Donate
Alumni
Login & Email
Modern college students enroll in their degree programs at all stages of life, including while they are working or while they are raising their families. As a result, effective time management for college students has never been more important, with many prospective students wondering, "Will balancing my personal life and college be possible?"
Introduction – The Real-Life Balancing Act
The vast majority of college students are looking to strike that balance between college, work, and personal life. It can be difficult to find your footing when you enroll in a nursing degree program. However, success is possible when a college offers flexibility, support, and practical learning opportunities, as Nebraska Methodist College (NMC) does.
The Demands on Nursing Students Who Are Also Parents and Employees
Nursing students who are also working and raising a family will find that there are many demands on their time. By being aware of acknowledging those demands, you can select a nursing degree program that best aligns with your personal priorities and your professional goals.
The top demands on nursing students who are also parents and employees include:
Time Constraints and Competing Priorities
The fact of the matter is, working students and student parents have less time available for attending class and completing their coursework. Pressing time constraints and competing priorities can make it difficult to strike that balance, but being able to create a detailed schedule can help busy students plan accordingly.
Emotional and Mental Load
Working students who are also parents carry a heavy emotional load and mental burden, which can make it difficult to prioritize and balance. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), some of the best ways to manage stress and balance priorities include journaling, practicing mindfulness techniques, and prioritizing sleep and healthy habits.
Financial Pressures
Pursuing a nursing degree requires a financial commitment, but students who are also working parents face greater financial pressure than some of their peers. Knowing about the financial aid options available can help ease this pressure and make a nursing degree feel more attainable.
Nebraska Methodist College Programs: Flexibility and Support
The nursing school programs at NMC are designed with modern students in mind, offering the flexibility and support that students need when they are trying to find the balance between college, work, and personal life.
At NMC, nursing students enjoy the following:
Online and Hybrid Program Options
Many of our nursing degree programs offer online and hybrid program options, giving students the flexibility to choose the format that best meets their needs. The accelerated RN to BSN and LPN to BSN programs have recently been updated to hybrid formats that enable students to balance work, school, and family life. In addition, the Master of Science in Nursing program (MSN) is offered online, giving working RNs the ability to earn their degree while maintaining professional and personal obligations.
Accelerated and Degree Completion Tracks
The accelerated and degree completion tracks at NMC allow nurses who have completed previous nursing coursework to build upon their foundation and apply their credits toward their degree. Known for their efficiency, these programs are an excellent option for nurses who want to advance their skills and pursue specialized areas in nursing.
Flexible Scheduling and Course Delivery
NMC prides itself on offering flexible scheduling and course delivery. Working students will find that there are evening and online courses available, allowing them to accommodate their schedules. In addition, nursing students have the opportunity to arrange clinical hours based on their personal commitments.
Students can choose between synchronous or asynchronous coursework, giving them the power to design a schedule that works for their personal priorities and their learning style. In addition, students enrolled in online doctoral or practice-based programs can schedule summer campus visits to meet their requirements.
Clinical and Hands-On Learning Support
NMC students benefit from our partnerships with Methodist Hospital and other clinical affiliates, allowing them to access real-world clinical settings without having to travel excessively. Whether you are currently working as a nurse or raising a family, you will find that you can still enroll in a degree program that offers hands-on learning and clinical skill development opportunities.
Success Stories: Students Making It Work
With a deep dedication to their calling and an ability to set effective personal boundaries, many nursing students at all stages of life can balance their personal priorities while accomplishing their educational goals.
Working RNs Advancing to Graduate Tracks
Online or hybrid graduate degree programs allow nurses to continue working full-time while earning an advanced degree in nursing. At Nebraska Methodist College, working RNs will find there are online and hybrid MSN and DNP programs.
Parents Balancing Classes and Family Life
Online and hybrid modalities make it possible for parents to complete their coursework while prioritizing family life. Both synchronous and asynchronous courses are incorporated into online and hybrid nursing degree programs, giving students the ability to choose the learning experience that is best for their personal needs.
Outcomes: Graduation, Leadership, Job Growth
Investing in their education and finding a balance allows nursing students to graduate with advanced degrees, pursue leadership, and elevate their careers.
Strategies That Help Students Manage Work, Parenting, and School
Time management for college students is not a one-size-fits-all approach — students should test different scheduling tools to find what works best for their lifestyle. There are evidence-based strategies that both colleges and students can adopt to ensure that the delicate balance between college, work, and personal life is possible.
