Hello my fellow pre-nursing students and soon to be pre-nursing students. I am a single mom of three children. Twin boys who just turned 7 and a little girl who is soon to be three this week. I have been a stalker of Allnurses for quite some time. I was previously a Veterinary Assistant seeking a degree in Veterinary Technology but decided to change majors since the workload did not pay as much as I needed to support us. Even though I do love animals and love working with them I also enjoy the fact that I could take this infatuation of science and healthcare and become a nurse and support the human society.
I've seen threads on nurse travelers, school acceptance, 30's nurse support, (which is okay and very cool to me) But I haven't seen a thread yet about mom who are trying to transition into the nursing field support thread. It can be hard, but I believe this would be a great place to support each other challenges that affects us daily, such as with time managements skills (w/kids,hubby,etc) daycare, support system, what programs are out there to help us and more other useful stuff that can be used to our advantage. I Really look to and support the single people thread as it's still challenging enough becoming a a nurse even w/o kids; However I know it is super tough for a single mom (even w/hubby, such as his deployment or his long shift to help support the family), but looking through these threads and seeing the replies of other mothers who accomplished it, I say, We Can As Well. Do not give up, I know it is hard, lets come together and keep each other encourage and motivated.
I know you can do it!
Starting with myself: I am 23 years old and will be turning 24 in August.(ADN Route) I already applied to do some of my pre-reqs over again to become competitive. I am focusing on getting into Psy 1101, Math College Algebra and English 1101. I also have to take Humanities, Speech, The first Three Biology, 2113,2114,2117. I am hoping to stilll try my best to make straight A's however as long as I give my best effort that is enough for me.
I Am currently living in Columbus, GA and will be competing for the ADN at Columbus Technical College and plan to transfer to the online ADN-BSN at Columbus State University which cost under 10,000 grand. They also have a partnership so I am guaranteed a spot if I do well..
Hello! I am mama to 2 kids (a 7 year old girl and a 5 year old boy). Married for almost 9 years. I will be 29 next month. I went to school to be a teacher....realized i hated it....had our daughter....stayed home for the last 8 years with our kids. a year or so ago I started taking some night classes and just finished up my pre reqs this past semester. I submit my nursing apps very soon for the spring ADN program. and I have intentions of completing the RN-BSN bridge after the ADN program. It is a struggle to find a balance between being mom/student/wife plus I run a photography business on the side (granted I have cut WAY back on my client load since I went back to school).
That's great! almost hitting the ten year mark! That is so sweet, can't until im married and hitting my ten year anniversary...sign(one day)...
I also wanted to be a teacher, maybe for highschool or colleges. However teachers salary did not due for me.They are so important but are paid lesser then they should be.
So are you competing for spring of next year 2015? I hope you are accepted! I am also trying to go the BSN route, even though people say your are only paid .25 cent - 1.00 more, but qualified for more positions.
You cutting back your load is a positive sacrifice that is very well gonna play out good for you and your family and soon as your done, I'm sure you can increase it again, btw sounds like a fun and creative business! :)
Hi there! I'm a 28 year old pre-nursing student, however I am waiting to hear if I've been accepted into a great ADN program starting in the fall. It's extremely competitive, but I feel pretty good about it :) my daughter will be 2 in a few weeks, and I'm expecting our second baby in October (right in the middle of the first semester!) luckily my program wouldn't start clinicals until next spring. I'm a full-time student and SAHM :)
Awesome! Congrats on the baby! And that's great timing with clinicals and the baby. I am sure you will get in if your feeling positive about it! Keep us updated.
It is good to think! It is good to be concerned! Just don't be to hard on yourself if you have times when you are uber busy. No reason to feel guilty just focus on accomplishing the goal. Be clear with everyone not only your kids that you will simply not have the same amount of time you did before and they need to respect it and help you when they can. You will make it.
Thanks for the tips, I know it will be time consuming, but like you said I will have to be clear with them on why its happening!
Welcome to allnurses and out of lurkdom :) I'm 23 - mama to a 2.5 year old girl and a little man on the way in July. I was planning on applying to a bunch of accelerated BSN programs for the summer of next year, but I can take less pre-reqs through the University of Texas Alternate Entry Masters (also known as the ELM program) so I'm going to do that and see if I get in... still trying to decide what track of the masters I want to take though. good luck on all of your pre-reqs :) I've got micro, physio, pharmacology, and developmental psych left over... unfortunately my dev psych class doesn't count here in Texas because it doesn't cover the lifespan.. only through adolescence :/
Thank you! Thats great you are trying to get your Masters, you will be on the teaching job level then! :) Wishing you the best on you pre-reqs! They sound Fun! I also have to take Micro (bio 2114) and physio (bio2113). I miss science class, I hope I do well in it, as I loved science classes as a kid!
