 7. I have maintained a 4.0 threw out this process. I have very little support and have wanted to quit so many times! If I can do it, anybody can! It is tuff, but if you want the degree you will get it. My kids go to bed at 7:30 and I usually stay up until 3 doing homework and studyingThen I am up at 6:30 to get the oldest off to school and the youngest children up and around. I take mostly evening classes. I prep all of my kids meals 3 days in advance. I also have all of their outfits picked out for the entire week. Stay organized! I miss my children when I am away at class, but this is not only for me, it is for them! I have been going to college for nursing for two years. I am in the BSN program. I even still went full time qhile pregnant and on bed rest. I have a lot of obstacles to overcome, including cancer while I was pregnant. Even during that time, I took online classes. I have had all A's since I started. So, it is possible if you believe in yourself. I am living proof. Feel free to email me at [email protected]. I would love to help you stay motivated and to talk or answer questions that you might have. I want to add that I was a cna and supervisor for nine years at a nursing home. I could not picture myself doing anything different in my life.

scorpiangoddess · Jul 3, 2015

If it's your passion go for it. My opinion: she's 1. It's hard when she's 2 and 3. I Am A Nursing student. I said I wanted to wait until my son got older, and now my daughter is here and she just turned 3. Life happens. Only thing that happened is I'm 10 years older. Time doesn't stop for anyone. Go for it, and don't feeling discouraged. PHARM is not easy. You got this!

8&$$ · Jul 3, 2015

HI, I came 12 years ago to US without speaking English. I had a very abusive husband. I end up homeless with three children. I rely in childcare. I learned English, I did my pre-reqs, in the process I study to be a CNA and a Phlebotomist I work both, now I am in my last semester of nursing school. It is not easy. I don't have a support system, I don't have a caring husband, I work full-time, and I have a 5,8, and 9 years old. I have been doing this for very long now. If I could "YOU CAN". By the way I am 40 y/o and still fighting. Also got help from Elsevier adaptive learning for pharmacology and picmonics

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 3, 2015

All of your comments have truly left me encouraged. I want this badly. My whole life I have been working towards this goal. I became a Nurse Assistant in high school just to get a head start on the medical field. Thank you all for your stories and words of wisdom. I'm getting started on adjusting our schedule. My husband is going to take on more roles at home. My mother, sisters, and brother are all ready to help us out a great deal. I'm going to do this! Thank you all. I'm so excited to go forward on this journey. Before I know it, I'll be an RN and ready for my next task. If anyone has any more organization tips, Im all ears! Thank you.

I'm glad your husband and family are going to help you out. It's going to help you tremendously. Here is how I organize my life. First, I make a calender each month for people who help me out with my son. There are tons of free calender templates online. I even color code mine. They are distributed to each person about a week before the month starts, so they know exactly when they do what. I coordinate this with each person ahead of time. So they have all previously agreed. I just had times when people forgot stuff. I actually give my ex three copies of the calender. One for his house, one for his shop at work, and one for his girlfriend's house. He is the one that forgets the most. Lol.

I take a planner to school. I write in it when tests are and when projects are due. I write them in and then on Sunday I organize my schedule for the upcoming week. I have a dry erase board on the wall right beside my front door. I write out each day what is going on. When I'm at school, when my son has practices, when his dad has him. Kids like a schedule and my son likes to know what his week is going to look like also, so it helps him. Then when his dad comes to pick him up, he can also look in case he forgot something or lost his calenders. It happens, I promise.

Then I have another dry erase board in my kitchen. Right now my desk top is in there and I do much of my school work in there until I get my office done in the spare bedroom. My old office was destroyed in a flood last year in my basement and I had to remodel my basement. So I decided to change the way it was and move my computer upstairs. I was lucky it didn't get damaged and I didn't want to take that chance again. On that board I write what is due the upcoming week and when I need to study. I mark out my hours for studying. That way, if I coordinate it ahead of time, I can also plan quality time to spend with my son and boyfriend. They both need my attention also. It has worked out so well. My first semester was kind of clunky and disorganized. My second semester though, I rocked it with organization!!!

I know it seems like a lot, but I honestly maybe spend 15 minutes on Sunday getting organized for the upcoming week. The calenders I make may take 20-30 minutes once a month. I save them in case someone loses theirs. I had days when someone forgot to pick my child up from the bus stop or they weren't home when they were supposed to watch my child. It happens and I got through it, but is caused undue stress on me when I was already super stressed. This system has eliminated all of that. Hopefully, you can find something that works for you!!

Jennurse1125 · Jul 3, 2015

I am a 23 year old stay at home mom with a 1 year old. I recently got accepted to the Nursing program at my local community college and failed my 7 week Pharmacology class with a 77.1%. I needed to get at least 80% to pass. I get one retake this fall with a foundations class, clinicals, and labs. I wonder should I just quit while I'm ahead. It was very hard to figure out time management with my daughter studying and stress. My teacher told me to ask myself if now is the right time but later could be harder as well. I have cried and cried over this for the past two days. My husband says he supports whatever I chose to do. I just feel like I have failed in life because of this. I feel like maybe I'm not smart enough or I don't have what it takes. I'm not strong enough. I just want a great career that allows me to help others (I really want to work with Neonates or Labor and Delivery) and provide for my family. But I also want to be a good mom to my daughter and not neglect her. What should I do? Are there any Nurses that went through Nursing school with children? How did you do it? How did you manage your time?
I don't want to quit but I'm starting to think maybe I have to.

Don't give up. Nurse Awesome on YouTube is a great resource. I would review your study habits. Maybe spend 1 hr extra at school and rewrite your lecture notes. If you can, record your lectures. Then listen to them on your drive to school.

I have three kids. One is bipolar and one is on the autism spectrum. I never have an extra minute. I have to budget my time. My kids don't get the awesome meals I make. They only see me a few hours a week. It is temporary. The end goal is more important. You are teaching your children perseverance. You are teaching them how to fail successfully. Be the example of how to succeed.

Have your pity party. You earned it. Then get up, brush your knees off, and keep going. You can do it. It is possible.

zonbihime · Jul 3, 2015

Hi, I don't want to sound like I am bragging or anything but I just finished my first year of my BSN with a 4.0. I have three kids (7 months, three, and eight when I started) and I work part time so please trust me when I say it is doable! It is all about time management and help, lots and lots of help. I struggled at first with leaving my kids and feeing like I was neglecting them, but the truth is this is just a small time of their lives that we just need to get through. I am going to school for them, so that they can have everything in life and we don't have to struggle anymore. The only way I can get my studying in is by going into school early and staying late. On the weekends my husband will take them to places to play while I study or they go stay the night with their grandparents. It is so hard, but it then end it will be so worth it!