Tips to Balance the Rigors of Nursing School and Parenting

Parents are a big share of nursing students. A report from the American Council on Education found that 18% of undergraduates are parents, so close to a fifth of nursing students are likely raising kids while they study. The balance is hard, but a deliberate plan makes it work.

The Real Challenges

Parenting plus nursing school amplifies everything school already throws at you: heavy studying, too little time, sleep deprivation, packed schedules. One study tied the dual role to lower academic performance, fatigue, time-management struggles, and financial strain. Even with online classes, in-person clinical rotations still demand childcare.

Rachel Stoermer, RN, RRT, JD, a DNP candidate at the University of Washington, points to clinical shifts as the hardest part. With two sons in elementary school, she found the schedule itself was the obstacle. "They're different every quarter, often long days where you're gone really early or really late. You don't get your schedule far in advance, so it's tough to work around."

The flip side is that schooling can be more flexible than a demanding job. "Prior to going back, I'd been working full time in tech, which is usually more than full time," Stoermer said. "In a lot of ways school made it easier to spend time with my kids, because so much of what you're doing is at home. I could do homework while they were coloring."

Being a parent can even sharpen your clinical work. "When I was doing a pediatric or NICU rotation, my first kid was premature and spent a month in the NICU, so I knew what it was like to be the family in that situation. That gave me a lot more perspective and an ability to work better with families."

Tips for Parents in Nursing School

Set Realistic Expectations

Tradeoffs are unavoidable, and you will not always give 110% to both roles. Lower the bar where you need to. "A lot of parents remember being really diligent students," Stoermer said. "You might not have the time to do that anymore. I found I really like having the weekend with my kids, and not studying on weekends means less time to study." Expect to put school first sometimes and family first other times. Planning for those compromises makes them easier when they come.

Involve Your Kids

Tell your children why you are doing this, what excites you, and what is hard. "Letting my kids feel invested worked really well," Stoermer said. "I talked to them about what I was doing and what I was nervous about. It helped them not resent the times I missed a soccer game, and they got excited when I made progress." She chose one of her sons to take part in her ABSN pinning ceremony. "It was cool that they felt part of the process with me."

Ask for Help

Kids get sick. The sitter cancels. School lets out early. Life happens, so be willing to ask. Many students fear that asking a clinical instructor to leave early or reschedule will reflect badly on them as a future hire. In practice, programs want you to graduate, and most are familiar with the demands of parenthood and will work with you.

Build a Support System

You do not have to do this alone, and a dependable support network is your best defense against burnout. Friends and family provide emotional support and often childcare. Join nursing clubs or form a study group, especially with other student parents who get it. Lean on academic advisers for accommodations and campus resources like tutoring. If the stress starts producing symptoms of depression or anxiety, get mental health support; many schools offer counseling for students.

Is It Right for You?

Earning a degree as a parent is a big decision, and the tradeoffs are starker with kids. "I definitely missed a lot of soccer games when I was at clinical shifts," Stoermer said. The honest questions are whether you are willing to make those sacrifices and whether you will advocate for yourself and your children when you need to.

Do not assume being a parent hurts your application. Stoermer noticed the fear shows up most at the application stage, where competitive programs make parents hesitant to ask about flexibility. "Once you're in, they clearly want you to finish." Many schools value what parents bring. And if a program truly cannot accommodate your kids, it probably is not the right fit anyway.