Going back to school while you’re working is hard, but it is even more difficult when you have family obligations to attend to as well. However, it is possible to return to school while working as a nurse and raising a family. Here are a few tips on how to balance family life, work, and nursing school. We’ll focus on realistic advice anyone can follow regardless of your stage in life.
Set a Realistic Schedule
You can’t have balance if you’re trying to do and be everything at once. Don’t overburden yourself. You may need to take classes part-time or work part-time to have enough time for your family. Your schedule needs to include enough time for sleep and family commitments or else you’ll burn out.
Don’t try to finish your project in one night but instead break it up into tasks that you can work on for set time periods over the week. If you don’t have the time, consider what you can cut or who you can enlist to get it done. Do study when you have a break at work or between classes. And naptime for the kids is a good time for you to study, too.
Look for ways to save time, such as attending Regis College Online so you don’t have to drive to and from a brick and mortar school. If you’re studying for your Regis MSN-DNP Degree online, you’ll be able to have more flexibility in your schedule as well.
Create a Support Network
To succeed, you need a broader support network, as well. Have someone who can pick up the kids from school or activities if you can’t make it. Arrange for someone – including your partner – to watch the kids while you attend class or study. Ask which co-workers could cover a shift if you have to leave early. Let your partner do the grocery shopping, and enlist your children in keeping up the house.
Get Organized and Stay Organized
If you’re late turning in an assignment, your grades will drop. If you don’t submit reimbursement requests in time, you may not receive it. So, create a calendar so that you have all of your critical due dates and deadlines somewhere you can check on a daily basis.
Next, add family events like birthdays, school deadlines and events, and periodic family events to keep you all connected. Then add your work schedule. This lets your family see when you’re busy and when you’re not, and it could help you identify conflicts far enough out to resolve them.
Also make sure that you have a dedicated, organized space for your studies. Have one place to house your computer, your textbooks, and your supplies. Have one place for working on projects or studying.
Conclusion
Work-life-family balance is a complex juggling act, but it is made easier by careful planning, a good support network, and being willing to let things go that don’t fit into the schedule right now. Understand the long-term benefits to yourself, your family, and your community.