Per the Institute for Women's Policy Research, these are strategies that can help ensure success for students managing work, parenting, and school:
Prioritization and Time Blocking
Creating a detailed schedule that includes working hours, time for family, and your course schedule will allow you to visualize your responsibilities and prioritize accordingly.
Leveraging Online Tools and Resources
To become a supportive and family-friendly campus, colleges should offer an extensive library of online tools and resources. At NMC, students use an online learning management system to review virtual lectures, submit recorded materials, complete coursework, and attend faculty office hours. This virtual environment allows students to engage in learning at a time and place that is convenient for them.
Support Systems and Community
Colleges can create a supportive and successful environment for working students, even in online and hybrid programs, by fostering a strong sense of community and providing robust support systems. Working, parenting, and attending school can be an isolating experience, making that sense of community critically important for the mental and physical health of modern learners.
Use of Transfer Credits and Accelerated Courses
Nursing students balancing work and college studies can take advantage of the transfer policies at NMC or consider accelerated pathways that shorten the duration of their educational experience. Nebraska Methodist College recently updated its accelerated LPN to BSN and RN to BSN programs to better accommodate the demanding nature of the nursing profession.
Challenges and How NMC Helps Mitigate Them
At NMC, we recognize the challenges that nursing students face, particularly when they are balancing work and college studies. These are the steps we take to help mitigate the most pressing challenges faced by modern learners today:
Financial Constraints and Cost of Education
The cost of education can be daunting, particularly when a student is working and raising a family. At NMC, we offer financial aid opportunities that can offset the cost of education and enable nursing students to advance their careers.
Balancing Clinical Requirements and Home Life
Most nursing degree programs include clinical requirements, but at NMC, we know that completing these requirements can be particularly difficult for working student parents. We provide our students the ability to schedule flexible clinical hours based on their schedule.
Keeping Motivation During Fatigue and Stress
Finding that motivation can be difficult when you are balancing college, work, and family life. Through peer support groups and tailored academic services, we help our students avoid burnout and achieve success.
What Students Should Know Before They Start
Balancing your current job, your growing family, and your educational goals is possible — but it's important to go into this experience informed and prepared.
You can ensure your success by engaging in the following:
Setting Realistic Expectations
Consider your schedule and your personal obligations, and evaluate whether now is the right time to begin. Having realistic expectations of what it will take to complete your nursing degree program and what you may have to sacrifice as you work toward this goal is critically important.
Checking Program Format and Support Elements
Before you enroll in a nursing degree program, review the available program formats. Take time to explore the resources available, and confirm that you will receive the support you need.
Exploring Financial Aid and Employer Support Early
As you continue to research the available programs, you will also want to learn more about the financial aid options available. In some cases, employers will reimburse tuition costs or provide funding for you to earn an advanced degree.
Is the Coursework Fully Online, Hybrid, or In-Person?
Financial aid and employer support options may vary based on the program that you enroll in, so it's important to consider whether the coursework is fully online, hybrid, or in-person.
What Are the Campus-Visit Requirements?
At NMC, we highly recommend that our students visit campus to get a better understanding of our campus culture and the support services that we offer our students. You can schedule a virtual or in-person NMC campus visit.
Prioritizing Self-Care and Setting Boundaries
Working parents often put themselves last — and that temptation might certainly be high for working parents who also enroll in a nursing degree program. However, setting personal boundaries and making time for the things you enjoy allows you to avoid burnout and increase your chances of success both inside and outside the classroom.
Final Takeaway: Balancing Work and College Studies is Possible
When you intentionally choose to enroll in a degree program at a school known for its supportive and nurturing environment, you will find that it is entirely possible to earn your degree while working and raising your family.
Find Your Balance Between College, Work, and Personal Life at NMC
Balancing work and college studies can be challenging at times, but it is absolutely possible when you enroll in a college that offers a supportive environment for all students. If you're a working nurse, parent, or both, see how NMC can help you achieve your BSN, MSN, or DNP. From our RN to BSN online program that accelerates your path to earning a BSN to our Doctor of Nursing Practice program that allows you to advance your clinical practice, our nursing degree programs are designed to allow you to advance your career while balancing your life priorities.
Find your program at NMC today, and discover the pathway that works for your current stage of life.
Sources
https://www.methodistcollege.edu/nursing/rn-bsn
https://www.methodistcollege.edu/nursing-school
https://www.methodistcollege.edu/visit-nebraska-methodist-college
https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/living-with/index.html
https://www.npschools.com/profiles/nebraska-methodist-college
https://iwpr.org/building-family-friendly-campuses-college-success-student-parents/