Mom of 3 trying to go back to school

Nurses General Nursing

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Mother of 3 children, ages 2,4, and 6. Everytime I try to go back to school, there is always something holding me back. I work in labor and delivery as a unit secretay, and I love it. It was a great chance to get my foot in the door. I feel like labor and delivery is where my heart is at (other than my family). I am working on getting my CNA. How can I work full-time, raise 3 kids, be a good wife, and go to nursing school? Or am I just out of my mind. My husband is very supportive, but he is all the support I have. I would love some advice.

Thanks,

MYA

I know raising my kids is the most important thing right now, but I feel like I have to do something. My husband lost his job, which I never thought that would happen. He was making an excellent income that allowed me to stay home. I did this so my husband could fufill his dream. That was fine for two years, but I felt like I needed more. Believe me raising children is a very fufilling, but there was something always missing. Now our lives have been turned upside down from him losing his job, for something he had no control over. I always knew I wanted to be a nurse, and when I got the job in labor and delivery I knew I somehow had to go back to school. One of our plans was for him to stay home with the kids, and I work full-time and go to school. We need the income of me working full-time, but also I want to keep my foot in the door. We only have each other, we don't have family that would be willing to help. I don't want to inconvience anyone.

Thanks,

MYA

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I also do not agree with those who have said you "CAN'T" do it.

I am a mom of three children, ages 9, 6 (almost 7), and 3 (almost 4). I started back to school 3 years ago in the fall...but I was not working full time. I started out working part time and going to school part time, just to see if I could handle it. I did fine my first semester so I went full time the next semester, still working part time. I ended up not working after that summer.

Many people have told me that I "couldn't" do it, and many have been less than supportive. These people are family members, too. My husband has been less supportive than I sometimes have wanted, but he still puts up with it. For me it was a decision that I had to make. I could forever be stuck in a job making $10/hr, not doing what I really wanted to do, OR I could spend 5 years working my but off, scraping to make ends meet, and giving up some of the unnecessary things in life. Well, I chose the latter. Much to some people's dismay. Here I am now, finished with the first year of the Nursing Program. I have 2 years to go, just got a job making more per hour as an Extern than my husband makes. And, can you believe...there are STILL those saying "How do you think you are going to do it?"

Anyway, I am sorry to get off track...but if this is something that you REALLY want, you and your family will make the necessary adjustments for it to happen.

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Im a mother of three, 9,7 & 3.A lot of the pre req courses are online now.I started out doing one class at a time making sure I didnt do a class that had the recency req.I got my english classes out of the way,now Im working on math.Im finding now they are in school its sooo much easier.Don't let anything discourage you.

Amber:)

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if you can wait 1 more year until the 4 yr old is in fulltime kindergarten , it may be a bit easier and cheaper for day daycare. i would contact your school and see if they have an on campus day care or child developement center (ours does) and if you can get financial aid or just plain afford it then use that a source, also put up fliers around the school advertising your search for moms in a similar situation to you. maybe you and another mom or 2 can work something out. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. It is true that you made the decision ( as someone put it) to have 3 kids, but I feel that taking responsibility for their future and making a better life )like you are trying to do) is also a part of caring for your children. You will have a certain amount of guilt... heck most of us do... but the fact is that most people have to work at some point during their child's life, and as a nurse you will have far greater flexibility in your schedule and make more money than you would as a secretary so you could even work parttime after you graduate. Only you know what is the right decision for your family. Get creative and try and find the right balance. good luck and welcome!

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Im a mother of three, 9,7 & 3.A lot of the pre req courses are online now.I started out doing one class at a time making sure I didnt do a class that had the recency req.I got my english classes out of the way,now Im working on math.Im finding now they are in school its sooo much easier.Don't let anything discourage you.

Amber:)

Amber I like your avator. Love Dr Carter from ER :blushkiss

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

*CAN* it be done? Obviously, yes. There are plenty of replies attesting to this. Is it the right thing for your family? Only you can answer that. Since you asked, I will say that if it were me, I would wait till my kids were in school themselves. It may not seem like they grow up that fast right now, because you've got three, but believe the day will come (sooner rather than later) where you realize you don't have wee ones anymore. Unless your family finances demand that you begin to earn more money in the next few years, I'd wait.

