Want to become a nurse but also a mommy

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Hello everyone,

I currently have no children and have about 5 years before age 30. At the moment is not the right time to take the exams for next year's classes because of our financial situation. I'm worried about taking nursing school and running out of time to have/start a family. I was thinking about going into school after my children are in school or perhaps have our children be in daycare on clinical days when I'll be at class while my husband goes to work and can't watch the baby. Would childcare for a few hours in a certified place be too expensive? What should I do? Also, do hospitals provide childcare for working nurses?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I went to nursing school with 3 kids ages ranging 5, 7, 9 when I started.. so it can be done. I don't know of any hospitals that provide daycare, at least in my area. I live in the southeast.

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Specializes in ICU, Intermediate Care, Progressive Care.

If you are considering having kids + going to school at the same time, you might look into local colleges' Child Education/Childcare programs. I know the college I will be attending for my nursing school offers free childcare in order to teach those who want an associates in Child Care or Child Education (I forget which one it is). :)

I would say that 30 is not too old to start having kids; people do it all the time. My mom was 38 when she had me, though granted I wasn't her first.

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Depends where you live but part time day care in my area runs the $75-100 week range, if they offer it at all. My son just started kindergarten and I just started nursing classes so it worked out great. I only have to pay for one day a week of before and after school care ($25/week) for my clinical day. Being a parent and being in school full time is very tough. I would encourage you to get through school before having kids but we all have our wants. If you feel the time is right for you to have children, go for it, but have your support structure in place (grandma to watch child to study for a bit; dad being willing/able to take on a large chunk of the parenting).

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Depends where you live but part time day care in my area runs the $75-100 week range, if they offer it at all. My son just started kindergarten and I just started nursing classes so it worked out great. I only have to pay for one day a week of before and after school care ($25/week) for my clinical day. Being a parent and being in school full time is very tough. I would encourage you to get through school before having kids but we all have our wants. If you feel the time is right for you to have children, go for it, but have your support structure in place (grandma to watch child to study for a bit; dad being willing/able to take on a large chunk of the parenting).

How many clinical days do you have per week?

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Clinicals are five days a week. Final preceptorships last six weeks in my area.

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Specializes in CT stepdown, hospice, psych, ortho.

I started school in August after having a baby in March. I got pregnant again in December of my senior year and graduated close to popping. I now work with 3 children and hoping for a 4th. Some hospitals have daycares but they are fairly pricey. There are usually stipends available to some of the lower income employees (nurses would be among these believe it or not). Now, on that note, depending on your husband's hours you could be looking at having children in daycare for 13 hours. I don't know if there are laws against that but when I was in NC the children couldn't be at daycare longer than 9 hours a day. That being said, not every nursing job is in a hospital. You can find 8 hour a day jobs or work weekend shifts. Don't let the thought of daycare keep you from pursuing a dream but realize there will be challenges and you may have to think creatively. If you put off going back to school you may never get around to doing it in between paying for school clothes and buying toys and diapers and all those lovely things that go with being a mom. Its more difficult to study and commit all the time necessary for a sucessful nursing education when you have children. It can be done but you have to be organized and sacrifice family time to make sure you study enough. Good luck.

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Specializes in CVICU, ED.

My daughter was 2 years old when I started nursing school. It can be done but it is not easy. I was also working full time so my daughter pretty much lived in daycare $$$.

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Thanks guys, gives me hope that it is possible to have a family and also go to school :)

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