Getting Ready to Start Pre Reqs.

Congratulations! It will be grueling, but worth it in the end. You might consider getting some routines in place before you begin. Maybe something like www.flylady.net may help with household routines, and even study routines. Once a month (or even every two weeks) cooking may help (there is a cookbook and possibly a website). This will help save money in the long run, and prevent you from grabbing non-nutritious fast food. Your husband will be your biggest support, or your biggest hindrance, through this whole process. Be sure that he is on board with helping around the house and with your little one. If your baby doesn't have a bedtime, now might be a good time to implement one, so that you have study time when she is sleeping. There will be days that you feel like all you can do is put one foot in front of the other...but each step you take will bring you closer to your goal. You can do it!!!

This may not be helpful, but from my experience in nursing school, (I am an R.N.)it takes all of ones time. I would not have passed or completed my courses with good grades or even passing grades if I had not studied with all of my free time. You certainly won't be able to work, and your husband will have to help you with other household tasks and the baby. It is definitely a very demanding program. I remember that I did not go out for entertainment, at all during the entire 2 year program. I was single when I went to nursing school and I cannot imagine doing it with a husband and child. It is short lived though and worth it in the end! It is like being in the military, but it needs to be because you are learning skills that pertain to people's lives! I still remember everything too because it was drilled into me!
B. S. RN CCM

L.,
You do not mention whether you are enrolling in an associate or bachelor degree program. That said I definitely encourage you to pursue the BS, however time and finances are ata premium with you as it was with me.
Time management was a big issue for me with a 2 1/2 hour commute to and from school in addition tor rk. I found that

my courses as I studied, reduced the need to refer back to \he books, reinforced what I was learning and providedall the study material I needed to prepare o laugh at this\you are probably
L. I' nowarting this over....we have a new kitten and she's all over the keyboard

OK, here I go again. I was about to tell you about something I read years ago regarding colors and the effects they had on people. It mentioned that red stimulated learning. I laughed at that, well, I tried it out and sure enough it worked. I started wearing bright red when I took exams and was able to recall information more readily. I put a red light bulb in a lamp to color the room I studied in and a small high intensity lamp on the book or outline I was working with.
What I was saying earlier about the outlines...I outlined all my textbooks which reinforced what I was learning, reduced the need for referral back to the text material and provided me with a concise review for exams. You might also consider taping yourself reading important material that you can listen to as you go about trying to stay ahead of your "21 year old" :o)
Good luck sweetheart and God bless.
A.
'

Hey, L.,
Best of luck to you on your new career! You may want to look at some of the multi-level marketing companies that are available to make money from home on a part time or fulltime basis...I have been doing the Vemma/Verve business for about 6 months now and it is awesome...costs nothing to join the company, you get 2 free websites, and the products are phenomonal!! Liquid vitamin/mineral supplement with mangosteen and aloevera...VEMMA and an insanely healthy energy drink, different from ALL the others called VERVE...comes in regular or sugar free...check out the latest Women's Fitness magazine and you can read all about it...or you can visit my websites www.myvemma.com/mtuttle or www.myverve.com/mtuttle...if you would like more info,please feel free to contact me...and the schedule will work itself out, don't worry...college is different today than it used to be, you can take a lot of courses online now...GOOD LUCK!!
M. T

L.,

I know exactly what you are going through because in August I will continue my education to become a nuclear medicine imaging tech. My income stopped in April (I was on unemployment while I finished my BS degree because they closed the company I worked for because labor in China is cheap). We are now living on only my husbands income. In August I have to begin clinicals four days a week which are in a town that is an hour and a half away. With me being a sahm this summer, we are still struggling to make ends meet, so right now we have no idea how we are going to pay for gas for me to go. Plus I'm worried about being away from home so much and then when I do get home I have assignments from my online classes to complete. My daughter will be three in September. I dread being apart from her. I want to be there for her and play and read books, watch her learn and grow. I'm worried that the only watching I'll be able to do is when I take a quick glance up from my homework. We keep telling ourselves that it is only for a year and then after that year I'll be able to start work making really good money and it will all be worth it. This next year is just going to be really tough and I know that I'm going to shed lots and lots of tears, but if we can make it, it will be all good in the end.

I know I haven't provided any advice, but it made me feel better to know that I wasn't the only one out there that is going through the same thing. So maybe it will do the same for you. I look forward to reading the responses to your request from other moms that do have advice.

Good luck to you!

