Single Mom, become a nurse??

WDWpixieRN, RN · Mar 6, 2007

We have quite a few single moms in our class...many are either living with their parents or getting physical help with the kids from family/friends...one works for a hospital and maybe gets tuition assistance that way....I don't know a lot of the specifics besides that....

It can be done; it just might take some creative means to do so! Hope you get some additional help from others here who have been there....

Good luck!

dansamy · Mar 6, 2007

You will need good, reliable childcare while in school. Clinical time can have some wacky hours. If you can live with, or near, your parents (or a sibling) and they are willing to help, that is usually the best course.

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Mar 6, 2007

I'm a single mom, no family in the area and my kids are 4 and 6. I have been getting along just fine and if I can do it, anyone can.

PM if you want to know anything else.

ladyinred667 · Mar 6, 2007

I'm a single mom in my second semester of nursing school. I do live with my father so that I can afford to work less while I am in school, but I also don't get any child support from my daughter's father. Reliable child care is a must, because even though my daughter is in school, sometimes she has days off when I do not.

The upside is that my tuition is 100% taken care of by Pell Grants. Make sure you file your FAFSA.

Good luck!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2007

Amberlee. . .find out if your state department of education offers any kind of assistance to adults or single moms who are looking for career training. You should also look to see if your state department of child and family services can help with this. I used to be an instructor at a vocational school that had a huge population of single mothers who were getting tuition and other support. The school also had a day care for the children of the students. This can't have been the only school in America to be doing this. Once you learn basic nursing, or become a CNA, you can find work in any nursing home on any shift to help support yourself.

Danish, MSN, APRN, NP · Mar 7, 2007

I think if you can make it through school, nursing is the best field for mothers. You have great schedules (3 - 12 hr shifts and 4 days off) and lots of options as your kiddies grow and your family dynamic changes. I say go for it!

neneRN, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2007

I did it as a single mom starting when my kids were 1 and 3; biggest thing is childcare....research programs in your area that can give you assistance- there is funding for childcare, tuition, uniforms, books, etc. I qualified for all of these things and was able to work 27 hrs/week as a nurse intern at the local hospital as well (I wasn't receiving any child support). Yes, its hard, but it wasn't horrible...many have done it and it goes by fast.

shoegalRN, RN · Mar 7, 2007

I'm a single mother of a 10 year old son and while it's hard, it certainly is doable. I do have good support from his father which includes child support and my son going to school from his home. He catches the school bus to his house during the week and I get him on the weekends. So, it works out perfectly for us. It's hard because I want to spend so much time with him during the weekend, but it's always after I have studied.

The only downside for being a single mother while in the nursing program is I don't qualify for any financial aid because I have a really well paying job (although I'm on non-paid educational leave right now).

Honeylee · Mar 7, 2007

Thank you all so much, its incouraging to know so many of you did it. This has been my deepest passion, and I was afraid I wouldnt be able to do it. But after reading your threads I now know, with my drive, I can do this, and provide a wonderful life for my family!

thankyou again so much!:yelclap:

shoegalRN, RN · Mar 7, 2007

Thank you all so much, its incouraging to know so many of you did it. This has been my deepest passion, and I was afraid I wouldnt be able to do it. But after reading your threads I now know, with my drive, I can do this, and provide a wonderful life for my family!
thankyou again so much!:yelclap:

You are welcome! I don't know if you have started taking pre-req's yet or if you have any college credits, but I will start NOW taking one pre-req at a time. Also, go to school year round (including the summer). If you are just starting your journey to nursing school, please be aware there may be a wait for you to get into a school, even after you have completed all your pre-reqs. For me, it took me 4 yrs to complete a 2 yr degree and luckily for me, I didnt have to wait an extra semester to get into nursing school. I applied during my Spring 2006 semester at the community college, finished up my AS in December 2006, and got accepted for the following year which was January of this year. So, if I were you, the first thing I'll do is decide on what type of nursing program you would like to enter and which school, get a list of the pre-req's required for that particular program, and start with the summer semester at the community college taking pre-req's. Before you know it, that time will pass so fast! Good luck to you!

thedude · Mar 7, 2007

:uhoh21: Im a single Mom, now after 7yrs married and two little boys! I have been trying to get into nursing school for years, but because of my Ex hubbies controlling ways I never got the chance. And now that Im single I would really like to pursue a career in this field. I have heard mixed things though, like if you're a single parent, you must have lots of support, or you wont make it. Besides child support, there's nothing else that will assist my time in school.
I really want to be an RN in OBGYN, I understand it will take a long time, probably longer since Im a mom as well.
I just wanted to see if anyone here and done it, if they would do it again, and what the best route would be for me to take.
Thanks so much
Amberlee:balloons:

You can always get a weekend job as an aid, the pay is decent and the hours are pretty good too.