New mom applied to nursing school

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 2, 2004

WELCOME to the BOARDS!!!!

First a question: Are you done with your pre-nursing coursework? If not, I suggest you begin there, knocking out the courses you need to even get into nursing school. THIS will help you decide if you can handle school and a new baby all at once. You can't get into nursing school without having your pre-nursing coursework done most places, so if not done, start now. You need to go to the university or college you plan to attend, get a degree plan, outlining all the courses you must take and go from there.

If you are DONE with your prenursing coursework, then by all means apply to school, if you feel you need to get started sooner than later. You will have an idea of how much studying to do....although clinical schedules may get you. My clinicals were from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. twice a week for a while there. So, if I were you, I would secure good and reliable childcare NOW. You will need it.

Make no mistake, nursing school will tax you mentally and emotionally and you will likely spend more time away from the baby than you would like. I don't know you personally, so I will refrain from saying too much. One thing to consider: You may want to wait til the baby is a bit older, say 1 or more.

Don't feel selfish; we all need to eat, like a roof over our heads, etc. You have to provide for the baby, so I cannot condemn you for wanting to pursue a career. But if there is any way you CAN put it off a bit longer, do. Time with your kids is precious and cannot be taken back once gone.

I hope this helps you. I am not too sure where you are in your studies, so I don't feel like I helped that much. Take care and best wishes. If you have more questions, or need clarification, please don't be afraid to ask. I will be happy to help any way I can.

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 2, 2004

If you are unsure what colleges/universities are in your area that have schools of nursing, here is a website to help you out:

http://www.allnursingschools.com

This will help you choose by location, degree type, private versus public school, etc. Check it out! Good luck and best wishes.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Sep 2, 2004

Mine were 3 & 5 and it was HARD! Fortunately their dad was able to be both Mom and Dad for the time it took to finish.

trish820 · Sep 2, 2004

Good luck. Have a 3 year old (she will be 4 in January) and I wanted to start when she was a baby but I felt better waiting till she was older, I am starting my pre req in the winter quarter (1 per quarter) and then next Fall she is 4 1/2 I will do Preschool for 2 1/2 days a week and get more of them done. I will be finished with my pre req and ready to apply for nursing school when she goes to kindergarten. Nursing school is all day (or mst of it) every day so I wanted to wait till she got older. I stayed home with her till she was 2 1/2 and then I found a job at the local hospital working every weekend so she could stay with my hubby/her dad. This last spring I took a class at the vocational school, phlebotomy which landed me a position on the med/surg floor and I love it. If you are able to get into a hospital that would be great, alot of them have reimbursement or loan programs that you can apply for. Where I work even has a total plan, which if you are selected it will pay your way thru school and your salary while you are in school, now you have to sign up with them for a couple of years but hey who could beat that. Goodluck!!!

Trish

studentNY · Sep 2, 2004

Hi, I know how hard it is to decide. After my 3rd child I started taking the pre-reqs VERY SLOWLY. I took 1 or 2 classes at a time, online if possible (online is GREAT). My youngest started Kindergarten this week, I started the RN program this week also. I had little pressure or guilt, I missed nothing with her and it is great to have all the electives done. It's a hard decision, follow your heart.:)