To all the nursing students with families.

~FutureNurse~ · May 28, 2008

Oh goodness yes! I offically start nursing school in August, and I am already sad about being away from my little man. Good news is, I went to my advising appointment today and I will only be at school one day a week (Friday 9-2), then I will have clinicals on Wedensdays for 8 hours!! Good luck!

Fiona59 · May 28, 2008

My children were in full day school before I went back to school. It was marginally easier because mychildren could communicate with me, tell me what had happened during their days. BUT I missed field trips, class projects, etc.

You need to be super organized. Backup childcare is a must. Get their routine checkups done when you are out of class. Accept that you cannot be in constant contact with their school or caregivers. That means no cellphones with you on clinicals (I was permitted to carry a pager due to health issues with one child, but it had to be set on vibrate).

Also, clinicals will involve evening shifts, so do you have childcare for late nights? Early, early mornings (most daycares don't open until 0700 and you need to be at clinical sites by 0630).

I'm truly glad that I waited until my youngest was six.

gaajr1, RN · May 28, 2008

Like Fiona59, I went back to school after my kids were in full day school. I agree with others, being organized is one of the key elements to keep sanity:) As your little one is so young it would be a good idea to take help from other family members. Keep back up help and plan ahead as much as possible. I don't have any family living close by and that's why my husband and I share and distribute the housework. kids activities etc. Inspite of everything, you will have many surprises and unforseen events but then, you have to be mentally prepared and take one day at a time.

You can do it and I wish you good luck!

chevyv, BSN, RN · May 28, 2008

Be prepared! You will miss out on your family even if your only in school/clinical 1-2 days per week. You will have so much time needed to study and of course you have to prepare for your clinical and do your care plan afterward. It will be a huge adjustment and you will feel as though your missing out on your children's lives. I've known students that lock themselves in their room to do necessary work while thier child sits crying at the door.

I went part time and have rarely had a day that I felt that way. I do however miss out on the concerts and plays quite often, but it's a trade off that I'm willing to accept. At least I'm there for them (for the most part). My advice to you is twofold. Keep your eye on the prize but yet remember that they will only be the age they are today. Prioritize and consider part time if and when possible (and I do know that many students are not able to go part time). Good Luck to you :wink2:

goingformydream · May 28, 2008

I have 4 kids.. I do things in "chunks" kid time, studying time, hubby time, cleaning time, all of it.. schedule your week on Sundays.. and stick to it... when you with the kids.. don't study.. when you are studying, don't clean, of course, with kids you have to be flexible.. but it works...

make all routine appts (dentist, vision, well visits) for during the summer and winter breaks... make the most of nap time and when those stop have quiet time for the kids.. have a reward for the kids at least once during the semester (like during spring break) and after finals.. like chuck e cheese... my kids know that when I graduate we are all going to disneyworld... they are excited... and they know I am doing this for our family...

leaving for clinicals early in the morning is hard... but I kiss them goodbye and let them we will spend some time together when I get home... and we do..

summer starts next week for us... I already have loads planned for the kids and I... make the most of your time off!

good luck!! you can do this.. and involve your daughter.. give her a play stethoscope.. take her blood pressure, listen to her heart, have her listen to yours.. my kids know how to do wounds, one watches the videos with me....involve them.. also.. see if your school can have an open house (ours does.. loved this idea) so that the family can see the skills lab, etc... my family really enjoyed seeing where I am at!

JettaDP · May 28, 2008

I have a 3 year olg girl. The best advice I can give you is to have your baby in day care 8 hours or so a day and get as much done as you possibly can within those 8 hours. Hopefully you can get enough done that after you pick her up you can spend the entire evening with her. And then study some more after she goes to sleep. After she goes to sleep; don't turn the t.v. on. Just finish up studying. You may miss your favorite shows for a couple of years but you will feel better about fewer time lost with you baby.

Good luck!

jackson145 · May 28, 2008

I haven't found NS to be any more time consuming than my full-time job was. I don't do study groups, because at least when I'm studying at home, I'm there with the kids. Also, I don't do anything school related on weekends. That's my time to be with the family. So far, I haven't really had to miss out on anything due to being in NS. I still go to the movies and out to eat, and I still read a couple of novels a week. NS just isn't the all-consuming beast that I had worried it would be. Don't start panicking yet. It may not be a bad as you fear!

NatashaFromOregon · May 29, 2008

Also, clinicals will involve evening shifts, so do you have childcare for late nights? Early, early mornings (most daycares don't open until 0700 and you need to be at clinical sites by 0630).

I'm a pre-nursing student too (only 2 terms left before I can apply!!), but this is something that really concerns me as well. My daughter is 3 1/2 and in pre-school full time (8am to 3:00pm-ish; it's flexible), but I worry about what to do early morning and late night.....and THEN I worry about actually having a career as a nurse and being the primary caregiver of a young child. Just thinking about it is very stressful, to the point that at times I reconsider my career options....

Hoping2beRN, BSN, RN · May 29, 2008

For those of you who aren't in the program yet, you can call the school and they will give you a general idea of what hours clinicals are, but where they are is often not determined until you start.

I have 3 kids and have made it through medic school and got a degree in medical office management, while doing pre-req's for NS. I since have changed schools and now I am going to LPN school in the evenings 3 days/week and the next 3 terms are 5 days a week. It's going to be rough, I am not kidding myself. I know that I will miss soccer games/practice and cheerleading, but I am sacrifices these times so that we can have better times when they are a bit older.

I have 2 kids that will be in full day school next year, getting home at 2:25 and then I have to leave at 3:15 and won't be home until they are already in bed. So I will make the best of the 50 minutes we have together in the afternoons. I also have a commute with the kids to take them to my mom's work where we exchange cars and I head to school, so we will talk then. I also work every other weekend, so I am only going to have 2 weekends a month with them and around an hour a day. I just look forward to the school breaks and summer vacation.

I just feel like, yeah I could got get a job and make some money but they thing is I would rather be gone now, than in 5 years or 10 years when I'm missing football games and proms and their first dates. It's all about what you feel you can do.

Good luck in whatever you choose!

BTW, my kids are 7,5 and 1.

allnurses Guide · May 29, 2008

Of course the best thing to do is get an education before we have kids.

I actually did go to college before kids but my major was Social Work.

I went back to school at 38 when my youngest was in 1st grade so I wouldn't miss much with them. I was a stay-at-home mom before that.

My oldest is 25, next is 23, next is 18 . . .and we had a surprise baby, who is now 6. I can tell you that time goes by very quickly. I can hardly believe that my oldest is THAT old. :eek:

I work part-time. And go to one night a week RN-BSN classes.

My kids come first though - and I'm lucky that I have great in-laws who live on a ranch nearby so my kids never saw the inside of a day care center.

I pound it into my kids' heads to get their education first . . so far, so good. :coollook:

steph

Shawnygirl003 · May 29, 2008

I'm a pre-nursing student too (only 2 terms left before I can apply!!), but this is something that really concerns me as well. My daughter is 3 1/2 and in pre-school full time (8am to 3:00pm-ish; it's flexible), but I worry about what to do early morning and late night.....and THEN I worry about actually having a career as a nurse and being the primary caregiver of a young child. Just thinking about it is very stressful, to the point that at times I reconsider my career options....

I have actually heard that nurses can end up having a good sch once they have already been working for a bit. Do not give up it is sooo worth it the benefits are amazing and you get to help people every day. Your daughter will be so happy with you. Nursing hours will not be that bad...I am just worried about nursing school.