Needing advice on being a nurse! Especially Moms going through school

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I am currently a stay at home mom of a 4 and 1 year old. I went to tech school for graphic design about ten years ago. I got a job in my career field, worked there for 8 years and last year the company went under. And with the internet advertising $5.00 logos and $10 web design the whole field is a water down mess. So hence I am at home trying to figure out my next chapter in my life. A couple of weeks ago I was taking my 4 year old to school and I was walking down the hallway and noticed a sign on the wall. It said "You want to be a nurse?" I thought to myself "that would be a pretty cool job since I like helping people." The issue or butterflies in my stomach is...can I do this with kids at home? I have been looking up many articles where you have to spend at least six hours of studying for this which if I mean if I have to do it I will but I have a guilt on my shoulders about not being able to spend time with them. I am picturing myself down in the basement studying all night while my kids are with my husband every day...or am I stressing out to the extreme?....

You can do this, it's not easy but if you can really manage your time (which i'm horrible at) than you can make plenty of time for school and your kids. I found out I was pregnant with baby #2 just as I started pre-req's and I am now in my 2nd semester of nursing school, working part time, and have 3 kids at home. My son is 3, daughter is 9, and my step-daughter is 10 and with us full time. They really look up to me for doing this too, the kids always wish me luck on exams...too cute. good luck!

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As I was taking break to eat lunch from my A&P studies I read the threads for this post. You all are amazing. I too, am a stay at home mom. I have two girls and have been working on my prerequisites since last summer. I have 3-5 course to to go. I will start applying for school this summer/fall for 2014 entry. As many of the posters have said, it is a lot of work but your family will adjust. I do school work all day while they are at school, then again when they go to bed. We all work on our homework together when they first get home. There will be times when you might get frustrated and want to throw in the towel, me yesterday, but when that happens take a deep breath and remember what a phenomenal career you have chosen. Think of how proud you children will be that you are a nurse, think of what an accomplishment it will be for you, and think of all of those people whose lives you someday impact because of you care and want to make a difference. Welcome to the pre-nursing club and from what I can tell, you have a wonderful support group right here with other moms in your same, if not, similar position. Good luck!

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So how do you moms prepare for sick days when in lab or, hopefully soon, clinical days that you cannot miss? I am on my own without family support. From what age On could a sick kid be home on his own? How to find a sitter that wants to stay with a sick kid? How do you prevent illness, other than the obvious hand washing all the time?

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

You will definitely have to find at least two people willing to watch your kids when they can't go to school. Not just on sick days, but on holidays they have that you don't.

From day one we were told to have a backup for our backup, because legally we can only miss so many hours and still graduate. For us that means one lab day and or.e clinical day per semester (both have to be made up.)

You may be able to find someone online in your area that offers sick care. Care.com or sites like that.

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That's all great advice. I am full time student, full time employee, and my husband works nights 5 days a week, so it's just me and a preschooler. I have pulled it off easily so far, because little one is in daycare and I can study a little on my lunch breaks. I had her do the A/P coloring book with me and we called it family time.

Sick care is always going to be a struggle. I lucked out to find a daycare that does sick care for kids in my town, but it is pricey.

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Whenever one of our two kids is sick, my husband would work from home which is super convenient! But if it's the kids' school holiday, then I drop them off for a playdate at their friend's house.

But if it's a unique situation where I have to step away from class, my instructors allow makeup tests, but never for lab practicals since it would be time-consuming to recreate/write a different test just for me. :-) We would have to write an essay, though.

Most of the time, if not always, instructors are very accommodating and empathetic to students facing predicaments like these.

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There is a lot of good advice here. I for one just studied WITH my kids...I read them my books, explained concepts to them, explained meds, learned A&P using their bodies as maps. They learned, I learned, and we had a good time!!!!

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

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There is a lot of good advice here. I for one just studied WITH my kids...I read them my books, explained concepts to them, explained meds, learned A&P using their bodies as maps. They learned, I learned, and we had a good time!!!!

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

This is so TRUE! My then-4-year-old son literally got ticked as I pointed out the anatomical regions, etc. Explaining the concepts to them also got them interested in the human body and in science. My 9-year-old spent some of her allowance on a starter microscope kit.

Really, your going back to school will greatly influence your children and indirectly set them up for success. :-)

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Specializes in Informatics, Orthopaedics.

I am a 42 yo single father of 2 who live with me full time. It's hard, no way around it. I was honest with my kids from the start about how little time I would have for them. Do they fully understand? Of course not. Will they still be there when I am done...YES! Even though you love them and feel guilty, keep your eyes on the prize, you are doing this for you and there is nothing wrong with that!

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

I'm in a part-time program, and I think it's much more do-able for people with jobs/families (or, as is the case for almost everyone in my program, jobs AND families).

Kids can learn to play quietly alongside you while you read/study, you can do stuff during naps or after bedtime, etc. Teach your kids anatomy. Practice assessments on your kids.

Kids can also learn to help out around the house. Toddlers can pick up toys and put them away. Preschoolers can help sort laundry by colors, dust with a Swiffer duster, clean floors with a Swiffer mop or a small vacuum (my son's favorite Christmas present when he was 3yo was a real vacuum with a retractable handle for storage. I left the handle in the down position, and the vacuum was the perfect size for him!), fold clean laundry with a Flip-n-Fold and put it away, etc.

Kids that age LOVE to help out with "adult" activities, and it teaches them valuable life skills while keeping them busy and out of your hair. By the time they get old enough to see those chores as "work", they'll be old enough to understand "tough--do it anyway!".

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I am a Sahm. I started pre recs 3 years ago when my 4 year old was 1 and my 6 year old was 3. I have been going part time 3-9credits per semester and have found it extremely doable to still be hands on and involved with my

kids every day and a sufficient amount of time

and still have time for homework, classes, etc. I am lucky to have a very hands on and supportive husband who shares housework and childcare 50% an sometimes more when he is off work.

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Mommy loves you. I tell my two all the time. Daddy--you need to wait. I have to study. This is important to our future. He is the adult so he should be able to understand.

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