Parents - was nursing school worth it?

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To those who completed nursing school with kids, I wondered if it was worth it. Was it worth the stress, the sacrifices, the time away from the kids? Would you go back and change anything, or are you happy with the way things turned out? And for those nurses who are now working, does your job allow you enough time to decompress and enjoy family life at home?

Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

I used to sit at the kitchen table and do my homework while my kids (1st and 2nd grade at the time) did theirs. My kids watched me study, cry, study more, graduate (cry again), pass boards, and work. They tell me all the time how proud they are of me.

I'd do it again even if it's just to show them that tough goals can be accomplished with hard work.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

When I started nursing school, my sister tried to talk me out of it and go to work for factory her husband & his brother had good jobs at, but I wanted a profession.

Yes, it was hard to go from primary breadwinner & father to go to school to earn my diploma. It was hard working full-time & complete my BSN while working inpatient. It was hard to work FT & complete my masters.

But, in the past 25+ years, I've been paid well, been continually employed except for a total of 6 months.

Meanwhile the good job at the good factory went away 10-15 years ago, & both my Kids appreciate the value of education and earned their bachelors.

Yeah, it was worth it.

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

Financially, yes. I am the sole provider for my family of 4 and we do fairly well. Physically, though, is a whole 'nother story. I have severe back issues, will probably never be able to work in a full-time patient care environment again, have already had one surgery, probably facing another one if I can afford it. There are times that I regret it, just from the physical toll it has taken on my body, and wish that I had chosen a different path.

However, being a nurse affords me a certain amount of respect within my religious community and allows me to assist where help is needed. I volunteer at a free clinic 2 weekends a month, help out with my son's school when there is a need for a nurse, and answer questions that women of my faith are often afraid to ask.

Nursing has its trade-offs, but that's true of every occupation.

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YES YES YES it was worth it. I am a single mother of two and there were times during nursing school where i cried because i felt like i wasnt a good mom for being in school all day ( while they were in school) but still had loads of home work and studying. Even after nursing school when i had to prepare for my NCLEX it was stressful. Even though i tried my best to study when my girls went to sleep... I had days where it was just so overwhelming to get up early and get the kids together, school, home to cook, do laundry clean, baths then study..... Looking back i believe that it was a struggle for the better and even though my children hardly got that mommy and me time, they understood that mommy was in school to make a better life for the family. Now I am working fulltime 7-3 with a great rate of pay which allows me to do what i want for and with my children. YES it is a struggle but the reward is well worth it and my kids now appreciate what I do for them and understand that working hard pays off.

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Specializes in CMSRN.

My kids were 1.5 and 3.5 when nursing program began but I went to school part time before that. I got my ADN and glad I did. A couple of years later my hubbie's manufacturing plant shut down.

Right not my kids are 8 and 10 so I am waiting till next fall to start RN-BSN. I did not want to be in school for all their childhood years. But would never change what I did for anything.

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I'm glad to see so many of you think it's worth it too:) I'm also tackling nursing school, with 3 kids. Haven't actually applied yet but in the next few months I will be applying to my first program.

Anyways, good luck to you OP!

My oldest, who is 7 asked me the other day, "mom, how long will you be in school?" and I said "probably forever.." LOL.....

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Specializes in tele, oncology.

Yes yes a thousand times yes!

Started LPN school with a are yr old and a six week old...by the time I got my license they were 3, 1 1/2, and a four month old. My only regret is that we couldn't swing it for me to get my RN then, so it's been a long slow road to get there...going to start bridge classes in the Spring.

We've got four kids now (14, 12, 11, and 4). Full time classes will start fall of next year, which luckily coincides with the baby starting kindergarten. I've told the big kids and hubby that once I start back, I'm not stopping until the big kids start college. Hopefully I'll be working on my DNP by then. :)

We do homework time together, and hopefully my kids will take the lesson that it's a better idea to get school done before you have kids, not after there's a whole passel of them running around!

I'm the sole provider right now, and we'd be living in a van down by the river if I didn't have my LPN job. It's a rough ride doing school, work, and family all at once, and you'll certainly question your sanity along the way, but the payoff is way worth it.

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Yes.

As a parent, I have done my fair share of stressing the importance of hard work and taking school seriously.

Now my kids have both seen me put my money where my mouth is.

I didn't just preach it, I did it... and they saw it (right down to me staying up until 2am and getting right back up at 5am!).

It sent a very strong message and made a positive impression on the kids.

110% worth it.

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