Attending nursing school as a mom is challenging, but it’s definitely possible. You will have much to juggle, but with careful planning, time management and a strong support system, you will be able to graduate and embark on a nursing career.
Whether you’re dealing with a toddler who doesn’t want to get dressed in the morning or battling with a teen who knows it all, motherhood pretty much makes everything else in life seem like child’s play. And it doesn’t matter if you work or stay at home, being a mom is hard—period.
As a mom, you undoubtedly want to work toward providing a better life for your family. Nursing school could be a way to make that happen. With Northeastern University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, it’s possible to graduate in as few as 16 months if you have prior college education.
Of course, going to nursing school as a mom will be challenging. You’ll have more responsibilities than other nursing students who don’t have children. With the right planning and support system, however, being a mom and nursing student is definitely possible.
The Challenges of Being a Mom and Nursing Student
The most obvious challenge of being a nursing student mom is the schedule—especially if your kids are not yet school-aged. Nursing school is a full-time job that requires many hours of focused studying. You will need to assess your family’s current schedule and try to make everything align with your school schedule.
If your kids are older, it will be easier to attend class while they’re in school. If they’re younger, you will need to find childcare. If you don’t have a partner or other family members who can provide childcare, you may need to consider daycare.
Another major challenge of being a nursing student and mom is handling stress. You will likely experience stress from trying to juggle everything and being short on time for coursework and self-care. You may also experience stress from not being able to spend as much time as you’d like with your kids.
As a nursing student, you will need to try to focus on quality over quantity. When you are with your kids and not studying, be completely present with them and focused on them rather than thinking about calculating drug dosages.
Why become a nurse when you’re already a mom? Explore these top reasons.
Your Learning Path as a Nursing Student and Mom
your current obligations. Here at Northeastern University, our ABSN program affords learning flexibility in that you can complete the nursing theory (didactic) portion of your education online.
Through our dynamic e-Learning platform, you have the option to work on your coursework at any time of the day or night and from almost anywhere, provided you meet deadlines.
Bear in mind that online classes are just as challenging as those held on campus. Because you are not tied to a specific classroom schedule, online learning makes it easy to want to push off your studies; however, procrastination in an accelerated nursing program is not an option. You are still responsible for instructor deadlines and maintaining the rigorous learning pace.
You also need to be mindful that our ABSN program is not 100% online. It is a blended education model that combines online coursework with:
- Hands-on nursing labs at our ABSN Learning Center
- Clinical rotations at nearby healthcare facilities
What are clinical rotations? Learn all about nursing clinicals here.
Unlike online coursework, our onsite curriculum follows specific schedules that require you to spend several days per week away from home.
Generally speaking, one might compare the program format to a full-time job with different hours every day. Therefore, your success in the program is highly dependent on a strong support network of family and friends who can step in to help out whenever needed.
From One Mom to Another
Whether you realize it or not, you have been a “nurse in training” ever since your child was born. You have treated wounds, fought off illness, administered medication and handled challenging emotional situations.
As a result, you can likely think on your feet, roll with the punches and get stuff done — all qualities that make for a great nurse.
We have watched several mothers achieve their dream of becoming a nurse through our ABSN program. While being a mom and nursing student is no walk in the park, the consensus among these women has been that nothing worth having comes easy.
Take, for example, Patti S., a student in our Charlotte-based ABSN program. Mother to three young children, Patti decided to become a nurse after her oldest child, who is now eight, was born.
Having my own children introduced me to the important role nursing plays in pregnancy, birth, and lactation. I want to be able to help other women during this significant and special season of life.
Because Patti had a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and a master’s degree in communication management, she was able to take the accelerated path to nursing. While our admissions requirements do not require a master’s level education, you do need a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 62 college credits.
Find Your Stride as a Nursing Student Mom
Patti says the flexibility of the online courses works great for her, but she definitely has less free time now that she’s in the program. “I’m able to get my schoolwork done after my kids are in bed or while they’re in school, but a large portion of my weekend is devoted to school,” she said. She also relies on her highly supportive husband and parents to assist with childcare, prepare dinner and run errands.
For Patti, the biggest challenge of being an ABSN student is scheduling group projects. “It can be tough working around my family’s schedule. Anything requiring ‘extra’ time that I haven’t planned for in advance will throw a wrench in the system. So, I have to be really efficient in my planning,” she said.
She believes prioritization and planning are key to success in the program, which, in turn, has required her to accept the fact that some things in her life need to be put on hold while in nursing school.
For now, Patti's mantra is “I can do anything, but not everything.” She keeps this statement top of mind every day — it’s featured on the cover of the day planner her best friend gave her.
