Balancing Family, Work, and Graduate School: How Rebekah M. Prepared for Her Next Step in Pediatric Nursing
When Rebekah M. began thinking about becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner, the timing didn't seem ideal.
She was raising three young children, balancing family responsibilities and considering the significant commitment that graduate school would require. But after encouragement from friends who had recently completed nurse practitioner programs — and knowing she needed a flexible option — she decided to take her next step.
Maryville University's online Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program gave her the opportunity to pursue her goals while continuing to care for her family. Through careful planning, strong support at home, and a commitment to staying organized, she successfully navigated the program while building the advanced knowledge and confidence she'll use throughout her career.
We spoke with Rebekah about what inspired her to enroll, how she balanced school with family life, and the advice she has for future students considering the same path.
What made you decide it was the right time to pursue your PNP?
I had several friends who had just completed an NP program. They encouraged me to do the same. I felt unsure about the timing since I have three young children, but the flexibility of the Maryville program being online helped me make my decision.
How did you feel before starting your first course?
I was excited to start the program. I was very intentional with my time management and organization from the beginning. My biggest hope was that my professors would provide me with the information and resources I needed to be successful in each class. I was willing to put in the time and work, but I had high hopes for the professors and the program that would set me up for success!
How did you balance school with work and family responsibilities?
I asked a lot of questions before starting about the time commitment from the classes. I inquired about in-person clinical responsibilities. I tried to get a realistic picture of the time commitment the program would require as early as possible.
I used a handwritten calendar with all my personal information and school information on it. I put personal items in one color and school items in another. As soon as I had access to the syllabus, I wrote out all due dates. It provided me with a visual for when I felt I could pick up work shifts versus when I needed to focus more on school.
I prepared my family in advance for low expectations regarding my involvement at home. That was a big change. I had great support from my husband and kids.
Was there a moment when you realized how much you had learned?
The first live clinical simulation with my professor surprised me. I was shocked by how much I knew about the presenting patient scenario. Knowing I still had so much more to learn, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could navigate that simulation well with the knowledge I had already obtained.
What was the biggest challenge you faced during the program?
My biggest challenge was studying for pharmacology tests. That is the only class that I had to totally change the way I studied. I used notecards, specifically. I had a color-coded process for studying the medications and all their nuanced details. I would study between 50–60 hours for each of those exams. It was hard, but I made it through!
How were you able to apply what you learned in real clinical settings?
There were many times when I was able to apply knowledge I gained while studying to the clinical experience. For example, I would be in clinical and a set of symptoms would present in a child, or a diagnosis in the patient's history would be pertinent to the visit, and I would feel excited that I had just read about that in my class content. It allowed me to confidently contribute to the patient visit.
What advice would you give someone considering the program?
It is a difficult season in the sense of time commitment, but it goes by quickly, and so much valuable knowledge and experience is gained along the way!
Ready to Take Your Next Step?
Whether you're balancing work, family or other responsibilities, earning a graduate nursing degree or certificate can help prepare you to provide advanced care while expanding your career opportunities.
Check out Maryville’s online nursing programs or schedule a call with an advisor to learn more about how we can help you reach your goals.