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I am married with 2 kids, (5 and 3.5) and I didn't think that I'd ever be able to quit my full time job to go back to school, but I am...(less than 2 weeks to go - whoo hoo!). Somehow things just work out when you need them to. Of course, we had been preparing for the last 9 months for me to quit - paid down bills, etc.

I am taking the summer off to spend time with the kids before I dig into classes. It was too hard for me to work full time, take classes and take care of the house, etc. Since I'm still taking pre-req's (5 to go), I am only taking 2 classes per semester starting in fall until I'm done. I should be ready to enter the nursing program fall 2005 or spring 2006, depending on availability.

Like everyone else has said, is there ANY WAY possible for you to work even part time, rather than full? Try evalutating your budget and see what can be cut out in an effort to lighten your load a litte so that you are able to drop to part time.

Hopefully, things will just fall into place for you and your family.

Wish you all the best!

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You are ALL MISSING THE POINT! It's not if SHE van do it or noe, its what will the effect be on her family. Nothing like havingf 3 kids and not being around to raise them. We have many examples in or prison system of what that is all about. # little kids need their mom.

The envestment you make in your family today will out weigh any nursing job.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

:angryfire Does anyone else think "LT Dave" is a caveman besides me? I wonder if "LT Dave" is married and has kids? And if so, who's taking care of his kids? It's amazing how some men think the kids belong just to the woman and are her responsibility. It sounds like she's trying to make a better life for her children, and somtimes it does not matter if you're there at home for your children at all times, they still can choose the wrong road. Also, it looks like "LT Dave" is a serious fisherman. So I wonder how much time he spends away fishing without the family? Thanks for letting me vent.

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Specializes in ICU, MED SURG, ER, LTC, LEGAL NURSING.

Yes You Can, Because I Did. I Would Never Have Made It In A Bsn Program Tho. Took Me 2 1/2 Years To Complete A 2 Year Adn Program. My Children Were 2,4, 5 & 6. Was It Hard? Very! But It Has Been Worth It. I Graduated When I Was 30. I Have Been In Nursing Now For 24 Years. All The Boys Now Tell Me They Are Glad I Raised Them With The Prinicple That Hard Work Pays Off. It Is Easier When They Are Small, I Believe, Before School Programs Become So Important To Them. I Confess I Had An Exceptional Couple Who Ran The Day Care. This Did Make A Big Difference. And I Worked On Friday And Saturday Nites, 11-7 Every Week.

I Just Took One Day At A Time. Kept Looking Forward And Not Giving Up. I Can Say Without The Rn Income I Don't Know How I Could Have Managed As They Grew Up...it Was Still Very Much A Financial Struggle. Good Luck To You!

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:angryfire Does anyone else think "LT Dave" is a caveman besides me? I wonder if "LT Dave" is married and has kids? And if so, who's taking care of his kids? It's amazing how some men think the kids belong just to the woman and are her responsibility. It sounds like she's trying to make a better life for her children, and somtimes it does not matter if you're there at home for your children at all times, they still can choose the wrong road. Also, it looks like "LT Dave" is a serious fisherman. So I wonder how much time he spends away fishing without the family? Thanks for letting me vent.

I do not have any kids, it was my choice. i am married. And I take my wife fishing all the time. If your choice was to have 3 small kids someone should be home taking care of them, or do you plan to toss them in day care? Matter not if it is dad or mom long as one of the parents raise them.

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I do not have any kids, it was my choice. i am married. And I take my wife fishing all the time. If your choice was to have 3 small kids someone should be home taking care of them, or do you plan to toss them in day care? Matter not if it is dad or mom long as one of the parents raise them.
Well i'm a realist, and in the real world everyone else seems to live in....sometimes a family cannot survive on 1 income. And sometimes there are single parent homes where mom has got to go out and make something happen for her children. It is best to stick to the things you know. Until you walk a mile in a parents shoes, you really have no right to be so crass in your opinion. Don't give advice on something you know nothing about.
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