Jean28

Hi everyone, I am a single mom to a lovely 3-year-old, and I am currently on the ADN route to become an RN. I've seen so many inspiring nurses and fellow students here, so I wanted to open a discussion and seek some realistic advice. To give you some background on my current schedule: Work: I work part-time as a financial/accounting assistant. My hours are Saturdays (11 hours) and Sundays (10 hours), plus about 3 hours from home on weekdays. Childcare: My child goes to daycare on weekdays from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM (sometimes up to 3:30 PM). Once daycare ends, I am on full-time mom duty. Current Progress: Last semester, I took A&P 1. I was going through a difficult divorce at the time, which was emotionally exhausting, but I pushed through and managed to get an A. My goal is to apply for the ADN program for Fall 2027. To stay on this track, I need to take A&P 2 and Microbiology together this Fall, while also prepping for the Kaplan Nursing School Entrance Exam. My absolute target is an A in both classes and a 90%+ on the Kaplan test to be competitive. Honestly, I am worried if this workload is realistic given my situation. I want to put my education first, but I have two main dilemmas: Should I try to cut my work down to just one day? I doubt my employer would love the idea of me working only one day a week, and financially, as a single mom, it will be tough. But I am willing to do it if it's the only way to secure straight A's. The alternative I want to avoid: Splitting the classes (A&P 2 in Fall 2027, Micro in Spring 2028, and applying for Fall 2028). As a single mom, I need a stable income as soon as possible, and slowing down feels like a waste of precious time. Are there any single moms or working students who have survived this exact schedule? Is it doable to take A&P 2 and Micro together while studying for the Kaplan test, or am I setting myself up for burnout? Any tips on time management, Kaplan prep, or alternative pathways would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much in advance, and Happy Fourth of July to everyone!