Puppy??

Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP · Sep 4, 2019

Dogs are social animals. For most of them, they want companionship. I don't think I would get one just because you're going to be busy w/ school and not be able to give it much attention. I'll venture further to say, it might be best not to get one even after you graduate since you'll be working in a brand new career and it's going to take some adjustment to get used to it. You just won't have time for the dog to give him the care he/she deserves.

Perhaps in a few years after you're in a routine? I know it sucks to be without pet as they are true joys to have.

Just my two cents.

Ashley Mansell · Sep 4, 2019

Thank you so much!! Luckily she would be a service dog, so she could come places with me and school just not clinicals would you still advise not to get one??

Wuzzie · Sep 5, 2019

A service dog or an ESA? If it’s a service dog there will be a period of time that you and she will train together and that might be difficult with school.

Ashley Mansell · Sep 5, 2019

Sorry an ESA

Wuzzie · Sep 5, 2019

You might find that there are limits where you can take the dog which might not include class. Also, if you require an emotional support dog for class are you certain you're emotionally up to the job of a nurse? You won't be able to bring your dog and it's much more stressful than nursing school. Regardless, puppies are a huge amount of work in the beginning. I think trying to manage school and her needs along with your anxiety might be a bit much.

Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP · Sep 5, 2019

3 hours ago, Wuzzie said:
"......Also, if you require an emotional support dog for class are you certain you're emotionally up to the job of a nurse? You won't be able to bring your dog and it's much more stressful than nursing school....."

^^^^^^ This

I still think it's best to hold off.

Tacocat, ASN, RN · Sep 6, 2019

ESAs are not entitled to the same accommodations of a service dog.

CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2019

First off, the OP might want to ask the moderators to change her name to something that is less identifiable. Secondly, I think that soon enough you will find that nursing school consumes every single minute of the day you can spare and then some.

This isn't the time to get a puppy. It is time to deal with your anxiety issues in a more healthy way if you are serious about being a nurse.

MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN · Sep 8, 2019

I'd wait. It's not just getting a puppy, it's also having to train it, bond with it, emotionally care for it, etc.

Waiting for Retirement · Sep 9, 2019

On 9/5/2019 at 2:56 PM, Ashley Mansell said:
Sorry an ESA

Someone else here mentioned this but I wouldn't expect you would be able to bring your pet to classes. After all it isn't a service dog and frankly ALL pets are ESAs. Would any of us have pets if they didn't provide us some type of emotional support? The big question is if you need to have such an animal rather than just want one. Needing one would be a problem for you.

I ask you this because once school is over I would imagine you would be looking to work a minimum of an 8 hour day which in reality translates to considerably longer once you factor in travel and OT (which you should expect to need to do from time to time). And if you work 12 hour days, they get longer as well. Your dog would be staying home.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2019

Do be aware that only housing and air travel are places where ESAs must be accommodated. Your school has absolutely no obligation to allow you to bring your dog to class. I'm not saying that they won't, but they are not required to. Neither are restaurants, stores, or any other entity, though many of those places are nevertheless pet friendly. But make no mistake, ESAs are NOT service dogs as you first stated. Please don't use that terminology when it is not warranted

That said, it sounds like you have at least some plans set up to care for the animal. But I personally would wait until I finished and had a stable routine.

Good luck whatever you decide.