Pregnant in Nursing School: Challenges, Tips and Advice on How to Complete Your Nursing Education
Going into nursing school brings many changes to your life and can be a considerable challenge in itself. And if you are expecting a pregnancy or are already pregnant, the task of accommodating both can seem daunting, if not impossible.
Luckily, you are not alone. We are here to help you with all the information and advice you need to get through and succeed in nursing school while pregnant. More so, we provide you with the material support you need to take up the challenge of furthering your education, even if you are currently expecting a baby or are planning for one during the period of your nursing program.
At Nightingale College, we provide easily accessible learning programs with hybrid or fully online curricula that allow students to progress through all stages of their nursing education before, during, and after pregnancy.
Browse our academic programs and find the best way to further your education and advance your career, regardless of preexisting strains on your time and availability!
And, because we know that getting through nursing school while pregnant is not as simple as picking the right program, we will provide you with the necessary information and tips for “surviving” nursing school while pregnant.
Can You Be Pregnant in Nursing School?
First of all, we should dispel one common misconception – yes, you can be pregnant and still enroll in a nursing school program, and no institution can bar you from pursuing your studies.
All nursing schools must respect the federal regulations concerning pregnancy and college-level education, including both allowing you to enroll in a program and not being kicked out of your chosen program if you get pregnant while in nursing school.
The Title IX federal civil law states that no person can be "excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance” on the basis of sex.
Nevertheless, many aspiring nurses decide to plan out their pregnancy around their period of education due to concerns about availability and the associated risks. However, you should remember that, although it comes with specific challenges that you should be aware of, being pregnant in nursing school does not set you up for failure or unmanageable situations.
What Happens if You Get Pregnant in Nursing School?
As we have established, you can continue your studies if you get pregnant while pursuing a nursing program. However, you should be aware of some notable changes and challenges and know how to address and manage them.
An Added Responsibility
Being pregnant during nursing school comes with an immediate impact on your time, energy, and availability. More concretely, it requires several adjustments to your study schedule and clinical hours in order to accommodate new demands, such as doctor’s appointments and the periods of rest required during pregnancy.
In many cases, students opt for leaves of absence or delay their graduation to accommodate the pregnancy, especially if they expect childbirth to coincide with more demanding periods in school. If you find yourself in such a situation, it is vital to prioritize your and your family’s health, even if it comes with some academic drawbacks. Additionally, many programs will actively take steps to accommodate and reduce the stress placed on expectant mothers.
Overlap with Program Period
Tending to pregnancy can mean less available time that you can dedicate to studying and performing well in school. The extent of this impact differs based on the overall overlap of the two events. Depending on your chosen path, the overlap between your period of pregnancy and your program period can vary, and you should take into consideration how the two can affect one another.
If you want to know more about how long nursing school is, we provide you with all the details about the length of programs and the shortest routes to licensure and accreditation.
Accommodating Learning Systems
According to federal law, you cannot lose your right to access your desired education due to pregnancy. This translates into a lighter workload in clinicals, flexible learning schedules, and breaks when needed.
Additionally, educational staff should advise you and provide the necessary support to accommodate your specific needs, which is why it is so important to state your situation to academic staff.
Developing a Support Network
Beyond the support provided within academia, you will also need to access or develop a support network that can address new needs you may not be familiar with yet.
Receiving the necessary help from family, friends, and your partner before, during, and after childbirth will become critical for your well-being, health, and career.
Financial Strain
Depending on your nursing program, you may already have dedicated a specific budget towards your education. Pregnancy and childbirth come with added costs, which can add to the overall financial pressure placed on nursing students. Additionally, the changes in personal demands and responsibilities can reduce your availability for employment and work during your attendance. This can also limit the income flow that allows you to continue your education.
Read our guide to working while in nursing school to learn how to manage your professional life effectively and reduce your financial and time burden.
Emotional and Mental Well-being
One of the most pressing impacts pregnancy has on nursing students is on their psychological well-being and mental health. Nurse burnout is a troubling trend that also manifests among students, and the demands and stress added by pregnancy often exacerbate the fatigue, anxiety, and feelings of being overwhelmed that come with the career.
