Will I have any life during LPN School Please Advise

RBARAJAS · Oct 4, 2005

I JUST FINISHED LPN SCHOOL AND FELT IT WAS A BREEZE. ALOT HAS TO DO WITH THE SCHOOL. I WAS A RN STUDENT AT A SCHOOL WITH DEVIL INSTRUCTORS AND HAD A PROBLEM. LONG STORY SHORT I MADE IT TO THE LAST SEMESTER AND FAILED. HAD TO GO TO LPN SCHOOL TO BEAT THE COSTS. IM TAKING BOARDS IN 2 WEEKS AND TO LET YOU KNOW HERE IN ILLINOIS JOBS SUCK. LONG TERM CARE IS OK BUT IM TOLD YOU WONT BE MARKETABLE. THE SCHOOL IS NOT TO HARD BUT YOU NEED TO START THINKING DIFFERENT. CRITICAL THINKING IS WHAT YA NEED. GOOD LUCK.

Hello All, I would appreciate any advise. I am hoping to go to LPN school in the fall of 2007. I have a 3 year old now but by then he will be in kindergarden. Right now I work part-time so I am with him quite a bit. As bad as I would like to be a nurse the thought of putting him on the back burner really is heart breaking for me. I keep reading how there is four hours of homework a night and how demanding it is. Will I get to spend some time with my son during school. I would love to hear from you.

lizscott nurse · Oct 6, 2005

Hello All, I would appreciate any advise. I am hoping to go to LPN school in the fall of 2007. I have a 3 year old now but by then he will be in kindergarden. Right now I work part-time so I am with him quite a bit. As bad as I would like to be a nurse the thought of putting him on the back burner really is heart breaking for me. I keep reading how there is four hours of homework a night and how demanding it is. Will I get to spend some time with my son during school. I would love to hear from you.

Hi! If you really want this it can happen. :) The majority of nursing students

in my class were Mom's with young children. Your concern is natural and

probably felt by most nursing student Mom's. It is a time factor. But,

you can do some things to help with that to ensure time with your son.

Do you have a good support system?.....partner/spouse who can step

in and give more attention when you're not able? My husband would

take charge of most housework and meals, which left me time for the kids.

Have you taken any prereqs? If not I would strongly suggest you consider it to lighten the load later....which will give you more mommy time. You have two years to get them out of the way, if you haven't already done so. This

will help so much.

I don't think nursing school is so much "hard" as it is time consuming with

so much info. But I went full time (no prereqs taken) when a spot opened

up two weeks before classes started...so I jumped in and didn't look back.

Had I had my prereqs already done, it would have been soooooo much better.

My daughter is in nursing school now, but does not have that much homework and she did take all her prereqs ahead of time. I guess it depends on the school.

This will not be putting your son on the "back burner". You will be doing something for you and the rest of your family. You're son will benefit from

that. You will find ways to spend special time with him.....you definately

can do this....if you really want that degree. And by the time you start

clinicals your son will be a little older, which will help. Hope this helps.

Good luck!

piercednurse · Oct 6, 2005

I was 18 when I got accepted in to the lpn program. I was 19 when I graduated. Never once did I spend 4 hours in one night doing home work. In fact I only studyed on test day 1 hour before the test. I graduated with a 3.07 GPA. Some other people who were in my class would study for hours. My thing is you either know it or don't. You will never know whats on the test. I did better on tests than the ones who studied for hours.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2005

Life is what you make it. Your child is going to demand your time whether you like it or not. So setting up a schedule that includes taking care of your child is going to be a priority. Many moms put their kids to bed and then study.

Nursing school is going to be a sacrifice for sure. You have to decide for yourself what you're will to give up and not give up. You family has to be supportive.

Good luck!

carrihopefullnurse · Oct 7, 2005

Hi! If you really want this it can happen. :) The majority of nursing students
in my class were Mom's with young children. Your concern is natural and
probably felt by most nursing student Mom's. It is a time factor. But,
you can do some things to help with that to ensure time with your son.
Do you have a good support system?.....partner/spouse who can step
in and give more attention when you're not able? My husband would
take charge of most housework and meals, which left me time for the kids.
Have you taken any prereqs? If not I would strongly suggest you consider it to lighten the load later....which will give you more mommy time. You have two years to get them out of the way, if you haven't already done so. This
will help so much.
I don't think nursing school is so much "hard" as it is time consuming with
so much info. But I went full time (no prereqs taken) when a spot opened
up two weeks before classes started...so I jumped in and didn't look back.
Had I had my prereqs already done, it would have been soooooo much better.
My daughter is in nursing school now, but does not have that much homework and she did take all her prereqs ahead of time. I guess it depends on the school.
This will not be putting your son on the "back burner". You will be doing something for you and the rest of your family. You're son will benefit from
that. You will find ways to spend special time with him.....you definately
can do this....if you really want that degree. And by the time you start
clinicals your son will be a little older, which will help. Hope this helps.
Good luck!

