To all the parents, yes YOU can do it!

Nursing Students General Students

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I have just 3 teeny tiny little weeks before I finish nursing school, AND I have a 3 year old. So I just wanted give words of encouragement to all the parents wishing to go back to school and earn a nursing degree. I have seen so many people ask if it possible or if it is too difficult. I have to say emphatically, YOU CAN DO IT!!!! And you will probably ROCK AT IT TOO! (especially in OB or peds, but I digress) :D

You all have heard the stories about how hard and terrible nursing school is. You may be wondering if you have it in you to focus on achieving a goal that you are passionate about. Fearing that it may take away what time you have with your family. BUT I just want to say YOU CAN DO IT!

Disclaimer: What I'm about to TELL YOU is merely my opinion or what has worked for me, so take it for what is and be your own judge.

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Nursing school is NOT the hardest thing in the world. (Performing a skill in front of your intimidating professor for a pass/fail grade for a course may actually be though. LOL)

I found it pretty easy to balance family and school. Not much different than when I become a nurse and have to balance work and family.

I did NOT have friends and family to help. I live 700 miles from my family. It is only my husband and I, and I still find nursing school relatively easy.

I gave up on absolute perfection and pursued balance (I could study my butt off and make A's. Or I could study some and spend time with my family some and make B's. So I made B's and I am ok with that.

I LOVED nursing school

I did not damage my daughter by attending nursing school.

I have spent several awesome 12 hour days in clinical to come home clean, prepare lunches and outfits for the next day and give my daughter a bath and put her to bed. It CAN be done.

She LOVES preschool and she is well taken care of while I'm in class, studying or at clinical. It was good for her and good for me. (I was a SAHM for 2 years.)

I appreciate my family EVEN MORE because of clinicals. I really get to see how fortunate I am that my family and I have our health.

Nursing school was much easier than my BS Psychology degree: Why you may ask? Because I am a adult learner and much more focused now.

Being in Nursing school as a parent was awesome, because there were a few other parents who understood and I always had to stay on top of my assignments so that I would have free time to spend with my husband and daughter.

I am absolutely BROKE but you know what? I have everything I need. So when you find yourself asking how can you afford it..... Buy your books used. Use your school printer or computer if you don't have either (I didn't have a printer), don't buy school supplies-use what you have, pack your lunch, hang your clothes to dry, ask the previous nursing students for uniforms, don't eat out, go to the thrift store... This is how I made this past year on a budget (I cannot even tell you how many cans of beans I had to eat and carrot sticks. Sometimes that's all I could afford) I bought clothes from Goodwill to wear to psych clinical. Do what YOU have to do!

That is pretty much the gist of it. So, can you be both an awesome parent and an awesome nursing student? Absolutely!!!!!!;)

Best wishes to everyone starting in August!!!!!

Graduate school is possible too! My daughter was little when I got my BSN and it was hard, but possible. Two weeks before I started grad school to be a nurse practitioner, I found out I was pregnant. I graduate in one year and my little one is 1 1/2 now. We can do this!

Thank you for posting this and congratulations on making it to the end!

YES! Thank you! Positivity!!! I am 31, have a 4 year old, was a SAHM, and now starting upper level for my BSN next month. So glad to hear this perspective.

Specializes in Orthopedics, Med-Tele, Dermatology.

very encouraging! Thanks for the awesome article. I am hoping to get into nursing school next year, currently working on pre's. I work full time and have a 5 year old.

Thanks for the inspiration! I start my program next month and I work FT and am married with a 2.5 and 1 yr old!

I really appreciate this post. I'm finishing up my pre-reqs with a 4.5 year old son and a c-section scheduled on aug 1st! It may seem tough but knowing it possible is all that I need. Thank you!

Specializes in (Hopefully one day..) neuro/urology ^.^.

My son is almost 5 months. I've taken a few years off of school already but he's the biggest motivation in my life right now to return to school and get accepted into a nursing program. I know it won't happen over night and it won't be easy, but in the end It will be well worth it. :)

This is awesome to read! I have been stressing for several months now and having extreme guilt about putting my third child in daycare when my other 2 did not have to. I am a 37 yr old stay at home mom of 3 ages 9,8 and almost 4. I have been at home for 9 years and when I had my 3rd child something hit me and I decided to go back to school. I think it was the realization that they would all go to school one day and then what would I do. I have worked my butt off for 3 years to get into a nursing program and am finally starting next month! I worry about someone else, other than my husband and I, having a part in raising my youngest. I know she will have fun and do just find but I am having a problem with the guilt. I completely understand the being broke. I am fortunate enough to get grants for school but childcare is a whole different story. I choose to stay home all those years because child care is way expensive. I find myself stressing over having to take out loans to pay for child care. I know it will all be worth it in the end and the loans could have been much larger if my classes weren't paid for. My final worry has been wondering if a brand new 39 yr old nurse with no experience will even be able to get a job. But I guess it's better late than never!

Thank you so much I really needed to hear this, such encouragement!

Thanks. I needed to see all these comments. I am starting over from scratch at 26 with 2 girls, 3 yo and 8mo. I am not a single parent but I am trying not to stress out about school/pt work/ family life balance along with financials. My boyfriend says he is going to support me but I don't think he really understands. I am starting my pre-reqs this fall and am hoping to get into an ADN program that starts next summer.

You pretty much read my mind, I was just finishing up a online test, I cleaned all morning and I'm off to work in a hour. I keep thinking how the hell am I going to be able to do this in nursing school??

Yep! I agree. I have 3 busy kids and I'm graduating next May. It's not easy... But it's not impossible. I work too :) you can do it!!

Just curious with you working and going to school with kids..did u have to commute? Im in a situation where i MIGHT have to commute a hr and a half away for school

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