Mom of 2 working full-time How can I attend Nursing school?!

ANMpreN · Jul 7, 2015

What is your working schedule like? Are you able to work part-time (weekends and evenings)? Also if you have a seven year old see if you could arrange your school schedule around his/her; as goes the same for the one year old (if the baby is in daycare). This is all so you all can end school/daycare around the same time and you'd be able to still see and spend time with your children before you go off to work.

Do you also have somebody who could watch your children until you can get off work? If you do then I say to only work up to 3-5 days out of the week so the two days you will have off would be dedicated to your school work (and basically any free time you have use it to study). I also suggest having maybe an 1 to 2 hours of a family day/night weekly to relieve all the stress you will no doubt accumulate over time.

Also browse the internet and check out some articles where women are in the same predicament you're in and just get some tips from it.

Here's one article I found on a mother of two (ignore the school): 5 Tips to Balance Family, Work and Nursing School - Chamberlain Nursing Blog

Sizzline · Jul 7, 2015

The only way that I was able to make it work was to find an ADN program that meets at night. It is 3-4 nights per week; the earliest I have to be there is 4pm, and I made arrangements to be able to leave early that one day each week to make it to class. It's definitely not easy; I have a 2 yr old and a 5 yr old. My house is often a mess, and I am often exhausted, but I am starting my 2nd semester of core nursing classes next month, so it is definitely doable.

FutureLVN2019 · Jul 7, 2015

This is the question I keep asking myself also. How am I going to work while I go to Nursing school? I have to work, my husband's job is not steady and I have 6 kids to take care of. But I'm already older (37 in September) and I feel like my time is running out. I have so much anxiety about wasting anymore time.

loriangel14, RN · Jul 7, 2015

I was a single mom of two and I worked 7 days a week ( 2 jobs) and went to night school. It was really difficult but worth it in the end. Do you have any night programs available to you?

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2015

When I began my LPN schooling I was a month from turning 38. I had two children both in school (one in kindergarten, one was a freshman in high school). I worked full time. I'm lucky in that I work from home so I can work whatever time frame I want. However I was still required to put in the full time hours.

During my LPN to RN bridge, I was 42. One child in school, one in college (but living home). worked full time still for the same company.

It can be done. You will probably be needing a school that offers nights/weekend classes. Your SO needs to really be supportive and help out as well. You need great time management and organization. Your house won't always be pristine, your meals may not be 5 star, but no one will be worse for the wear. In the big scheme of things, the time it will take to become a nurse is small. It always sounds like forever when you start but you'd be surprised how fast it really goes.

You could start off slow...start taking those pesky pre-reqs all nursing programs require. get those out of the way. Take as many classes as you can so that you have that much less to worry about in the nursing program. I got all my gen ed classes done before I started my nursing classes. That way, I only had the nursing classes to deal with..only studying for those classes.

sunshinebright · Jul 7, 2015

I'm in a similar position, I have 3 kids a 9,5 and soon to be 1 month old. I have to work since My SO jobs can't cover all the bills. Add to that we homeschool. I am only taking my prerequisites right now and won't be able to get into the core nursing program at my school until next fall. Bit I am hopping that these next two semester will be a great start in helping us get ready for the nursing program...

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 7, 2015

You need to plan and organize. I'm 39 and a single mom to a 9 year old boy. He was seven when I started prereqs. But I didn't have to work either. I went to school when he did. Is the one year old already in a daycare program? Does your husband work days also? I'm going to suggest starting out as a LPN. There are more night programs for LPNs than RNs because of the amount of clinical hours needed. Then you can transition and get your RN after you start working as a LPN. Also make sure they do clinicals at night or on weekends. You are going to have to search hard for a school. I know some prereqs can be done online. Many schools will not accept a science with a lab component online, so you will have to look at that also.

It's going to be difficult and you will need lots of support and understanding from your family. People are going to have to step up and help you. If I didn't have great support around me there is no way I could do this. And I don't work.

NurseBurris? · Jul 8, 2015

Wow thank you so much for your suggestions very detailed and helpful! My work hours are fixed no flexibility here.I will check out the articles thank you again have a blessed day!

NurseBurris? · Jul 8, 2015

Sizzline I admire you! You gave me hope! God bless you on your journey!

NurseBurris? · Jul 8, 2015

loriangel14

Really! That's amazing I would have to check for night programs so far I've seen a lot of day programs you as well give me hope!

NurseBurris? · Jul 8, 2015

CT Pixie, ASN, LPN, RN

Thank you so much that's exactly what I was thinking start taking the prereqs my union pays for about 30 pre-req credits