Nursing school with kids??

Stephalump · Aug 7, 2012

I had a baby in April of 2011 and was considering starting July 2011. SO glad I decided against that!

You would've thought my life was over when I decided against it, but as i'm sure you're aware, life flies by with tiny ones, and that time is absolutely so fleeting and precious that I'm so glad I was there every second.

Everyone looked at me like I was a little bit nuts when I started this summer and mentioned that my youngest was only 16 months - everyone's kids are either older or just a twinkle in the eye. But, you know, little ones go to bed early. They take naps. No, they can't entertain themselves while you hole up in your room and study, but at least there's no expectation of that so you can plan accordingly. My four year old and nine year old interrupt me NONSTOP, and I'm a fool for even trying, I think :)

I think it's doable. Just be prepared with's plan if you discover you can't study at home. I'm struggling through statistics right now because my husband works long hours and I do terribly at home, even after the kids are asleep but I can't leave!!

bellafsu89 · Aug 7, 2012

The kids will be in daycare from 7am until 5:30pm. My class schedule is Mon-Thursday 8 to 1pm so I will have the afternoon and Friday to do all my work. I'm just nervous!! I have a great support system and actually have just completed my MBA (online) - which I have been working on since I was pregnant with my 1st daughter. I feel like that was a different kind of studying than what will be necessary for the nursing program.

I thank god that my husband is working and will support us financially so that I don't have to be working in addition. If that were the case, I'm not sure there would be a way to get it done!

Its a 16mo program so I'm thinking its going to FLY just as fast as the past 16mo has flown for me! lol

bubblejet50 · Aug 7, 2012

I went to school with a baby who was just a year old. Im glad I did go then because shes 3 now and doesnt really remember me being gone. She is excited to do things with me and we have a lot of fun now that mommy is stressfres

virgolove34 · Aug 7, 2012

I have a 6 month old and start Aug 23. I read posts like this for motivation and ideas. I have a great support system as well. My fiancé works and takes care of the bills. My class schedule for the first 8 weeks is M-T 8-2 with Fridays off. I value my daughter and she is my priority as well as nursing school.. So what I will probably do is study when she naps, goes to bed at night and maybe give her to my fiancé for an hour each day, go hard with studying on Fridays and have the weekends for family time besides when there's an upcoming test. I can't believe how fast time flew. I feel like I just had my daughter And definitely want to spend as much time with her as possible but I also want to do nursing school before she's old enough to understand what's going on. By the time she's old enough for sports and activities, I'll be out of nursing school and able to be there for her soo don't regret starting while she's this young. Might I add that my 3 year old step son is with us every other week and I have a 9 year brother living with me so it's more like having 3 kids, BUT family just has to work together and plan everything out.

Stephalump · Aug 7, 2012

The kids will be in daycare from 7am until 5:30pm. My class schedule is Mon-Thursday 8 to 1pm so I will have the afternoon and Friday to do all my work. I'm just nervous!! I have a great support system and actually have just completed my MBA (online) - which I have been working on since I was pregnant with my 1st daughter. I feel like that was a different kind of studying than what will be necessary for the nursing program.
I thank god that my husband is working and will support us financially so that I don't have to be working in addition. If that were the case, I'm not sure there would be a way to get it done!
Its a 16mo program so I'm thinking its going to FLY just as fast as the past 16mo has flown for me! lol

I definitely think nursing school is a totally different animal. I've had no problem studying here and there when time permits in my past degree programs, but I've found NS to be a total other beast.

I think having that amount of childcare will be great. My original plan was to have my kiddos in programs 5 days a week (I'm only in class for 3) so I could get all my work done during the day and have evenings and weekends for family time. Don't know if it'll work that way, but we'll see!

I think with a good support system, no need to work, and adequate child care, you're destined for success. :)

patricia0809 · Aug 7, 2012

I gave birth to my second son on february 10 2011, went back to school four days later, took the HESI two weeks later and started nursing in May 2011, with my boys age 2 and 3 months. It wasn't easy and it was a hard decision, but my husband and parents were great supporters, so that made a big difference. I didn't have to pay for daycare because they stayed with my parents until my husband or I came home. Now I only have 8 months left of school before I graduation!!??

ProudStudent · Aug 7, 2012

I think you can do it! Look how many people on this post have done it. Is it going to be a challenge? Yes. But...so is the field you're going into. You'll be on your toes and stressing so much at times, but your children will benefit tremendously having a mom who has dedicated herself to an education. Good Luck!!!

shay&lynn, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2012

I have two kids, 4mo and 18mo (yes I have my hands full) and I am currently a stay at home Mom. I will be starting nursing school in January and the kids will be ~9mo and 23mo.
Am I insane to think I can do this? I was accepted into a ADN program that wanted me to start in August but I said NO way! I am not ready, emotionally!
Are any of you in this same situation?

I have a junior in HS, 8th grader and 7th grader.

Throw in dances, sports, sports awards and conferences and it makes for one crazy semester!

Totally do-able though.

ER(notso)n00b, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2012

It can be done! I have 3 kids, who were 2, 4, and 6 when I started. So a little older than yours but I have had very little help from family. It has been tough juggling everything but I actually really enjoy it. After staying at home for 6 years I was starting to go a little stir crazy. Nursing school took care of that real quick! Good luck to you!

SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2012

I have 2 kids, 7 and 4, and am essentially a single mom now. my husband took a job in Ky, I live in Nv with the kids. I have 2 semesters left! He was here for my first 2 semesters. i know it'll be hard, but I have an awesome sitter and my niece to help. I dunno, it's hard but we make it through if we want it bad enough! as long as you have a good support system i think you will be ok!

Patti_RN · Aug 7, 2012

The birth and lives of my kids overlapped all my academic years, from undergrad (unrelated to nursing) to nursing school, through law school, and now during my NP degree. I did it, but some times were really, really stressful and there were a lot of tears along the way.

But, neither my experience, nor the experiences of others who post here are a representative cross section. You're addressing (mostly) nurses or student nurses who either are in the process or have finished their degrees. If there were a site devoted to people who didn't make it through NS you'd get strikingly different stories; those who decided against starting NS, dropped out or failed aren't here to tell their tales. Much depends on your personal abilities, your support system, how demanding your kids are (not to say they're 'spoiled'--it's that some kids have a greater need for parental interaction or may have health problems that require your time and attention), and how rigorous your particular program is.

While the conversations here may be interesting and inspiring, the experiences of others is not an accurate predictor of your probability of success or your happiness during these years. Only you can assess your skill level, your committment level, your support systems, other demands on your time and energies, etc. IMHO you can't go wrong either way --you either have a nursing degree in a few years or you have some wonderful times with your kids, then you go to NS. Best of luck!!