Those with kids

Published

Just wondering how many of you have kids while you are going through your pre-reqs/nursing school? Especially young ones. I am kinda nervous about doing this with two young kids, but judging by the screen names I'm seeing, there are alot of you going through this with at least one kid. How's it been for you so far?

Also, just wondering about age. I'm 23. I'd love to talk to some other moms (or dads!)

Specializes in CNA.

I have an 18 month old and LUCKILY.. I can do all my pre-reqs through my community college's online program. I can work on homework while she naps and after she is in bed. It's been a life saver..

Also, there is an LPN program here that offers evening classes.. 5:30 to 9:30 during the week, so I am thinking of doing that if I get accepted while she is still young.

Otherwise my plan is to wait until she's in school to start RN program.

I am 23, by the way!! There is no way in heck I could be with out her long periods of time. No idea how you other moms/dads manage to work + school. It'd break my heart. If she's with her daddy it doesn't hurt as much because I know she's at home & with someone who loves her very much.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Otherwise my plan is to wait until she's in school to start RN program.

I am 23, by the way!! There is no way in heck I could be with out her long periods of time. No idea how you other moms/dads manage to work + school. It'd break my heart. If she's with her daddy it doesn't hurt as much because I know she's at home & with someone who loves her very much.

I'm with you. Right now I stay home with her but that will change once I work part time. She will stay home with daddy still while I'm working & in class. We've been lucky enough to work our schedules around putting her into some kind of daycare. And I too plan to go back for the bridge program to RN once she's in school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.

I have 2 kids, 14 and 10. For the last 9 years we traveled a lot with my husbands work and I was homeschooling both until just recently. My daughter is now in an online prep school but it is still schooling at home. We also just found (yesterday!) a great online school for my son too. My son has some catching up to do in English but my daughter is looking to enter CC hopefully in the Spring of 2010 at 15.

I am very blessed in that I don't have to work, and so while the kids are working on their schoolwork, I work on mine at the same time. Its very nice and quiet around here...most of the time. I can't tell you how thankful I am that I don't have to work outside the home. I put off my school for years to teach the kids and keep the family together with the traveling and now that they are older and we have stopped traveling, it's Mom's turn. Oh, I'm doing all my pre-reqs online because I still like my schedule flexible. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in None.

Try Ocean County College in New Jersey. You can take all of your prereq courses online. A&P I and II and Microbiology online!

http://www.ocean.edu/academics/programs_of_study/science/AP_Online.htm

http://www.ocean.edu/academics/programs_of_study/science/APII_Online.htm

http://www.ocean.edu/academics/programs_of_study/science/MicrobiologyOnline.htm

Thanks

Jersey Nursing Girl with kids

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Try Ocean County College in New Jersey. You can take all of your prereq courses online. A&P I and II and Microbiology online!

http://www.ocean.edu/academics/programs_of_study/science/AP_Online.htm

http://www.ocean.edu/academics/programs_of_study/science/APII_Online.htm

http://www.ocean.edu/academics/programs_of_study/science/MicrobiologyOnline.htm

Thanks

Jersey Nursing Girl with kids

WOW! I would have never imagined that you could take an entire lab science course online.

Anyway, I'm a mom of three boys (11,6,5). I work full time and am still taking my prereqs. I'm really nervous about this upcoming semester because I'm taking Micro (M/W) and A&P I (9-2 on Saturdays). I hope I'll be able to manage it all and still stay sane. :no:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have 3 kids- 5, 2, & 1yr. I just started this fall, 2 prereq's. I just got my grades A's!

I found that I needed a recording device to record my notes and lectures, that way I could listen to my notes while driving my son to and from school as well as while I was doing dishes or the like. I also found that V8 helped with my memory ( don't know why). I also did acupuncture for mental clarity. I'm 32 so I needed some help getting back into the swing of memorizing body parts etc.

I also went online and looked for simple meal recipes to make during the week. Got my crockpot back out from the garage and started using that more.

A friend told me you can make PB &J's ahead of time and wrap them individually in paper towels then freeze them. Throw them into the lunch pail in the morning and they are good by my kids lunch time.

I hope this can be of help to others. It is hard being a mom, working, raising kids, and taking care of DH and house.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU, SICU, CRRT,.

It can be done!! I graduated tonight, from an ADN program. I an 27 with three children, ages 4, 5, and 7. When i started, three years ago, they were 10 mos, 2 and 4. I was scared to death. My family was great. My mother rearranged her schedule (she is a nurse also) in order to be here to keep my kids. She did everything that i wasnt there to do. Althougth, the only time i had her to keep them was when i was away in class or clinicals. Never any other time. I studied with them running around, did all my work with them attached to me, and slept when i could. My husband was helpful, although in order to pay the bills, he works 60 + hours a week. So, i was on my own alot of times. But, i am proof that it can be done, if you put your mind and heart into it. I did it!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How is everyone doing so far? I was wondering if anyone of you had to repeat classes? I am taking bio101 and algebra 1 this semester so 8 credits total, and I am failing :( I work but I am very slow I feel extremly discourage.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't feel discouraged!! I had to repeat chemistry twice!! I was working full time, my children were 2 and 4 years old at the time, and I was just overloaded....The worst thing we can do is to overload ourselves when it comes to school. many times, we take more classess than we are able to handle...be it to qualify for financial aid, or just to "hurry up " and get them done... I have made it a point to never take two hard classess together if I can avoid it...If there is still time to drop one, then I would drop one....if not, face reality and put all of your focus on one of the classes, and then repeat the other next semester... Life is too short and either way, you will still get to your destination (becoming a nurse) sometimes we have to take detours along the way. The best to you!!! :nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow! I am so happy you posted this. It is great to have some encouragment from fellow mothers out there juggling family, work and school!

I also am 23. I have one child, a daughter who is 2 1/2. She is wonderful and I am lucky to have my husband to help out also but he does lose patients. He has been a big help because my family lives in WA.

A few things that work for us is CROCKPOTS! I dont know if you have to cook for them but it is simple to just throw in the food and it cooks for you while you are at school or work. Also...kids need structure so it is easy for them if you set a slot of family time that they know they have you full attention. It makes them feel special and reminds them you havent forgotten them. I hope you have a family and friend support becasue it makes it so much easier.

I am working on my pre-reqs and have a while to go. And I want another baby badly but I know I should wait. :( It is very hard and I worry how things will work when I actually enter the nursing program. I just pray pray pray and pray some more for God to give me strength and patients to my huband.

I wish you luck and as long as you work hard and find a balance that works for your family you will be just fine! God Bless!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I have 6 kids, ages 13, 11, 9, 6, 4 and almost 2. I am starting an Accelerated BSN in the summer.

The way I managed during pre-reqs was to take things slow. I didn't take more than one science course per semester, and the rest of the classes I took online or CLEP'd. This summer is going to be very tough since it's a very, very full schedule. I am sending 2 of my kids to camp for the summer. The rest will be in day camp during the day and I'm looking for a sitter for the mid-afternoon until I get home.

The good thing is that I have about 3.5 months between my acceptance and until school starts to prepare. I have coached my husband and kids about what to expect during the summer. It's going to be an extremely rough patch, but the good news is that once we get through that hurdle the schedule gets much easier to manage. Basically the summer term has 21 credits over a 3 month period, but the Fall and Spring terms are only like 13 credits each, with less time out of the house. So everyone will just have to fasten their seatbelts for three months, but once we get through that things will calm down and they'll have Mommy back.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
How is everyone doing so far? I was wondering if anyone of you had to repeat classes? I am taking bio101 and algebra 1 this semester so 8 credits total, and I am failing :( I work but I am very slow I feel extremly discourage.

Have you tried tutoring? Perhaps your school offers it. I know it sucks to fail a class, but don't get so discouraged that you get depressed about the future. You can take the classes again, and one at a time perhaps that will help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion