The logistics of nursing school and being a mom (or dad)

LilNurse2b143 · Apr 12, 2007

Going to nursing school and having kids is hard, but if I can do it ANYONE can!!! I was 18 when I got pregnant, and was currently taking all my pre-req classes. It turned out really good because I had my daughter in mid-July, and went right back the following semester, so I never stopped going.

I got into the program a year after because of the waiting list, and at that time she was 2 1/2. VERY tough age and all she wanted was Mommy!! I take night courses...so I'm with her during the day, wait for my fiance to get home, go to class or clinical for either 3 or 4 1/2 hours depending on the day,and then come home and study for a solid 3 hours. Then I hit repeat the next day. Come weekends, I get help from my parents so I can get studying done and get quiet time with me and my fiance. I am now 21 and I have a year and a half left. When I graduate, my daughter will be entering Kindergarden, JUST in time for me to start my nursing career in full effect!! It's stressful, frustrating at times, but SO worth the wait!

You can do it! :)

HHW2006 · Apr 12, 2007

The only way I got through nursing school was with the support of not only my husband and two children, but my mother-in-law and sister-in-law as well. At first I was reluctant to accept their help, but finally came to the realization that they wouldn't offer if they really didn't want to help. My point is, take advantage of whatever help and suppport family and friends are offering you. Best of luck to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AmericanChai · Apr 12, 2007

I really don't know what to do about my kids and school this summer. When I start my pre and co-reqs this summer, it will be the hardest thing ever. I have no family nearby and that sucks. All of my family is 5 hours away:uhoh21: How I am going to pull this off, I don't have a clue. I guess the power of pray and faith!!!

What about a summer day camp? The Y and other places offer them. Also I found out that with a Y membership you can get FREE childcare for up to 2 hours per day. I used that service for awhile last summer, would just camp out and study, but my little one kept getting sick.

If you have an IKEA nearby they also have free childcare. You can buy a cup of coffee and sit upstairs and study, buy something small on the way out to justify your using them. Same with some grocery stories that have free childcare while you shop. If there's a little coffee corner you can snatch an hour of study time and buy something on the way home.

rnmomtobe2010 · Apr 13, 2007

The Y is a good idea. Never thought of it. Thanks for the tip AmericanChai

mstigerlily · Apr 13, 2007

I was lucky to have a husband who had a flexible schedule and a retired mom five minutes away who had plenty of time. Couldn't have done it without them. I start my kids at two full days of preschool at age three, and three full days of preschool at age four, then kindergarten at five of course. I used the preschool at my school which was not only convenient but an EXCELLENT school. They literally potty trained my 3 yr old for me, plus taught her patience, waiting, no whining, waiting in line, "nap time" although she lay down quietly instead of napped since she stopped napping at age 2. I'm kind of relaxed about stuff here at home so preschool really gave them some structure and lots of modeling and good influence from peers.

I'd change their days at school each semester according to my schedule. I gave birth to my second at the beginning of prereqs and my mom or husband watched her when I was gone but I scheduled all my classes on Tues/Thurs so it was easy. I breastfed her till she was 18 months and my husband would bring her to school for me plus I'd pump in the car on breaks. In nursing school, she was 3 by then and old enough to start the preschool. I gave birth to my third child after 3rd semester so took a semester off plus had the summer so when I returned he was nearly 6 months old. My classes were short enough generally by then he wouldn't have to miss a feeding except on Wednesdays my husband would bring him and I'd feed him in the car and we'd all have lunch then I'd return to class for a few hrs and then go home. In clinicals twice a week I'd try to pump once and sometimes that was a challenge. I started working when he was 11 months old and when I worked days my husband would try to bring him by for lunch and a feed. He nursed till he was over two but of course mostly at bedtime. Oh, plus I worked part time on my days off but I used to be a massage therapist so it was very sporadic, a massage here or there every now and then just for extra money, very flexible. My husband and I didn't go out very often, however my oldest was 8 when her sister was born and 12 when her brother was born so by the time he was a year I considered her old enough to babysit and now at 15, she does it all the time, which is NICE.

Now I'm chipping away at my BSN online (almost done) and plan on doing my IBCLC and RN-C exam next year or so so I'll find the time to study for and take those tests but I'm very organized and self-motivated when it comes to thing like that, I'm a long range planner and spend lots of time thinking about the future. I never have been, or never wanted to be a SAHM, I need variety in my day and adult stimulation, the first six months at home are enough for me, when you're nesting, bonding and breastfeeding, but beyond that a gradual phase-in of work and/or school is needed. I'd lose my mind at home for years and years, I don't know how people do it. I did most of my homework late at night when breastfeeding or while sitting around breastfeeding, or while they were napping. I'm very computer literate and enjoy the flexibility of online learning so that situation is ideal for me.

Does anyone who is in nursing school want to talk about the logistics of having young children and keeping up with studies? I am a prenursing student at the moment. I hope to get accepted the same year my youngest starts Kindergarten. I am hoping to do the part time program. How in the world do you manage your kids, giving them the attention they deserve, and also keeping up with your studies? What if you can't afford sitters very often or have no family in town to babysit? I don't want my kids to be at the babysitters out of school hours anyway.
Does anyone what to share how the manage? Want to share your schedules, too?

MIKelly · Apr 13, 2007

I was just accepted to my CC's nursing program and I am not sure how I will handle the childcare issue. I have four children, 7, 5, and twin 3 yr olds. The older two will be in school all day (and I can use the before and after care programs for them if need be), it's the little ones I am not sure what to do with. I am hoping to get into my school's accelerated group, which has lectures Thursday and Friday nights and then weekend clinicals. That would be perfect for me, I would only have to worry about childcare a couple times a month if my husband is traveling for work. If I got into the traditional program the classes and clinicals would just be a nightmare. I don't have a wonderful MIL or a SIL or sister or friend to help me out with the kids. I would hate to shuffle them around all the time too. It's gonna be rough enough having me studying all the time, and gone 26 hours or so each week. I figured if I actually got into the program, it would somehow work out for me and my family. So now I just wait for the orientation meeting and see what group I'll be in and then I'll figure it all out. Maybe I'll hire an au pair . Like I can afford that .