Nursing school and kids? HELP!

[miidgett411]

Hello everyone! So right now I am enrolled in a bsn program in three years. I have a two year old and am having a extremely hard time balancing everything since it is an accelerated school. I am in the beginning of my junior year and I feel like the school I am at is setting us up to fail. What a normal college needs to do in 16 weeks I need to completely know and understand in 8 weeks and with a two year old it is almost impossible. I have a great support system at home and I do not work.

Any suggestions?

Also, I was thinking of transferring to the community college to earn my Associates so I can hop into the working field sooner and then complete a bridge program. Does anyone have any suggestions or comments?

Thanks!

[Skips, MSN, RN]

Well, you already don't work, and you have support. You have the best you're going to get right there. If you get a BSN now and do the hard work, you won't have to worry about going back later on and paying more money for a bridge program.

I have a 3-year-old, do not work, and I'm in a BSN program full-time, too. It's not easy...but goodness, I'm not in an accelerated program, though. Those are rough. Just remember that passing is passing. If you need to put down your homework for an hour to play with your child, by all means do it. I don't break my back to get perfect grades, and I think as parents, we should cut ourselves some slack. I applaud you for working so hard!

[BSNMomOf6]

So glad to hear other mamas out there doing it! I have 5 kids, ages, 8, 7, 6, 4, and 3. I'm a nervous wreck about starting in January!!! It's mostly the early mornings, I worry about who is gonna get them up and out to school ON TIME. Hubby is gonna REALLY have to step up his game!!!

[bellafsu89]

I have been sitting through my orientation for my program that starts in January. We spent the whole day today going over ways we are going to deal with stress, the workload, family, husbands (we were a group of all women) and if applicable, work. It was inspirational and positive. The university had their psychology professor come in and go over all these topics. He was great....really put my mind at ease.

One of the girls was freaking out because she was fearful of all the pressure she puts on herself for perfection. She was anxious about the fact that next year, the house is going to be messy, the kids are not going to get all her attention, laundry will pile etc...

We will all be pulling for support from not only our immediate spouses but from immediate family (Parents, good friends) as well. I have already informed my family that I will be shamelessly relying on them - especially if I need my parents to have a weekend with my kids so I can get things done for classes.

They mapped out how we should manage the workload and how to keep ahead versus falling behind on the information. I hope you all are able to have the same sort of information given to you before you start your program as well!!

[BSNMomOf6]

Wow, that's great your school did that! We have an orientation day, but it's the week before school starts in early January and I have no idea what they go over.

[Stephalump]

I have been sitting through my orientation for my program that starts in January. We spent the whole day today going over ways we are going to deal with stress, the workload, family, husbands (we were a group of all women) and if applicable, work. It was inspirational and positive. The university had their psychology professor come in and go over all these topics. He was great....really put my mind at ease.

One of the girls was freaking out because she was fearful of all the pressure she puts on herself for perfection. She was anxious about the fact that next year, the house is going to be messy, the kids are not going to get all her attention, laundry will pile etc...

We will all be pulling for support from not only our immediate spouses but from immediate family (Parents, good friends) as well. I have already informed my family that I will be shamelessly relying on them - especially if I need my parents to have a weekend with my kids so I can get things done for classes.

They mapped out how we should manage the workload and how to keep ahead versus falling behind on the information. I hope you all are able to have the same sort of information given to you before you start your program as well!!

That's awesome! We had something called CampWannaWin at the beginning of the first semester and they did a lot of the same and held a meeting for our families so they could hear how much we need their help. Of course reality and best intentions don't always match up...despite all of the study and time management tips, spouses can still be unreliable. Stress overwhelms you. End-of-semesteritis happens. But the more tools you have to work with the quicker you can get back on track, I think.