Tell me about nursing school... (again)

RossayRN · Dec 17, 2009

Well my opinion is this: if you re going to go to nursing school do it before you start your family. I have 2 children 7 and 3, and although I am going into my last semester now of my program, there has been countless times that thought about how I wish I had done this before I had a family. It's just harder to balance everything out: family, house, etc. Dinner is almost nonexistant, I don't have time to clean thoroughly because I am always studying, and alot of time I am interrupted by other responsibilities like helping son with homework, time to fix lunch, dinner, breakfast., laundry, birthdays. It can be done obviously because I am doing it, but it will be a heck of a lot easier without having to sacrifice time with your family for the books.

ICAN! · Dec 17, 2009

I am in nursing school (ADN program) and just finished my first semester. I do not have children at home but one of my friends has 6 children and is doing very well; her husband and mother are wonderful and take care of the kids so she can study. I wouldn't recommend getting pregnant during nursing school (it's hard enough without having a newborn) although I think as long as you have a good support system at home you may do fine mixing school with kids. School is difficult but as long as you are dedicated and study hard you can succeed.

The most stressful part for me (and most all the other students) was doing skills check-offs in front of an instructor. This involved about a 1-2 hour lecture/demonstration from the instructor on one day, 4 hours of practice the next day then coming back a day later and demonstrating the skill in front of the instructor. I'm so thankful that we are finished with all that.

We did have a couple of days that we were in the hospital and actually used some of the skills that we learned. There were assignments to complete, which were pretty long and drawn out, along with testing we did online. We also had the regular tests for the skills part and tests for the lecture part along with finals for both classes. Next semester we are in lecture one day a week and in the hospital two days a week. Can't believe I'll actually be dealing with patients the first week I go back to school. I'm excited about it and a little scared but I have heard that this is when you really learn a lot so I'm looking forward to it.

Good luck whatever you decide.

mercuryrawks · Dec 17, 2009

I start in Jan., But I agree. I wish I felt this calling BEFORE I had kids. But it was having the kids that gave me the desire! It can be done. But it is BEST done when you can strictly devote yourself to school. Have the kids when you have the job. Once you have kids....you have them for life. There is no need to rush to forever. Best of luck....besides, you never know when you will get thrown a curve ball....or a suprise baby.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Dec 17, 2009

I am doing it with 4 kids and I am the odd man out, I am glad I waited until now to do it. Granted I was a mom at 16 so it's not like that would have even been possible, but I am glad it has all worked out the way it has.

Hazel11 · Dec 17, 2009

Nursing school can get intense. My instructor had this to say: "If nursing school were easy, everyone would be able to do it." Even though it can get hard at times, I found that it is important to keep a support system around you. I am very glad that I found two very good friends who I study with each week. We all know what the other is going through, and we have helped each other a lot. You just have to stay motivated, disciplined, and positive. I don't have any children, but I do have a job so I have learned to really manage my time. Good luck. :)

Work in Progress · Dec 17, 2009

It really depends on your time management and your learning style. I am going into my final semester and I had a baby halfway through nursing school. He will be 13 months old when I graduate, and I have no complaints and a 4.0 in my accelerated BSN program. My husband is very supportive, as well as our extended family. If you have the money, the support system and the study skills to make it through then go ahead and do it!

There is never going to be a perfect time to do anything and you just do what you can when the opportunities come along. I have never been one to believe that I should put my life on hold for nursing school or anything else. Nursing school is part of my life, but does not consume it. Good luck and I hope it works out for you!

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2009

It can, and has been done every which way you consider. There have been those who went through school with no kids and graduated. There have been those who started nursing school with kids already in tow and graduated. There are those who had no kids when starting, but became pregnant during school and still graduated.

It's a given: having kids while in nursing school is more difficult than without them. Success is still quite possible with them, but there are those who could not handle the workload of both. You know yourself best and what you can handle.