Nursing Student Pregnant

YuHiroRN, BSN · Jan 27, 2019

I have a coworker who attended a local university while pregnant and completely her externship in our unit while pumping every couple of hours.

I think it'd be more ideal finishing up the program pregnant than w/ a newborn at home. I had no problem working full-time hours until almost 38 weeks pregnant with my second child.

Kayla18, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2019

Congrats on your little one! I had a friend that ended up pregnant in nursing school (not planned). She took a little time off and immediately picked back up where she stopped. I think it is very dependent on the health of your pregnancy and your other responsibilities. It is most definitely possible to manage both with the right mindset and support system. The best of luck to you!

inthecosmos, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Jan 28, 2019

Best friend was very pregnant during our last semester and did well. It was a bit stressful at times, but overall went well.

CONGRATS?

3ringnursing, BSN · Jan 28, 2019

I was approaching 30 during nursing school and had no children yet, so I timed my pregnancy to be able to deliver after graduation. My EGA was approximately 7 months when I graduated, and I was 2 weeks from my due date when I sat for my state boards (the last pencil and paper exam, traveling 200 miles away to the state capital). I was completely ignorant beforehand of how draining pregnancy would be.

After my son was born I took 6 weeks off for maternity leave, then started work as a new grad.

Early one memorable morning towards the end of my shift - just before the butt-crack of dawn was peaking over the horizon - I encountered a few gray faced, very rumpled and exhausted looking interns drinking coffee with my breast milk in it, as dietary was late restocking unit supplies on this day (our breakroom fridge had been out of commission at the time, so I had no choice but to store it on the unit in the fridge where we kept our stock of patient snacks).

To say I was initially too stunned to speak didn't even begin to cover my shock at that moment.

And because I was I tired and cranky - with the milk I pumped during my 12 hour shift now contaminated, having sat out on the counter for God knows how long, I took great pleasure enlightening them about the origin of their choice of coffee condiment.

All but one of them spat it out into the sink looking rather green, but one continued drinking his coffee unperturbed in the least.

Afterward I felt a tad bit guilty as they were a pathetic looking bunch, appearing like they hadn't slept in days, guzzling that coffee down like it was the elixir of life itself. But since I now going home empty handed to a hungry, squalling infant with only limited surplus milk on hand my sympathy was somewhat limited.

I had worked as a PCT at that same hospital for 3 years before I graduated and I wrongly assumed I'd seen everything - apparently not.

SaltineQueen · Jan 28, 2019

I got pregnant towards the end of school and was 4 months along at graduation. A friend of mine was a couple months ahead of me and took NCLEX the first chance she could after graduation and passed. We even had one student have a baby in the middle of the semester. I think she took one week off and then was back at it. Exhausting, yes, but it can be done. Best wishes!

allnurses Guide · Jan 28, 2019

We had two in my class who were in 3rd trimester during the final semester of nursing school. They were tired, but overall did great.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Jan 31, 2019

You can do whatever you put your mind to. I got pregnant my junior year (Happy New Year!!) lol!

I finished my junior year, took the fall off, went back and took some part-time classes/seminars for credit during what should have been my senior spring semester. Went back the fifth year and finished! I was 20, got married and somehow made it through, and passed my NCLEX the 1st time around.