Nursing school and my biological clock...pls reply if you can

Lolita34 · Feb 4, 2013

I'm 35 with three kids and I'm a career changer. I think the best thing would be to complete the program first and see how things go from there. You never know what your circumstances will be at that time. Good luck!

KristinaT · Feb 4, 2013

I feel the way you do--I'm applying right now but I won't start nursing school until I'm at least 30 and possibly 31, if I don't get accepted with the first round because I'm not done with my last prereq or my volunteer work. That will put me at 33-35 when I'm done, depending on the program I get into. I would also like to find a job, and being in CA I feel that's almost harder than getting into a nursing school. Then I'd like to be somewhere for at least a year before I start asking for maternity leave. By that time my husband with be in his early 40's......

I could think about the "what if's" all day long but the bottomline is that if I were to have a baby now then I feel that the chances of me not finishing are much greater than if I just put my head down and get to work now. Plus, I don't want to have to have the stress I have now about school and have a baby at the same time (I don't know how you mothers do it). I think that doing your program is the best idea and then find a job and see what happens. When you're done with school you're done and then you have all of that time to focus on your family.

RN2Be77 · Feb 5, 2013

Thank you both for your replies. It's true my circumstances can change at anytime and whatever I may think I have planned, God will have another plan. I know the best thing to do is to wait until I'm nearly done with school or finished period to start trying for a family. It's so hard especially seeing family and friends starting their families. One friend said to me when she was trying to conceive "nursing school doesn't have a biological clock, women do." Meaning she could always go back to nursing school whenever she wanted to. My best friend just told me last night that she's pregnant. Total shocker and came out of nowhere and course it made me feel happy yes, but also made me have the baby itch even more. I just pray my ABSN flies by and I successfully pass my exams and boards and then I can begin trying for my family next year.

morte, LPN, LVN · Feb 5, 2013

please remember that your fertility is already declining. (stat speaking) your friend that said women has bio clock, nursing school doesn't is so totally correct.

monica427 · Feb 5, 2013

RN2Be77, I'm not sure I have any advice but I am in the same boat. I'm almost 32 and I'm still working on my prereqs. I probably won't be able to start nursing school until Fall 2014. By then I'll be 33 and when I finish I'll be 35. Waiting that long to start a family concerns me. And I don't want to start a new job and then get pregnant right away. I know plenty of women are waiting until later to have children, but it also seems that the longer you wait the harder it is. I do like what your friend told you: "nursing school doesn't have a biological clock, women do." So so true.

AspiringNurseMW · Feb 5, 2013

Im only 25 and I already have a 2 year old but I completely understand. I want another 1-2 more kids and Ive always wanted them to be close in age. But Im starting my pre-req this summer semester and wont start nursing school until fall 2014 and finish in 2016 and by then my daughter will be 5 which is not what I really wanted & I wanted to be done with pregnancies by 30. But its different for me because I already have one.

Baby fever is super crazy, especially when others around you have. But I think once you get into school you won't have much time to lament on it. Its a hard decision and while nursing school will always be there, it will be a lot harder with a little one.

Sorry there is no easy answer for this one!

princesax11 · Feb 6, 2013

Your ABSN program is starting fairly soon so I think you should wait until you are done the program or close to it. After you secure a job and figure out when their probation period ends you can start planning. As long as you don't wait too long, you will be fine.

ShyeoftheTiger · Feb 7, 2013

As far as after your ABSN program, an employer cannot legally discriminate against you (or even ask what your plans are) for getting pregnant - probation period or not. I say, you don't have to wait any amount of time, but I'd definitely land that awesome job first :)

RN2Be77 · Feb 28, 2013

Thanks for all of your comments ladies. Baby fever is no joke, but despite it being in the air and around me, I know this opportunity to go to school this fall fell into my lap for a reason. I just want to get my program started, finished and successfully pass and then move on the family stage of my life God-willing when it's right. Good luck to you ladies as well that will be starting a program this year or next year and also to the moms who are getting their pre-reqs in order to go to nursing school. We all are destined to be great future nurses & mommies!

SmYle4PeDs, BSN · Feb 28, 2013

Me personally, would finish school. You're almost there. Since ur program is only a year, u should complete it. if u were still taking prereqs, i wouldn't wait. im still taking prereqs, and i just had a baby 4 months ago :) Once u land a job u can get pregnant, if they have 50 employees or more, I believe they have to allow u family leave. U will probably be around 33 when u start trying to conceive, which isn't too old. No one is guaranteed to conceive even when they are younger. However, our fertility does decline after age 35, so I wouldn't wait too long.

SmYle4PeDs, BSN · Feb 28, 2013

Maybe in the meantime u can make a doctors appointment have have your hormone levels checked, just to make sure that u don't have any fertility problems or anything that could prevent u from getting pregnant later on.