Hey I made two threads of this, but closed the one in General Nurse becauae here it was getting more responses and views but this is from Nikki8318 who is also a mom.
I am a 31yr old single mom to three boys ages 12,7,and 5. I've always worked two jobs to support them. I completed by LPN program with one child while working full-time hours along with a full time schedule. I begin my BSN program in September and while I am very excited, I am also very nervous. I have sat my boys down and explained to them that this is to make sure we have a better future and also to teach them you can accomplish any goal you put your mind to as long as your willing to put in the time, effort and work. Keep the faith and remain strong. This is one of my goals so I know there is no giving up. Even though I will continue to have to work full-time hours I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make sure I'm still there for my boys and to give 110% while attending school. I think this is a great thread and hope more post and share their stories. Good Luck everyone on your journey.
Great Article I Found WIth Tips on Balancing School and Kids
BY ASC
Returning to school may be overwhelming when you have children and many other obligations. You may ask yourself “How do I balance my kids with schoolwork? How do I navigate the school and classes after being absent from the regular school schedule?” With some time management and scheduling, simplifying, and strategizing you can do it all. You can still be a wonderful parent and an excellent student.
Things you can do at home
Time Management/Scheduling: With your busy life, time management and formulating schedules of your day, week, and quarter can help you plan and manage your daily life which will help you gain time and to reduce stress. As important and effective these schedules can be they are only as useful as you make them, so remember to not only make these schedules realistic, but you also need to put an adequate amount of effort into following them.
Making a quarterly schedule with all of your midterms, projects, and finals listed can help when your family is planning on going on trips and weekend vacations. You can refer to this calendar to plan accordingly with your studies.
Weekly schedules and daily to-do lists are useful in scheduling doctor appointments, writing in when your kids may have basketball practice, when your classes are, when your kids classes are and when you need to eat and tend to your family’s needs such as breakfast, lunch and dinner. Remember to pace yourself and to plan your day according to your personal abilities.
It is very beneficial to think outside the box when planning your schedules. Do so in a time conserving manner such as packing lunches the night before so you are not rushed in the morning, start prepping for dinner in the morning so when the time comes most of the elements are already assembled, and if you are already out and about finish all the errands on your to-do list for the day. These simple actions will actually give you more time throughout the day to do or complete other tasks and they can even give you some time to relax.
[*]Simplify: Now that you have taken on another responsibility, try to simplify what you are already doing at home to include your new obligation to school.
In addition to your usual study hour, perhaps you can join your children at the kitchen table and make it a family activity. This way you are able to spend time with your family and be a positive influence in your children’s lives as everyone is making scholastic effort.
Dropping extraneous obligations can free up your time. You don’t have to do everything. Just because parents are socializing at your child’s karate practice doesn’t mean you have to be involved; instead you can better utilize your time with studying flash cards, reading or re-writing class notes.
[*]Strategize: There are many simple things you can do to make studying easier without having to take away extra attention from your family and home life.
While you are in class it is a good idea to tape the lecture, that way you can pay attention to the most important ideas to jot down for additional notes. Listen to lectures you taped in class while at soccer practice, baseball games, or even when doing household chores. Whenever you are doing a more visual activity and you can handle the auditory information, get out your tape recorder and study.
Making flashcards can be a very effective study tool and are portable! You can keep them with you almost everywhere you go and if you have a couple of spare minutes on the bus, waiting in line at the grocery store, or waiting in the car to pick up your kids you can whip them out and get some studying in.
Things you can do at school
Time Management
If you have any down time while waiting for you next class make sure that time is productive in some way or another, whether it be studying or perhaps a phone conference with your child’s teacher do something useful.
[*]Simplify: Simplifying your studies and schedule is a great way to not only create time during your week, but to also relieve stress.
A great way to simplify your days is to schedule your classes on the same days so you don’t have to make many trips a day to and from the school to catch classes.
[*]Strategize: The best way to strategize on campus is to know what resources are available to you and how to use them.
Get in touch with your academic advisor. They are there to help and provide guidance and they are one of the best resources available to you on campus.
Developing relationships with faculty such as your professors is very useful as well. Going to office hours to talk about topics in class that maybe you didn’t understand or for any other questions you may have about the course content is extremely effective in heightening your educational value.
You should be aware of all the resources available to you on campus. This includes everything from the Library, Health Center, and even to the Disability Resource Center. Many schools offer Student Success Seminars that can help aid you in your studying. The Disability Resource Center provides many services such as note taking to those who may have a learning disability. Make sure you utilize all the resources on campus.
