Nursing and kids in WI

jb2u, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2006

Hello. I am thinking about nursing school and was wondering how it is working as a nurse while juggling a family? I have 3 kids who will all be in elementary school by the time I'm out of school. I don't want them in afterschool care all week and was wondering how others manage a family. I would rather not work the weekends either. Any advise you can give would be really helpful. (I'm taking my nursing assistant class this fall and plan on working as a aid for a few years first. Hopefully this is a good starting point.)

hello,

i am not from wisconsin (although i hope to move there after nursing school), but i know how "slow" this wisconsin thread moves. so i will try to answer this for you. first, is there a spouse to help pay bills and watch the kids? second, you don't want to work weekends, but what about nights/eve during the week? nursing school is normally very demanding and the week can be a tough one for you to try to work. i work weekends only during school. i have two beautiful children that i adore, but it is a sacrifice i make so that one day when i graduate we will have MORE time to spend together. i am very fortunate to have a wife that is happy to be a stay at home mom. so, i don't really have to worry about my kids being taking care of, but that means little money coming in (no dinners out, no new clothes, etc..). some people can't/aren't willing to make the sacrifices to go to nursing school, but i am.

other than that, i'd say just get more loans. it will make it tougher once you graduate because you will have a bigger debt to pay off, but at least while you go to school you will not have to work so hard....kinda like a..pay now, pay latter thing.

best of luck to you and your family,

jay

amylc · Jul 24, 2006

Hi Jay,

Thanks so much for your input. Yes, there is a spouse to pay bills and we are actually doing ok living off of one salary, but I've really been drawn to the nursing field lately and it's something I want to do. I didn't mean to say I don't want to work ANY weekends, just not only on the weekends. Besides, I don't think my husband would be agreeable to watching our kids every weekend. He's supportive of me going back to school, but I know him and I just don't think he'd be willing to watch them every weekend, all weekend long (even though I watch them all week long).

I'm sure I'll figure the whole schedule think out. Thanks again for your help. And your right.... this WI thread moves so slow. I've posted a prior message and no one ever responded.

rn/writer, RN · Jul 24, 2006

Where in WI are you?

Location can determine much about the choices you have available to you.

What schools are you considering? Will you be going part time or full time?

These factors will all have a bearing on your flexibility.

Also, how old are your kids? This too needs to be considered.

I'm a cheesehead who went back to school once my kids were in school all day. Couldn't have managed it otherwise.

I wish you well.

jb2u, ASN, RN · Jul 24, 2006

amylc,

i do hope everything works out for you. nursing school is tough, but the pay off is there at the end. if you can survive on one salary that would be best, but only you can decide that. best of luck with everything.

sincereley,

jay

amylc · Jul 24, 2006

I live in the Brookfield area and I'm going to WCTC. This will definitely be part time. I'm taking CNA course this fall and I don't plan on taking my prereqs until 2009! I'll be 50 by the time I get out of school!!

What is your work schedule like? Do you work 3 12s? Are your kids old enough to watch themselves? My kids will still need a nanny by the time I start working I think. I'm beginning to wonder if it will be worth it.

Thanks for your help.

jb2u, ASN, RN · Jul 24, 2006

I live in the Brookfield area and I'm going to WCTC. This will definitely be part time. I'm taking CNA course this fall and I don't plan on taking my prereqs until 2009! I'll be 50 by the time I get out of school!!
What is your work schedule like? Do you work 3 12s? Are your kids old enough to watch themselves? My kids will still need a nanny by the time I start working I think. I'm beginning to wonder if it will be worth it.
Thanks for your help.

during this summer i work 3 12's, but when school is in i work 2 12's (sat and sun.). my wife keeps our children, ages 1 and 6 so that isn't an issue. student loans can supplement income if needed. my main focus is on graduating, as i have already seen several of my classmates fail out and not progress with the rest of the class. the class ahead of mine lost 12 people in the third semester and about 3 in the final semester. getting in to nursing school is only half the battle, staying in is the war! however, i am up to the challenge and look forward to graduation.

nursing, for me, is definitely worth it. i will have more control of my time

(3 12's and 4 days to spend with my family), more money, and a feeling that i make a difference. i hope that you follow your dreams no matter what the dream is. Possibilities is what makes life worth living.

sincerely,

jay