My husband and I both finished our last year of college with our daughter and it was crazy but totally worth it! I found studying while she slept was usually the best, but she was a newborn so that helped. Also, cleaning took a back seat, so if your house isn't the cleanest it is OK! I also found, we usually didn't really have a weekend. We did try to take a day where we stayed around the house and just played and had family time.
Neither my husband or I worked since we had the baby and in our town, it was hard to find somewhere who hired more than part time. So we used public assistance for that year. WIC is great, and food stamps can help out a lot! It isn't too bad living on one income, you just get to be creative. Also, we didn't have cable, or dish which helped with the bills.
Good luck at school! You will do great!

A lot of women, especially nurses and teachers, sell Mary Kay to supplement their income while in school. Think about it this way: all the nursing students have no more time than you do, and you can solve their problem for them. They have no time to shop for makeup, and you can have it for them the next day. Problem solved! I am a teacher, and have been in Mary Kay for almost 3 years. It is great! Teachers leave me a note in my box saying, "Hey, can you bring me a cleanser tomorrow?", or "Hey, I got your catalog! I'd love to try that new mineral powder!" YOu have solved their problem for them, and maybe have one party a week on Saturday for a few hours to make some extra money. Mary Kay sells itself, and it would take very little time from your family. You would still have time for your studying and your family. It sounds like you have a very supportive husband, which helps tremendously. With Mary Kay, you choose when and how much you work. YOu can do one party a week, one a month, or just sell "on the go" as you go about your life. We work by a weekly plan sheet. We block out our God time first, then our family and J.O.B. (journey of the broke) time, and then we see when we would like to work in some Mary Kay during the week, if at all! Nurses love Mary Kay because it is a great product, they can shop online or from a catalog, and we deliver it to them! If you would like more info, check out my website at
www.marykay.com/T..harris. I'd be glad to share more info with you. Good luck!

Ok,here is the run down. I graduated 2 years ago. I went back to nursing school when my son was 13 months; he too is very active. I took my pre-reques in two semeters 16hrs the first and 25hrs the second. Then I went striaght into a five semester BSN program, plus I did en extra semester of externsip. It was a great experience, hard but great; and totally worth it.

-when class ends go spend time with your baby. you can study guilt free after she falls asleep.

-pizza and a rented movie is date night; you probably will be too tired to do anything else (or you can set a monthly buget for dates and blow it all at once especially if you are busy that month)

-they have great clothes on ebay and at consignment shops

-if the school food court is expensive, brown bag luches are really not that bad

-also bring your own snacks, even if you buy the exact same thing that is in the vending machine at walmart you will save about 50% or more (and you will need snacks when you have had 3 hours of sleep and they want to show you a slide show)

-Get an NCLEX book (NCLEX is the test you take to get your RN); Study the questions in it at the start. This will help you think like the instructors and like a nurse when you are taking your tests. Saunders puts out a good one that has the questions on a CD, but it is often helpful to have more than one. You will use the questions on the CD more than the book. (There are also question banks for nclex online if you want)

-Go ahead and take an NCLEX review ASAP. Hurst is the only one that is totally consistant. www.hurstreview.com Even though you won't get the content it will help you understand why the instructors are trying to get you to think like they are, and you can take it as many times as you want. So, you can still take it when you graduate. If you go ahead and sign with a hospital; you may be able to get them to pay for it.

-Find a study grop with a similar schedule. If you are up nights find the night owls, if you lie the library find out who wants to study there.

-If you know something teach it to someone else, you are much more likely to remember something that you have taught to another person.

-Don't be afriad to get involved. Teachers are more likely to listen to those who make their presence known. Wheather you are helping set up for class or are holding a class position. This can help show that you are committed and interested in nursing school.

-Be involved in most/all class discussions. It will help show that you are paying attention, and it will help you remember the content that is being taught. So, when you don't understand something; they already know you were listening.

-Don't be afriad to ask questions. Even the hardest instructor is an educator at heart. They will take the time in 99% of cases, and if they don't know or won't take the time ask another instructor.

-Accept the fact that you will probably not be a straight A student. If you are the instructors are not challenging you enough, and any good nurse should love to rise to a challenge. Be brave. be strong. Be a nurse. (Sometimes you are the only advocate a patient has.)

-Last DON'T GIVE UP
We are nurses not only by choice and calling, but through the blood sweat and tears that made us into nurses.