Use the library whenever you need a quiet study area. It has great desk space, computer labs, reference books, and a nice and quite atmosphere for you to concentrate in.
Additional Tips for studying and managing your family life
Do a little every day - Cramming is NOT a good study technique. If you spread out your studies and work a little each day in every class you will retain more knowledge and do better on your tests.
Use your kid’s nap times wisely – Use this quiet time to get in some extra reading or to get other household tasks done. And it may be a great time for you to take a nap!
Get up an hour early – This extra hour is a great opportunity for you to have time to yourself, to get a head start on breakfast, or to finish up some homework that needs to be done.
Get some extra help from family and friends – If you really need some extra time for studying during midterm or finals week reach out to your family and friends to arrange a babysitter until you have finished all your important exams.
Involve your family in your learning – Don’t let your studies consume you to the point you are locked in a quiet room and come out only for food. Let your family know what you are doing, what you are accomplishing and if you find something particularly interesting bring it up at dinner or whenever you can to make a conversation about it. Chances are they will be interested because you show invested interest and it’s a great way for them to be involved in your education.
Don’t forget play time – As noted before don’t let your studies consume your life. When formulating your schedules make time for “game night” with your family or “date night” with your spouse. Taking a little time off here and there will award you a lot of needed relaxation and decrease your stress.
Remember though, you don’t have to do EVERYTHING listed. These are just suggestions that you can try out and if they work out for you then think about adopting them into your daily routine. Do not overload yourself.
This is awesome! I so need this today. I am 33 with 4 children. My oldest is 12 and youngest is 2. Starting my prereqs in the fall. Feeling so nervous about starting school again and the load of household and family. This thread is just what I need to help encourage me to know there are others out there who have done it and it is possible. Thanks!
Hello I also wanted to stated That there are programs for Childcare (SUCH AS CAPS, That is what the the childcare subsidy program is called in Georgia), You can apply on-line for it and it also pays for childcare while you attend school (School rules are different depending on what state you are in) (LPNS, Because its Technical and its less then 1 year to complete) and if you are single mom with a not so good relationship with the children father. There is TANF that will help you find employment and give you childcare in less then a month to look for work and i Georgia You only have to pay a sliding scale fee based of income for Childcare. I Have Three Children and I pay a minimum of $38 dollars a week for full-time childcare.
There is also a program that gives young kids a headstart in School. So If you have a newborn all the way to the age of three, look up head start programs they put younger kids in school that is free from 8am-2pm depending on your locations. They are everywhere in the USA
This is awesome! I so need this today. I am 33 with 4 children. My oldest is 12 and youngest is 2. Starting my prereqs in the fall. Feeling so nervous about starting school again and the load of household and family. This thread is just what I need to help encourage me to know there are others out there who have done it and it is possible. Thanks!
I am so glad you joined us, the more the MERRIER!! Don't feel nervous! I also had felt that way since I've been out of school for quite some time (Classroom environment) I am sure you will do well. I need encouragement as well as I know it is possible for us to do it! I am also starting my pre-reqs in fall too! I will be able to apply for the ADN next year in October and will know If I am accepted by December 2015! Good Luck HUN, and keep us updated! G
Thinking about whipping out the crock pot and making meals in advance to save some time. Maybe make meals 3-4 days in advance and freeze or refrigerate. Such as pizza spaghetti (Oven), pot roast (For my pork-eaters), Salisbury steak (yes, even this can be done in a crock pot, saw a recipes on it with great reviews) Will be back later with some time-saving recipes and websites. !! Goodnight Ladies, work in the AM and I have to continue to brush up on my algebra, English and writing skills to take the compass test. (EVEN the compass scores are use for admissions to ADN...
okay, sorry had to come back for this silly mistake, so I thought I was younger then what I really was, lmbo!! I am 24 going on 25 in August, lol. I guess I try to stay young forever, I forget my age when I get excited... (Silly me... I Wish I was a year younger, enough time to finish my Pre-reqs (Joking, lol)
I Wish I was a year younger, enough time to finish my Pre-reqs (Joking, lol)
ASN2016, ASN
113 Posts
That's great! almost hitting the ten year mark! That is so sweet, can't until im married and hitting my ten year anniversary...sign(one day)...
I also wanted to be a teacher, maybe for highschool or colleges. However teachers salary did not due for me.They are so important but are paid lesser then they should be.
So are you competing for spring of next year 2015? I hope you are accepted! I am also trying to go the BSN route, even though people say your are only paid .25 cent - 1.00 more, but qualified for more positions.
You cutting back your load is a positive sacrifice that is very well gonna play out good for you and your family and soon as your done, I'm sure you can increase it again, btw sounds like a fun and creative business! :)