Thank you for the reply. I do have a support system. However, my husband is a UPS driver so he is rarely home at the same time every night. But, I have been preparing him and telling him that we have to do some role reversal during this period. Regarding the prerequisites with the LPN school you have to become a STNA and have medical terminology and CPR and First aide and yes I do plan to have those things done. Actually I was told to become an STNA first so that I can find out if this is really what I want to do. I plan to take that class in January and hopefully pick a shift a week at a nearby nursing home. Thanks so much for encouragment!!! This is really a scarely step for me I've worked in a office for the last fifteen years. I've always wanted to be a nurse. How do you know if it is really for you?I love people and I am probably too compassionate sometimes. It's the Yucky stuff I'm worried about and the saddness. Talk to you soon

lisamc1RN, LPN · Oct 8, 2005

It's all about time management. You may or may not need 4 hours of studying each day. I started out studying 2 or 3 hours a night, but have it down to 1-2 hours a night. It should get easier to study as you learn how to study more effectively. Clinicals preparation is a different story though. I have 4 children so I understand your concerns. I know many of my classmates who get up a couple of hours early every day to study. I am SO not a morning person, so that is out for me! :chuckle I study when the kids are in bed, at school, and several hours on the weekends. I study with the children in the room and allow them to interupt me. I take breaks to give them lunch and sit and eat with them. Sometimes I stay later at school and study there. I get more intense studying done and then can devote more time to the children when I'm home. Once they are in bed, I open the books again. You will figure it out. Just give it some time. :)

juvynurse · Oct 9, 2005

thank you for the reply. i do have a support system. however, my husband is a ups driver so he is rarely home at the same time every night. but, i have been preparing him and telling him that we have to do some role reversal during this period. regarding the prerequisites with the lpn school you have to become a stna and have medical terminology and cpr and first aide and yes i do plan to have those things done. actually i was told to become an stna first so that i can find out if this is really what i want to do. i plan to take that class in january and hopefully pick a shift a week at a nearby nursing home. thanks so much for encouragment!!! this is really a scarely step for me i've worked in a office for the last fifteen years. i've always wanted to be a nurse. how do you know if it is really for you?i love people and i am probably too compassionate sometimes. it's the yucky stuff i'm worried about and the saddness. talk to you soon

aaaaaaaah.... lpn school. that was a long time ago, but i also remember all the hours i put in to studying. i lived an hour away from school, so a two hour a day driving time plus anywhere from 2-4 hours/night studying was normal for me. i put my all into school and, like you, i wanted to be a nurse in the worst way. i'd been an emt for several years and worked in an er/trauma room before going to nursing school and that made things easier.

i remember nursing school being like boot camp. my instructors were hard and they made no bones about it: keep up or ship out. i'm proud to say i graduated with a 4.0gpa, but it wasn't easy. i had an excellent support system in my husband who carried the full load of working, caring for the kids and cooking/cleaning during the week. i worked part time for the hospital on weekends and that was pretty good because questions i had were answered by "experts".

right now, i'm back in school getting my rn and working full time. my kids are grown and take care of themselves (2 have moved out, leaving 1 at home) and things aren't as hectic. i don't study near as much now as i did in lpn school.

sometimes, i'm sure you think that it's impossible with the kids, husband, cleaning, cooking and all the household chores that won't get done.

all i can really say is, do it. go to school, study hard, earn your degree, get a great job and in the long run, you are benefiting your family and yourself.

good luck!!

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Oct 11, 2005

Thank you for the reply. I do have a support system. However, my husband is a UPS driver so he is rarely home at the same time every night. But, I have been preparing him and telling him that we have to do some role reversal during this period. Regarding the prerequisites with the LPN school you have to become a STNA and have medical terminology and CPR and First aide and yes I do plan to have those things done. Actually I was told to become an STNA first so that I can find out if this is really what I want to do. I plan to take that class in January and hopefully pick a shift a week at a nearby nursing home. Thanks so much for encouragment!!! This is really a scarely step for me I've worked in a office for the last fifteen years. I've always wanted to be a nurse. How do you know if it is really for you?I love people and I am probably too compassionate sometimes. It's the Yucky stuff I'm worried about and the saddness. Talk to you soon

Hi! if u can, see if u can shadow a nurse or possibly more than one in different areas, this will show u what to expect. if u always wanted to be a nurse, then do not worry about the transition, u will make it. as for being too compassionate, u will find that the people that really need it u have it, and the people that don't u will turn it off. the yucky stuff u will mostly get used to, although it seems that all of us have an 'ick' factor-for me its sputum, please don't make me deep suction a pt!!! i'll puke lol...depending on where u work, the sadness factor can take a toll. some facilities have counseling done after u lose a pt, and most have ethic committees if u see something being done what u think is wrong. trying to change the things that u can for the better helps. trust me, nothing gets me over losing a kid in a code than the next little kid coming in hurt and u make them better and they give u that sweet smile. u can do this, we need people like u here! not just for the money, but that 'i was a good nurse today' feeling. congrats on making your decision to go to school, and please continue on. as for the kids, i am doing an online rn-bsn program right now, and also try to get things done when they are asleep, at school, in playroom, or with their dad out back. i make time everyday to read or whatever, so they get to have some fun time with me. if u budget your time u will be fine! like another poster, i also have 4...so to only budget for one would be like a ton of time to me. keep us posted on your progress and if u need a bump up on the positive side, just post and we will get your back....u can always use a little extra encouragement!

carrihopefullnurse · Oct 11, 2005

You are so awesome!! Thanks, hearing from you makes me believe it really can happen. I'm hoping to take the STNA class in January after that want to pick up a shift or so at a hospital or nursing home. So I can be totally sure. Talk to you soon

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Oct 11, 2005

can't wait to read your journey!!! feel free to pm me if u need anything else or want a penpal...we are all here for u!

AngelOvaMe · Oct 11, 2005

Hi, thats great that u want 2 attend LPN school, sure u will have a life but u have focus on your child 1st and your education 2nd everything else in your life can wait. I am in LPN school now and I graduate in January 2006, so my advice is never put your son on the back burner. There are so many women in my class that have more children than u, and they manage. Depending on what nursing school u go 2 u may or may not have a lot of homework but u have 2 see that 4 yourself u cant go by what everyone else says.