Anyone going into Nursing???

JerseyJess · 08-26-2006, 08:41 PM

Curious to see if anyone else is looking to be an L&D Nurse, Postpartum Nurse or CNM...How are you balancing school with being a doula or having young children?

I've been taking some pre-req's since last Sept. So far I've done 2 English's, Basic Psych, and Anatomy & Physiology 1 (really hard but I made it through with a 97-this is the upside of taking it slow) It's been rough on my dh and kids so I'm slowing down to only 1 course per semester-hoping to have nothing but actually Nursing courses and clinicals by the time my youngest is in kindergarten. At this rate I"ll be in RN in 5-6yrs...I hope to continue teaching childbirth ed and doula-ing in the meantime. My dream is to become a midwife by the time I"m 45.

mbcatac7 · 08-26-2006, 09:09 PM

Hello,
My original goal was to be come a L&D Nurse, since I graduated Highschool in 1993. Now 5 kids later and taking all of my basics, I am really enjoying being a Birth Doula. I work part-time at a Birth Center as Postpartum Clinical. My goal now is become a CPM.
For me a fulltime nursing school is not in the plans. I homeschool all of my children and the ages range from 11 to 10 mo. My children must come first.
I really prayed about nursing school before I became pregnant with number 5. We were protecting against a 5th baby and I get pregnant. I feel that God is leading me in a different path, than what "I thought" I would be going.
Billie TX

susan1 · 08-26-2006, 10:48 PM

I too was planning on nursing before I got pregnant...two kids later ...not so sure..it took me five years to finish my two year degree....and it was hard...I kinda am taking all the pre-req's..just in case I change my mind when my yougest starts school but that is a few years away so never know what will happen.

DoulaKelly · 09-05-2006, 12:58 PM

I am a nursing student and I graduate with my ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) in March. I will be going back to school in the fall to complete an ADN to MSN program so that I can be a nurse-midwife. My boys are 6 and 3 and to be honest, it has been a tough road. Luckily I have an awesome husband who is able to help out. If I were to do it over again, I would have waited until both my boys were in school. It has been very difficult trying to study and juggle schedules with our little one beingin daycare. I feel very guilty

fearlessbirth · 09-05-2006, 01:09 PM

Keep on keepin' on, ladies!

It can be hard and a struggle but even if you meet your goals slowly but surely, at least you are doing it. I hate to hear of women who are older wish they'd done things differently. Even by taking only 1 class a semester you are closer than you would be if you didn't do anything.

(I try to tell my sister that. I just don't want her to end up being 30, all 4 kids in school and she's uneducated with no skills and no goals in mind and THEN starting from scratch.)

RosyDoula · 09-05-2006, 01:14 PM

I was going for my BSN, and I got all my pre-reqs but that was until I learned about our medical system. I became kind of disillusioned, and I didn't want to become "indoctrinated," as someone called it, into their way of thinking before I become a midwife.

DL · 09-05-2006, 01:15 PM

Well, my original plans a few years back, was to go back to school to become an RN (to work L & D, of course). I was figuring the being a Doula would be a great stepping stone until I was ready to enroll in school. After being a Doula, though, I'm thinking that that's probably not the route for me. My two very good CNM friends told me that I'd make a great nurse, but that I'd probably find myself very frustrated after having the experience of always getting to give continuous labor support and not having to bow down to hospital policies like the nurses do. I'm thinking she's right.

I wish you ladies all the best, though! We can never have too many great nurses out there (and the pay sure is a lot better)!

butterfly · 10-02-2006, 01:42 AM

I'm in the same situation as you...working on my prereqs to get into the nursing program but with the rate i'm going, it will take 5-6 years before I become an RN too. I only have 2 children but since they are so young 6 months & 2, it makes it real hard to find time to do homework and such. I'm planning on doing doula work on the side since I can no longer wait to work with pregnant women but my goal is to become an RN and then work on becoming a midwife! I've always dreamed of becoming a L&D RN but just kept postponing it...now I regret it and wish I would have done this BEFORE having kids.

It makes me feel better knowing that I'm not the only one juggling kids, school & work! It's hard work but it will be well worth it in the end! Hang in there!

Luv2bemommy · 10-02-2006, 01:54 AM

I have plans to become a CPM, but I just don't think with 3 (soon 4) kids I can make it through nursing school and then even more schooling to become a CNM. My dream used to be a L&D nurse but not so much anymore.

Sehsun · 02-06-2009, 10:08 PM

I do not have children, but I am deciding between working on a postpartum floor or in L&D once I graduate, and then possibly continuing on to grad school in nurse-midwifery.

Nursing school has been quite a journey - laughter, tears, and growth. I have learned so much, and I am so thankful for the support of my family and friends. I am glad I stuck with it, even when things got really tough (and I was questioning whether I was in the right program).

