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sash
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Mon Jul 12, 2010 1:07 pm
Hi all, I'm a mother of an 11 month old baby, and a div 2 (EEN) and after a LOT of thinking, have finally decided to apply for div 1 (RN) to start next year. Just wondering if there are any other mothers of young children who are currently studying or thinking of studying. I will probably only do one subject at a time and just study at night after my daughter has gone to bed. Anyone in the same/ similar boat? How do you manage everything including clinical placement. Any feedback appreciated! Sash : )
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CareerChanger
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- Joined: Jul 2009
- Location: Sydney
- Posts: 9
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Jul 12, 2010, 07:07 pm
Hi Sash, I have a couple of older children but started studying PT when my eldest was 9 months old (not nursing!) You find that you do what you need to to get by and you will be constantly amazed at how resourceful you can be when you feel like you are about to hit the wall. I've just finished first semester of a 2 year accelerated nursing course (I have a previous undergrad degree), I'm doing FT, as at my age, approaching 40, I don't have forever and am really keen to get into working in the field I chose over 20 years ago (just took a little detour via accounting!) PT nursing is usually 2 subjects at a time (well at my uni anyways :) ), my advice would be to try stick to this schedule. Not sure what state you are in but at UTS in Sydney the part time students don't actully start prac till 2nd year, which would be 2012...so that may make it a little easier, bub will be a little older. The workload is not too onerous, you do need to do a bit of reading to keep up, I also make sure I attend all classes (lecture and tute) - this is my learning style and if I miss a class I find I tend to struggle a little with the area covered, however also know a lot of friends who didn't attend any lectures and seemed to do ok. For my prac I was lucky in that my husband has very flexible work so fitted in around my rosters, you do need a good support structure around you, family, friends etc otherwise it will be harder! Although I'm assuming as an EEN you are working now? Do you have an arrangement that could help for prac? Hold onto the reasons you are upgrading, keeping these at the back of your mind will help you push through when things get a little challenging. Hope that helps! Cheers Gretta
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sash
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Jul 12, 2010, 08:21 pm
Thanks for your reply Gretta, Wow, from accounting back to nursing, what a big change for you. How are you finding it?
Yes I am currently working, I do about two shifts / week, which I fit in around my husbands work with my parents help babysitting in between. I guess during placement it would be the same kind of arrangement (If all parties were willing of course.... being that placements are full time : ) )
I'm in Victoria, and I think at the uni I would apply to, there is a 2 week placement in the first semester, then none till the next year (if I only do p/t). I think the hardest part would be doing the full time pracs and missing out on that time with my daughter (although she would have quality time with her dad and grandparents). Interesting that you say a lot of your friends don't attend lectures....... are they optional ? (not very uni savvy just yet : ) ) All the best with the rest of your studies : ) Sash
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CareerChanger
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- Joined: Jul 2009
- Location: Sydney
- Posts: 9
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Jul 13, 2010, 06:22 pm
Hi Sash, I am loving nursing...decided last year that life was too short to go to work everyday not doing something I enjoy, hence the career change. It's a lot more satisfying (personally) than spending my days making money for other people! Quality time is important but don't forget by the time you start you will have most of the major milestones covered! The smiling, teething, crawling, walking and maybe some talking...in fact I think the only thing you may risk missing is the first tanty :) (I think that could be worth missing!) and long term you are doing this for your family as well as you...happy mum makes happpier family. The lectures I think vary from uni to uni, we only have to attend tutorials as compulsory, lectures are not optional but not compulsory if you get my drift...and all the slides get put up on the net, I think the main thing you miss by not doing the lectures is the little "hint hints" around exam time. As I said, you will amaze yourself with what you can achieve when you put your mind to it...sure some days will be hard and you'll feel like tossing it all in, but hopefully more will be good! and don't forget the uni holidays are VERY generous...you'll probably only be on campus Mar-Jul and Aug-Nov with probs a 2 week break in each semester also! cheers
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fairyflosser
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Jul 14, 2010, 08:06 am
Hi Sash! im a mum of 2 small boys, 2 and 4yo. Im an EEN too and studying externally at CDU doing my bachelor of Nursing. Im about to start my second semester next week. I do 2 subjects a semester. I should graduate in 2012 if i dont have another baby during the course,lol. Im also going to make it a little quicker by doing a subject or two during summer. Im finding it manageable so far, busy but manageable. The boys go to day care 2 days a week whilst i study and i probably study 2 nights a week aswell. Im really enjoying it so far and as an een you will get some worthwhile credits towards the course. Im not working at the moment as i resigned form my job last year when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I cared for her during last semester, she passed away half way through the semester. I have no idea how i got through it! So now im considering going back to work a few shifts a week, although im enjoying the somewhat slower pace and the house is actually organised for a change! oh if you recieve a parenting payment from centrelink you can quialify for Jet childcare, which i pay only 10c an hour for care for the 2 days. It makes it affordable for uni students. Good luck with it all, you will be fine. As far as clinicals go, im trying not to stress about it! im thinking its no more than 4 weeks at a time so i can get through it. I will have my first one next year. It will be worth it in the end as i will have more job options and better be able to provide for the boys as they grow. I think they will eat me out of house and home one day!!l talk to you later, sar.
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sash
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- Joined: May 2010
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Jul 14, 2010, 12:57 pm
Thanks for your responses they are very helpful! Gretta, I think it's the same kind of thing with lectures here, they advise you to go but you can get away with not going. That's true about uni holidays! Uni students get a LOT of holidays : ) I'm glad you are loving nursing. I have been doing it for about 4 years now and I love it too. And there's so many areas you can work its great. Sar, firstly sorry to hear about your mum, that must have been awful ..
How do you find studying externally? I guess you have to be pretty motivated.
I thought I might do the same thing, do some units in the summer semester, rather than have three months off! At our uni you get 1/3 of the course off for being an EEN, which is great. I also think it's great that you can defer during the course, I'll probably do a couple of years part time, then have another baby, then finish the course. Well, that's the plan anyway. All the best with the rest of your studies : ) Sash
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holsdad
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- Joined: Jan 2009
- Location: Melbourne
- Posts: 40
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Jul 17, 2010, 08:13 am
Hi Sash, I too have young kids of 12, 3 and 1, and am part way through my degree. It is definitely achievable so go for it! My main tip is avoid doing a condensed course as they are not family friendly at all.
Best of luck with it :o)
Ian.
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sash
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Jul 20, 2010, 12:26 pm
Thanks for the advice Ian.... I definitely won't be doing a condensed course!
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