Additionally, the time needed for self-care and addressing worsening mental health can also be limited, creating a vicious cycle.
If you want to know how to address such issues in time, discover how to avoid detrimental nursing burnout and use these actionable tips to stop nursing school burnout.
Potential Health Risks
Depending on your type of program, you may need to engage in clinicals that come with various risks for pregnant students. Handling patients with infectious conditions like cytomegalovirus or performing tasks that involve heavy lifting or long hours on your feet are some examples that may prove dangerous if you are expecting a child.
In such cases, you will need to delay some courses, tasks, and clinicals to ensure that your education does not come at the expense of your or your child’s health.
7 Main Challenges to Being Pregnant in Nursing School
Now that you know how being pregnant in nursing school may impact your day-to-day life, you should also become familiar with the central challenges to your well-being, health, and also your academic performance:
- Greater physical and emotional stress: You may find it overwhelming to manage the fatigue, nausea, and emotional fluctuations related to pregnancy while keeping up with the academic demands of a nursing program.
- Scheduling conflicts and need for adjustments: Prenatal appointments, interventions, and even your childbirth may end up conflicting with your nursing school schedule and exams. In the end, you will generally need to reach out to professors and academic staff for accommodations and program adjustments.
- Diminishing time for self-care: As your pregnancy advances, along with your educational program, you may discover that your own time dedicated to self-care also takes a nosedive. It is crucial to take into account the time necessary to “decompress” and include it in your schedule.
- Restrictions on clinical practice: As a pregnant student, you will have different medical limitations and concerns. This translates into restrictions on the types of patients you can work with as well as on the variations and intensity of tasks that you may complete during clinicals. Mobility to your institution’s facilities can also add to the physical strain and be inadvisable.
- Less flexibility with unexpected events: Even if you plan out your study schedule in accordance with your pregnancy timeline, possible complications that may arise with pregnancy or childbirth will likely disrupt your estimations. This is also true for other unexpected events, which may need you to adapt your schedule on the go at the expense of your time and comfort.
- Cumulative financial strain: Both nursing education and pregnancy come with costs and economic burdens. If they coincide, you may find it difficult to sustain the financial strain, especially if either affects your ability to earn a living.
- Increased risk of burnout: Trying to juggle pregnancy and schoolwork without proper counseling or a stable support system to fall back onto can lead to physical and mental exhaustion, increasing your chances of burnout.
While these are the main challenges you are likely to face, the experience of being pregnant or having a baby in nursing school can come with many other pitfalls and complications. However, now that you know the full details, you are better equipped to tackle being pregnant while in nursing school, given that you also follow the appropriate recommendations and tips.
14 Tips and Advice for Going to Nursing School While Pregnant
Here are the essential tips and recommendations for surviving and performing well in nursing school while pregnant:
- Communicate your situation to staff early on: Make sure to inform your professors, clinical instructors, and school staff about your pregnancy as early as possible to arrange any necessary accommodations, such as adopting a flexible schedule or adjusting the time and duration of your clinicals. Remember that you have the right to be provided with accommodating conditions for completing your program of study.
- Ask for accommodation in clinicals or other activities: Discuss with your clinical supervisors about potential risks and accommodations, such as avoiding lifting or exposure to infectious patients, to prioritize your safety and your baby’s well-being.
- Plan your semester or program schedule ahead of time: You should create a detailed schedule for the semester that includes coursework deadlines, clinical hours, and medical appointments. This way, you can plan out in time, stay organized, and accommodate the crucial phases of your pregnancy.
- Always prioritize your health, even if it comes at the expense of studies: You should never ignore your or your child’s health and well-being, even if that may come at the expense of your studies. Attend all prenatal appointments, follow medical advice, and listen to your body’s needs. Additionally, make sure to hydrate, rest, and ensure you eat properly, especially during clinical shifts.
- Rely on available support systems and seek help: You should never feel like you’re facing up to being alone in this journey. You can and should always lean on your family, friends, or partner to help with childcare or household tasks, so don’t hesitate to seek help from school counselors or student services.
