Pregnant, Nursing School, and Full time LPN

redessa · Jul 15, 2010

Um.... there's something off with the math here. Cause May/June is 10-11 months away. You couldn't possibly be pregnant, already know about and be due in late May much less early June. If you just got pregnant today and somehow already knew about it, you'd still be due in early April.

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Jul 15, 2010

Or if you predict the future really well.

maui12886 · Jul 15, 2010

oh my gosh! i'm so sorry...i meant to say late April/early may which is two weeks before I graduate...on the 14th...i think i'm slowly loosing my mind! forgive me...thanks!

Well-Seasoned · Jul 15, 2010

You can do it Trisha. I was a single mom working full time as an LPN and going to school full time as an RN. You will look back and say,"How did I do that?". Get Pizza Hut on speed dial, delegate to hubby..and if you need any more encouragement I'm sure there are lots of us here who will give it to you. I am 54, have leukemia am getting chemo and starting FNP school full time. YES YOU CAN:)

kaliRN · Jul 15, 2010

I am sure you are going to get a great amount of support here, encouraging you that you can move forward through this and be successful. I have a special place in my heart for pregnant nursing students, having been there, as a single Mom. Besides just lending my support, I did want to share the "I wish I had known" ...

Not everyone will be supportive, learn when you need someone in your corner, and when it would just help you feel better. The culture of each school is unique and I can only speak for what I experienced. Some nursing instructors were annoyed by pregnant students, they dislike having to "accommodate" (whether or not you expect or actually receive accommodation) or feel that you will not be successful in completing the term so you are a waste of valuable resources. You need to make up your mind NOW that this is transient and your education is your priority. I spoke very quietly with the Dean, kept a solid relationship with my CI, and otherwise kept a very demure attitude about the whole thing. Unless there was hospital policy against it (like entering isolation rooms) or something that would medically harm my unborn - I made sure I met the same expectations as my peers. I got help with lifting, turning, and intensive ADL's - but I extended the same. ("Can you help me with Mr. X? Then, I'll help you with Ms. Y.") I knew what medications, procedures, and patients I couldn't handle. Be responsible for your assignment. "I can't work with Ms. X because of her radium implant, but the charge RN (or unit secretary or I looked at the charts and) suggested Ms. Y who has a similar disease process and/or will allow me to meet my objectives by ..." If it's a medication, let the staff RN know as soon as you review the MAR (after getting hand-off report), so they know to expect it.

I also talked very openly with my midwife and obstetrician about my physical limitations. I urge you to do the same. I had other life crises co-existing and my body eventually could not endure the collective stress. I gave up my job for a few months. I wasn't working in the medical field so it was a no-brainer. Please consider now, how you would prioritize. Play the ultimatum out in your brain, consider the financial and emotional implications, and think "If I had to give up one?" A full-time LVN position is invaluable experience in this job market (unless you live in one of those rare states/rural areas where a nursing "shortage" is not a fabled tale). Are you allotted maternity leave at your employer? Find out now what your school policy is on returning students. What portion of the term you would be allowed to return to, what coursework would be credited, whether your "spot" would be given to another student. This is something you need to consider even if you end seamlessly. What if you go into labor during your final (it's fun!)? What if you deliver 3 weeks early? The more information you have while you have the ability to be pragmatic and thoughtful, the better your decisions will be down the line.

I wish you a safe and healthy pregnancy, but our bodies are as miraculous as they are unpredictable. I love being pregnant and I earnestly believe so much of it is attitude. I vomited 4-8 times a day until week 22/24. I carried around my toothbrush and scope (travel size fit in my scrubs pocket) everywhere. I cleaned up and went right back to work. Take care of yourself and your growing one. Eat well (carry nutritious snacks - especially for your 12-hour shift), stay hydrated, sleep is a joke - but get what you can. Be honest with yourself about your limitations.

Get settled in at your new position before you share your wonderful news. You will read many opinions on this, but I would proceed with caution. Employers have a laundry list of reasons why they find a new FT employee's pregnancy disconcerting, allow your work to speak for itself, before you allow your pregnancy to.

