No one thinks I can do it!

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I am a mother to a 9 month old baby boy and soon to be married. I start school for pre nursing this fall. I have been sooo excited about it..I love to discuss my future goals and dreams to other people. When they ask me what I am going to school for they look at me like there is no way I could ever become a nurse. Some have responeded "Nursing is hard with a baby, I would be suprised if you could do it." "I don't know if the time right now for you" "Oh really? You are going into nursing? That is really hard you know?" I don't know why people keep saying these things to me. It really discourages me to the point that sometimes I wonder if I CAN really do it. When I told my parents I am starting school for nursing this fall, they weren't even excited for me. They said "I see..." and that was the extent of the conversation.... I am very motivated and can't wait for school but no longer want to discuss my dreams with people because of the reaction i have been getting.. Has anyone else been under my circumstances and been discouraged by other people about going into nursing school? Any advice?

I don't feel going to school is putting your baby on the backburner. True, you will spend countless hours studying. But as a full-time student, I spend much more time with my one year old than I ever did with my older daughter when I was working full-time. So going back to school was the perfect set-up for my baby and me. I used to cry leaving my daughter to go back to work. With my son now, I never cry when I leave him for school. I do miss him, but I am always excited to go to school and miss it now that I am on summer break.

Don't feel guilty if you need to pursue your dream. Sure nursing schools will always be around, but things always come up, making it more difficult to go back to school.

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YOU CAN DO IT!

When I started school for a different degree a few years ago, I had one person tell me that because I never had a formal class in the field I wanted to go into that it would be really hard for me, and "uh...good luck..."

I decided right there that I would show him! It wasn't really about showing him that I could, but rather that I wanted to. However, the little bit of indignant feelings his comments gave me, well, they certainly fueled my determination at some points. When I graduated with a far better GPA than him, it really felt great!

I can identify in a way- I have degrees already in a somewhat difficult field, and when I tell some people I'm going into nursing they look at me with with confusion and ask why. Even when I tell them that I want a rewarding career and a family life too, they still don't get it. It hurts sometimes, I'll admit, because they can't see how wonderful a career it is. A cousin of mine is a great NICU nurse, and when I told her, I expected her to be excited and supportive. Instead, I got "I can't picture you giving bed baths." What does that mean? Really? Does she think it's above or below me? Or that I don't seem nurturing? I guess we just have to shrug it off, and like others have said, get that thick skin! Always remember why we go into this field!

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Specializes in Liver, lung and kidney transplants.

Please do not let others discourage you. Twenty eight years ago I went back to school with 4 children, one of the a year old. I did not have a lot of help. It was difficult, anything worth attaining is difficult. But I did it. Don't give up, maybe there will be some bumps in the road, but you can always pick yourself up and go on. Since then I have gotten my ADN BSN and MSN and when I retire from full time nursing I hope to be a nursing professor, it is so rewarding to see new nurses who are so excited about their new career.:)

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

I wanted to go to nursing school after high school graduation, but my father told me I wasn't smart enough. I didn't go. 18 years later, I started to follow my dream and received ADN-PN (Associate in practical nursing) and have worked for the past 14 years. My employer and my husband have been hounding me for the past couple of years to persue my BSN, so I finished my pre reqs in the spring. I always wanted to go back to school for my BSN, but my father's words were still in my ears, "you're not smart enough". This summer I began LPN-BSN bridge program @ 53 years of age! Oh yea, I still hear daddy's words from time to time, but I'm choosing not to listen anymore. Good luck to you!

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you chose to have a baby and that is whats most important.

if you decide to go to nursing school your baby will be neglected, unless you have grandparents or babys dad to watch your baby several hours a day.

if there is that support--then it works--if not--you'll be miserable cause your baby will affect everything.

you are not on the front burner anymore--your baby is--you are on the back burner.

wait til the baby is in kindergarten.

if you go to nursing school and get student loans to pay for babysitting, etc. you will be paying that loan off for decades.

stay on the back burner and enjoy being a mother--your baby needs you more than the nursing community.

you can always go to school--you wont always have the opportunity to spend this precious time with your baby.

selfish is as selfish does!!!!!

Wow. I didn't know we were in a time warp and ended up in 1954. Why didn't anyone tell me?

Going to school doesn't automatically equal neglected child. Sheesh. :uhoh3:

I say go for it. If it's what you want to do then do it. My only suggestion is that you start out going to school part-time until you get a feel for how many hours you can handle while still juggling it all (kids, husband, home, etc.)

Here was the route I took to get to nursing school... I'm married with two kids. My husband is active duty military and works LONG hours. I never know when he is going to be home. I can't depend on him to watch the kids because of his schedule. So, when I started out taking my pre-reqs I took 2 classes at a time and took them either at night or on the weekend so I knew I could have a friend or family watch the kids. I was only away from them for 2 nights a week. I studied when they were napping or in bed for the night. It worked out great.

