Nursing school with kids??

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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?

You can do it. It's not easy, but you can do it. I have 3 kids, now 3,4 and 6 and I've been at this for about 6-7 months now. I had the same stir-craziness as some of you have mentioned.

You'll run into idiots who ask you what you do all day and tell you you have it made just staying home with your kids, but ignore them. Find another mom somewhere in the program, it helps to have someone who understands.

In some ways the kids help a bit, a lot of the developmental stuff is a little easier to remember because you can associate it with your kids.

At the end of the day it's tough.. during our first clinical at a skilled nursing home we'd leave totally exhausted from a day full of bedbaths, adult diaper changes, feedings and general running around, and I'd come right home to dinner making, baths, and diaper changes.... but I keep focusing on the image of having my kids there at graduation cheering for me, kind of keeps me going.

So I just want to repeat the encouragement, you can do this. You'll have super awesome organizational and prioritizing skills by the end of it all too!

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I truly believe that most things are doable as long as you are organized. I caution you though---do NOT use your children as an excuse for not being able to do work/group work. I have two kids who were 5 and 6 when I entered the actual nursing program and are now 9 and 8. I managed to do it with family help and a husband who was gone 1 month every 3 months, and typically it was during finals when he would be gone so it was insane. I have a classmate who ALWAYS uses her child or work (which she doesn't need to do, she lives with her in-laws, has no rent and her husband works, she even said she doesn't have to work) as an excuse for failing tests, and not doing group work on time. I will say, though she is nice, it is annoying and I completely resent her attitude. I have two children, stress over money, a husband who has to leave often which means I am single mom during those periods (family is not close by at all) and I still manage to pass tests and get group work done on time (usually I would cover her work because it would be undone or crappy)....so please, do NOT use them as an excuse. I want to scream at this girl, "You CHOOSE to go to school and work when you dont need to work, you have LIVE IN HELP, do not make EXCUSES at my expense!"....

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Specializes in Informatics, Orthopaedics.

I have 2 teenagers, and while I don't have to deal with the feedings and diaper changes, I do still have to deal with the whining and massive amount of $ it costs to keep them fed :p.

Seriously, kudos to you if you can do it...I hope you have a good support system and great willpower, I think you will need healthy doses of both.

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22 years ago my husband and I went to nursing school together with 3 children under the age of 5. We started NS in Rhode Island and was forced to move to NY after losing a job. With 2 semesters left we commuted, a 4 hour trek each way. Without the support of family and friends along with a very strong desire to provide a better life for our children, we could not have done it. We have seen close to 40 percent of our starting class drop out. I was reading Patti's post and she has some pretty good advice and sound perception of what's really happening. I have been a Neonatal ICU RN and Pediatric RN since we've graduated, my husband has worked in many units and now in clinical informatics. Best of luck and when you think it can't get any harder..... It does! Be prepared.

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It can be done!!! It will not be easy but if you are determined you can do it!

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Sometimes I think it is harder being gone with older children. I have 4...yes 4 children...ages 10, 9, 7, and 5 years old AND I work 30 hours a week AND I'm a 3rd semester nursing student AND a wife!! No it is not easy and yes I forget things sometimes. But, I have a great support system and someone to pick up for me when I forget. Just remember nursing school is short term...keep your eye on your goal!! ;)

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Specializes in Oncology.

I know I can do it! I have the next few months to spend with my girls and I will cherish it. I know that nursing school is a ticket for me to do better for our family. Its been a dream of mine for a looong time and I have always said that when the time is right, I will do it.

I feel like the time is right and that its possible for me to do this. Yeah my house will be a wreck, laundry will barely get done and other stuff will get brushed aside in the mix of it all but I will come out a nurse!

My Bachelors is in Exercise Physiology so I know the hard work that I have in store for myself because I remember how tedious the work was. Luckily, there will be some overlap!

I think I'm worried now simply because of the fact that I'm currently sleep deprived (without school) and I know if I was in the program right now I would not be at 100%. I'm hoping that once my little one starts to sleep all night through and my older one finally finishes cutting these teeth that there will be some more consistency in the sleeping around here! (we still get up for middle of the night feedings with the baby which kills my sleep)

Thank you for the encouragement and the advice as well!!

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I have two kids 4 and 8 (going on 16 by the way). My husband had to switch to the over night shift so I could go to school during the day. Its hard but again it will pay off in the end. Follow what your gut says and dont let fear drive you. It can be done with creative time management and letting go of things. I have given up the hope of having a clean house and healthy meals for my family. Hamburger helper is my new BFF. I have accepted the house will be messy and I am OCD. But most of all I am there for my kids when they get up and when they get home from school. They go to bed at 8 during the school year so that is my time to study. You can also study when cooking dinner and review things in your head when you are rocking your baby. I can study from 8-11 and still get 8 hours of sleep. Please dont let fear keep you away from something you really want. We are all in the same boat!

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tenjuna,

dont you feel like teenager eat more than a newborn??? My kids are constantly hungry and we are going broke trying to feed them! :lol2:

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