After all that ... Know this a beautiful time in your life. I venture you will shed more tears of frustration, hormonal rage, utter despair, and pure joy than you have in the course of your lifetime. And when you hold your child, whether you were able to complete the degree and hold onto the job, all fades into the background for awhile. It is possible, all things are possible. But I had some amazing mentors, who reminded me when I pushed too hard, that this pregnancy was the one thing I could not "begin again." Congratulations and I wish you all the very best.

morphed · Jul 15, 2010

I think you can do it, but it's quite possible you'll get burned out. The pregnancy alone will have a huge affect on how you feel, add to that a full time job in LTC no less, and full time school... You're going to be in school all week and come home to study, make dinner, and clean the house, then you have to work full time in a stressful environment, then you have your pregnancy. You're not going to have much time for your husband since you're working all weekend and you're going to be exhausted. You're going to feel like you don't have a life.

Taking all that into consideration, I think you might be able to do it if you really take seriously you mental, emotional, and physical health. Find some alone time for yourself where you aren't doing anything stressful, just focus on something you enjoy. Make time for some alone time with your husband. Don't neglect your health. Exercise and try to eat well, that will probably have a tremendous impact on how well you're able to pull this off. Get organized and stay that way. Get a routine that works for you. Once things begin to unravel it is REALLY REALLY hard to get it all back under control. Definitely do not fall behind in your studying, it will be so difficult to catch back up.

Good luck to you, you can do it.

jesskidding, LPN · Jul 15, 2010

Although I wish you the best, your dates do not add up. Did your OB/GYN not give you an estimated due date? If you were due late May/early June, you wouldn't even be pregnant yet. If you are due late April/early May, you wouldn't be pregnant yet either. Based on that, I doubt you have anything to worry about with balancing work and school since you couldn't possibly be pregnant at this time.

I mean no offense, just pointing this out. Good luck.

Sparrowhawk · Jul 15, 2010

I agree...especially with the early May part. You'd have to have JUST gotten pregnant. Like...yesterday.

maui12886 · Jul 15, 2010

Thank you all for your replies! I really hope I can do it as I really have no other choice. I can't quit my job as I'll be needing the insurance (although the school has good insurance, might look into that) and I'm hoping to finish up my last yr w/out any breaks or asking for an extension. As for the dates, I just took the 4 pregnancy tests two days ago. My LMP was around June 21/22nd (one of those days) and my cycle is usually around 26-28days. After my home PTs was +, I plugged these dates into a calendar method thing online and it gave me an estimated due date of the end of March31s-beginning of April. I shared this with two of my close nursing friends and they said to add another month making it 10 instead of nine months that women are usually pregnant. (40weeks=10monthsX4weeks). To be honest I'm not sure either but they both said that I should count 10months instead of nine. That would make me due the end of April/early May? I still have yet to make an appt, and see exactly where I'm at. With everything going on, I just wanted to make sure this is all possible and that people are still alive after their experience!!! :)

Guest 360983 · Jul 15, 2010

How are you planning on handling your spring semester when you're due in the middle of it? I'd plan on taking the spring semester off, unless you AND your hubby AND your doctor AND whoever is watching the baby (which probably won't be daycare, they often have a minimum age) AND your school agree to allow you to come back a day or two after having the baby.

EDIT: You also need to plan for the unexpected. Have plans for all the what if's--what if you get put on bed rest? What if you have a preemie? What if your doctor decides you need extra appointments?

Momma&RN · Jul 15, 2010

Not to be negative but....you may want to consider that...

If you've never been pregnant before, you may be in for a huge surprise....

When we had our first child, i had 24/7 "morning sickness.":barf02:So much so that i had to take a leave from my FT job and stay at home - only going into town for IV fluids. You may find that you will require much more sleep than you did prior to pregnancy. :yawn: Another consideration - could your pregnancy become high risk? How would you contend with a requirement to reduce stress and get bed rest?

That said, many, many women do NOT experience extreme morning sickness and do not develop pregnancy related issues. We had a few ladies in my RN program who became pregnant. They both maintained and made it, but they didn't work in addition to pregnancy and school and they were both stressed and tired out by the end (like the rest of us). :uhoh3:

Don't want to be the one to be negative or sound nasty, but with money as tight as it is - school as difficult and expensive as it is - and jobs almost impossible to secure....I'd wait until after school to decide to have a baby. This is just my honest opinion.

Can it be done? Only you can decide that...

Good luck and very best wishes to you and yours!! :redbeathe