Pre Nursing student & I need help from those that are experienced!!

[babiblu3]

Hello everyone! I am very new to this site and am excited to get to know people and learn from others experiences. I need some help tho...

I am 23 years old....got a late start like some others have here as well. I also have a 1 year old baby who is very demanding and like any other baby, needs all attention. I have totally separted from her father and get no $ from him BUT ijust moved back with my mother-so i get some help from her while im at class during the week. I am working on my pre reqs right now and at the END of THIS semester (fall semester) I will have completed:

1st being summer semester class (2010) of Psycology-when i first started college...

(i only started with 2 classes to get myself used to it and had to drop of of the classes)

2nd being fall semester (2010) of Math/Bio-(Ii had to drop BIO due to not understanding the material, so i pretty much only got 1 class done)

3rd being spring (of 2011) of med terminology/public speaking which I did well in but i only took 2 classes that semester because i got pregnant the previous fall and by spring i was getting close to due date.

4th being summer of 2012 (I took a break and was stay at home mom up until summer 2012 smester) I completed Music (a humanity credit) and another Math credit (probability/statistics)

5th being Fall 2012-I finally bumped it up to 4 classes which I should have done long ago but couldnt due to financial aid problems and the classes I needed were not available to me at the time. By the end of this fall I will have completed Eng 101, Theater (humanitycreit), Bio112, and AHS 126 health calculations

Sorry if I am all over the place...I know I have not done too much even tho I have already been through 5 semesters after this fall 2012 but my question is why do I feel I have gotten nothing done towards my nursing career??

I have 13 pre req credits to go-most of which depend on another class to be completed and finish all my pre reqs. So after I finish all 13...WHAT COMES NEXT? AND HOW LONG is it going to take me to do what is to come next?? Is there something I should be preparing myself now as a heads up or shortcuts while I am still doing pre reqs that will help or prepare me more for the next step?

I feel so frusterated and now I have a baby doing it pretty much all on my own-with some help from my mother. I am struggling on juggling baby, work, doing homework WHILE concentrating on actually getting GOOD grades at the same time, having somewhat of a life (I am not a party girl-but theres no time for EVEN a movie!) and still trying to stay sane all at the same time.

My body is being affected and barely find time to even eat. There are days where I feel I can't do all of them at the same time and feel a breakdown coming if I dont figure things out quick! I dont want pity and I dont want to burden others with my "riff-raff" but Ill take any input that may help-especially from people who might have the same thing going on.

Thanks so much for listening :)

Have a wonderful night!

-babyblu3

[bunnyfungo]

I think you're doing great! I know that it seems like it's taking forever, but sometimes that's just the way it has to be.

I have a 4 month old daughter, so I understand how difficult it can be to try to go to school and raise a baby. My husband is here for me, but he also has a very demanding job and usually works 60+ hours a week. That means that I don't get much help with taking care of our daughter. Does your school have online classes? Those have been a life saver for me since I can't really afford to put my daughter in daycare. I'm usually able to get my work done when she is napping and once I've put her to bed.

I've been taking 2 classes at a time because I want to do really well in each class and make sure I maintain a good GPA. If you can handle more classes, then do it! But don't beat yourself up if you have to take less than you think you "should". Just keep your end goal in mind when you're having a tough day. For me, I visualize my daughter at my pinning ceremony and it gets me through.

It takes a strong woman to be a full-time mom and full-time student. I think that will just make us better nurses! Good luck!!

[loriangel14, RN]

You sound like you are doing fabulously. Yes it will seem like it's taking forever but you will reach the end some day. Don't be in such a hurry.I can't believe you think 23 is a late start.lol That's YOUNG. Don't be in such a hurry. You will get though this. You just do what you have to do. Some day you will look back at this and marvel at what you have accomplished and our daughter will be proud of her mom.

I was 38 and had 2 young children to support. I worked 7 days/week and went to night school because I had a mortgage to pay.I survived and you will too.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

You are doing great! I really admire moms who go back to school, especially for something as challening as nursing, so you're the bomb diggity in my book. :)

I am not a mother right now and have a relatively stress-free full-time job, and I could only get one or two pre-reqs done at a time. Therefore, I think you're doing great considering all the things you have to get done.

Just try to find a way to focus on one thing at a time. If you are studying while stressing about how you have to be at work in an hour, you're not going to learn the material. If you're at work wondering how you're going to spend any time with your daughter, you're going to have a hard time getting your job done. If you're readding your daughter a book while stressing about having some semblance of a life, you're going to miss your chance to truly enjoy that quality time with her. And if you sit through your favorite movie feeling guilty because you're not studying, you're not going to feel rested anyway! See what I mean? Find time to dedicate to each thing you want and stick to it, even if it's not as much time as you would ideally have. You learn, work, and play much better when your mind is all there with you.

[Halcyonn]

I think you're doing just fine. I have a one year old and a two year old. I have been chipping away at my pre-reqs. for 2 years now. No sense wishing for what you don't have. Just keep your eye on the prize and remember that each step you take puts you a little closer to your goal. You will get there, I promise!

[babiblu3]

wow! i am very taken back on all the positive support and how other ladies can relate in someway with me! Thank you guys so much for taking the time to respond back and i hope you all accomplish ur goals as well even if it does take more time than wanted/expected. Thanks again for all the support i GREATLY appreciate it all! I will do my best to stay focused and keep my eye on the prize...the thing that keeps me motivated is seeing a vision of when i get to take my daughter shopping for her FIRST year of school and ACTUALLY being able to afford to buy her a "Dora" brand backpack, shoes, lunch box or watever may be her favorite then, and not feel bad that i have to get her a plain-jane one instead because of a stupid job & not a career.