To go to Nursing school pregnant or wait?

Glow360

been TTC for years, reached a place of giving up (9 years 4mc) you can see why. Well, here I am excited and surprised...5weeks along! But......I was suppose to apply to nursing school. Should I put off nursing school until next year or go pregnant?? Any nursing students or nurses have any helpful advise??

TheBorg7of9

I think it would be a hell of a lot easier to go while pregnant than with a newborn.  I would get as much out of the way before the baby is born.

[Deleted User]

*lurker*

I had a friend drop out when she found out that she was pregnant, reasoning that she didn't feel well so she would just go back after giving birth.  Her son is about to turn 4 and she has never gone back.

Go now.

Glow360

Nursing school starts September, I'm due in October.....I think I should go for it too, it's just that nursing school is intensive we don't have a lot of days we can miss. Lots to think about

kcolly32

I have two degrees and Nursing was my second, it was 18 month straight through and it was definitely harder than my first. However it was well worth it and I've been a RN for 5 yrs now. I wouldn't wait, life doesn't stop because you have a baby and you'll be able to provide better for them with a nursing degree. We had moms in our class, some with three kids and they finished and work at the same hospital as me now so it can be done. I say go for it!

Glow360

So excited and good to know, I was dreading waiting a year. I've worked hard. I'm taking my nursing TEAS next week and in March my application goes in. 

jonesl12

if I was pregnant when I was in nursing school I'm not sure that I would have finished on time and I'm positive my grades wouldn't be up to par. 
Nursing school was hard enough without pregnancy symptoms 

Glow360

That's what I worry about. You have to have the grades and nursing school is extremely hard. I would be giving birth two weeks into nursing school

Glow360

Not two weeks about a month into nursing school

LizaKate1213

**lurking from TTGP**

If school starts in September and you are due in October I would definitely wait until the spring semester. You would have to go back to class very soon after baby is born (a week, maybe 2 if you don't want to fail). Maybe you can do some pre-requisites this summer but I would absolutely recommend taking off the fall semester and starting in January. FWIW, DS was 1 when I started nursing school. I couldn't imagine doing it sleep deprived with a newborn. Also, my recovery after birth was a little difficult and I was on bed rest for a couple of weeks and very weak for about a month after. School would have been impossible. Whatever you choose, best of luck!

Cowboycorgi

Not sure where you live, but in my area the wait list is pretty long. I was able to apply and get in the next semester because of my grades and I was in a fast track program. My friend, however, applied and had to wait 2 years before they had an opening in the program because he hadn't started college with the intention of becoming a nurse. 

If you think you are going to get into a class rotation right away, then I suggest waiting until spring because of the toll of time off for labor/delivery will have on your grades. Plus I'm not sure on daycare regulations with a 2 week old. However, if you think there is a wait list apply now and hope you get in! 

Gingermom15

Lurking from D15

I was in the same situation. Nursing school started in January, I was due in early December and my EDD was the same week as finals for some pre-reqs I needed in order to go. Against everybody's advice, I decided to take leave and go this year instead of having everything thrown in my lap. Best decision I made for myself. There is no was I could have done finals while recovering my sons birth and my professors weren't able to offer make ups due to grade deadlines. I'm doing the pre-reqs  online now, then starting nursing school in May. If you are determined it can be done, but it's hard. 

Glow360

I'm sitting at 3.8 GPA in honors society with all prerequisites done and high nursing TEAS scores.....I do expect to get in, but decided to apply next year instead.

HMcDade1

Lurking from July 2016

So I'm in a little bit of a different situation but I wanted to offer some support. I've been a RN BSN for the last four years. I work full time in intensive care and I am part time 2/3 of the way finished in my AGACNP MSN. I'm a first time mom due in July.

I think that you have to weigh your options hard here. Do you have schedule flexibility? Can you be part time for a while and transition to full time? Or are you limited to a 12-18 credit course load ? Are you starting with pre reqs or are these all specifically nursing courses? Do you have clinical first semester or is your learning all didactic for a few semesters? Can you wait a semester and start in January? If you're away for 8-13 hours at a time how is that going to change your home life/ infant care options/breastfeeding decisions/ stress and sleep levels? Can you do online classes during fall ?

No one will ever sugarcoat nursing school -- its intense hard work, lots of studying, exams, projects. It was one of the hardest things I've done and I was single with no children. I'm not saying its impossible, but I would really think about some of the things I mentioned. I am only taking 4 credits in the fall, and will be working 24 hours a week, and even I am significantly concerned about how to deal with being post partum, BFing, and the time management of it all plus keeping good grades.

 If I were you I would lean towards starting a program in January and hit the ground running from there. On that note, do not let this baby chase away your dreams! People keep asking me what's going to happen with my NP now that I'm pregnant -- my response is always this ' I'm just going to have to work that much harder to show this baby how amazing working and educated women can be.'  This child is a huge motivator in my life as I'm sure it is in yours, and if you choose to start in the fall I'm sure you'll find a way to get through it too.

Good luck and best wishes to you!

Glow360

It's not part time it's full time 15 credits with clinicals. I decided to wait:) I'm done with prerequisites. 

FiancB

I'm in my third semester of nursing school and TTC. I agree with borg, easier pregnant than with a newborn. There's someone pretty much every semester that has a baby, some take a semester off and some don't. Nursing school is tough and you won't get more than a few days off of school, but it's doable. 

*loss mention*

I will say it was tough being pregnant last semester. First I was really distracted, wanting to read baby books instead of studying, and I was really tired. Then I had a loss at the end and that really threw me. I passed the semester, but not with flying colors. Even if that pregnancy had made it though, I wouldn't have been due until the summer after I was done with my ADN, so it would've worked out very well compared to actually having a baby during school. I also figured I'd rather be in school pregnant than looking for a job pregnant. My teachers knew what was going on and were very understanding. 

Knottie37710225

Do it now.  I got into do bridging from rpn to rn with one of my friends and I decided last minute not to go but she did.  I based my decision on thinking I would be pregnant soon and wouldn't be able to do it. . Well that was almost 2 years ago and she ended up getting pregnant right away and still going on through school,  she is still in the program doing well.  And here I am still working,  got pregnant 4 months ago,  lost it and today I just found out I'm pregnant again.  I totally don't mean to be a downer but pregnancy is not guaranteed. Nursing school is.  You will regret it,  I think about it all the time and how I based my life around something I couldn't control.  You sound Like a hard worker you can do it! ! Good luck! 

HMcDade1

Glow360 said:

It's not part time it's full time 15 credits with clinicals. I decided to wait:) I'm done with prerequisites. 

Sorry OP I read about your decision after I posted my long winded response. I figured that was what your situation - full time and clinicals. Congrats on getting in ! 

Glow360

It's ok, it was still a good response

von1976

I'm in nursing school and due October. The fall semester was supposed to be my last. I'm taking the semester off and going again in the spring. I'd recommend the same for you.  The first semester is rough, no way could I have done it if I was due a month in. At my school you miss two clinicals (two weeks) and you fail. I want to enjoy my LO and get the hang of breastfeeding, and I hear that takes at least three weeks. I don't need the stress of when and where my water is going to break, either!