- Seek the appropriate financial aid for education: There are many financial assistance options, including scholarships, grants, or loans, that may be available for pregnant or parenting students. You can access these resources to ease the financial burden implied by expecting a child or raising a newborn. Find out more about tuition and aid at Nightingale College.
- Work proactively to ease off subsequent time burdens: As an expecting mother, you may need to complete specific academic tasks at earlier times in order to accommodate subsequent needs or activities related to pregnancy. Try to complete assignments ahead of time in case unexpected health issues or delivery come up.
- However, do not put too much pressure on yourself: As a pregnant nursing student, you will already be going through a lot. While you should deal with academic tasks proactively and in due time, remember also to take it slow and not overload your schedule. Remember to take needed breaks from studying and balance your schoolwork, clinical hours, and personal responsibilities realistically.
- Do not ignore self-care and personal needs: Tending to your and your future child’s needs does not stop with prioritizing your health. Neglecting your personal life can affect both you and your baby, and you should also consider self-care to be crucial for your academic success.
- Take Mental Health Breaks: Pregnancy and nursing school are both stressful on their own. Experiencing them together can quickly become overwhelming. That is why you should take mental health breaks, practice relaxation techniques, or engage in light exercise like yoga as often as you can.
- Keep your options regarding taking a break from school open: If you find it necessary, consider taking a semester off or reducing your course load. However, do not forget to talk to your academic advisor about flexible study options when things get overwhelming. The school staff will be better equipped to advise you in your learning journey.
- Wear attire that guarantees comfort in a learning environment: Pregnancy can cause swelling and discomfort, so comfortable clothes or shoes can help reduce strain during long clinical shifts and help you tackle academic challenges more successfully.
- Keep your instructors updated on your journey to motherhood: An expecting mother's needs and required accommodations will change throughout the pregnancy. That is why being pregnant in nursing school involves updating your instructors on your current status. If your due date is during the semester, discuss the possibility of rescheduling exams or assignments before delivery.
These are the main recommendations if you are planning to go to school as an expecting mother. However, remember that each school will have its own set of resources and types of advice for pregnant students, which better fit the specific conditions of the program.
How to Deal With Clinicals While Being Pregnant
Clinicals are one of the biggest challenges for students who happen to be pregnant in nursing school. Although they are necessary for most programs, clinicals can represent a hurdle, especially if you are an expecting mother and you may need to prioritize your health and well-being. Luckily, schools are taking active steps to accommodate students with various needs and limitations in their practice.
Nevertheless, when navigating clinicals while pregnant, you must prepare adequately for both the physical and emotional challenges they will present you with.
When Comfortable, Communicate with the Staff
First of all, you must notify your instructors and supervisors as soon as you are comfortable so they can provide the necessary accommodations. These can include modifying your clinical duties, assigning you to less physically demanding tasks, or avoiding exposure to certain risks.
Clinical rotations demand long hours and physical exertion, which can be taxing in your condition. Additionally, pregnancy can increase the susceptibility to some health hazards. As an expecting mother, you will have limited exposure to infectious diseases like cytomegalovirus or other occupational risks, such as radiation or heavy lifting.
Prioritize Your Health and Well-being
The physical strain, fatigue, or nausea felt during pregnancy can affect your ability to perform in clinical settings. That is why being conscious of your body’s needs is essential.
Ensure you are taking enough breaks, staying hydrated, and getting the right amount of nutrients throughout the day to maintain the energy levels needed for getting through clinicals. Additionally, schedule your clinical hours around prenatal appointments to stay on top of your medical needs while meeting educational requirements.
Adapt to Changing Needs
In case of pregnancy complications or health concerns like gestational diabetes or hypertension, you may need to modify your duties or take time off even further. Nursing programs typically offer flexibility in scheduling makeup hours or postponing clinicals temporarily. Explore such options if necessary.
Self-care should remain a top priority in such cases. Remember that you can always reach out to family, friends, or counselors if the pressure becomes overwhelming.
Don’t Be Afraid to Interrupt Your Studies
You may not see it so, but taking a temporary leave may be the best choice for you, your future child, and your career, especially if you experience health complications during pregnancy.
