Help need advice..

[Sleepzeta]

Hello All
New here. I am planning to go to CRNA school for the incoming class of 2009. Problem is I just moved to Georgia and the nearest school is 2+ hours away almost 3. I am married and the mother of 4. (10,2 and 8month old twins). I would like to know if the commute back and forth would be possible. Is there anyone out there that can give me an idea of what the didactic schedule looks like. How many hours will I be in class. Is this possible for me to do this or do I have to live closer to campus. I understand when clinical time comes around but right now we just bought a new house and I have only been here for 4 months. I know it was silly of me I should have checked out the schooling situation before the big move. Lastly, are there any schools out there in which they offer some online classes.

Thanks for your help

[Scout]

I have three kids, all boys (age 5,4, &2). I go to school in a front-loaded program 1.5 hours away (round trip 3 hours). I have to say it has been difficult. Class for me during didactics started at 7:30 and went to 4 or 5pm. Then study all night. I NEVER slept more than 4 hours at a time from April through August. Luckily, clinicals started last Sept, and many are in my city. I can say that had I realized what 3 hours of study would mean a day, I would not have tried it. In the summer (5 days a week 8+ hours a day in class), I just stayed with a friend at school 4 days a week. It also put a strain on my husband who is no less than a saint. I would REALLY think long and hard before attempting this. Not to put a rain on your parade, but it is BEYOND hard! That and when the kids cry "why are you going to school", it is bad. I cried almost daily. My question, have you been accepted yet? I am class of August-2009, my program is 31 months, and I have been in school well over a year. Anyway, I just want to warn you from being a Mom, think seriously about this! I am sorry if it sounds doom and gloom, I just wished I had realized what 3 hours of study meant on the front end.

[Sleepzeta]

I have not been accepted to a program yet. I just wanted to hear from others how it is going. I know it must be hard but I am always a glass half empty. I just want to hear that it is possible. Please tell me you see the light at the end of the long tunnel

[Scout]

Yeah, I do. It is getting better now that I only have to be on campus once a week. And I am in clinicals in the same city I live in. Still, the days are long- I leave at 5:45am from my house (clinicals are about 20 minutes away) for a 7:15 case. And usually I am not leaving until 4-4:30 pm. So I make it home with a couple of hours with my kids. But when I do clinicals near school, I am up at 3:30 and home around 6:30- about 1.5 hours before bed for the kids. I have been going since January 2007, and will graduate in August 2009. So, if you are just applying, you will probably be the class of 2011 or 2012. It is possible, just make sure your spouse knows what he/she is getting into. They will be with the kids alone ALL the time. Even when you are home, you aren't really there because you will be studying. I am sorry to tell you all this. And believe me, it can be done. But if it were me, I would move closer to school. I do half the commute you are talking about, and have barely made it. Four hours of sleep a night for months on end really does wear on you.

[PropofolDiva]

I have not been accepted to a program yet. I just wanted to hear from others how it is going. I know it must be hard but I am always a glass half empty. I just want to hear that it is possible. Please tell me you see the light at the end of the long tunnel


Georgia has 2 schools. If you are in Atlanta, Mercer is only 1 hour away, MCG in Augusta 2 hours or so. I think it would be incredible difficult to commute every day to Augusta. I plan on staying on campus monday - friday. My boys are older though (7 &9). Not sure I would have done this at this time if they were younger. I am sure it can be done BUT you better have plenty of support around to help your husband with the kids, they are very young and 4 is a lot to handle on your own. However, if he wants it as bad as you do, anything is possible. When I went to the interview in Augusta, there were some students there that had 1 or 2 young children at home in Atlanta. They mentioned that they study hard all week at school and then leave the studying behind when they drive home on the weekends.
MCG is also changing up there program. It will be frontloaded and they are also changing up the nursing core classes. I believe those will mostly be online. I have not receive the final schedule but it is supposedly going to be better for us. Sandman is at MCG. He may be able to answer some questions.
I think it will be a question that only you and your husband can answer. Can it be done? Absolutely! But at what cost? You both will have to go into it with eyes wide open. I usually see the glass half full, however, with such young children, I think it is neither empty or full. Make the best decision for your family. Also remember that in a few years, things might be easier for you guys. I waited until my kids were older and I have not regretted that decision. We have laid the foundation and now my hubby can maintain for awhile.

Goodluck!!!!

[HoyaSRNA]

My advice would be to make life as easy on yourself as you possibly can. Losing 5-6 hours a day in the car has the potential to interfere with school and your life at home. If it is feasible, look into renting a room close to school so you could crash there particularly during important times like midterm and finals when they all hit at the same time.

Do everything you can to put things in place so you have every opportunity to be successful.

[Sleepzeta]

Thank you for encouragement. I just need to hear from others in this situation to keep my spirits high.

[Happyin09]

Ouch... almost 3 hrs. away...thats a lot of hrs. I live about 45 min. to an hr. away from school and I think it is far. For one of my rotations I will have to get up at 3 am to get there by 5 am. Didactic courses also start @ 730 am. It is really difficult but what do they say?... if there is a will there is a way... or something to that extent,right.
Good luck!

[RN29306]

I'm from Georgia. Shoot me a pm if you want to about exact locations. For some reason, its incredibly easy to go north or south in georgia...but not east or west in the way the roads are developed (or not developed).

[Sleepzeta]

RN29306
What is the real distance from 316 to MCG or MCCG.

[RAYMAN]

Six hours a day of commuting while in anesthesia school, is ridiculous and dangerous.

[Sleepzeta]

Thank you all for your advice I guess I will have to rent a place closer