Hey Everyone

It's been a long time since I have been on Nursing Link.  Hope all had a wonderful holiday.  I am just curious to know if there are any single mothers on the site that are already nurses, in a nursing program now or are considering nursing?  I would love to hear from you.

This is a tad off the subject, soswalt, and you probably hear it all of the time, but you look so much like Delta Burke!!!  I have always thought she is so pretty!

I too was a single mom for a VERY long time, working 40 + hrs a week and raising 2 girls whose father was somewhere in the wind while attending night classes....it is challenging and also rewarding.  I recall literally falling into bed at night from exhaustion, both mental and physical, but I felt wonderful because I knew I was doing something positive not only for me but for my daughters as well.

Well I'm STILL a student, and STILL waiting for an open spot in the nursing program.  I have wasted the last two semesters WAITING!  I am seriously considering changing my major and then transitioning into the nursing program.  I am alsready an EMT and may expand on that or may just complete a MA program or possibly a Surg Tech program.  I'm just frustrated and want to get to work somewhere CLOSE to the field of nursing.

mashell4 - congrats to you for passing the board!!!  As well GOOD LUCK  with the LPN-RN program.  Keep up the hard work!!! 

nurseaisha - I can only imagine how frustrated you are in "waiting for an open slot in the nursing program".  But don't give up - have you considered taking additional classes while you wait?  If you are trying to get into an ADN program - maybe take classes that would go toward a BSN.  You see what I am saying?  That is what I am going to do.  I have been struggling with getting back into college for a few semesters but have now remedied that - I plan on going back in the summer with a positive attitude that I am going to make it.  Yes it is going to be hard and frustrating but this is something that I really want to do.  I know there is a possibility that I may not get into the program the first time I apply - so I am going to take classes that will lead to a BSN.  That way once I do get into a ADN program - that will make me one step closer to getting my BSN.  GOOD LUCK to you!!!!

   I'm not so sure that you CAN plan ME time if you are a single mother, and either going to school or working.   Your children deserve your time, and if you choose/need to go to school or work, it is your ME time that you do that in.    I have been the single mother, raising kids, paying for day care, and trying to have time for me. I have seen my sons, at the church day care, arms around each other and trying not to cry, saying 'don't worry, she'll come back to get us'.   I lost my first job out of nursing school , working midnights,because I could only afford 4 hours of day care  to sleep. Had a high school girl that stayed nights for free.   I never got enough sleep, not to mention ME time.    

     Here's the problems:      Kids get sick, worried, afraid, and you know what they need better than anyone else,  or if older, need just as much supervision .      If you don't take care of those jobs, who's life are you going to involve to get it done?        And then, you want MORE time away from them?  Who's life suffers because of that?  8 hours at work is a very long time for a young child.          I may sound kind of old and crotchety, ( ok, let's just say that I DO sound old and crotchety),  but if you chose to have children, and you chose to work, or even if you NEED to work,  your ME time lasts from the time you go to bed till you get up.        Any other ME  time than that has to be either a gift of babysitting from someone your children love,  visitation time with Dad, ...or you admitted to the hospital.

   I just figure, you chose the job of parent, ... so DO the job. If you choose or need to work, you do that job too. Even if you don't get ME time.   Having ME time doesn't make you a better parent.   Being there , and caring for the people you chose to have, makes you a better parent.  Having someone else raise them doesn't make you a better parent. It makes you the parent of children raised by someone else.

yournurse says ...

   I'm not so sure that you CAN plan ME time if you are a single mother, and either going to school or working.   Your children deserve your time, and if you choose/need to go to school or work, it is your ME time that you do that in.    I have been the single mother, raising kids, paying for day care, and trying to have time for me. I have seen my sons, at the church day care, arms around each other and trying not to cry, saying 'don't worry, she'll come back to get us'.   I lost my first job out of nursing school , working midnights,because I could only afford 4 hours of day care  to sleep. Had a high school girl that stayed nights for free.   I never got enough sleep, not to mention ME time.    

     Here's the problems:      Kids get sick, worried, afraid, and you know what they need better than anyone else,  or if older, need just as much supervision .      If you don't take care of those jobs, who's life are you going to involve to get it done?        And then, you want MORE time away from them?  Who's life suffers because of that?  8 hours at work is a very long time for a young child.          I may sound kind of old and crotchety, ( ok, let's just say that I DO sound old and crotchety),  but if you chose to have children, and you chose to work, or even if you NEED to work,  your ME time lasts from the time you go to bed till you get up.        Any other ME  time than that has to be either a gift of babysitting from someone your children love,  visitation time with Dad, ...or you admitted to the hospital.

   I just figure, you chose the job of parent, ... so DO the job. If you choose or need to work, you do that job too. Even if you don't get ME time.   Having ME time doesn't make you a better parent.   Being there , and caring for the people you chose to have, makes you a better parent.  Having someone else raise them doesn't make you a better parent. It makes you the parent of children raised by someone else.

I disagree, I believe having ME time definitely makes me a better parent.  My husband and I go away on weekend jaunts a few times a year without the kids and it's wonderful.  It gives he and I time to reconnect as a couple. It's important that we provide a solid foundation for our children and in order to do that we must stay connected as a unit.  We also plan several weekend trips with the kids each year like visiting Cedar Point, a water park, getaways to Indianapolis to shop and stay at a hotel (which the kids love). I also believe my children need ME time as well, meaning time away from me pursuing activities they enjoy with friends or other family members.  Having that time helps us feel refreshed and renewed and my girls are always very anxious to discuss their activities and experiences with me afterwards.  It helps keep our lines of communication open and anyone with teenagers knows how difficult that can be.  No woman who is working to further her education should ever feel guilty or bad about having to be away from her children.  Yes, it is difficult at times, but it is for the betterment of the family as a whole.  If that time was spent out clubbin' or partying with friends that's a different story.  Furthermore, why on earth should/would I feel guilty???  They have a biological father who hasn't seen or called them in months and very few cry foul about that.  I refuse to be the bad guy because I work my behind off to care for my children and continue to do so in order to ensure they have educational opportunities alloted to them as well in their future.  All you working mothers who are furthering your educations to make a better life for your children, bless you all!!!

