Moms to small children that are in nursing school?

brownEye · Jul 21, 2011

Hello,

I am having 2 children myself and dont have alot of time for them because of schooling. It is very hard to have children when attending nursing program unless your husband will do all the works for you or someone else will take care of the kids. Now, youre talking about being pregnant and attending nursing courses, I do not know how much you tolerate stress. If you tolerate it well and have your husband/someone else do all the house chores, you would go for it.

queenjulie, RN · Jul 21, 2011

When I started nursing school last year, my daughters were 4 and 2. They are both in full-time day care, and my husband has to take them and pick them up on clinical days because I have to be at the hospital at 6:30 am, and the daycare isn't open that early (if we even wanted to try to get them up and out of the house that early). It's difficult, I won't lie, but we got through the first year okay. You have to have reliable daycare, and then a backup, and then a backup after that--you can't just take off school or miss clinicals because your kids are sick. If your parents are willing to care for them, obviously that would save you a ton of money and maybe they wouldn't get sick as often, because they wouldn't be with a dozen other kids all day, but if your parents suddenly decide they can't or won't do it, you'll have to find someplace for them with short notice.

There are at least two single moms in my class who either pay for full time daycare (starting at 6 a.m.) or have family members watch their kids during the day, and they're making it work. It's not easy, but if you really want it and you plan well, it can be done! That said, I personally am glad I had them before I started school, or I would have waited until school was done--the idea of throwing up from morning sickness all day at clinicals sounds *bad* to me, although I know students at my school have successfully finished the program while pregnant.

DemonWings · Jul 21, 2011

Yep, sure sounds good in theory huh? Well I thought the same thing, and I was wrong. My kids were 1 and 2 when I started the program and I missed out on Alot. I only studied when they were asleep, even though I had a lot of support I choose to only have them babysat while I was in class or clinic because I missed them so much. My kids are awesome kids too, but my second child had some health problems and I almost had to drop out of school. It always seemed that they were sick when I had a big test or careplan coming up. I did fine in school and passed NCLEX, but I really wish I would have waited to start school until they were both in school also. I missed them so much and I felt horrible, I seriously hated clinics because I missed my kids so much. You might think it sounds good to plan it out this way, but just know it is going to suck for you and the kids. I wish someone would have told me this when I came up with my brilliant plan.

Devie06 · Jul 21, 2011

I know I will miss them, I already have 1. But I cant keep postponing school, because if I get a job now I will miss her while at work. If I have another as a nurse I will still have to work and.miss them. No matter what I will miss my kiddos, but gotta provide for them

maiday · Jul 21, 2011

When I started nursing school, my son was about 6 months. There is no way I would have wanted to be pregnant during nursing school and I'm now starting a new job so I want to work for at least a year before I take out for maternity leave (if I do). Being a new grad RN is hard enough without being pregnant. We may not have another one because my son would be around 5 by the time we did. I wish I would've had both kids before starting.

Is it hard? Yes. But so is starting a new job and then having to take off for maternity leave or worse, interviewing pregnant. As others have said, you need to have reliable childcare and back up plans but it can be done. I mainly studied during naptime and after my son went to sleep.

Good luck either way. I don't think there is a wrong choice here, whatever works best for you and your family.

1southernstudent · Jul 21, 2011

If you wait for life to be perfect for either of those things they will never happen. Go for it. Will it be hectic?...yep Will it be hard?....kick butt hard. Can you make it work....yes if you want it badly enough. You just do what you have to do. One day, one week, one month, one semester at a time. I have a hubby, four kids, my dad who is elderly, two dogs, a cat and a turtle. I stay busier than a one armed paper hanger but am loving every minute of school and will graduate in May.

ssalulu · Jul 21, 2011

It can be done, but it's going to be difficult. My children are 4, 3, and 1. I've been in nursing school for 2 months already, and I have had to make many sacrifices. I went from being a stay at home mom to going to school/clinical full time five days a week. It's hard on them and it's hard on me. Like a PP said, make sure you have reliable childcare because there aren't many days you're going to be able to miss, even if your kids are sick. Also be prepared for all the time that you'll have to put in while you're at home also. I start my homework/reading as soon as I get home and don't get finished until about midnight sometimes because there is always one of the kids wanting/needing something. Make sure you have plenty of support from your husband.

CarolinaGirl'99 · Jul 21, 2011

I say go for it! When I started nursing school my son was 18 months old. I got pregnant with my daughter 2 months into nursing school! I had my daughter on a Thursday and I was back in class on Monday morning. It was challenging but I wanted it bad enough to finish and eventually graduate with good grades. I was even the VP of my nursing school class! Thank God I had a wonderful husband and supportive family to help me through it. I agree with the previous post, just do it one day, one week, and one semester at a time! Best of luck to you!

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

i know i will miss them, i already have 1. but i cant keep postponing school, because if i get a job now i will miss her while at work. if i have another as a nurse i will still have to work and.miss them. no matter what i will miss my kiddos, but gotta provide for them

a reminder that lab classes have a 5 year shelf life; if you are not in nursing school within that 5 year period you may have problems. some schools ignore the 5 year rule, but many require students to retake the lab classes before applying. something to think about.

Jenni811, RN · Jul 21, 2011

it's good you are really thinking hard about this though because all too often people go into nursing school thinking it is going to be a breeze because "all nurses do is give pills and shots." Whats so hard about that?

well its much more complicated then that. Nursing school is NOT easy. The nursing program at my school started with 200 students, YIKES!!! But the school only has 90 clinical spots. So why accept 200 students if you know you'll only be able to fit 90 during their sophomore year in clinicals? because that many drop out and just can't make it. So we started with 200 and only 76 graduated. It can be done when you apply yourself!!!!! It's just there are alot of people who don't think its going to be difficult and SURPRISE it is.

Scrubmouse RN · Jul 21, 2011

With a very supportive and loving husband it can be done. I have a 3.5 year old and a 2 year old. I just graduated nursing school, so they were 22 months and 4 months old when I began my nursing courses. My poor children didn't get nearly enough attention afforded to them d/t nursing school and constantly studying. However, during that period I didn't work, so I had more time with them than I would've if I had worked. Now that I'm starting work, I will see them even less.

I had evening classes so my husband came home and gave them baths, fed them dinner, and put them to bed. He's wonderful!