Question for all of you Frontier students (or any others, really!)

CNM2B · Sep 14, 2009

I am a part-time Frontier student, work 12 or 24 hours per week on night shift and am a stay-at-home Mom to a 2.5 year old. I'd say it CAN be done, with some concessions. You will have to decide early on that you just can't "do it all" for awhile. My house is never as clean as I'd like it to be and we eat out more often than we used to. I have a VERY supportive husband who is great about coming home and watching our daughter when I'm in a school pinch. There are a lot of days when I wonder why I'm doing it, but I enjoy the coursework (well, most of it), and keep focused on the long term goals.

If it is a dream of yours, I'd say to go for it, as long as you realize that you may need to let things go in other areas of your life. Most of the other students you will encounter at Frontier are in a similar life situation, so that really helps when you are feeling overwhelmed. I know of several current Frontier students who have recently had babies. Plus, a lot of the faculty earned master's degrees while they were working Moms, so they "get it" as well and are often very helpful at working things out. There have been a couple times in this program where "life" got in the way with school (sick daughter or crazy work schedule), and the faculty has been supportive about offering a short extension on assignments. It's definitely doable.

Good luck with your decision. It's not an easy one, but you can do it if you try!

Goozgog · Sep 14, 2009

ditto and yep yep yep.

I had two babies in nursing school and already had a school aged child. That was tough.

I work full time with two 12s one week and three 12s the next on weekend nights. My kids are in school and daycare M-F, that way I can study and have some sanity time. I am officially enrolled PT but have the option to study FT if I think I can handle it. Last term was FT for me and I made it without taking an incomplete (grades pending). :coollook:

I don't have time to do much else

RNLaborNurse4U · Sep 14, 2009

I'm a Frontier student (Bridge program, just completed 3rd term). Bridge is considered fulltime. I work 32 hrs/week (4 eve shifts), have a house husband who watches our youngest child (first grader), plus I have a senior in high school. I plan on going PT on the Masters level courses. I'm finding it difficult at times to balance my work schedule with my study schedule, but it's work-able. I schedule everything -- work, home life, school studying, tests, etc. That works best for me. I put everyone's info on the master schedule on the fridge so everyone knows who is doing what, when. I do a lot of my studying when the kids are in school, before I leave for work at 2pm. As for actually giving birth and having a newborn while in school......hats off to those who can do that! I don't think I'd be able to.

Smark35 · Sep 16, 2009

I just completed my 3rd term of the bridge year, nurse midwifery track. I will be going part-time after I complete the bridge year, and I work 24 hours/week. I have 3 children, a 15yr old involved in sports and school, a 10 year old with autism and ADHD that requires a lot of work and guidance, and a 3 year old.

My husband works full time and we share the responsibilities of the house and kids. I think this program is doable. I'm expecting it to get tougher after the bridge year, but I don't think it will be impossible. I usually spend between 20-30 hours/week on school. This varies, some weeks I spend much less, others a bit more.

The beauty of this program is that it is very portable. You can read at doctors appointments, take school on vacation with you, and basically work when the kids are sleeping if that is what you need to do. Good luck with your journey! :wink2: