Not sure this is what i want.......

HonestRN · Nov 10, 2008

You have several options here. Suck it up for a couple of years and you will be done and have your life back. Finish out the semester and take some time off until your children are older. Maybe go to school part-time if that is an option.

I went to school as a single parent with 3 children and it was tough. I felt like I had no time for my kids or to even have a life. I sucked it up for 2.5 years, my kids survived and now life is good. You can do this if you want it bad enough.

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2008

all my life i wanted to be a nurse. that's all i ever thought about. i am a nursing student in my 1st semester ( i don't want to hear it gets better cause even better than this is awful ). i am having such a struggle. i have never been so sick, cried or not seen my kids in all my life. i so miss my children. my daughter asks me to play with her---i can't i'm studying. my son asks me to watch his shows with him---i can't i'm studying. my husband works nights and of course my classes are at night so we have to have a babysitter here. if you got a question at school, my professor will tell you "look it up" and it doesn't matter if that's what you've been doing before you even ask her!!!!! and i study so hard on my tests and get like 76 but that's not passing!!!!! and the validations stress me out to the max and have to be schedule on our time. which for me always ends up being a sat. the one day i have with my family. i am hurting here. and i want to give up. i don't want to feel like this anymore.

don't do anything you'll regret. your kids will only be this age one time....you don't want to miss that. i say go to school part time. that's what i did, but i had to balance my study time with play time. if you're going to stick it out, you must find a balance and give your kids your time. if you don't, i'm afraid you may regret it. it's possible. study while theyre in bed, but please spend time with them.:redpinkhe

catfish1 · Nov 10, 2008

Nursing School Is Not Easy Especially With Children. I Was Separated From My Husband When I Went Back To School For My R.n. And My Daughter Was 3 And My Son Was 12. I Worked Every Weekend So I Could Be In School All Week. It's A Big Sacrafice And When Your A Mother It's Even Bigger. If You Are That Unhappy Maybe The Timing Is Wrong. I'm Not Saying To Give Up Your Dream But You May Have To Postpone It For A While. You Need To Be Able To Focus On Studying And That Will Be Hard If Your Feeling So Much Guilt. Maybe You Just Need To Sit Down And Regroup With Your Schedule. Ask Other Mom's What They Do. You Might Have To Put Your Kids Beside You With Crayons And A Coloring Book While You Study. Trust Me You'll Have Plenty Of Interuptions If You Study With Kids Around. It'll Just Take Decipline And Patience. And One More Thing; Dont Beat Yourself Up. Only A Caring Mom Would Feel The Way You Do. Good Luck!

chevyv, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2008

I agree, if you can go part time, do consider it. Also, remember that nursing exams are so different from anything else. There are threads here that can advise you on what books to help you in the exams and also how to study. It's awful to study so long and not pass. Gone are the days of memorizing and spewing back info.

I'm almost done and have gone part time from day one. I can care less that it's taken me twice as long to finish. I have spent time with my children and family, I've been lucky enough to focus on 1 class at a time, and I haven't been one of the students so overwhelmed that they're crying in the back of the room.

If going part time is absolutely out of the question, then consider perhaps waiting until they're older. Now that you know what to expect, you'll be better prepared if you decide to put it off. I took a semester at a college a few years back and realized I just wasn't ready because I didn't know it would be so hard to balance it all. I waited for a few years and had to retake the first semester, but I'm doing so much better because I was more ready.

Nursing school is very difficult and your children are only this age once. For me, having that time was priceless and I have no regrets at all. We live a lot leaner, but having mom here for them is so good for all of us. I was a latch-key kid and I can say that this feels right for us. Only you and your family can make that decision. I wish you the very best and please let us know what you decide to do. :icon_hug:

janis9799 · Nov 10, 2008

I did think the first semester was the roughest...but you are right it is all rough. I was working on prereqs when my husband left me. I took a year off for the divorce, then went back three weeks after the divorce was finalized, finished my prereqs over two semesters then embarked on the two years of nursing school to get my bachelors. It was so hard. I felt guilty all the time because I missed alot with my kids. My ex lives 500 miles away so I don't have the every other weekend thing. The first two years they went for all holidays and most of the summer...but now he doesn't even call them. I live with my mom, who works alot so it wasn't like I had lots of help. At least once a semester (usually towards finals) I would break down and have a good cry...pity party...table for one. LOL! I graduated in May and my boys were so proud of me and happy. I didn't really have a choice to put it off because I desperately needed the ability to support them, and now I can pretty well. So in the end it was worth it, but there were days during it I felt like it might not be. Keep your chin up, you can do it. And if you really feel you can't then maybe take a sabbatical. At least do something nice for you...and make the most out of time off that you do have...winter breaks and summer breaks...I found Thanksgiving weekends and Spring Break I always had work to do. Good luck.

Grumpygs, MSN, RN · Nov 10, 2008

Jorla9903 -

My suggestion would be that you schedule an hour each night to devote to your family. One hour out of your busy schedule may be just the break that you need - you cannot (and should not) study every waking moment.... Just a suggestion.

After the hour is up, then you can resume your studies. This gives you a break and gives you a little quality time with your family.

In my class, we were told that if we made it INTO nursing school, then we have what it takes to FINISH nursing school. Believe this, believe that you can achieve your goals. The decision and future is yours. :icon_hug:

Good luck!