Starting nursing school with an infant

Laurie2000 · Feb 11, 2009

Go for it! Get it done while they are young. I started my pre-reqs when my son was 5 months. I am in my second semester of nursing school and he is 3. I have to hustle (computer work from home - lots of financial aid). But, I think in just one more year I will have a job and money again (hopefully!). For me, daycare is invaluable, because nursing school, especially first semester, manages to eat up all of your days whether it is scheduled or not, so I like the flexibility. My friends who rely on family help are a little more stressed when the all too often curveballs and unexpected tasks are thrown at them.

There is never a "good" time to return to school. If you are thinking about it, then now is the time!

1totry31 · Feb 11, 2009

I wanted you to know that you can do it! I started my pre reqs when my daughter was 5 months old and I am now in my second semester of rn school and getting ready to sit for my LPN boards this spring. I am also enrolled in an accelerated bachlors of business program at another school....On top of school and being a single mom, I also managed to get engaged recently and I am planning a wedding all while attending nursing school. Which shows you that I have a tiny bit of time to have a social life.

My schedule is very full, and I don't sleep much, but I still manage to have 6 hours of me time every week, to just relax and watch tv or read....or go on all nurses. My key to managing my schedule is that I take all my nursing classes Monday through Wednesday including clinical. My days are jammed packed on Monday through Wednesday but I have a four day weekend from nursing school every week. My accelerated program only meets once a week on Thurseday evenings. My rule is that I take 2 hours for myself after that class (Thursday night) to catch up with friends etc. Fridays I am totally devoted to my daughter and whatever she wants to do. When she goes to bed on Friday night I pull out the books and start preparing for the following week. Saturdays I spend time with my family and catch up with house work....but I always devote a couple of hours every evening besides Thursday evenings to school, and I find as long as I do that I stay ahead of the game and I get good grades. I am not "Cing" my way through nursing school. I also find that if you wait till around 8 when the little one goes to sleep, you can get a lot more done, compared to when they are awake. My dad asks me every night "what are you doing" and I always have the same answer for him "homework" but I know that my hard wake is going to pay off soon, and I will be able to give my daughter the things that she needs. Hope that helps.

FLmomof5 · Feb 11, 2009

My situation is VERY different from yours, but I wanted to encourage you to go for it!

I was a single mom of 5 for years working FT (good paying job) and getting no child support. There were soccer games and practices, honor choir, band, NJROTC functions, and of course....court appearances for my wonderful juvenile delinquents! (LOL - I love my ADD son's but raising them WAS a challenge, especially with no family in the area and no daddy to help!)

Three of my kids joined the military and I then started my nursing pre-reqs while I had a senior in HS and a freshman in HS.

I will start nursing school in May. I got married to my long term BF this past September. My oldest daughter came home from Iraq (2nd tour combat medic) last week. She will be getting out of the Army in April and moving home to get her nursing degree. My first son is out of the Army and he is home and attending college at FCCJ. My second son is the same.... My second daughter (fourth child) is on scholarship at UNF. My youngest is 16 now and a sophmore.

My husband is SCANG (Army National Guard) FT so he works there during the week and home on the weekends. So, I am a psuedo single mom! I inherited 4 stepkids....his oldest (boy) is in the Army (MP) and his 19yo daughter is in college in SC. He has 2 young'uns at 12 and 15 who visit us here in FL when he gets the time to bring them down.

You simply need to schedule your time and lean on those who are there to support you! Good Luck!!!!!

missjennmb · Feb 11, 2009

I have 3 kids, and I'm married and working part time. My kids were 13, 2, and 10 months when I started school. I wish I had waited to be honest. If I did not have to work and my 13 yr old was not homeschooled I might feel otherwise, but right now I am struggling to find enough quiet time to study (I fall asleep all the time w/ my books) because I can't focus when my children are running around and I can't just walk away from them when they need me.

My kids are getting older and I'm missing it. I don't see them for more than 2 hours a day and when I do I have my next test in the back of my mind or my next assignment, ect. I have a lot of trouble just being with my kids and enjoying my time with them because there is always something school related that I MUST do.

If I had it to do over again I would take my pre-reqs a couple of nights a week or take a part time night/weekend program and spend my days with my kids. I miss them terribly (and I am paying through the nose for daycare and vehicle fees in order to go...and its causing immense strain on my family's finances)

FLmomof5 · Feb 11, 2009

DRD,

I did my pre-reqs online and 2 a semester. I did have time for my kids that were home and doing asst stuff for my others when they were in the Army. Online classes save you the daycare costs and the commute and you have extra time because you aren't driving them to daycare and then driving to school and reversing it at EOD. Your oldest will see the value of education and see you studying and will learn that behavior by watching you, so it has a side benefit!

My 16 yo went from Bs and Cs to all As when we focused on "it's time to do homework now" and turned off all distractions!

I don't know if you are as lucky as me....my school offers nights/weekend courses for NS and that will help too!

Keep your chin up! It is SO worth the effort! :yeah: