Those with kids

ssullyorthoRN · Mar 18, 2009

I think that when you do the Nursing Program while having kids it does take a toll on you. However, I think you learn great time management skills and how to multi-task very well. I have two boys ages, 2 and 4. I agree with the person who said earlier, you make sacrifices now to have a greater outcome in the end. By the time I get home from school, cook supper, give baths, and bedtime, I am sooo wore out and I realize that I need to study couple of hours too. I have all A's so I it worth it but boy am I ready for a break!!! My Husband works the night shift, it is hard that we hardly see eachother, our kids don't have to go to daycare either.....so at least they have some parent interaction (or basically a someone to goof off with all day lol).

Readyforthenextstep · Mar 18, 2009

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!!!

Thank you:) I cannot drop any one and I won't just because they are not part of the pre req I just have to do them in order to do the prereq.

Readyforthenextstep · Mar 18, 2009

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!!!

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.

Thanks! I'll go tomorrow to the math center (since I have help with my kids until the end of the month) and try to work harder. And if I have to repeat I guess I will...But I am thinking of taking only on line classes.

blueeyes67 · Mar 18, 2009

I have a 14 yr old and a 16 month old. The older lives with his Dad and the younger, I have alot of help from his grandmother. It is hard and when things happen with the children I feel like if I had been at home with them and ot in school, this wouldn't have happened. I work from 8-5 M-F, school 6-10 M-T, clinicals on Saturday and a part-time job on Sundays. Believe me, my time is stretched to the max but I have told my family, bear with me another year or two and it will all be worth it. Being a single parent is challenging by itself but with all the work and school with it, there have been times I have just wanted to give up. When I look at my kids and realize that I am now a Junior with a 3.25, why give up now. The hard part now is trying to find a 3rd shift job so I can start my actual nursing courses this summer. Even though there are job openings, it is hard to even get an interview. It is hard to sell yourself online. My resume is great and I have clerical, medical and CNA experience and I am an EMT. Does anybody have suggestions?

dalgal, ASN, RN · Mar 18, 2009

Mine are 7,8,11 and 13 so I'm at a good point because I basically study and take my classes while they are in school. I am just finishing prereqs though...the real test will be in the fall when I start NS. Good luck...like one poster said, waking up early and keeping family first...that will be my motto!

stephcam1 · Mar 18, 2009

Hi there! I have two young kids (3 and 4),I work full time, and have been able to do it just fine. I was really scared to start school, but now I'm so glad that I have. I will be done with all of my pre req's after this semester and hopefully will start nursing school in the fall of this year. It is scary, but you can do it!

blueeyes67 · Mar 18, 2009

Thanks for the support. I fell I can do it but the hard part is trying to find a 3rd shift position with the economy the way it is and everybody looking for jobs.

kristyb · Mar 19, 2009

I am a single mother of a 4 year old. I am completely on my own, and I am 23. I started back to school when he was 6 months old, everyone told me I "couldnt do it". Well, I here 3.5 years later, I have an associates degree, a 4.0 GPA, on the deans list each semester. I had to work full-time so I got my associates in arts with all the pre-reqs, I make good money and work at the hospital, when my son goes to school next year I will be starting the Bachelors RN program(well....hopefully if my loan goes through ya' never know with this economy):). Anyone can do it, if you put your mind to it and a good cup of coffee:redbeathe. I had to drop AP twice because I got overloaded, tryed to take 16 Hrs.in the same semester. We just have to realize that we are human not superhuman. Don't lose faith!

Adams_Mommy_07 · Mar 19, 2009

I'm 23 and have a 19 month old whom I love tremendously and is my main driving force in all this. I actually had my son prior to finishing my bachelor's degree at a university 200 miles away!!! Fortunately my last semester was entirely research courses so I did not need to be in the dorm and could stay at home going up periodically during the semester.

I work full-time now and starting doing nursing pre-reqs just prior to my son's first birthday. I am "legally" single, but I live with my son's father (we were engaged for 8 months prior to me getting pregnant and once I moved in with him I realized I did not want to spend the rest of my life in a prison with my warden [and this is not a stretch--I can't even get soap from the store after work or else I am in big trouble!]. As you can imagine, he doesn't support my educational efforts... As such, I get NO help when it comes to making time for school and have to complete my homework late in the night. I am still making all As though---getting through this is definitely doable if you have a support system--I'm doing it and have none!!! Best of luck to you!

MotoXCaliCNA · Mar 19, 2009

I'm 22 and I have 2 little ones. Ages 3 1/2 and 18 months. I'm taking my prereq's right now and working full time. I have an awesome awesome awesome husband who helps me out so much. Without him it'd take me soo much longer to get done with school. I work nights and he works days part time so we make it work and the kids are happy so I'm so grateful :)

new_mom2005 · Mar 19, 2009

i am 37. i have two boys.( one is 4 and the other one is 3) .. Im finding a real hard time going from school worlk to taking care of my boys and being a wife also..... I also know that is will only get worse. but i know that it will be worth it all in the end, give my kids everything they want. thst is why I am going back to school, for my kids!!!!!!!!!

GOOD LCUK WITH ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING AND JUST REMEMBER YOU ARE DOING THIS FOR YOUR FAMILY :up:

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 19, 2009

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!)

I have 4 children. When I decided to go to College and start my Pre Reqs I had 3. My youngest was around 2-3 middle one was around 4-5 and oldest was around 7-8 I think LOL. My college had an awesome child care center that was affordable and accredited and my youngest went to that. I didn't have any help from friends and family but it really wasn't bad. I was taking a full course load.

I got onto the nursing wait list right before we moved to a new state and I got pregnant again, *finally a girl YEA* it actually ended up being perfect timing because the wait list was around 3 years. I only had one class left to take before starting the RN program and 2 other classes I had the option to get out of the way. I had to wait a year and a semester to become a resident to pay the cheaper tuition. When I started going back to school again to take the last classes my daughter was 1.5 and all my boys were in school full time. Now I start nursing school in August and my youngest will be 2.4 and my other children will be 13 and almost 10 and 8.

I get little to no help from my husband and from Dec to April he is working out of state anyway, I have no family here and my closest friend lives 40 mins. away. It's not easy, but it's totally doable as well if your heart is in it.

I wish you the best of luck.