How Be Supportive of a Spouse Continuing Education
Opportunities for working nurses to advance their nursing career through further education are on the rise. An ever expanding selection of accredited online nursing degree programs are readily available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and an increasing number of campus based nursing schools now offer flexible programs that may include evening, weekend, and blended on-campus and online programs that are specifically designed to meet the needs of working adults. Nearly all healthcare employers, and many other types of businesses as well, provide Tuition Assistance Plans that pay all or part of tuition other costs related to continuing education related to an employee's field.
Increased availability of post-secondary education is great, but going back to school is still a tough task. It takes commitment, sacrifice, and focus. Even a part-time course load could potentially increase strain to the student's home life, especially a marriage. An adult learner has a higher probability of success in their online degree program when their spouse actively supports their efforts. Some ways you can be supportive of a spouse who is continuing his or her education include:
Ignore the Complaints
Your spouse may become frustrated with the professor, the course assignment, the loss of free time and everything in between. The demands are hard on you too, because you are picking up the slack. Resist the urge to blame your spouse for the situation.
Instead of responding with an indifferent response, be empathetic and positive. What your spouse needs to hear is encouragement to work through the frustration. Not an excuse to give up or quit. He or she is looking to you for moral support to find motivation to get back to business.
Keep a Family Schedule
Anyone juggling many jobs at once is likely to drop a ball without organization. One way to make sure the spouse working on college courses doesn't drop the family obligations is to keep on a schedule. Help your spouse to understand family time is still important, and each week everyone still needs some break time.
Pick a special day, even if it's Wednesday night, for no school work, no house work, and no stress. This will reduce resentment from you and any children in the family, and keep your spouse engaged with the family.
Promote Study Time Away From Home
One of the toughest parts of going back to school are the distractions. Traditional undergraduate students are in residence, with very few responsibilities above being a student. This is not true for mature adults returning to the classroom.
Encourage your spouse to study at work if possible, or schedule a time to study at the local library. It makes it easier for you and the family to accept the student spouse is unavailable when he or she is not physically present at home. Also, the student spouse will be more efficient in completing school work without distractions, and available to play Mom, Dad, Husband, or Wife that much sooner.
There are many ways to support a spouse when they go back to school for more training and education. In fact, how you support one another during this time of extra responsibility will greatly impact the time it takes and likelihood your spouse completes the program.
The most important concept is to avoid making it only the spouse's journey. Make things as convenient as possible for both of you, and remain focused on the big picture. Your spouse is probably working on this degree program for the good of the family-- a better paying job, moving to a more secure industry, or seeking a higher position with the existing employer.
Even though you aren't the one turning in the homework assignments, keep reminding yourself about this old truth of marriage: "What's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine." Success with online education programs requires commitment from both spouses. The support and encouragement you provide while your spouse is continuing their education will bring you both closer together as well as reap long lasting rewards for the entire family.
University of St. Mary
Online
Give your career a boost with University of Saint Mary. We offer online degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels to help make your educational and professional goals a reality.
Programs:- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Concorde
Campus
Get your career started with Concorde Career College. Our training programs are short, affordable, and hands-on. We offer training programs in medical assisting, dental assisting, insurance coding, respiratory therapy, surgical technology, vocational/practical nursing, patient care, and more.
Programs:- Nursing - (AS)
- Nursing - (AAS)
- Vocational Nurse
- Tampa
- San Diego
- Kansas City
- San Bernardino
- Orlando
- Portland
- Aurora
- Garden Grove
- Arlington
- North Hollywood
- Memphis
- Dallas
- Jacksonville
- San Antonio
Career Colleges of America
Campus
Get your career started with Career Colleges of America. We have four campuses in the Los Angeles area offering a wide variety of allied health training programs.
Programs:- Vocational Nurse
- Nurse Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- San Bernardino
- Gardena
- South Gate
- Los Angeles
Carrington College
Campus
Carrington College has helped over 45,000 graduates realize their dream of a career in healthcare. Now it's your turn. Choose from eleven conveniently located campuses.
Programs:- Registered Nursing
- Medical Assisting
- Portland
- Boise
- Albuquerque
- Phoenix
- Reno
- Mesa
- Tucson
- Mesquite
- Spokane
Bryant and Stratton College
Campus
Give your career a boost with an education from Bryant and Stratton College. We offer certificate, associate degree, and bachelor's degree programs for careers in the business, criminal justice, design, finance, technology, health care, and legal fields.
For more information about Bryant and Stratton’s graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures.
Programs:- Nursing
- Medical Assisting
- Richmond
- Milwaukee
- Buffalo
- Rochester
- Cleveland
- Virginia Beach
University of Phoenix
Campus
As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.
