In the long-term, nursing can be a great career for any parent. Most positions offer great salaries and your job is virtually recession-proof. You can find a job anywhere, and you can choose what shifts to work. You could even get the chance to work as a nurse at one of your children’s schools.
The hard part, however, is earning a nursing degree while juggling children and your other responsibilities. But we’re here to tell you that there are others who went down the same road and were still able to succeed. Here are 6 essential tips for success when going to nursing school as a parent.
Opt for the Shortest Program Available
Perhaps you want to go for a career change, or you want to get into a better paying field. Either way, know that you don’t necessarily have to spend 3 or 4 years earning a traditional bachelor’s degree in nursing.
One of the things you could do is find an accredited accelerated BSN nursing program online. It will allow you to use your previous coursework to get your degree faster. You may need to take additional classes to qualify like microbiology and anatomy. However, you may be able to finish a BSN degree in as little as a year if you already have the necessary biology, anatomy, and social sciences in your transcript, so this is definitely something you should consider.
Then there are the benefits of studying online for parents. For one, you could get to take your classes on your own time if you decide to go for asynchronous classes. This is when you can attend classes and listen to pre-recorded lectures whenever you want.
If you’d rather attend live classes, you can also fit your schedule around your duties and go for synchronous classes. These have the benefit of giving you the full classroom experience, and even more. That’s because these classes often allow for direct contact with teaching staff in a way that would be disruptive in a traditional class setting.
Online classes are overall cheaper because of the savings you’ll make on materials, commuting, and other campus-related costs. There’s also no need to relocate, which is important for most parents.
Talk about the Changes with Your Family Before You Start
It’s very important that you talk to your family about the impact attending school will have on the family. This will prepare them, and they may come up with ideas to support you. It may include teaching young children to take over simple chores or older children learning how to supervise younger kids while you’re attending class.
Come up with a schedule that allows you to have time for all your goals, but make it clear that you can’t do everything you used to do. If the kids understand that you’re spending a year or two in evening classes, so you have more time for them later, they won’t resent this temporary disruption in their lives.
Develop Contingency Plans
It’s also important that you always have a plan B in case something happens. Find out who can pick up the kids after school if you’re not able to do so. Set up alternate contacts with the school and daycare, so that you’re not forced to choose between picking up a sick kid and finishing clinical practice.
You should also network with friends and family so that there are backup childcare options if the daycare is closed or you have to attend class in-person one day. Or, you may form a study group with fellow nursing students and share notes with each other if one of you misses class for personal reasons.
Have a Master Calendar
One of the most embarrassing moments for parents is forgetting a key activity. One of the most heartbreaking is to realize that a critical event conflicts with another. The solution is to have a master calendar combining personal commitments, school events and work. This way, you won’t agree to volunteer for a class party when you need to attend clinical practice, and you won’t forget a child’s dentist appointment when planning study sessions. Don’t forget to include your partner and children so that they’re in the loop, too.
Find Enough Time for the Essentials and Let the Rest Go
Returning to school is a major commitment, so, don’t try to do that and everything else. However, you do need to find enough time for the essentials.
For example, you shouldn’t cut into the eight hours of sleep you need in order to attend class or schedule. Drop the TV and streaming media, hobbies and extra volunteering so you have time to study. You can only juggle so many plates. Do find ways to multitask, such as doing your homework while your children do theirs, or taking a nap when your children do.
Find When Your Peak Study Periods Are
Some people perform better in the morning, and some do better at night when everybody’s sleeping. Some of it may have to do with habits, but there’s also a genetic component to it. Studies have found that some people just perform better at intellectual tasks at night while others do better in the mornings.
If you’re a morning person, we suggest you try getting up earlier. Some advocate getting up at 5, and it can be done when you get used to it, even if it may seem brutal. The most important part here is getting to sleep early so you can still get the 7 to 9 hours of sleep you need.
You’d be surprised at how conducive to work early mornings can be. You feel more clarity and less distraction in the morning. That could be all you need to catch up on some important work. You’ll also be in top shape and fully alert by the time the kids wake up.
Juggling work and school is hard enough, and throwing kids into the mix makes it a challenge. Fortunately, it is possible to balance family and your future career so that you all benefit in the long-run.
