pre-nursing mom of 3 needs advice

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

I have 3 kids. 1,2, and 4 yrs old (almost 5). My oldest goes to school all day starting in the Fall. I was accepted to RN program at my local community college starting in the fall but it's during the day so I would have to put my other 2 kids in daycare. I feel soooo guilty as to the mere thought!!

I have my B.S. degree in Psychology. I've completed all the gen-ed's and pre-req's so I just have to complete the 30 credits of nursing courses to get my RN.

I've always stayed home with my kids ... I work part-time in the evenings in a call center so we've never had to pay for childcare in the past.

The alternative is that I could wait 4 years (when they are all in school) and do a RN or BSN program. Because I already have my B.S. degree, I can go to an accelerated program (60 credits) (4 semesters) once the kids are older ...but still, that is a big committment ...all day everyday schooling.

I thought about taking the slower route and doing RN first and then BSN ... spanned over a total of 4 years but taking less credits per semester.

Anyway, I could also apply for an evening/weekend program at CCBC which is about an hour away from me. I could start Fall 2011 providing that I get it. That way I avoid the guilt, can still go to school, and the kids don't have to go to daycare. Is that the better option?

I'm having such a hard time deciding!!! Any input from mom's that have gone to nursing school while their kids were still young is greatly appreciated! Would you do it again?? Should I just wait until they are all in school? Should I do evening/weekend program?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Private Practice- wellness center.

I have not started nursing school quiet yet, but up until a month ago I was a mom who worked outside of the home. (Let's be real here, being a stay-at-home mom IS a full-time job!) I had no choice but to go back full time when my son was 20 months old. I thought it would KILL me to put him in daycare ALL day long. Turn out he flourished and loved it, I still had the mommy guilt because I just wasn't spending all that much time with him anymore. It took me a good year to not be bothered by someone else "raising my kid", but not that I am no longer working, I see how much he misses it. (And consequently, feel bad that he cannot go! lol)

It's not an easy decision, and no one can really make that determination except for you and your family. HOWEVER, if I were in your shoes, I would do it sooner rather than later. When the kids get older, there will be all of the after school things you will be missing out on. KWIM?

Good luck! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

Hi, I'm a mom of 7 here, finishing up an accelerated BSN program.

I was in the same dilemma as you were. I did pre-reqs at night or online to minimize the amount of time I spent away from home. When it was time for me to enter a nursing program I found one only a mile away from home, and the clinical sites have also been close to home. I do need to put my younger ones into day care but they are basically happy. I'm not saying it's ideal or my first choice; I'd love to be able to continue being a SAHM but bills have to get paid and we all do what we need to do.

I stretched out my schooling process in order to get a BSN rather than ADN, and to limit the amount of time away from home at once. But if you can get it all over with quicker, I'd say to do that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I completely understand the guilt you speak of....I'm a stay at home mom of 2 and waiting on an acceptance letter from an adn program. Just know there are alot of us mommies out there going through the same thing, so you're definitely not alone. I, too, have struggled and gone back and forth on whether or not to go back to school and if I go when is the best time to go. This may not make you any more at ease, but I don't think it will ever be easy. My youngest is starting kindergarten this year and I've been feeling guilty because right now we attend all of her older brother's school events and eat lunch with him just about every day, and I'm not sure how often I will be able to do that with her when she starts. It is tough, but I agree with the post above...it's better to begin sooner than later. There are going to be so many school activities...field trips, awards assemblies, etc...later on that you don't want to miss. I say sacrifice a little now and it will definitely pay off later. You're doing the right thing going to school and even though your babies are still young, they will understand later on and I'm sure they'll be proud of you. :) Good luck with everything!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Of course the ideal method would be to do this before marriage and kids. :)

This is my second career - I waited until my youngest was in 1st grade and I had 3 kids.

I became a nurse at 40.

It is never too late.

I'm not a fan of day care - just so you know. :redbeathe

steph

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm glad I found this thread!

I'm a SAHM to 4, youngest is 10 months, oldest in 1st grade. In my mind I would love to attend an accelerated BSN program but that's just not practical to do right now if I want to be a mom at all. (lol). I have, however, found a 20 month program near me that is evening and weekends only to complete an LPN/LVN. I would be home with my littles all during the weekdays, 2 nights a week of classes (I have someone who can help with kiddos if hubby is late home from work) and I would be gone most of Saturday and SUnday.

Thoughts? Input? I'm 39 now so if I wait til all are in school FT (in five years) - well, let's just say starting now will be easier than in 4 years, KWIM? But being a mom to the kiddos is prime for me. I'm not a big day care fan myself, so that just isn't an option for me.

thanks for letting me vent here, lol, I have so many thoughts swirling about my head...especially the one saying, "Why didn't I try to do this BEFORE kids??"

Suz

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You all sound so amazing. I have 4 kids with my youngest started K this year. I have only been going part time for pre-req's and I am praying to get accepted into an LPN program next year. I also worry about how I will manage the children home and full time school. There is never going to be a perfect time for school when you are a Mom. I say all the time I wish I had started a long time ago. My kids have not ever had daycare but I am going to try and see if there is a family member we can pay to do it when the time comes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

suz, Im 39 too and know exactly how you feel. Have you checked out the application deadline and when the program would start?

Im doing A&P 2 all summer and apply by Sept 1. I think our program starts next Jan.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't mean to be rude, but didn't you realize when you were taking your prerequisite courses and applied to the program that you would have to take classes during the day? From reading your post, it seems like you just woke up today and was told that you were going to have to go to nursing school in the fall. Please do yourself and everyone who is willing and able to take the classes during the day, give up your spot so it can be offered to someone that will be able to do it. I would hate to see you start the program and end up feeling too guilty and dropping out...a spot that could have been filled by someone else. Take your time, try to get into an evening program if you can or wait until your kids are older.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would never dare to tell anyone else what to do. For me, I waited until my oldest was in a day program before I began attending classes. I started out very part-time. I chose to have my kids, and it was important to me that I took care of them, not a stranger. It was hard sometimes, putting my own desires on hold, but I don't regret any of it. Kids grow up very fast, and I didn't want to have any regrets afterwards. Good luck with your decision.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Well, you'd be in good company with your guilt - I am in first semester of an ADN program now and all my classmates with small kids suffers from it. It affects their school work and their general sense of happiness in life quite a bit.

This is a personal decision only you can make. If you can't release the guilt, give it up until they are older. Otherwise nobody wins. You won't make the grades, your kids will be in daycare, you will be stressed out, miserable and guilty inside doing something you aren't even doing particularly well due to the time constraints from trying to be a good student and trying to still cram enough time in with your kids to make you feel like you are still a good mother in your own mind. Your school work WILL suffer if you feel guilty for putting them in daycare. Because they will be there all. the. time. Not just during class, but for exams outside of class time, remediations, lab time, clinicals, group work, study groups and private study time.

There's no pretty solution here. You have to decide what you can live with. There are not a lot of night programs for nursing. You have a hard decision to make. I too am kind of wondering if you just thought you would not get in? How did you envision it working when you sent in the application?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Did I read that right, that you want advise only from moms who have put their kids in daycare to go to nursing school? Or did you not mean to exclude the perspective of moms who waited to go to nursing school to avoid sending their kids to daycare?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment