Single parent.... Balance study time?????

[AMBITIOUS4US2]

Hello Nurses and Future Nurses,

I am a 26 year old mother with a 8 month old. I have a Bachelor's in Communicatons and the only reason I majored in that was b/c the school I went to was already paid for and did not have a Nursing Program. Anyway I am currently enrolling in a LPN program here in Alabama. I will bridge to the Lpn- Rn mobility track after the I receive my Lpn. My pre reqs I have to take are AP1 and Ap2. Im taking AP1 this summer and Ap2 this fall and will be in the program for January if accepted. I have 3.0 GPA and I have to take the Teas test to get into the program but there is no passing score requirement. MY current work schedule is Monday 8am to 8pm and Tues- Friday 8am to 5pm. When should i study? I have an 8 month old that is not on a schedule she goes to sleep late around 10:30- 11:00 pm. What times and days should i study with the schedule i have? I cant afford to cut any hours right now. I will however when I get into the program. ( i hope to find a part time job) . I really am determined to reach my goal! : ) Thanks for the advice!

[TLizS]

I am not a single parent...but my husband works in the oilfield and has SUPER unpredictable hours...travel...etc...so sometimes it feels like I'm doing it alone .....we have 2 kids (5 and 7....sooo a little more self sufficient than having a baby) it's hard to find balance between kids.....house...work.....everything. If it were me this is what I would do...ease into an earlier bed time for baby.....(and I am soooo not a "schedule your every move kinda gal"....my kids went to bed whenever they got tired when they were little...until one got old enough for school) but having that downtime will give you some time to study. I study better if I do it in short(ish) bursts.....an hour or two this night...and hour or two this night. I usually spend a good block of time studying on saturday or sunday (or both....just depends on our schedule) too.

honestly....I just squeeze it in where i can around everything else. I can't do the "set schedule" I study on these days at this time....but I would try to squeeze an hour or so on 2-3 of your earlier work nights and bigger block on the weekend.

[Pamcakes87]

As a single parent myself my first advice would be to get your baby on a set bedtime. Mine thrived with a set schedule when he was younger and we tend to stick to it to this day. The alone time after your kiddo is asleep is not only important for you but a good time to study. I did all my pre-reqs and coreqs while working full time and so really the only time I had was nights and weekends. My 4 year old goes to bed at 7:30-8 whether he's sleepy or not. I don't mind if he plays in his room as long as he's quiet and gearing towards bed. Schedule, schedule, schedule :)