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Pursuing a nursing degree when you are already a parent can be a daunting task. It may require you to juggle family and school work. This situation can be more stressful if you are a single parent. Succeeding in a nursing program is, however, doable whether you are married or a single parent. It requires a lot of sacrifice and commitment from your end. Read on to learn tips that can help you succeed in your nursing program.
Share Your Plan With Your Family
You should sit down with your family and let them know that attending school will be overwhelming and may impact the family. Sharing plans will help to prepare them psychologically and help you achieve your goals. Make them understand that you won't be able to attend all the soccer matches or choir rehearsals like you used to.
It would help if you had to include your partner in all your plans. Do not strive to do everything. If you are married, you should request your partner to give you a hand in some duties. Your older children can also help take care of their siblings to allow you to concentrate on your studies. You should also explain the importance and benefits of what you are doing to you and the family.
Team Up With Other Parents
It would be best if you remembered that you are not alone in this journey. Team up with other parents pursuing the nursing program and share ideas on how you can study and balance your time.
Parents can also share their challenges with the rest of the group. Sharing might encourage you and keep you focused on your goals. Being in a support group will also help you in matters of mental struggles.
It would help if you also organized how you can incorporate your children during your meetings. Involving your children makes studying a social activity and also an avenue where your children can socialize. You can also meet virtually. Various tech platforms allow members of the group to hold virtual meetings.
Choose Your Appropriate Nursing Program
Choosing the right course can help kick start your career or take it to the next level. Cost and duration are important factors since you wouldn't want a program that will last a prolonged duration.
There are a variety of nursing programs that parents can choose from. Whether you are a beginner or you want to advance your studies, you will always find a suitable program. Examples of nursing programs include APRN in nursing, ADN nursing, and registered nurse (RN).
- Registered nurses (RN) work in healthcare facilities. They coordinate and educate patients about their health conditions.
- Associate degree in Nursing (ADN) nurses and registered nurses have similar roles. The difference is that ADN nurses are diploma holders while registered nurses are degree holders.
Most parents who are seeking to advance their nursing studies confuse APRN with RN or ADN. But, what does APRN stand for?
APRN is an acronym for Advanced Practice Registered nurse. APRNs are experts and have master's degrees. They also possess excellent decision-making skills, and they can handle complex nursing situations.
Consider Online Classes
Being a parent can hinder you from being a full-time learner. It would be best if you opted for part-time programs that allow online classes. Online classes are ideal for parents since they enable you to learn during your free time using pre-recorded lectures.
Most parents prefer online classes because they are cheaper since there is no cost of traveling and accommodation. These classes are also ideal for parents since you don't need to relocate your family.
Know Your Peak Study Time
You should know when your concentration is at its peak. Some people may prefer studying early in the morning, while some find it better at night. If your peak study time is early in the morning, you should rest well to have a good night's rest. Ensure that you prepare dinner early, or you put the kids in bed early.
Ensure that you organize your time well so that you can create enough time to do your assignments. It is recommended that you have one master calendar to consolidate your family, work, and school activities.
It would be best to involve your children and partner when you are scheduling essential days on your calendar. You should remember to mark your kids' appointments, games, school activities, and your outing day. With a calendar, you can avoid conflict in time.
You should also include your school tasks to prevent losing track of tasks that need to be done. Share the calendar with your partner and kid. They can keep you in the loop if you get held up with other things.
Engage Your Children in Useful Activities
Young children may not understand why their parents read their notes for long hours instead of playing with them. Ensure that your children are engaged in fun activities to give you room to study. You can also use this time to introduce new hobbies such as house modeling to your kid. Keeping your child involved in a project can give you ample time to read.
You can also let your children understand that you will be reading till a particular time and after that, you will reward them. They will give you uninterrupted time to read or discuss with your group members.
Create a Contingency Plan
Life has uncertainties. You may be faced with things you least expected to experience. Having a plan B would be brilliant in case things don't happen as you wish.
Find someone who will be picking the kids from school when you can't manage. Give their teachers the contact information of the person who will pick kids from school.
You can also collaborate with other parents to help take care of your kids in case of emergencies.
Sometimes we miss school for a variety of reasons. Make sure you have contact with your classmates. They can be sending you notes, class lectures, and recordings when you miss lessons. You can also join a network of parents' medics.
There are many ways to help you have a swift nursing studying experience. The tips above are a sure way of succeeding in the nursing program. This is a great opportunity to set an example for your family of hard work and perseverance. All the struggle will one day be well worth it. It is possible to balance school life and family life.