 I am a soon to be single mother of 1 six year old boy.  I want to get into nursing and am really scared of how I'm supposed to support myself and get thru schooling at the same time.  I can't live with my mom like I want to because she is moving out of state for her job so I feel like I am really gonna have to get out there on my own and just figure it out.  I know one thing is for sure that I will not be married much longer and need to plan out as much as I can of how to support myself without counting on any money from soon to be ex...How do women do it?  living on their own for as cheap a rent as they can find, going to work to pay for living costs and going to classes to fit around your work schedule that you need to live off of?

zetamommy2003 - yes there are going to be alot of hurdles and sacrifices made while you are in nursing school - but do not give up.  Always remember that the Lord never puts a mountain before us that we can't climb.  I live by that each day because I have been through so much lately and was to the point of giving up on going to nursing school.  BUT - i did alot of soul searching the other day and told myself that nursing has always been my dream and no matter what it takes - i can do it.  As for support - you will have all the support  you want here on Nursing Link.  Good luck to you!!!

Hey Everyone

Hope all is well!!!   I need some input and advise on something that I guess you can say is really bothering me.  I am planning on going back to college in the spring of 2011.  I have been out for a while now due to personal issues and health issues.  BUT - all is well now and I am ready to really work hard and succeed at getting my Nursing degree.  There is one thing that seems to always be my biggest fear - and that it how to support my family while I am in school.  I have heard so many say that it is almost impossible to work full time and go to nursing school full time.  Any of you work full time while going to nursing school?  How do you do it?  I know it is a discipline thing for one.  In the area I live in there is a community college that has both a night and a day nursing program which is the one that I am aiming to try to get into.  The only other community college in my area that offers the ADN program (which is also closer to where I live) only has the day program.  Which means if I get into a day program I would have to quit my job.  I feel like this has been the biggest hurdle for me in trying to get into nursing school - the fear that I won't be able to support my family.  Yes I know once I am through with school that the benefits are endless so to speak - but what to do while I am in school?  Any advise?

nurseaisha - where are you located?  It would be great if we had a college that offered that around here.  To my knowledge - all the day program are every day from 8-4 Monday through Friday.  The evening program at the one community college that offers it is Thursday night - every other Friday and then the weekends.  Clinicals are done on the weekend.  Nothing wrong with being almost 40 - I right there with you.

Hi in 2008 I got pregnant while in nursing school. But i was so determined to finish on time that i didnt take any time off. i planned to get induced on thursday and by tuesday i was taking my mid-term. It was hard but i had a great support system. When i graduated i didnt pass the NCLEX. But i took it again in April of this year and now Im an RN. Im now looking for a job because i just had my second child. Im stressed because i now had 2 kids to take care of and no job. But i know everything will be okay.

Hey Everyone!!!  I need some advise here.  Honestly, I am getting frustrated again.  I was hoping to start taking classes at another community college beginning in the spring.  I have been on a break from school for a while due to personal and medical issues.  However, one of the hurdles that I am trying to break through is a balance at the previous community college that I attended - $700.00.  Due to this balance my transcript is on hold and I can not register at another school until this is cleared up.  I am on a tight budget lately and don't know how I am going to get this taken care of before the spring semester begins.  I would take out a personal loan but again there are hurdles there.  Sometimes I wonder if it is meant for me to go to nursing school.  I get so excited about it when I feel that everything is going good and then BAM!!!  Any words of wisdom?

robschi

I commend you for not giving up.  I also commend you for having a 10 lb 4 oz baby - WOW!! 

I know there are going to be alot of sacrifices to make while I am in school and that it is going to be tough - but I also know that when I am finished with school it will all be well worth it.  My children are older now and have been really supportive of my decision to go to nursing school.  Why I haven't already gone before now - basically it has been fear.  Yes there were financial issues that prevented me from going or rather that was the excuse that I used - but looking back it was all FEAR.  I can't continue to let fear stand in my way.  Nobody should let fear stand in their way - if we did - look at all the things we would be missing out on.  I am so excited about this - I am getting all my ducks in a row now so that once I do get into taking classes again that I won't have any distractions.  Oh I know there will still be some though - but my mind is made up and nothing is going to stand in my way now. 

Keep all the posts coming.  I love hearing from everyone - let's stick together and support one another through our journeys. 

How's everyone doing?  I haven't posted in a while and wanted to check in with everyone.  Hope all is well.  Any changes with anyone?

Hello everyone,

       I'm new here and I'm  just very into researching or viewing others thoughts on nursing, I've always wanted to become a RN but was afraid of the pressure. Im a  single mother of 3 and soon to be 28yrs old, I know I should've been got into schooling but just let  alot of obsticales stand in my way. I also dropped out of high school in the 11 grade and recieved my diploma at home in 2002, which, last October found out wasn't fully accredited. Now I have my GED, that I took Sept, 17 and passed!!!! I recieved my results on the 8th, this pass Friday. Now Im looking around for schools and really researching my desires. Since I'm not that young anymore I really dont have room for anymore mistakes. I see here there is support and a lot of ways I can relate to people jus by reading in the forums. I'm glad I'm not the only person the kinda had the fear of jumping into something not knowing if they will succeed. I believe I'm ready now and I will be applying for the spring classes just to start my prerequis at a city college cause its more conveint and flexable! Thanks for your time and good luck to all!