I can honestly say that there were many times I considered going to nursing school because so many of my friends did, but I had to have a quick reality check and realize that that just wasn’t my calling in life. I have highly admired my friends that have made the decision to go to nursing school, especially mothers.
Now, I honestly could not imagine doing the motherhood and nursing school balancing act that is for sure, but there are moms whether married or single that actually made it happen. They were bound and determined to make it work and guess what? They did because this is what they truly desired in life not only for themselves, but also for their families. If this is you, congratulations on making that decision.
In my efforts to find out how moms truly do balance motherhood and nursing school, I came across a couple moms online willing to share their personal experiences. But, before I share, here are some tips that I found that may be useful to you as a mom considering nursing school or are currently in nursing school.
Tips for the nursing student/mother
According to nsna.org, a mother and nursing student Diane Brandsrud shares her tips on how to balance motherhood and nursing school.
- Don’t let fear consume you! You don’t know if you can do it unless you try. How many times have you heard that one right? It’s so easy to get discouraged (and this goes with any field of study). Just go for it, you may be surprised. Go to FireHow for a great article about overcoming your fears of going back to school.
- Keep life as simple as possible. Diane shares that having a clutter-free home makes it easier to keep clean like dusting, vacuuming, etc. Menu planning and shopping once a week will cut down on food preparation stresses. Do the laundry while studying or any free moment you may have. Need help in keeping your life simple? “I’m an Organizing Junkie” offers some excellent tips and guidance to help get you on the right path.
- Learn how to multitask. This is so important for mothers and may come very easy to some. You may be surprised that you could do five things at once like Diane Brandsrud. For more on how to multitask and stay organized in the process go to the ”How to Multitask” blog.
- Keep your priorities straight. Diane shares that when you first begin nursing school it definitely can consume your life. No matter how much you eat, breathe, and sleep nursing school, still make time for your family as much as possible. Are you needing guidance on how to keep your priorities straight? Go to a fantastic article “I resolve to keep my priorities straight.”
These are all great tips and makes me almost want to take a dive into nursing school, but I have a weak stomach so I don’t think I could handle all that comes with that. I will stick with teacher-education. (Sorry, as a mom I felt like throwing in a little humor/sarcasm in the mix, it lightens up the mood a little don’t you think)?
Anyways, like I previously stated, I have come across real life moms currently balancing motherhood and nursing school. Here is what a couple of them had to say about their challenging balancing act:
Mom/Nursing student experiences
By Me-Me2000 at AllNurses.com
“It is possible. Like anything else, you have to want it because it won’t be easy. I started RN school when my son was 3 months old! I was a single parent, so I received all the financial aid/assistance (incl. housing, food, child support, etc.) that I could get! I am always the RN advocate, and encourage anyone who has a desire to become one, too. It will be a struggle, but for the boundless opportunities available to you, it is worth it!”
For more personal stories from moms who went or are going to nursing school go to All Nurses.
By DonewithSchool at Whattoexpect.com
“I started nursing school when my daughter was 2 months old. I will graduate in May, and she turns 3 in June. It is totally doable, but is made harder by having to worry about things such as:
- Possibly missing class due to doctor’s appointments for the little one
- Missing class when little one is sick
- Worrying about getting to clinical on time when daycare opens 30minutes before you have to be at clinical ( Had this happen last term!)
- Figuring out when to study, do projects, papers, etc
- Finances, made more stressful by having to worry about daycare costs, diapers, etc
- Not being able to spend time with your child when you have clinical, projects, papers, etc. For example, the rotation I am in right now requires 24hrs of clinical per week. There are days I do twelve hour shifts that turn into 13hrs…meaning I don’t see my daughter from 615am to after 8pm.”
This is reality but if you really want to go into nursing school to better yourself and your family, it’s totally worth it.
If you would like to connect with other moms who are considering going to nursing school or are currently on that bandwagon, Facebook has a community page available at Motherhood and Nursing School or go to cafemom. This community I highly suggest since there are currently 650 members in the group: “Moms in or on their way to nursing school.”
Are you a mom currently in nursing school that could share any advice or tips with other moms considering going to nursing school? Whether a married mom or single mom, please feel free to share your experiences with us.
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Officials from Anna Maria College, located in Massachusetts, have recently announced the launch of its new online bachelor’s of nursing (BSN) degree program.
The web-based registered nurse-to-bachelor’s-of-science-in-nursing (RN-BSN) degree program is geared toward holistic care with an emphasis on patient health concerning mind, body and spirit. Furthermore, officials said that the online curriculum will focus on transcultural and multicultural ideals for community-based care.
The school will allow students to gain credit toward their BSN degree from previous nursing coursework, their national certification status and, in some cases, their previous work experience in the field.
“This is not just a service to our students, it helps fill a critical role for the entire American healthcare system, as demand for qualified, college-educated nurses is expected to outpace supply for the foreseeable future.” says Anne Marie Catalano, director of the school’s nursing program.
Reuters found that approximately one in four U.S. students are currently enrolled in at least some web-based college courses, which represents an increase from one in 10 in 2002.
]]>Careers in nursing are skyrocketing, even with the recession in full swing, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics. In fact, with high job losses in other industries, more people than ever before are returning to school for degrees in nursing, which has historically been a high-demand field.
Barbara Michelson of Detroit, Mich., is a part of this shift. When she lost her job at a Detroit auto plant a year ago, she began investigating nursing careers. “I had always thought of becoming a nurse,” Michelson says. “I knew the pay was good and the job secure.”
The more Michelson found out about nursing, the more she was convinced it was the right field for her. Unemployment in nursing was almost nonexistent. Promotion happened quickly, especially for advanced degree-holders. “After 2 years on the job, I could easily be making as much as $80,000 with good benefits,” she says. “I thought, what am I waiting for?”
She then set her sights on finding the right degree program. Between working full-time to provide for her 3 children and caring for her aging mother, Michelson needed a program that would be flexible with her busy schedule. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to stick to the class schedules at a college,” she recalls. “I didn’t think I would be able to pull it off.”
That’s when a friend recommended she visit ClassesandCareers.com, a free online education information resource. In a few minutes, users can fill out a form and be connected live with an education advisor. “I went to the Web site and told them about my goals,” Michelson says. “Not long after, an advisor called me and helped me find a nice, flexible online program. I could do lectures and homework at night from my computer after the kids went to sleep. It was really easy to use.”
Michelson is now more than halfway through her program. In 6 months, she will be ready to enter the nursing field with a bachelor’s degree. “I can’t believe it’s so close,” she says. “I’m really glad I decided to switch careers. This is going to change my family’s life.”
If you are considering making the switch to a career in nursing, visit ClassesandCareers.com to be connected live with an education advisor. After assessing your career goals, he or she will recommend the best degree program for you.
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