I hope to become a caring and competent nurse.

heartsopenwide · 02-06-2009, 11:01 PM

I will graduate from nursing school with my BSN in May. My goal is to get a L&D job too. Taking it slow like you are is a good idea, it allows you to get better grades, and with nursing school as competitive as it is right now you need superb grades. There are programs that do a lotto system but most of those have a three year wait list. Getting good grades and getting into a school that is merit based can essentially be quicker. Also, I would suggest getting into a BSN program vs an ASN and then bridging for your BSN...it is a lot quicker to go straight BSN and you have to have your BSN to get into a CNM program; and you need good grades for that too (at least a 3.0 to even be considered). Fortunately they births I have been going to lately were for women that were induced so I knew that I could attend without it conflicting with my school. I am on a call list for weekends for now.

have4boys · 02-07-2009, 12:13 AM

I am currently in my first year, and will be an LPN in May. If I can get back in the fall, I will have my ADN May of 2010. I took any class I could before starting my req nursing courses, and it made a big difference. Wether I go back in the fall, or work for a few years I haven't decided. I am in no hurry, and feel so good making any progress at all. It is definately a strain on the family, but so far it has been a really good influence on my kids to see me going to school and working hard. My original goal was to work OB, and I am still commited to it, but for now I just love nursing, and have loved all the departments I work in. I know, now that I am in it, that I am definately made for this job, so even if, after I graduate, I don't feel I can put up with some of the "difficulties" in OB, I will still have my doulas work to fall back on, for my birth fix. It does give you a great background for compassion and support, that is important in any nursing profession. Education, education, education is such a big key in getting patients to be in charge of their own health, and we all know about that don't we! Good luck, it is hard, but so far I am loving it.

thebirthjunkie · 03-24-2009, 03:24 PM

Well, I am here in CT and currently looking to enroll in a nursing program too. I need all of my prereqs and my problem is that I can't decide what school route to take. There is a great - brand new school close to me that offers year round enrollment. It's a private college so tuition is around $3800 a semester (that is PT)! They have a weird program in place. It's based on a point system. Basically you earn points for doing various things with in the school. For instance, taking all your prereqs there earns you a point per class. Volunteering 30+ hours a semester earns you 2 points, getting a 95 or better on the NLN exam earns you 4 points etc. You can max out at 38 points. But how it works is they look at your GPA, your NLN exam results and then how many "points" you have accrued to determine your elegbility into the program. If you don't have enough "points" you're put on a list until you can earn more points to put you into the bracket (of about 60 people) who do have enough points to be accepted. This happens every 55 days!

The other route would be to start out at a local CC and get all prereqs done there over the next two years. Then transfer into a nursing program at one of the 5 CCs in CT. However only one of them is close to me and the other 4 may be closing within the next few years due to our Govenor trying to make budget cuts. So, I might be looking at a potential problem down the road.

ACK! I need opinions! I think that either way I will be taking the prereqs (atleast 2 classes a semster to qualify for FA) then decide at the end of two years where to go. Although the private college frowns upon transfer students and in order to get in you have to have impecable grades. I just don't know where I should start!

So what would you do!????

FLLucinda · 04-04-2009, 10:51 AM

Shannon, I'm going the CC route...taking pre-reqs right now. I'm able to take 3 classes per semester and will be able to sign up for actual nursing school spring of 2010. I could never afford the private school route. As it is I have $4,700 in student loans...only 1200 has gone to school so far for tuition and books. The rest in savings for future tuition and books.
It's a sticky situation you are in! The wait list will grow in the one remaining CC that offers the RN program. That's what I'm up against right now. Here in Orlando there is no wait list at the CC's....in Navarre their is a THREE YEAR wait list at the local CC...the other CC just recently went 4 year and only offers BSN now. So what to do? I'm moving back to Navarre in May and can do the rest of the pre-reqs there but I have to be elsewhere to do the RN program. This is really upsetting to me as once again....I'm the one that has to sacrifice if we cannot get out of the area.

(the area I BEGGED to get out of 2 years ago when the getting was good!)

bellymamadoula · 04-04-2009, 04:06 PM

I'm also in nursing school. I find part time is a good choice for me (5 kids, CBE and doula). I am full time this semester and nearly died while on call and running my own classes. I will not be resuming classes until the end of the semester

Live and learn.

I'm in community college right now, and will graduate with an ADN...God knows when. I find it's less strssful to just keep putting one foot in front of the other and not stress about which year I *may* be graduating in. lol. my life it too unpredictable. I will only spend time in L and D if I have to. CNM is one of many goals I have. I'll decide once I am working which path to go.