Health professionals know this all too well, and many nursing programs have provisions that allow pregnant students to take time off without derailing or forfeiting their education and past performance.
Even if you are not yet in a situation that requires you to postpone your studies or graduation, you should have a good understanding of your program’s policies and plan for flexibility in the future.
Nursing Programs That Can Accommodate Pregnant Students
Perhaps the most essential component in managing a pregnancy while studying to become a nurse is the academic program you choose.
Although no learning institution can turn you down for being pregnant, certain limitations may simply hinder your ability to learn in your condition. These include accessibility to the learning facilities, an inflexible educational schedule, or a fast-paced, accommodating approach to instruction.
However, some nursing programs aim to aid and accommodate students from all walks of life and with varying needs and requirements. That is why Nightingale College provides an educational experience that welcomes and accommodates learners with different personal necessities and obligations, including those that arise from pregnancy.
The academic programs we provide are either hybrid or fully online, thus guaranteeing maximum accessibility and flexibility. By enrolling in your desired program, you can complete the online theoretical instruction, participate in virtual simulations and labs, and fulfill your necessary supervised on-ground field experiences (SOFE) at the facilities of one of our partnering healthcare organizations throughout the country.
Our BSN program also includes the Capstone Project, which allows you to begin applying the skills and knowledge gained during coursework while still studying. If you are concerned about licensure and the effects of your pregnancy on your chances for accreditation, you should know that we also provide coaching for NCLEX-RN success. Our main priority is to help you graduate and obtain your certification within the shortest possible time while respecting your needs.
Lastly, if the financial burden is one of your concerns, you should consider applying for the various types of financial aid we offer internally or externally. You can find more information on the tuition and aid page.
Learn from One Inspiring Success Story from Nightingale College
If you need some inspiration and further confirmation that being pregnant in nursing school will and should not come at the expense of your learning, we are going to share the inspiring story of Jerica LeFevre, a St. George DDC learner who was determined to provide a better life for her and her children, no matter what life threw at her.
Jerica LeFevre was only in her first semester of nursing school when she found out she was expecting her second child. Fueled by memories of a tough childhood and committed to finishing nursing school on time, LeFevre refused to drop out or take a leave of absence for her pregnancy and delivery. Although it was one of the hardest things she’s ever done, she finished nursing school and graduated with the January 2019 cohort.
Although she has faced both the challenges of pregnancy and nursing school at once, LeFevre believed that sticking with nursing school all the way through was worth it:
“If I had to do it over, I would still do it. It wasn’t the easiest thing… but I think at the end of it, it’s going to be worth it.”
LeFevre had worked as a CNA for seven years before starting nursing school, and it was that position that led her to fall in love with the nursing profession. A sudden divorce sparked her interest in pursuing her RN licensure. After she realized she needed a stable career to provide for herself and her 3-year-old, she kicked herself into gear, searching for a program with no waitlist that would admit her immediately and allow her to become a nurse quickly. She chose Nightingale College, and we’re so glad she did.
Caring for her son was at the forefront of her mind as LeFevre started nursing school at Nightingale College. She wanted to ensure that the life of her son would not reflect her own troubled childhood:
“My mom was heavily into drugs, and my siblings and I were separated at a young age because of it. I ended up growing up with my Grandma,” said LeFevre. “Seeing how my mom has struggled with finances and drug addiction, I wanted to be as far away from that life as possible.”
Nursing school was one way of providing a better childhood for her son, but LeFevre found out during the first semester that she was expecting. Now, on top of being a full-time mom to a busy five-year-old, LeFevre had to make arrangements for her little girl to be brought into the world.
“I already promised myself that I wasn’t going to stop no matter what happened.”
Although she was committed to finishing, that didn’t stop her from worrying how the situation would pan out. “I was a little freaked out about how it was going to happen, especially the second semester when she was due,” she said.
LeFevre planned to have the baby on a Friday and return to school the following Tuesday, only 11 days later. She also decided to have a vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC), making the recovery time shorter and allowing her to return to school and work assignments as soon as possible. With this schedule, she would only need to be absent from school for one week. Her instructors, understanding that she was delivering, approved the absences.
