Single parents and guardians who are considering enrolling in college are far from alone. According to Scholarship America, more than 1 in 5 college students in the U.S. (about 3.8 million) are parents. Many of these students balance their coursework, caregiving responsibilities, and employment while working toward their long-term career goals.
Earning a degree is a popular way for a single parent or guardian to gain the expertise necessary to pursue a stable career. Among potential options, nursing stands out as a field that enables individuals to support their families while working in a rewarding profession.
The prospect of attending nursing school for single moms, dads, and guardians does not have to be overwhelming. Exploring the resources available to single parents and guardians who pursue a nursing degree can help make the path forward clearer and more manageable, allowing them to begin turning their educational goals into reality.
Benefits of Nursing School for Single Moms, Dads, and Guardians
Recognizing the advantages of completing a nursing school degree program can help single parents and guardians remain motivated as they pursue their education. For example:
- Nurses earn attractive salaries. Being able to provide for their families is a significant consideration for single parents and guardians, and nursing salaries can help them financially support their families. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), registered nurses in the U.S. had a median annual salary of $93,600 as of May 2024. Individuals must earn an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing to become a registered nurse.
- Nurses have the opportunity to work a variety of schedules. The flexible scheduling options available to nurses can make the profession a good fit for single guardians and parents. Nurses can work part time or full time, days or evenings, and weekdays or weekends. Some healthcare organizations allow nurses to self-schedule their shifts, trade shifts, or select open shifts to help address staffing needs.
- Nurses are in demand. A nationwide shortage of registered nurses translates into strong employment prospects for single parents and guardians who complete nursing school. In December 2025, the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projected that U.S. healthcare facilities would continue to experience registered nurse shortages through 2038.
- Nursing offers a clear career path. After earning their initial nursing school degree, nurses have the option to advance along the nursing career path by gaining experience, earning a certification, or pursuing additional education. Nurses can choose to specialize in a specific area or move into a role with greater responsibility.
- Nursing is rewarding work. Each day, nurses have the opportunity to perform meaningful work that improves the lives of others. When caring for their patients — often during vulnerable times — nurses can make a significant contribution to those facing serious health challenges.
- Nurses are highly respected. In 2026, Gallup reported that nurses received the highest ratings for ethics in their survey of the public’s views of various professions. With one exception, nurses have received the highest rating in that poll every year since 1999.
Keeping these benefits in mind is a great way for single-parent nursing students to remain inspired as they attend classes, participate in labs, and complete the clinical hours required in nursing school.
Study Strategies for Nursing Students Who Are Single Moms, Dads, and Guardians
For many adult students — including those navigating nursing school as single moms, dads, or guardians — some time may have passed since they were last in school, which makes employing effective study strategies especially important. Examples of these strategies are outlined below.
Determine the Learning Style That Works Best
Knowing their preferred learning style (or blend of learning styles) can help students identify the best approaches to studying during nursing school. For example:
- Visual learners may benefit from tools such as flowcharts, diagrams, or color-coded notes when studying complicated concepts.
- Auditory learners who learn well by listening may find it helpful to read material aloud or listen to recorded lectures.
- Kinesthetic learners, who learn best through hands-on activities, may benefit from creating models or even walking while studying.
Take Advantage of Technology
Using technology while studying in nursing school can be very helpful. Nursing students can access a wide range of apps to help them learn. For example, student nurses can use apps that:
- Offer care plans for different health scenarios
- Provide detailed pharmacological information for different medications, including their adverse effects, drug interactions, and nursing considerations
- Create study guides from classroom lecture notes
- Develop flash cards for review
Learn How to Take Good Notes During Class
Students who want to improve their note-taking during classroom instruction can try using specific note-taking strategies. For example, they can:
- Carefully review all handouts or outlines provided by instructors before class, and use them as a basis for taking notes during class.
- Use the Cornell method, which involves dividing a page into two columns — one for notes and one for keywords or questions — and summarizing the primary ideas after class.
- Use the mapping method, which involves writing the main idea at the top of a page and drawing branches to record related ideas.
Lean on Mnemonics
Nursing school involves a great deal of memorization, so using mnemonics such as rhymes, acronyms, or word associations can improve students’ memory and help them learn.
For example, popular nursing mnemonics that rely on acronyms include:
- ADPIE, for assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation, to remember the nursing process
- ABCDE, for airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure, to assess trauma
- PRICE, for pressure/protect, rest, ice, compression, elevation, for treating soft tissue injuries
Set SMART Goals
Nursing students often benefit from setting SMART goals. SMART is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. Some examples of SMART goals for a nursing student who is striving for academic success would be to:
- Have one chapter of a challenging textbook read by the end of each week.
- Have prepared for each exam by spending 15 minutes reviewing flash cards every weeknight during the two weeks before the exam.
- Have all assigned homework for the week completed by Sunday night.
Take Study Breaks
Although it might seem counterintuitive, taking study breaks of up to 30 minutes can help students improve their focus and reduce the likelihood of their experiencing burnout during nursing school. For example, nursing students can consider trying:
- Light stretching or exercising to boost their energy and blood flow
- Deep breathing or meditating
- Eating a healthy snack
- Talking with a friend
Time Management Strategies for Single Moms, Dads, and Guardians in Nursing School
To juggle multiple responsibilities, single parents and guardians in nursing school can consider employing specific time management strategies. For example, it can be helpful to:
- Develop a schedule. Creating a nursing school study plan that carves out time for school, study, and all of their personal commitments can help students ensure they are able to balance their responsibilities.
- Strive to be organized. Specific techniques, such as the Pomodoro method, which involves dividing tasks into small intervals, or the Eisenhower matrix, which involves prioritizing tasks, can support students’ organization and the efficient use of their time.
- Establish boundaries. Single parents or guardians who want to succeed in nursing school may need to set clear boundaries. Saying no to others’ requests and invitations and being assertive about how they spend their limited time can help students’ manage all of their responsibilities.
- Be willing to delegate. When their children are old enough and able to take on chores around the house, students can delegate tasks to them that can help the students reduce their workload while also building the children’s confidence in their own abilities.
- Develop and follow routines. Establishing routines for things such as meals and bedtime can help busy student parents save time and reduce their daily decision-making.
- Stay calm and reduce distractions. Although managing school and caregiving responsibilities can be stressful, using strategies to reduce stress and avoid distractions can help students make their time spent studying more effective.
Financial Resources for Single Parents and Guardians in Nursing School
For those who are exploring enrolling in a nursing school degree program as a single mom, dad, or guardian, financial concerns are often a key consideration. Resources are available to help students with their finances, including those that are highlighted below.
Consider Traditional Student Financial Aid
Aspiring registered nurses who are looking to enroll in associate and bachelor’s degree programs can apply for financial aid using the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Individuals who have never completed this application before can follow helpful FAFSA advice, such as:
- Apply early.
- Steer clear of common mistakes that individuals make on the FAFSA, such as leaving blank fields or using commas in numeric fields.
- Know where to get help with the FAFSA.
When completing the FAFSA, the federal government’s advice includes:
- Start by establishing a student aid account.
- Have items such as tax returns, child support records, and financial records on hand.
- Do not overlook signing the FAFSA and submitting it properly.
Research Specialized Nursing Loan Repayment Programs and Scholarships
Nursing students also have access to loan repayment and scholarship programs. Tailored specifically to students working toward nursing degrees, these programs offer:
- Assistance paying student loans for nurses who: work in areas where there is a critical shortage of nurses, work in certain substance use disorder treatment facilities, or become faculty members at certain health professions schools
- Scholarships to students who agree to work at specific healthcare facilities that are experiencing critical nursing shortages
Look Into Single Parent Scholarship Programs
Single parents in nursing school can also apply for scholarships specifically geared toward single parents. For instance:
- The Oklahoma Single Parent Scholarship Program offers scholarships to single parents in certain areas of Oklahoma who want to attend college.
- Bold.org, an online service that connects students with scholarship programs, lists several scholarships specifically for single mothers.
Explore Student Discounts on Many Products and Services
Single moms, dads, and guardians going to nursing school also have access to a wide variety of student discounts on a range of products and services. For example, they can receive discounts on:
- Laptops
- Cellphones
- Software
- Streaming services
- Books and periodicals
- Insurance
- Transportation
- Clothing and other items purchased from specific retailers
The Importance of Self-Care for Single Parents and Guardians in Nursing School
With many competing demands on their time, single parents and guardians attending nursing school can also benefit from regular self-care. Even small, intentional efforts can help students reduce their stress and support their emotional well-being while they balance their academic responsibilities and caregiving.
Self-care does not need to be extravagant, expensive, or time-consuming. For example, to strengthen their mental health and reduce stress, nursing students can benefit from:
- Creating supportive networks with their fellow students
- Regularly detaching from the intensity of school and home by going outside briefly or taking a short walk
- Making a real effort to focus on getting enough sleep, eating well, and staying physically active
- Adopting a growth mindset in which they develop a positive belief in their abilities to learn and manage challenges
Generation Hope, an organization devoted to supporting parents who are in school, offers self-care advice specifically for student parents. According to the organization, student parents can benefit from:
- Creating a self-care routine and consistently sticking to it
- Establishing realistic goals and dividing those goals into manageable tasks
- Reaching out to family and friends for support
- Acknowledging and celebrating every achievement, no matter how small
University Student Support Services for Single Parents and Guardians in Nursing School
Single moms, dads, and guardians in nursing school can access a range of student support services that many universities offer. For example, universities offer student services such as:
- Academic counseling and advising services
- Career services
- Tutoring services
- Counseling and mental health services
- Services that enable online learning
Additionally, faculty office hours can be valuable opportunities for students to get support from their instructors, ask questions, and clarify concepts.
Some colleges and universities even offer their students access to food pantries.
Setting a Positive Example for Children Through Nursing Education
Single moms, dads, and guardians who enroll in nursing school should always remember that they are setting a positive example for their children to follow. For example:
- Single parents and guardians who attend college serve as role models for their children, showing them the importance of education and the value of learning and having new experiences.
- Psychologically, children benefit from seeing their parents or guardians demonstrate that they value themselves, strive to improve themselves, and practice self-care. Enrolling in a nursing degree program is a particularly good way to model how to define and reach a goal.
- Student parents can help their children develop time management skills. Setting consistent times for both themselves and their children to study and complete homework, for instance, is an effective way to reinforce the importance of time management.
- Going back to school enables parents and guardians to improve how they model important skills for their children such as problem-solving skills, adaptability, finding a sense of purpose, and staying resilient.
Nursing School for Single Moms, Dads, and Guardians Can Lead to a Rewarding Career
Considering nursing school can place single moms, dads, and guardians on a path toward a stable, meaningful career that supports both their professional goals and their family responsibilities. With determination and the ability to keep their goals in mind, single parents and guardians can complete a nursing degree program, demonstrate the value of higher education to their children, and fulfill their career ambitions.