RNs that have children aging from 2-18 years old

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Hello all. I am taking my prerequisites at the moment and getting ready to apply to nursing school. Nursing will be my second career. I am 34 and I have a 2.5 year old and a 4 year old. My children are small. And I have no family support other than my husband. I made my mind and I am going to finish my school and become a nurse. I am planning to start school in 2013 Fall when my oldest starts kindergarden. I have the option to go to ABSN program or an ADN program at a local community college. I think I am going to choose ADN program even though I have a BS degree in an another field due to the intensiveness of the ABSN programs. With two little kids and no family support it would be very difficult to be in an intensive program. I would rather take my time have summers off and finish the ADN in two years and get the BSN later. I really do not want to sacrifice my children as I am fulfilling my dream of becoming a nurse. Am I thinking right here?

Also, for those who have little children and who are already working in the field: How do you do it with your kids? I am especially interested hearing from nighttime shift nurses with kids? How do you handle it? Is it doable to work night time and have kids at the same time? I am asking this question because when I graduate from the nursing school, I think it will be very hard to find a daytime hospital position as a new graduate (maybe I am wrong). I would love to hear from all of you who have kids.

And last of all, I am starting to volunteer tomorrow morning at a local children's hospital's NICU department. Wish me good luck! and thank you all in advance!

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Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Rehab, Home Health.

My children are grown now but were small when I started working. If your husband works days and you work nights it is not too hard to organize things. I worked 11p to 7a and hubby 8a to 4p. He got the kids started in the morning and I finished getting them off to school when I got home. I slept while they were in school and got up when they got home. In the evening, hubby got them into bed while I took a nap, then I went to work.

I don't require a lot of sleep so the 6 hour block during school and an hour or so nap in the evening worked well for me. It all depends on how much of a "hands on dad" your DH is willing to be.

I wish you the best of luck in school and in arranging a schedule that works for your family.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

My DH is thankfully very hands on. I work nights 7pm-7am 3 days a week, which I schedule back to back whenever possible. Usually Thurs-fri-sat nights. During those days my son and husband probably only see me for an hour or so but they do their own things together so i don't mind. We usually spend Sundays together after I catch a nap and then I am the primary caregiver Monday-Thurs so my son and I get to spend quality time together. Being pregnant its harder, I find I have to sleep a lot more to function. My son is 3.5 and I'm 38 weeks pregnant with number 2. It's definitely doable although will be a lot easier when they are both in school.

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Are you thinking that an ADN isn't intense?? Plan that any nursing program-especially a shorter, more condensed version- will be very intense.

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I started my BSN program at 32, newly separated from an abusive husband who continued to harass me, with sole custody of my kids who were 3 and 6 at the time. I had zero family help. I had to fight to get child support. My youngest actually went to college with me. She would go to the daycare while I was in class. It took me 6 1/2 years to get my BSN, but I did it. It was the hardest thing I have ever done plus juggling kids and scholarships. If you want it bad enough you will find a way. Brick walls are there for a reason...quote from the last lecture. Wishing you success!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I started my pre-reqs, online and one at a time, when the lamb was 2.5 months old. During this time, we moved to Texas and back--the internet let me take classes through my CC at home. I did have to take one class in person in Texas...enter Kindercare :)

I started the ADN when the lamb was 2; graduated when he was 4. I found a 24/7 at-home daycare (licensed and insured!) through the military childcare office. She was awesome--I gave her my schedule in advance each week and she took care of it. I kept her after graduation and that let me start off my first job on the evening shift. By the time the lamb started school at age 6, I was able to switch to days. My childcare provider farmed out watching him on weekends to her teenage daughters at that point so they could earn pocket money. It also helped that whenever my better half was home, he was (is!) very hands on with the lamb and never minded watching him when work called.

It took a lot of work to find her--it took several months and tons of interviews--but I'm glad I didn't give up. She made nursing school and my career possible. I wish I had found her earlier so it didn't take 4 years to do my prereqs...but that was the best thing for me to do at the time.

Keep searching, you will find the answer to the problem...though you may have to make some changes to your plans. Best of luck!

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One thing that I had to get accustomed (since I am a bit controlling) is the idea of "good enough." Don't think everything is going to be perfect and decide that some things really don't matter that much - my daughter wore a tinkerbell costume to daycare for almost an entire year and many nights we had "breakfast for dinner!" Just remember what is important and why you are doing this - and learn to cook in a crock pot!

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Specializes in Psych.

My kids were 3 and 5 when I started the nursing program but in all actuality all they have ever known is me going to some sort of class. Luckily I have my husbands and my parents support. It was hard being away from them, but worth it in the end.

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I'm not a nurse yet but I'm in my second week of an ABSN program. I have a 4 1/2 year old and a 2 1/2 year old, no family around to help, an occasional babysitter, but a very hands-on husband. For the past 2 semesters I took my pre-requisites while the kids where in daycare and many times studied long hours at night or occasionally on weekends but always made sure I was spending quality times with the kids.

This semester is much harder because I started clinicals and with so many classes to take I already know I will have to sacrifice one day every weekend to study. I also volunteer at a hospital every Sunday night. If you have a helpful husband is certainly doable, but I would recommend you to go straight for your BSN. The amount of study will be the same anyway and once you have a schedule in place it is much easier to organize your study time regardless of which program you choose. Get your BSN and get it over with! And keep looking at the light at the end of the tunnel...it will be worth every sacrifice. Best of luck and never doubt yourself.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

I took all of my pre-reqs online for the first year, then had the nursing courses to do. My oldest was 5 at the time, youngest 3. When my oldest and I sat at the kitchen table doing homework together, she told me that she was happy that we were both in school.

There were times when my husband had to take the day off to accommodate special school clinicals, but for the most part, we were able to do it on our own. Also, find a daycare/babysitter to pick up the odd day, too. It helped a lot.

Currently, I work evenings. I get my girls to school, he picks them up from aftercare program. They get to have both of us with little babysitter time.

The challenge: kids wanting bedtime stories, making time for relationship.

The reward: kids proud and understanding value of working hard to accomplish something, husband treating time together with more value.

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