It was my second year of my four year BSN program. My very first set of actual nursing clinicals. The ones where we actually went somewhere, and that was a LTC. I was excited, scared, and every other emotion all combined. I was actually more emotional than I pictured myself. I was so emotional I was nauseated. I was exhausted.
On our third clinical day I went to watch a nurse do a dressing change. Wound care, how exciting! I was absorbing information like a sponge. Then, suddenly it all hit me. The nausea, the exhaution, the weakness all came at once. I excused myself, walked out of the room into the hall, slid down a wall, and passed out. I remember a nurse coming up to me and asking if I was okay, and my clinical instructor being called over the intercom. "Great," I thought. Here I am, in a facility where I should be helping, and learning, and I'm being surrounded by staff. I came back to, alert and oriented, Vitals WNL, BS a little low but not critical. Then, my clinical instructor asked the golden question... "Could you be pregnant"
Well, I could. I'm married, and along with that comes the, ummm... "act" that causes pregancy. But I couldn't be. The doctors said so. It would take "medical intervention" and we had been unsafe for 5 years. "I'm not pregnant, there's no way." To which my clinical instructor said "call your husband, have him pick you up, and stop by the store and pick up a pregnancy test."
Well, okay. I still thought there was no way I was pregnant, but what could I do? She would ask the next day about the results, and I didn't want to lie. So, off to the store we went. My husband took a friend to the clinical site to pick up my car and took the test.
I follow the instructions, wait the period of time and look at the test. Whew.... two lines...that means...wait a minute, I look at the directions again. I look at the test. The directions. The test. I'm pregnant. When my husband comes home I have him verify there are indeed two lines.
I'm scared. I gave up a decent job to go to nursing school. My husbands work was erratic. We didn't have health insurance. Most of the time we didn't even have an extra five dollars. What will we do? My mind goes on a brain storm? Quit nursing school and find a job. Work part-time and go to nursing school. What can we sale? What will we have to buy?
Fast forward four years.... today. My son was born during the summer, but I slowed down nursing school and worked any job I could find that would fit within daycare hours. Americorps, tutoring, at the daycare itself. It took five years to complete my four year degree, but it was completed. We had to used Medicaid for my pregnancy and son, but we have health insurance now. We were on food stamps for awhile, but can afford our own food now.
So many people didn't know how I could "do it"- go to nursing school and have a baby. I didn't know how those who worked full-time or spent hours partying or in their sorieties could do it. Things just came together. Sure, there were days and nights I was exhausted. Days I left the daycare in tears because I didn't want to leave my baby. Days I counted out change for milk. However, no matter what the challenge that arose I chalked it up to being a bad day and pressed forward.
I graduated last May. I had a job before graduation because I worked in the hospital as a student nurse and did my practicum on the floor I wanted. I also graduated with a 3.94. Inducted into Sigma Theta Tau. Passed NCLEX in 75 question and 30 minutes.
Today, my son doesn't have to go to daycare anymore. Between my husband's schedule, my schedule, and his preschool schedule, there isn't the need. I don't have to count change for milk anymore. I don't have to pray that my gas tank makes it one more day. In fact, we are taking our first family vacation to Disney in a couple of months.
Don't let anyone tell you that having a baby during nursing school is impossible. It's hard and tiring. Some days it seemed like the end would never come- but it did. And it was well worth the wait. I wouldn't change a thing.
Specializes in Advanced Practice, Home Care, Med-Surg,.
i was pregnant when i started nursing school but i was determined to not let this stop me and my career. i had my baby on a friday and was right back in class on monday. i had a test that morning and i got a A.
Wow - this is such an inspiring story and gives me such hope. I too will be leaving a stable and decent paying job to go to nursing school. I'm anxious and scared about all the "what ifs" involved with being on one full income and making every penny count. I just keep telling myself that it's possible and your story really gives me a lot of hope. While it might be difficult, it's not forever. Congrats to you for your determination and perserverance. :)
I had a very similar situation. I was in my second year also. But I got threw it and it was not easy but a the same time worth it. I was always sick had morninig well more like all day sickness. But I got threw the cinicals and my co students were very supportive. You will be fine and just push forward and dont give up. Congrats on the baby.
Specializes in Surgical, Critical Care, LTC & SAR.
Wonderful story, thanks so much for sharing! I started nursing school pregnant with my 3rd child, took off a semester to have her, and then when I was just about to return in the fall and my daughter was 7 mths old, I found out I was pregnant again! I had 2 babies while in the nursing program, and I tell people the same thing...if I can do it, you can! :)
I had the same scenario: except that I had my little girl during my peds and OB rotation. It definately was hard, exhausting but it is is do-able - not that it is the best position to find yourself in, especially when you are only allowed two absences...I made it a point to schedule appointments outside of school so as not to miss classes. God know all things and we cannot always predict what life have in store for us.
I agree!
we were not allowed to have any absences during clinicals you got very lucky!!
I had the same scenario: except that I had my little girl during my peds and OB rotation. It definately was hard, exhausting but it is is do-able - not that it is the best position to find yourself in, especially when you are only allowed two absences...I made it a point to schedule appointments outside of school so as not to miss classes. God know all things and we cannot always predict what life have in store for us.
I had my little girl during my peds ob rotation too.
I am taking nursing prerequisites and I struggle everyday. I am a stay at home mom to a 2 year old and a 5 month old. Right now, I attend school in the evenings. It is extremely difficult for me because my husband works long hours and we cannot afford day care. In addition, we have no close family around to help with the children.
Yes, it is possible to do well in nursing school with young children however you need SUPPORT.
I got so emotional reading this because it brought me back to my nursing school experience. I had a 3yr old and got pregnant during the 2nd semester of my ADN program. My husband and I were struggling and also had to use medicaid and foodstamps. Somehow we triumphed through it and are living so much better now. As hard as nursing school is on its own, whatever curveballs you are thrown during it, as long as you take it grace and continue to work hard you can do it!!!
Specializes in Surgical, Critical Care, LTC & SAR.
Yes you do need support...and if your husband cannot be that person, then you can ask friends/neighbors, etc. Many teens are always looking for a PT babysitting job also. My husband worked in the mortgage industry (long hours, gone all day) when I was in nursing school and I was on my own most of the time. And as far as not being able to afford daycare goes, you probably qualify for assistance, especially being a student. I received Purchase of Care through the state and that, as well as the financial assistance from the YMCA, paid for daycare for me.
You have to apply yourself! Call your local human resources dept. for your state and get info. on everything that you qualify for that can assist you through the process. There is no shame in getting help...you are going to be a nurse! and you will "repay" society over and over again :)
Oh and we didn't pay a dime for school either. I wrote a narrative of my personal goals as a nursing student and got so many scholarships that each semester the college would mail me a check of the leftover aid that I didn't use on tuition and books. We lived off of that school money sometimes. Apply yourself! Thousands of dollars of scholarships and funds go unclaimed every year!
All you have is set your mind to it. I was pregnant with my fifth child during the most intense semester and had her during my mom/baby semester...how appropriate. My advisor (who was also the mom/baby istructor) tried to get me to sit out a semester, but I had my little one and was back to class in four days.
hopeful_army_NP
253 Posts
WOW! That is impressive.