Nursing school today attracts many older students
who are looking to embark on new career paths. However, these mature
students often face challenges not usually encountered by their
younger associates, such as work and family.
Juggling nursing school with family responsibilities or a full-time
job (usually both) is a difficult and often overwhelming task. The
good news is that there's a vast difference between difficult and
impossible. This article is intended to help the mature student
survive and even thrive on the challenge.
First of all, flexibility is essential – and an important
part of being a nurse. Kids will fight while you're trying to figure
out a care plan. The babysitter may call in sick, your car may break
down, or you might have to work overtime on the day of your final
exam.
If you're taking your courses at college, take it slowly –
even one course a semester. You may not have the luxury of having
the time to study several courses at once. You may be able to transfer
prerequisite college level courses (English, math, or psychology,
for example). There's also a program called CLEP, which gives college
credit for life experiences, such as work, travel, or independent
study.
The student who works outside the health care field may unfortunately
encounter skepticism from classmates and even some instructors.
They may challenge you with, "You have it pretty good at your
present job. Why do you want to go into nursing?" If you wanted
to stay in your present occupation you wouldn't be attending nursing
school.
Many working students are concerned whether or not they should
let their boss or co-workers in on their secret. This is a highly
individual decision which depends greatly on your work arrangements,
how much school will affect your work, and how well you get along
with your boss. Bear in mind that a boss's job as well as yours
is to act in the best interests of the company. It's easier if your
going to school has a minimal impact on your job performance.
Bear in mind. that a boss's job as well as yours is to act in the
best interests of the company. It's easier if your going to school
has a minimal impact on your job performance.
Employers also vary greatly in their flexibility regarding time
off. Be creative in using your vacation time. You might need only
half a vacation day to attend an extended clinical or you might
skip lunch to leave an hour early for last minute exam preparations.
Save some vacation time for school activities that might otherwise
conflict with your work schedule. Use your lunch hour to study or
even to get in a little lab practice if your job is close enough
to school.
Students who are already working in the health care field have
a distinct advantage. Not only do they have related experience,
but their employer is more likely to be supportive of their educational
goals. Every job, however, has attributes that are valuable in nursing.
A salesperson or receptionist, for example, needs excellent communications
skills to deal with angry or difficult customers. Other positions
may require analytical, creative, or critical thinking skills, manual
dexterity, mathematical aptitude, attention to details, or the ability
to set priorities. all of these skills are desirable qualities for
a nurse. Use your job skills to your advantage in your education.
Going to school will also have a profound impact on your home life.
If you pride yourself on keeping an immaculate house, you may need
to lower your standards. Family members can vacuum or run the dishwasher,
but only you can study for your exams. However, your family might
not always give you the support you need. You may come home from
clinical to a kitchen sink piled high with dirty dishes, an overflowing
laundry hamper, and two chapters you still have to study for tomorrow.
If you can afford to hire a cleaning service or send out your laundry,
the investment could well be worth it in saved time. Prepared frozen
foods are also a real time saver.
Finally, and most important of all, take time for yourself every
day. This point cannot be stressed enough! Even half an hour to
enjoy a warm bath, stroll around the block, or read something without
the word "nursing" in it can do wonders to refresh you
physically, mentally, and emotionally.
It is encouraging to see more evening nursing programs, but nursing
schools need to be more aware of and address the concerns of the
student who is trying to balance three different and often conflicting
roles. For example, the evening LPN program at our county vocational
school runs for two years as compared to one year for the daytime
program. It is unrealistic to suggest that working students cut
back to part-time or quit altogether. Most of them need the income
and benefits until they can get that first nursing job. They might
already be concerned about the possibility of having to choose between
leaving the job and facing financial hardship in order to complete
school or giving up school – and their dreams. Instructors
who treat working students with a little extra patience and emotional
support will be rewarded by these who readily give 200% to their
nursing studies.
Even half an hour to enjoy a warm bath, stroll around the block,
or read something without the word "nursing" in it can
do wonders to refresh you physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Going to nursing school while having to work and care for a family
requires stamina, self-discipline, resourcefulness, and dedication,
all of which are prerequisites for being a nurse. The demands are
numerous on nursing students in their 30s, 40s, or beyond, but their
maturity and experience are invaluable assets in helping to meet
them. Older students are highly motivated and usually of excellent
quality. They bring a wealth of backgrounds, perspectives, and life
experiences to enrich the nursing profession.
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The author is a nursing student in the LPN program at Ocean
County Vocational Technical School in Toms River, NJ.
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