Nursing.. balancing school/work/mother

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Hello, I'm new here. I have followed this group lurking. Anyways, i am going back to school for nursing. I have bachelors in psychology (graduated 2013), I have worked as mental health technician & then teacher now. I am teacher in preschool setting. I am single mom to almost 2 year old. I have worked as teacher for a year & I'm have been rethinking my future. I like where I work but I'm not challenged mentally & my pay is very low. Its not fullfiling & it has push me to look into my life & future goals. I have thought masters but decided nursing route is best for me.

So I registered for 1 prerequisites class, Chem 1020. Because I'm working full time & single mom. I'm planning to start 1 class per semester since I already have the general edu courses. I am paying cash for my courses so i need to work & support my child on my single income. I'm excited but so scared. Everyone I know tells me nursing is so hard. Now working full time & baby. Thoughts do creep in my head. Am I crazy? Anyone who can relate? Tips?

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I graduated with my ADN last year. Im married with 3 kids. My school was a for profit school so tuition was high. I have a BA in psych so I was no longer eligible for grants. My monthly tuition was 1300. I had 2 to 3 part time jobs that worked with my schedule to pay for school. My husband's paycheck barely covered rent and other bills. But we made it work.

Nursing school is hard and demanding. There were times when all I could do was cry. But I found that crying it out helped me. I missed out on a lot of my kid's major milestones. And I knew I could never get that back. So I made sure that I didn't waste any time.

I think what helped me the most was the support I got from my husband. I don't think I could've done without him. If nursing is your calling then go for it. Just make sure you figure out the financial part and that you have the support. Good luck.

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Thank your reply. I am single mom but my parents can watch my baby few hours when I am in class. She goes daycare at the place I teach, I don't pay for daycare since I employed there. So I can't afford to not to work. I am planning to take 1 class per semester to finish the prerequisites while I work there so I won't have to worry about paying for childcare. And with working there, I can pay off my courses. I don't have major bills except for my car. I am living with my parents but I do help with minor bills. I give them money for rent as they are helping me too.

I am worrier by nature. I see myself & asking can I do this? School before was easy as I was single. Now I'm 26 years single working much 😕.

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What do you plan to do once you start taking nursing classes? You won't be able to take only one class at a time in most nursing schools.

As far as how to balance? You won't. Your life will not be balanced; it will lean heaviest on school. Just remind yourself that this, too, shall pass and you will come out in a better position for it.

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I don't know. I will be meeting with advisor next week, I wanted to be done with all science prerequisites first before applying to the program. I'm going to community college so I don't know it would work. I was hoping to by the time my baby is ready for kindergarten, I can apply to nursing program. She would be in school daytime hours & can do my classes. I don't know, I don't know anyone personally to ask questions so that's why I'm going to meet with advisor. I already have general edu course so my focus now is mainly the science prerequisites.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

We have moved this thread to our Student forum so you can receive responses from those who currently juggle school, work, and motherhood. Good luck to you.

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Thank you. Hopefully I can get respond í ½í¸Š.

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