Nursing school with young kids

Atl-Murse · Apr 18, 2015

You have about 2 years to figure that part out, use your brain cells to get an A in class to even make it to nursing school, first things first

scjaguar · Apr 18, 2015

I'm starting nursing school this fall with 2 young kids. My husband's job makes him unreliable also so I know how you feel. I don't live near any family and I feel much more comfortable knowing my children will be at a daycare vs hiring a stranger to watch them. With that said, I had to get a little creative. Is it possible to have a family member stay with you during the days you have class? Could you take your kids to a friend or trustworthy neighbor's house and let them drop your children off at daycare? It's never too early I start thinking of a childcare plan. I hope it all works out for you.

TooManyCats, ASN, BSN · Apr 18, 2015

I'm in a similar boat. I have a 3 year old and 5 year old AND one on the way, and we utilize school for the older kids, with a nanny in the mornings if I have school before I can drop them off (7am is the earliest I can drop them), and an after school program. Then for days my littlest doesn't have preschool and for the upcoming baby, we'll be using the nanny all day. We got her through care.com, they did the background check and all we had to do was submit our needs.

scjaguar · Apr 18, 2015

How extensive was the background check on care.com? When I read reviews about the site, someone said that the caregivers pretty much are able to put whatever they want for their background check. That turned me off from using them, however, that could have just been a dissatisfied customer. I'm interested in hearing your experience

MNSS · Apr 20, 2015

Thanks you all for your advice. I dont have family in the same state and the others won't be able to come help me either. So it is pretty much me and the kids since my husband travels. I have no idea how much is the cost of hiring a nanny. I have heard good and bad things about care.com and sittercity.com

MNSS · Apr 20, 2015

Yes You are right. I have just 1 class left and I have to try and make a really good score on the teas.

MNSS · Apr 20, 2015

I have no family who would be able to come help me. As far as my friends, they all work. They could help me if they didnt work but even then they would be able to help me only for 1 day if my nanny didnt show up. But on a daily basis no one is available among my friends to help me. But I dont want to quit now and not apply to nursing school. Its so hard when you have a travelling husband...I am practically a single mom running the show.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Apr 20, 2015

I'm a single mom. My son is 9. I'm going to tell you it's not easy. I have no family out here. I am fortunate that my ex-husband owns his own business and can take my son for me most of the time. But there are times that at the last minute he cancels because he has a big job somewhere or something comes up. Then I am stuck at the last minute and I cannot miss. Plus, remember to plan for 2 hour delays and for snow days. Those definitely come up at the last minute and college does not close. I have some friends that help me. I have an awesome boyfriend who also owns his own business and can leave at the drop of a hat to help.

You do need to get a support system in place now. That part is critical in getting through nursing school. My clinical rotation now, I have to be at the hospital at 6:30am. My son's school does not open until 7. So my schedule had to get thoroughly rearranged. I have days I can't be there to pick him up from school and take him to practice. I had to learn to rely on other people. And my school does not like to hear excuses especially when it comes to clinical. You go when they tell you. I'm just telling you to prep now. It's important.

allnurses Guide · Apr 20, 2015

I would suggest a live-in nanny if you can afford it. State licensing requirements are not flexible when it comes to how many hours of classroom and clinical instruction you must have to be qualified to sit for the licensing exam (NCLEX). Therefore the school will be completely inflexible about tardies and absences, as they are judged by what percentage of their students sit for and pass NCLEX. This has caused many students to fail out, often in situations that seem very pitiable. A live-in nanny sounds like your best bet for when your kids get sick while you are in school, which they will. Their issues will not be "excused" absences. Your next bet is going to be a nanny that doesn't live with you. You need to make it clear to whomever you hire that sick care is part of the job, as are occasional extended hours. You will only have actual class for three to four days a week, but so much of nursing school occurs outside of class. Group projects. Mandatory community service projects. Care plans that have to be done AFTER clinicals take place and turned in the next day. Nursing school is full time and very intense.

As far as finding someone, you only have the resources you have. I would suggest rather than waiting until your classes start you hire someone to start a month or two before you start nursing school, so that you can get a feel for them and start building trust and, if necessary, give you time to find someone else if that one isn't going to work. Recognize nobody is going to seem "good enough" for your kids to you and you will have to loosen the controls a bit.

Best of luck. It won't be easy but others have done it.

Seaofclouds, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2015

Have you looked to see if your school has a child care program? My school did for the childhood/early education majors. They ran an on-campus daycare with flexible hours. It had quite a waiting list. Even if you manage to find a daycare, you will need additional support to help with the times when the kids can't go to daycare, so a nanny would most likely be a better option. Good luck figuring out a plan. I know it's tough getting through nursing school with little children.

SaraAN · Apr 25, 2015

We've used care.com in the past with great luck. Start 2-3 months early so you can interview several nannies and have them come out for a few hours to get to know the kids.