Moms in NP school

Spacklehead, MSN, NP · Sep 16, 2008

Hello to moms going to NP school. I am a mom of two and applying to some FNP programs. I plan on going part time. I also work part time right now. Do you think I can do it?
So how do you moms manage? Do you work while going to school? How much do you get to see your kids?
Also, how about this - have any of you had a NEW baby while attending NP school? I know I am nuts. I'm just thinking a few years down the line... I am getting up there in age and might want to have another one and what if I am not done the FNP program?!

Hi! I am a mother of two (dd will be 6 yrs soon, and ds will be 4 yrs) and I am in my last year of my FNP program. I actually started taking classes part-time about 4 years ago when ds was only 6 mos old. It was hard, but very doable. I also worked the 4/4 weekend program (12 hour nights) at my hospital and quickly realized I couldn't keep doing that and be able to get all my school work completed without being majorly stressed, so I switched to a 16-hr/mos per diem committment. This requires me to work only 16 weekend hours/mos, but I am able to pick up more time if needed.

Right now, I am in clinical rotations, so I do about two eight hour days/week and attend class once per week. My dh is able to help me out by staying home for one of my clinical days while my parents watch my children on the other clinical day. I also have a local college student watch my children for the 3 hours between the time I leave for school (which is an hour away) and the time my dh gets home from work.

I do most of my written/reading assignments on the weekends or at night after the children go to bed, so I do still spend quite a bit of time with them. It is also a little easier now since two of my afternoons are free since dd is in kindergarten and ds goes to preschool.

So, to sum this all up - yes, it can be done - but I do believe having a strong support system in place will make it easier for you. I also believe that going to school part-time is a good choice, since it allows you to balance school, work and family time much better. As far as having a new baby, I thought about it while in my program but then decided it just wouldn't work out for "us." I just don't think I could handle going to school and working while losing sleep on a regular basis by being up at night with a newborn. It was hard enough for me with ds who didn't sleep through the night until he was 2 years old. I'm not saying it can't be done, though, but I just don't think I would have handled it well.

Good luck to you! If becoming a FNP is something you truly want to do, you will find some way to do it! I made my decision to go back to school after quite a few years of contemplation and I do not regret my decision and the timing of it one bit.

allnurses Guide · Sep 17, 2008

Hi,

I am a mom of two (ds 16 y.o. and dd 12 y.o.) in my second year of a direct entry FNP program. I am going to school full time and working part-time (Friday eves and every other weekend). My situation is different and probably easier cause my kids are older and more independent, but my challenge is that they are so busy, and I've had to enlist the help of friends to get them where they need to be when I'm not around. It's been tough at times, but I don't regret my decision to go full time. It's going to benefit the entire family when I'm done. I was finishing another Masters program years ago when I had my son, and it was tough to concentrate on school with an infant. However, I wasn't really happy with the program I was in, so perhaps I didn't try as hard as I might have!!

I think being a mom gives you a certain skill set that is very valuable in school. We're used to prioritizing, we can juggle several things at once, and being a mom has sure made a lot of the childbearing and pedi stuff easier to learn!!!

I think if you have support from your family, good dependable child care, and the desire to succeed, you can do it. Know that what little free time you have will have to be spend on schoolwork, but it will be worth it.

Best of luck to you!!

PACUquilter · Sep 26, 2008

I am in my second year of NP school. I am taking one class at a time, and working 3 days a week. My daughter is 13 and very involved with school. My husband has been a tremendous help with after school pickups, etc. My advice to you is to just keep putting one foot in front of the other! I feel that as working mothers, we have learned how to use our time efficiently and how to compartmentalize our world. I am one of the oldest students in my class, and returned to school after 23 years of working. I have determined that what I lack in free time and computer savy, I can certainly make up with experience in life and in the work place. I have also found that my daughter is a great resource for computer applications, and has taught me how to use Word, Excel and Power Point! Best of luck with school!

Blessedx3 · Sep 27, 2008

I am so glad to see this post. I work full time as a school nurse..so a M-F job..By the time my 3 children get settled..it's 8:30 pm and I'm exhausted...(wake at 5:30)...Right now I am in the FNP program and taking one class. I had signed up for 2--but saw that the second was writing intensive and decided to start with one. I really want to start fall clinicals--but in order to do that--would have to totally neglect the kiddo's. That's not an option...So, I will take one class at a time--have al the hard ones out of the way--and just do cliicals when they come...The kids ONLY will be here a little while longer--mine are 8, 11, and 15....I do believe if you can work shift work PT and school PT--it is very doable with a family. LOL-my husband has taken over grocery shopping and laundry--that has been a lifesaver! OH-I do the bulk of my studying on Sat and Sundays--have more playdates for the younger ones here at home--frees me to study AND they have a blast...Sorry so long.

amberfnp · Sep 28, 2008

I am in my second semester of FNP at University of South Alabama. Left my M-F 8-5 for 3 12's in the ED which fortunatly is slow at night (until flu season I'm told) so I get a lot of reading done at work.

I have a 10 year old and I'm pregnant, due in Feb....I went to nursing school and worked full time when my son was 4 months old and I managed. Of course that was 10 years ago...then got my BSN while working 2 jobs...so I'm hoping for the best with my FNP...however, I am going to consider taking only one class this spring. I don't want get in over my head with juggling a new baby, work and school. I don't want a less than desirable grade to follow me and babies are only babies once and I have 5 years to complete the program...I am also considering going to 2 12's/week after the baby and I'll just pick up shifts prn~if we decide we can afford it that is!

MommyandRN · Sep 29, 2008

Thanks everyone. I am really encouraged to see other moms doing it and doing it well. If I have another little one during the FNP program I am confident I can handle it all as long as I do it part time. :bugeyes: Now let's see if I get in!