H. Liao RN

I am in school right now, I have a 1 1/2 hour bus right back to my city from the campus so I do a lot of my studies then. I would take a day planner and block off time for the these that are inportant to you school hours, time to study , time for your hubby maybe a few Saturday's nights a month, church etc. I would also set up times for some baby sitting help like during your study hours. I am lucky in that I am a older adult and have a grown son who is help us money wise to do these. I do cut coupons, the guys and I take our lunch when ever we can. There is also a program call Angle Food that sells a lot of food for 25 dollars a month and no you do not had to be below a certain income level to do it. We do not use it because it is not the best for people with health issues.My son uses the second hand store for most of his clothing and gets some nice things. Also found out what you must do to get the pell grants in good standing. We can not get goverment help because I had a grant turn into a loan and I did not know this. As far as I can found out it was one for of two reasons I left school early and my grades fell below a certain point.This last advice is just to make sure of what you need to know. I am try to fight the case because you can not leave a trade school early and still get to pratice the trade if you have to go to a state broad and pass to work, which I did. there also was no grades.forgive my bad spelling and I hope this helps some.

Check with the hospital you are working with. Many hospitals have incentives for nursing students. The hospital I work for will pay 12 hours a week and you work 24. They also will reimburse tuition.

But, keep your priorities is the main thing. Get organized. Good luck. Its a lot of work, but I can't think of another job I would love so much.

Hey L. - You have already had some great responses! Congrats on your new adventure! I am graduating from nursing school in a couple of weeks. It will be hard work, and no you probably won't be able to work (I wasn't). I will be honest and say that nursing school was a sacrifice for my whole family. My husband had to do more, I really had to depend on extended family for support. But now as I am nearing the end and have my dream job waiting for me when I graduate, it was all worth it!!! Best of luck!

Saying that nursing school is very demanding is an understatement...been there done that...in fact i graduated in dec of 07...my course was 10 and a half months long. I have three daughters and at first only two of them were in school. so we would all sit at the table and do our homework together. when my youngest started school that is what she did too. As for time management?? WHAT THE HELL IS THAT???? From day one to the last week of school i had homework EVERY night. As for living on one income..im still not sure how we made it but we did. We did have food stamps to help with food but that is it...my husband had to work nights and stay up all day till i got home from school because our youngest wasnt old enough for school yet and we couldnt get daycare help... it was a hell of a year but you will make it....at the end you will wonder HOW you made it though. You just watch what you spend and take 30 minutes a day for just yourself..no kids no hubby no books...just yourself... or you will lose your mind good luck:D keep in tough and im here if you need me for anything....remember i have been exactly where you are.............

P. k

Hi! I went through a 2yr. RN program, but it took 4 years! I started college at 18, 4 months pregnant, and took off the one semester I had my son. I graduated when I was 22 and pregnant with my 2nd. It is VERY hard and demanding, but I am proof it can be done!! My husband totally supported me (financially, physically, and mentally), so you definitely need support! We had a 1500sq.ft house with a $860/mo. mortgage. I went to school at night for my prereqs so I could stay home with my son fulltime until 19 months. Then when nursing school started and I had to go during the day, my son was 3 so he went to a daycare parttime. You will HAVE to study atleast 2-5 hours a day, so try to get a schedule and stick to it. I got in a study group and we met every Sun. at 6pm at Starbucks! I remember right before our tests we would meet in someone's house and once studied for 14hours! If you have the dedication and support, you should be fine. Just don't slack! Before you know it you'll have your degree! You should try to have your family time like playing, dinner, bath, etc. then study each night from maybe 9-11pm then if you're able, get some extra studying done early in the morning. When I knew my son was being cared for at the great daycare, after class before I'd pick him up, I'd try to get an hour or two. You'll end up having to leave school, go to the hospital to get your assigned patients, come home and look everything up including your patient's meds, why their labs are off, etc. and do careplans and be ready the next morning so make sure you get plenty of sleep. It always helped me to study alone first, using different colored highlighters for different sections of notes, then when I got with the group, try to teach them. It seemed like teaching them helped me the most. Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions you may have!

My sister is in nursing school and she just took a student loan out so she didn't have to work. I am not sure what program your in but I kow hers is crazy. Once she got into nursing school she didn't know what her clinical day or night would be until the first week of class.....it's hard to find babysitting or find an employer that will roll with it.

I just started a Master's in Counseling and I did quit my second job to do this .....I took out loans in order to do this. I am spending 15-20 hrs studying. Time management is the key. I have kids all day so studying during the day is not an option....so I use the time I would be at my second job as my studying time. SO far it has worked for me. I make schedule every week of what I need to do and when I am going to do it.

*My sister has four kids and is doing nursing school so can you. Good Luck!
D.