Programs:- BS in Nursing (RN Required)
- M.S. in Nursing
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
- Online
- Killeen
- Jacksonville
- San Jose
- Arlington
- Lathrop
- Rancho Cordova
- Dallas
- Lone Tree
- St Louis Park
- Sugar Land
- St. Louis
- Saint Louis
- Tucson
- Plantation
- San Diego
- Maitland
- Palm Beach Gardens
- Clearwater
- Phoenix
- Troy
- Bakersfield
- Littleton
- Aurora
- Fort Lauderdale
- Roseville
- Gardena
- Saint Paul
- Mesa
- Ontario
- Houston
- Tampa
- Flint
- Miami
- Las Vegas
- Westminster
- Henderson
- Temple Terrace
- Costa Mesa
- Fairfield
- Spring
- Ann Arbor
- Nashville
- Salida
- Diamond Bar
- Sacramento
- Clinton Township
- Woodland Hills
- Fairfax
- Reston
- Westlake
- Hollywood
- Lancaster
- Oakland
- Sarasota
- Orlando
- Chandler
- San Francisco
- Livonia
- Fresno
- Beachwood
- Elk Grove
- Murrieta
- Daytona Beach
- Manassas
- East Lansing
- Pasadena
- Hurst
- Los Angeles
- Southfield
- Grand Rapids
- Livermore
- San Antonio
- Baton Rouge
- Irving
- Independence
- Portage
- Palm Desert
American Sentinel University Online
Online
Advance your career with the right online degree. ACCIS offers self-paced, real-world programs in Computer Science, Information Systems, Management Information Systems, and Business Administration.
Programs:- MS Nursing - Case Management
- MS Nursing - Infection Prevention and Control
- MS Nursing - Management and Organizational Leadership
Keiser University Graduate School
Campus
Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.
Programs:- Nursing, MS (Online)
- Fort Lauderdale
CollegeAmerica
Campus
Finally, a college that delivers. CollegeAmerica is truly unique in that their curriculum is designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to prepare students for success.
Programs:- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing (Online)
- Associate Degree in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration (Online)
- Denver
- Fort Collins
- Flagstaff
- Colorado Springs
- Phoenix
- Cheyenne
Lincoln Technical Institute
Campus
Lincoln Technical Institute provides career-focused, hands-on training programs with industry experienced instructors. Get the skills for a rewarding in-demand career.
For more student consumer information, please visit www.lincolnedu.com/lincolnconsumerinfo
Programs:- Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Philadelphia
- Casselberry
- Edison
- Paramus
- Hamden
- Mount Laurel
- Shelton
- Lincoln
- Brockton
- Allentown
- Lowell
- Somerville
- Saint Petersburg
Kaplan University - KHE
Campus
Don't wait another day to take the next step forward in your career. Kaplan University can give you the real-world knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your chosen field.
Programs:- Associate of Science: Nursing
- Diploma: Practical Nursing
- Certificate: Medical Assistant
- Urbandale
- Cedar Rapids
- Lincoln
- Cedar Falls
- Omaha
- Davenport
- Mason City
- Council Bluffs
- Hagerstown
- South Portland
- Lewiston
Medtech
Campus
Start your career with an education from Medtech. We offer programs in biotechnology, health care management, medical assisting, medical billing and coding, medical lab technology, and nursing, plus several short-term career courses.
Programs:- School of Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Fort Wayne
Stevens-Henager
Campus
For more than 119 years, Stevens-Henager College has worked to train generations of graduates for new careers. Stevens-Henager College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Our degree programs, designed to help graduates compete in the ever-evolving employment market, include Medical Specialties, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Surgical Technology, Business Management and Accounting, Computer Technology and Networking, Computer Programming, Computer Science, and Graphic Arts*. Online programs are offered via Stevens-Henager College, Salt Lake City/Murray. Stevens-Henager College Idaho Falls is a branch campus of the CollegeAmerica, Flagstaff, AZ, main campus.
*Check each campus for program availability.
- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing
- Associate Degree in Nursing Education
- Master of Science in Nursing Administration
- Ogden
- Boise
- Layton
- Nampa
- Murray
- Idaho Falls
- Logan
- Lehi
- Saint George
- Orem
Medical Career Institute
Campus
Experience the Rewards of Caring, With ECPI’s Medical Careers Institute, you can Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree in 2.5 Years or Your Associate’s Even Sooner through Our Year-Round Schedule!
Programs:- Nursing (BSN) - Bachelor
- Registered Nursing - Associate
- Practical Nursing - Diploma
- Virginia Beach
- Newport News
- Henrico
- Manassas
- North Charleston
- Richmond
- Greenville
- Greensboro
- Raleigh
- Charlotte
- Columbia
Colorado Christian University
Campus
With a heritage dating back to 1914, Colorado Christian University is committed to offering a complete education that develops students intellectually, professionally, and spiritually. As the only member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities located in the mainline Rocky Mountains region, and just a few minutes from downtown Denver, CCU is uniquely positioned to offer students a distinctive variety of educational opportunities and experiences. CCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs designed to equip students to become leaders in their careers, communities, families, and in the world. CCU students are enrolled at the main campus near Denver and at satellite locations throughout Colorado.
Programs:- Nursing: B.S. Nursing (BSN)
- RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Englewood
- Sterling
- Grand Junction
- Colorado Springs
- Denver
- Loveland