What is nursing school like? Learn what to expect here.
You Are Not Alone
If you’re giving serious consideration to going back to school as a mom, you are in good company. As of 2023, there were about four million student parents pursuing a degree. About 43% (1.7 million) of those were single mothers. In our ABSN program, your peers will not be teenage freshmen. You will be among other moms, career changers and recent college graduates.
Second-degree programs are for individuals who’ve had time to reflect on their career choices. They know what they want and are highly motivated to achieve their goals. You will find that everyone in our ABSN program shares the same goal, which is to learn, work hard and graduate with a respected BSN in as few as 16 months. There’s a real team spirit in this type of environment and a mindset of “We’re all in this together.”
We Have Your Back
Going to nursing school as a mom takes a lot of courage, and we understand the stress associated with the transition. We have helped many moms overcome their fears of starting nursing school by offering them the encouragement, practical guidance, and support they need while applying to and participating in the program.
We have a team of admissions counselors who work exclusively with ABSN students. These champions of higher learning know the ins and outs of the program and can help you determine if an accelerated nursing education is the right fit for you.
If our program is for you, your dedicated admissions counselor will be ready to assist you in every way possible, from helping you create an enrollment plan to ensuring you meet the application deadline.
The support doesn’t stop when you start the program. You can expect to receive a high level of personalized attention throughout nursing school via small student-to-faculty ratios and plenty of support from program staff.
Nursing School Tips for Moms
As a busy mom attending nursing school, you want to head into each semester with a solid plan in place for balancing family and school. Try these nursing school tips for moms:
Set Attainable Standards of Time Management
Understand and accept that you will not be able to get everything done as a mom in nursing school. As long as the important stuff gets done, it’s okay if your home is messy and if you rely on pre-made rotisserie chickens from the deli instead of making meals from scratch.
Setting reasonable standards of time management means focusing on high-priority tasks first, making the most of the time you have available and learning to say no to invitations you don’t have time for.
Stay Organized Right from the Start
Once nursing school kicks off, you will accumulate a surprising amount of notes, assignments and similar learning materials. Digital or not, it’s important to stay organized right from the start. Develop a system for labeling digital files and keeping written notes and assignments organized.
Create a Study Schedule Around Family Life
As a mom in nursing school, it is crucial to spend quality time with your family, but you probably won’t have as much time as you’d like. Have a talk with your kids before nursing school begins, and let them know that you might not be able to do everything that you could before. Remind them that nursing school only lasts 16 months, and that things will get back to normal soon.
Each week, draw up a master schedule that depicts all obligations, both family and school. Identify blocks of time that you can use for studying. Commit to being fully present. That is, when you’re studying, you need to have someone else watch your children if they’re younger. When you’re at your kids’ soccer game, avoid the temptation to pick up a textbook.
Leverage Support Systems
Having a support system is so important for a mom in nursing school. What does this actually mean in practical terms? It means having people in your life whom you can count on to lend a hand, such as picking the kids up from school, dropping off a casserole or even running some errands for you. Talk to your partner, if applicable, and any family members and close friends about your nursing school plans. Find out ahead of time who you can count on to support you.
Use Helpful Technology
We embrace technology here at Northeastern, from our online coursework to our high-tech, fully-equipped nursing labs. As a nursing student, you should, too. You might find digital day planners to work better for you than physical ones, for example. You can also download apps that can support your nursing education. For instance, some apps are dedicated specifically to NCLEX prep. Experiment with a few products to see what works best for you.
Take Time for Self-Care
There is no question that you will be extremely busy as a nursing student mom. You might not have as much time for self-care and leisure activities, yet it’s important to do a few little things for yourself here and there. Treat yourself to a face mask, get a relaxing massage once in a while, do a morning yoga routine, or simply sit on a park bench and enjoy the fresh air for a few minutes.
You Can Do This
As a nursing student in our ABSN program, your job will be to study hard, manage your time wisely, look to others for support and not let yourself succumb to “mom guilt.”
Just remember, you’re doing this to better yourself and help your family in the long run. In fact, you’re setting a good example by showing your child(ren) that anything is possible when you put your mind to it.
Ready to Become a Nursing Student Mom?
As a nursing student and mom, you’ll appreciate the extensive support offered by Northeastern University’s ABSN program, from our dedicated admissions counselors to talented faculty. Plus, our ABSN students benefit from our flexible online coursework, which means you can work through classes while still being physically present for your kids.
Ready to get started? Contact our friendly admissions counselors today, and we will help you create a plan to overcome any obstacles you might have.