Figure out what will work for your situation and make it happen. Because you have make it happen for yourself, no one is going to do it for you. Good luck! :yeah:

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.
you chose to have a baby and that is whats most important.

if you decide to go to nursing school your baby will be neglected, unless you have grandparents or babys dad to watch your baby several hours a day.

if there is that support--then it works--if not--you'll be miserable cause your baby will affect everything.

you are not on the front burner anymore--your baby is--you are on the back burner.

wait til the baby is in kindergarten.

if you go to nursing school and get student loans to pay for babysitting, etc. you will be paying that loan off for decades.

stay on the back burner and enjoy being a mother--your baby needs you more than the nursing community.

you can always go to school--you wont always have the opportunity to spend this precious time with your baby.

selfish is as selfish does!!!!!

Some good points, but she is thinking about her baby and that baby's future. I say GO FOR IT. Sure nursing school is hard, but it can be done. I went through LPN school with 4 children as a single mom, made good grades and never missed a ball game, swim meet, or play. The interest rate on student loans is very reasonable. Good luck!:yeah:

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm sorry, but I COMPLETELY disagree that having a child means that you are no longer to take care of yourself and your own needs. That's absolutely ridiculous. In fact, as someone that NEVER wanted to be a stay at home mom, but now is stuck as one because I can't find work, I must say that I find my current situation much more detrimental to my child than working would be. Why? I am unhappy. I love my child.....but I reallly dislike being a stay at home mom. I'm bored, I never get to talk to adults, I get short with my daughter because I need a break from her and never get one. In short, I'm a better mom when I get time to focus on myself and my needs. Happy mom = better mom in my book. And that's better for everyone. Seriously....no one would ever tell a man with a 9 month old that he has no business going to school or working. Why does lady parts = raise kids and member = work?? Don't get me wrong, I fully support parents that want to stay at home with their children.....I just also fully support those that want to work.

Anyways.....to the original poster: Only you know what you are capable. Nursing involves standing up for yourself and others, so consider this an early lesson in advocating for the patient. The patient just happens to be you though, in this case. You won't be the first or last person in nursing school with young children (heck, I was pregnant and then had a newborn). At the same time, if you do find yourself overwhelmed, know that it is perfectly okay if you need to take some time off.

Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC, SICU,RNICU.

Everyone thought I was crazy too when I said I was going to nursing school. It was actually my husband's idea that I become a nurse. I was a cosmetologist with 5 kids. I got my LPN license and then went back in for my RN. If I can do it with 4 kids under 8 years old and a teenager, anyone can do it. You just have to rise above all that crap and find it in yourself to push through!:nurse:

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The only person preventing you from acheiving your dreams is YOU!

You can do it. You just do your pre-nursing courses and focus on that. Don't get the "cart in front of the horse". Your not in nursing school yet. Focus on the pre-reqs and see how that goes, then take the next step.

Bit by bit you can achieve your dreams. Who cares what everyone else says.

When I started nursing school at a Big 10 university, my family asked me if I was going to school to be a CNA, I said no I am going to be a registered nurse. My mom said to me oh, the nurses at the clinic had a heck of a time getting an IV in, I bet you couldn't get an IV in on me. When you have people who are too fearful to reach their own dreams they just want to shut your dreams up. Continue to work and follow your dreams you can do it!

RN, BSN been working for 1 year now, with a 6 month old baby! I found out I was pregnant right before graduation!

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Family practice, Peds Neur.

Don't be discouraged!!! I am a single mother of two, I work full time and I am very involved in my church!! It's happening for me! I'm in clinicals now. Remember: EVERYTHING you set you mind, will and heart to is do-able :-) It is intense at times :eek: and will take some time away from your family when you'll need to study :bugeyes: and things like that but it is well worth the sacrifice. Plus your baby is still young so it's best to do it when they're younger and won't really know you're "missing time with them". When they get older and involved in school activities and things like that it's harder! Good luck/God bless- whichever you're most comfy with :) You'll make it!! :nurse:

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Specializes in none as of to date.

Nothing worthwhile comes easy, with that said, follow your dreams, and don't listen to what negative comments are made..you can and WILL succeed, if YOU choose to do so!!:redbeathe

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I appreciate your original post and all the replies. I honestly haven't told anyone. My hubby and I discussed options, so he knows. However I am sort of afraid to say it. Like if I say it then it is real. So I say, *ahem* I am undecided! (proudly) Silly I know, yet I just can't bring myself to tell people yet. I am in the baby steps (no pun intended) of this program. I just took placement tests to START college. So I have a ways to go. Maybe when I am accepted, I might leak out the news to a few people.

I am just the type of person that holds things close to the heart until a much later date.

I say only you know what you are capable of... and I say WE are capable of anything we set out mind to, as one poster worded.

*smiles*

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