Unfortunately, when the time came, things didn’t exactly go as planned for the birth of her little girl; LeFevre ended up having a repeat C-section. The recovery time for a C-section is much longer than a vaginal birth, with the recommended rest time being up to six weeks. But after only 11 days, LeFevre had to be back on her feet at work and school, and it was not easy for her.
To make it worse, LeFevre had to drive from her home in Las Vegas to her experiential learning site in St. George. “That was, I think, the worst part of me because I would get home, and my stomach would be sore from driving and trying to stabilize my body with my abdominal muscles,” she said.
Why did she go through all this and still remain in school? “I was worried that if I took any time off, I would just continue to take time off,” she said. “Thinking about how hard I’ve struggled, not even just my adult life, but how I struggled living as a child–not having a good income or a good life–I wanted better, looking towards the future.”
During the hard times, LeFevre would think about how far she had already come and how many people she was proving wrong by being at college, which encouraged her to keep going.
LeFevre had already been enrolled in another college and was completing prerequisites one at a time, but when life threw a wrench in her plans, she needed to become a nurse fast. The school she was previously attending told her she would be waitlisted for the start of the nursing program. However, with the help of our accelerated programs, she could get ahead sooner. “I started a semester earlier, and because of it being accelerated, I’m going to finish a whole year sooner,” she said.
LeFevre explained how even her five-year-old son was excited for her to graduate because he knew that their life would improve. She related how once, when they were driving, her son noticed a jungle gym in someone’s backyard and said he wanted one. After LeFevre explained they didn’t have space as they lived in an apartment, LeFevre related that her 5-year-old son said, “I know, but soon you’re going to be done with school, and things are going to be better.”
LeFevre graduated in the Winter 2019 graduating cohort as a nurse. She thanked her Grandma and her friends, who helped support her through the hard times. “The support I get from my friends and my little tiny family is what keeps me going,” she said.
We hope LeFevre has felt the support of the faculty and staff at Nightingale College. Her story of rising up, thinking for the future, and perseverance when others would have given up has inspired us more than we can say.
FAQs About Being Pregnant While in Nursing School
Can I Get Kicked Out Of Nursing School For Being Pregnant?
No, you cannot legally be expelled from nursing school for pregnancy. Title IX federal civil law prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funding.
However, you may encounter various challenges in meeting academic and clinical requirements that, if unaddressed, can result in dropping out. It is essential to communicate openly with your school administration and instructors and ensure that you have the appropriate accommodations to continue your education while managing your health and pregnancy.
Are There Any Pregnant Student-Friendly Nursing Schools?
Yes, many nursing schools aim to support pregnant students and provide them with the necessary resources and accommodations. These may include flexible schedules, early exam attendance, or adjusted clinical rotations. Depending on the type of institution, you may be able to access some theoretical courses online for added accessibility.
What Happens If I Get Pregnant During A Fast-Paced Nursing Program?
Being pregnant in nursing school brings many challenges to your educational experience, and this is especially true in fast-paced programs that leave less room for flexibility. Such programs will require you to organize your schedule more thoroughly, reduce the course load, and possibly take a semester off if your health situation demands it.
For A Planned Pregnancy, What Is The Best Time To Get Pregnant In Nursing School?
The best time for a planned pregnancy that overlaps with your nursing education would typically be after completing the more rigorous academic and clinical phases of your program. The ideal time might be during breaks between semesters or toward the end of your program. Additionally, you should consider the approximate period for childbirth and how it overlaps with critical phases in your educational journey, such as the exam period or graduation.
What Are The Consequences Of Having A Baby In The Middle Of Nursing School?
Having a baby in the middle of nursing school may impact your academic schedule and even lightly delay your graduation. The physical demands of late pregnancy and postpartum recovery may also make it challenging to maintain the rigorous pace of your studies. However, if you inform the academic staff in time and keep them updated on your state and the moment of childbirth, you will receive the necessary adjustments for completing and excelling in nursing school.