Currently my boyfriend of 5 years started hinting about engagement. While this has always been our plan, I am finishing up my Jr. year of nursing school and don't see time to well, have a life. I have always been super involved (currently I hold two leadership positions in my sorority and am a member of 2 other non-nursing organizations.) But I don't think that I have time to plan a wedding, be a senior nursing student, study and take the NCLEX and start a new job. After being a member of this site and reading different stories, it doesn't sound like the first year out of school is any less challenging. So my question to you all is when do you get to start living life outside of nursing?
Melissa
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April 24th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
I’m in a similar situation. Try explaining to him how overwhelming you think it would be to balance all this. I think it would be best to have graduated, taken the NCLEX and been at least through orientation at your new job before you have to start planning a wedding. You could propose the idea of a long engagement to him. Explain to him that you want the wedding to be special, but if you were going through the experience of planning it with so much else on your plate, it would just be a burden and another source of stress.
Although I’m a senior nursing student and cannot answer the question of when you start to have a life outside of nursing (I’m sure that day will come!), those are my thoughts on your other topic:)
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
Nursing is a great job to maintain AND have a life!! The flexible hours, shift options, and variety of types of nursing available make it conducive to really living the life you want. I realize I’m over 10 yrs post boards, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. That has been one of the wonderful unseen benefits of nursing that I did not anticipate. I could go on and on about how it enables you to have even more of a life and can be freeing to your schedule, but I’ll spare you all my ramblings…
That being said, Boards and weddings are both stressful even if they are wonderful / necessary. I would not recommend planning a wedding during board prep time if it can be helped – make sure the wedding is far enough post boards that you can handle the crunch time without compromising your study time. (or get married post graduation, but prior to boards as some of my friends did).
As far as starting a new job and planning a wedding – go for it. While starting a new job and orientation can be stressful as “new” things, I do not think it compares to the stress and time committment of schooling and board prep. If it is any consolation to you guys, I believe strongly to this day that nursing school was the MOST difficult, time demanding period of my life. I sometimes am shocked I made it through. Nursing itself if much more enjoyable than nursing school and your life WILL get much better post graduation!!
Personally, I planned a wedding while being employeed full time as a nurse, and going back to school part time for a 2nd degree. It was tough, and I allowed myself to take one semester off – which was well worth it to my sanity. Planning a wedding can be like a 2nd job in and of itself. Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time so you can actually enjoy it a little bit!
Good luck and enjoy!
May 11th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Don’t get all bogged down with marriage until you finish school. Nursing school is stressful enough without dealing with spouses. I speak from experience. I got married in my junior year and it almost failed me out of school. When you finish school, your whole world opens up. I’m now a traveler and my company pays for me to have a new car, pays the insurance, housing is paid along with all my bills. You will have a great life when school is over. Good luck.