Nursing school? - with toddlers?

manna, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2003

Another pre-med turned pre-nursing! LOL

I'm not actually in nursing school, but I do have a toddler, a full-time job and full-time school (at night).

I'm sure you can do it, it'll just take some clever time management and dedication. Will your kids be in daycare once your start school, or staying with a family member?

Maybe start them out with daycare slowly (one day/half days, whatever) before school actually begins, so they can acclimate to it more easily?

My kids have been in daycare since they were tiny (2 months old), so that's been a non-issue for us so far..

Good luck....

(I'm trying to give up lurking, okay!)

ibmissy · Sep 29, 2003

Hi there,

I have three kids. Ages 10, 7, and almost 3. My 2 yr old just started daycare..(she's never been to daycare before). The first day she was excited and happy..I am guessing maybe she thought I would be right back..She hugged me and said bye. I figured, "wow, cool, this will be great." From the 2nd day on, she cries when I drop her off..I know its coz she will miss me. She goes 3 days a week...The other two days my dad watches her. The two older ones go to school, so its not too bad of a problem with them. Summer isn't hear yet though..so we shall see how that goes with my dad.

I don't have too much of a problem studying, though I admit I get interupted every 5 minutes by the kids or my other half. I get A's and B's, so I am not failing..I can just imagine my grades if I didn't get interupted. LOL. But its ok..I do more studying at night when the kids go to bed, than in the evening..

I also work per diem on weekends 3rd shift..So my life is a bit busy and I get tired quite frequently. My supervisor at work said all of this will be worth it next year when I take the test and get licensed.

My opinion is, go for it..If you can get them in daycare without totally breaking your family and you can commit time into school..it will be worth it. I chose to work my way up..I started as a CNA and still work as one on weekends..Now I am going to school for 15mos to become an LPN..Sometime after I become an LPN I am going to try to bridge over to an RN program and work part time as an LPN.

Good Luck with whatever you decide.

---Missy

Originally posted by d&d's mom
Hi!,

I am currently a SAHM wanting to go back to school for an associate degree in nursing. I previousl ahd three years in a pre-med program before deciding to quit.

Now, I have 2 kids, 18 mo. and 2.5 yrs. Anyone else out there braving nursing school with toddlers? If so, how is it going? My kinds have never been in day care before, so I wonder how the transition would be.

Thanks for any input.

smk1, LPN · Sep 29, 2003

im in the prenursing program and have an almost 3 yr old. i am also a stay at home mom and was really worried about study time because my daughter is used to having my undivided attention. I bought her some new coloring books and pre-k learning books when i bought my school supplies and so we'll do our "homework" together. Also for the times when you need quiet uninterrupted study or project time, invest in some new videos that you don't let your kids watch all the time. so far for me this has worked. I haven't needed day care yet as my husband is self employed and can arrange to take off 2 days a week an 2 hours early so i cram all my classes into those afternoons/evenings. I am more worried for next term when i start my a/p!

agent · Sep 29, 2003

Manna -- glad to see you round again.

I'm also a former pre-med turned pre-nursing because of family, kids.

Good luck

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2003

I'm also a stay at home mom , who is wanting to get an ADN. My kids are 14 months, 5 yrs & 8 yrs old.

Right now, i only have one class this semester, and the only problem that i've been running into, is that one of my kids keeps getting sick with colds/flu , and the babysitter won't take them ill. Today , an hour before my class was to start, i got a call from my 5 yr's school, wanting me to come get her because she threw-up. I was so thankfull my husband was able to watch the girls. This is the 3rd time, that one of my kids got sent home on a day i had class. I can't imagine having a reg class schedule. Other than that, finding time to do home-work & study has been good.

If you have a good support system, i say you'll be fine and go for it. As for transitioning to a babysitter, my 1yr old still cries, but she's getting better. I started out last summer, taking her over to the sitter for an hour a week, then i bumped it to two hours, then i statted class wich is 2 days a week for two hours. It was a nice transition for all of us.

TeresaRN2b · Sep 29, 2003

Yep, it can be done. I have 5 kids ages 10, 6, 4, 2, and 5 months and I just started nursing classes this fall. I took all my prereqs and then knocked out all my gen ed classes before starting to make it a little easier for me. It has been really tough, but it feels really good to finally be doing this. My sister is watching my kids so that has helped me not worry quite so much about leaving my kids. It has been a tremendous amount of juggling for hubby and the kids and I, but so far I am doing very well in my classes.

Teresa

PSA, RN · Sep 29, 2003

I did it with two kids who were 1 & 10. Now they are 5 & 14. It was tough but my one year old did great with being in daycare. In fact he learned so much that when he started kindergarten he is doing much better than his other classmates. The only tough part to me was finding study time. After I got in a schedule it was much easier. I just learned to study when they were in bed at night. It can be done. It just takes patience and determination. Good luck!

PSA RN

:nurse:

agent · Sep 29, 2003

Holy schnikies.. you have 5 kids!!

Traveler · Sep 30, 2003

It's hard but lots of people have done it. I started nursing school in 1991. My son was born in 1992. My daughter was born in April 1995 and I graduated in May of 1995. I went to an evening weekend program where I attended class 2 nights a week from 6-10 and did clinicals every other weekend from 8-4. I spent most of my lunch break on my clinical weekends pumping breast milk!

I remember sitting up late many nights trying to study/write papers very very late because it was the only time I had. I chose the evening/weekend school schedule because I didn't have to leave them with babysitters. I probably would have gotten better grades if I didn't have the kids and "distractions", but I wouldn't trade it for anything and the juggling act really taught me alot.

Good luck to you!

Ann

rngrad2009 · Sep 30, 2003

Hello! I am in the Nursing Program and I have two toddler boys, ages 3 and 4. I learned very quickly that home is no place for studying. Both boys are in schools with after care til 5pm, so I study in the library at school. That way, when I get home, I tend to the children's needs. I hope u will be able to place your children in a daycare. We all have to sacrafice, yet it is with great rewards in the end. Good Luck!

tmiller027 · Sep 30, 2003

I'm just starting school and we have a 3 yr old. No daycare, adn we both work. My classes are on the nights my wife is off so she can watch our daughter, it's hard but we're doing best we can.