Wife, mother of 5 and want to go to nursing school. How hard is it

Liebchen · Oct 14, 2011

Well, it is very hard. If you have a good support system and you are willing to make sacrifices and you want this more than anything, you can do it.

I will warn though, it will take sacrifices. Your life as you know it will end. Family time will be minimal to none. All of your spare time will be spent in study sessions. Your social life will be over for the duration of school. But, if your husband is willing to play mommy and daddy and you have a strong support system, then I would advise you to do it now while your kids are young.

I waited until my son was 23, and now I regret it. I could have been working in my dream job for years.

Go for it, and good luck!!

Saysfaa · Oct 14, 2011

Mine were 6,5,4,and 2 when my youngest was born. There were things I wanted to do then. I waited and have never regretted it. Kids need a lot of time and energy, I'm glad they got them from me. I am doing the things I've wanted to do now and I have the time and energy for doing them well and enjoying the process. I'll graduate in about three years and it is sweet. ) My youngest will graduate from high school at the same time, I remember a year seeming like forever and ten years being rediculous but it is not from this end.

ps, husbands need some time and energy too, no matter how willing they are

VolunteerCPR · Oct 14, 2011

You can almost never miss a day of school or clinical, so you would have to have family available that could watch your kids when they are sick. When my two were a little younger, they often got fevers or earaches and I'd have to leave work, but with nursing school, there is really no way to get the high grade required to pass unless you are always there.

BBRANRN2013, ASN, RN · Oct 14, 2011

I'm a mother of four kiddos, 13,8,6, and 5. I started prereqs back in 2008 part-time and just started clinicals this past January. My youngest just started kindergarten in August. Nursing school can be done if you put your mind to it. I have a husband who is also very supportive. One thing I will say is you have to use time management. Make time to study, do schoolwork, and most importantly make some time for yourself and make time to love your children. I love NS and I'm glad I'm on my way. I have 5 more semesters to go (I'm in the part time program). I'm so anxious to be done and start working on my own patients. You can do it and don't let anyone tell u different. You will be so happy you did if you are truely passionate about it. Good luck and keep us posted!:):):)

Mrs.YayaLozada · Oct 14, 2011

Omg thank you all for the comments i still have alot of thinking to do about this because it is a big step but i do know in the end it will pay off!!!!

NAZIZ · Oct 15, 2011

Listen, I have 4 kids (10,7,4,3) I work full time at night 7pm-7am i am a wife and I have MS,if I can do it you can as well you might not be able to spend much time with the kids and the hubby but it the end it will be well worth it.As long as your hubby is in your corner you can do it !! I DONT'T REGRET GOING BACK AT ALL!!!

Justanotherday · Oct 15, 2011

I also have five children, and my advice would be not to be in a hurry and enjoy them. For me, I have had to take prereqs for the past two years just to apply to my nursing program. If you do also, perhaps you could start out slowly with a class at a time? Most of my classes have been available online except for on-campus testing.

allnurses Guide · Oct 15, 2011

I waited until my kids were teens. I have no judgement of you in terms of what kids "deserve" in terms of time/energy/access to Mom. I will tell you, if anything in you would feel guilty, WAIT. There is one girl in my class with four kids under the age of 7. It has been extremely difficult for her, very hard on her family and she suffers from horrible guilt. The guilt makes her feel bad about school requirements and also leads her to relate to the children as if what she is doing is harming them...and they pick up on this. I am of the opinion kids are pretty accepting of "the way things are" when things just are, but easily pick up on any indication that things aren't "right" in their world. In other words, after the initial adjustment period they tend to interpret it as you do and act accordingly. Frankly I can't fathom going to nursing school either pregnant or with little ones unless you have no choice (ie: need it to support the family), not because it would be wrong but because it would be hellish a lot of the time.

My advice, and only because you asked.... in the end, do what is right for you. You will never have a clear "Do THIS!" feeling on this so don't wait for that feeling to hit you. At some point you will have to choose or life will go on without you having made a choice and you will always feel as if you missed something. If you are not going to go, then make that a decision rather than it being something you thought about but just didn't do, if that makes sense. You'll have more peace about it in the future if you chose to wait rather than just let it slip away. And if you ARE going to go, remind yourself you chose this and it is temporary when it gets hard. And it will. But hard does not mean impossible. Just unpleasant much of the time. The rewards are great, but only you can conjecture if they are great enough to do it sooner rather than later.

Good luck!

Mrs.YayaLozada · Oct 15, 2011

Thank you all so much for the advice u have givin me. I still have a lot to think about I think I might want to just wait til my youngest which she is due january 3 to turn about one because I know once I start school my time with my babies will be limited but I m just so tired of struggling you know I am ready to support my family I did not finish high school because I became a mother and I had to support and provide for me and my boys that was before me and my husband met. I just recently went back and got my diploma and now that I have it I will be putting it to use I worked very hard to get and now I got it I want to take that next step to accomplish my dream I just dont want to wait to long to go back because either way it go I will have 5 children rather it is elementary school or high school I think we all are going to end up doing homework and studying together. I do everything for them I know that it will be hard but it will pay off for me and my family they will be able to have a better life than I had. Thank you all for ur words of encouragement

mommy_5 · Oct 15, 2011

Hi I am currently in my first semester of nursing! I love it! I have been accepted two semesters earlier but didn't go because I was scared! I too have five children: 8,6,4,3,8 months. My hubby is gone alot! I have no help at all. I had to put my oldest two on the bus in the mornings and afternoon. They have always been car riders and a private sitter for my younger three. I have made several scarafices to go but I am happy I did. I don't get to go on field trips and things like that with my kids. But on a brighter note I only have four more semesters to go! It will fly by in no time. I am bettering myself and will only help my family! And I tell my kids this too! It is hard at times and a challenge. And I am in the hardest program in the state too. But it will pay off big time!! If you have any questions let me know! YOU CAN DO THIS!! And like I said I am doing this alone with no help....I have no support of my family! They didn't want me to go! So if I can do it so can you!

Mrs.YayaLozada · Oct 15, 2011

@ Mommy 5 thank you i have more questions I would love to ask you!!!!!