Your Biggest Fear/s in Nursing School

[JEStewart]

I'm posting this topic mostly because hearing the concerns from others might help me feel better about my own pre-nursing school/nursing school fears.

I start classes Monday for the first time in 12 years. There's about a semester worth of pre-reqs I need to finish before starting my ASN (hopefully) in the fall. I'm less concerned about those, but I have a lot of stress about once I actually start my ASN. The biggest fear for me is how am I possibly going to manage my time??? I currently have a 1 year old that will have to go into daycare for the first time. She and I have spent nearly every day together since she was born. That in itself is going to be an adjustment, but a natural course of growing up for her, so that's probably the least of my worries. Since she and I are on my company insurance, I have to continue to work no less than 30 hours a week to stay qualified for keeping insurance. My program is 5 days a week - 2 in class and 3 days of clinicals. Class days are apparently 9-1 or 2, and clinicals are 8-12 hours. My job is in a vet ER so we're only open overnights and weekends, which is good in the way that I could still work some hours during the week, which will be inevitable. My boss is pretty good about working around peoples' schedules, and I'm hoping it'll work out okay.

Balancing nursing school full time, working full time, and still being a mom and wife in my "down time" is where most of my stress about school is coming from. Add the financial stress of needing to get it right the first time or I lose my financial aid is just a fun little bonus.

It generally is very difficult to stress me out, but all these factors are adding up and making me crazy. I just keep trying to tell myself to study when I can, worry about the current goal/deadline/assignment/whatever, and to focus on the fact that my program is only 16 months and that I'm doing this for the future of my career path and my family.

I know this is long, sorry, but tell me about your concerns/fears/whatever once you start school. It'll make me feel less overwhelmed knowing others' battles for their education as well.

[Becca20]

Nursing School takes a lot of your time, but people do it with kids, and full time jobs all the time. It is no walk in the park, but worth it in the end. Carefully plan your schedule. You can do it, but only if you really want it.

[Shawn91111]

Trust me, you will have the harder adjustment with leaving your child at the daycare, than the child will. Kids adjust very well, but then again around that age some go through a separation anxiety, but the daycare people are well versed in handling it.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

PPs are offering great advice. I would also suggest that you obtain Plan B childcare for times when daycare is not available or your kiddo is not eligible due to runny nose or whatever screening criteria they use. These occasions will pop up when you least expect them & nursing program schedules are very rigid - especially clinicals - so you really don't want to go there.

Congratulations on your acceptance.