Studying While on Maternity Leave: Distance Learning as a Path to Personal Reorientation
For Bettina Kreimer, viewing her maternity leave as an opportunity for a fresh start was a decisive turning point in her professional and personal development. As the mother of a young daughter and a certified nurse, she made a conscious decision to pursue a distance learning program at FERNFH.
“A full-time degree program would have been out of the question for me,” says Bettina Kreimer, who began her bachelor’s degreein Aging Services Managementat FERNFH while on parental leave. The combination of flexible learning and clearly structured on-campus days made all the difference for her in terms of truly balancing her commitments: “The on-campus days are known at the start of the program, and there are three blocks per semester, each consisting of two on-campus days (Friday and Saturday). In my opinion, that’s easy to balance.”
In addition to the flexibility in scheduling, it was the course content that convinced the certified health and nursing professional: “I wanted to make good use of my parental leave, and the topics related to aging and care really appealed to me. The flexibility of the distance learning program made the decision easy.” She received support from her family and her partner—who was completing a master’s degree at FERNFH at the same time.
Studying While on Maternity Leave: Challenges and Support
Studying while raising a very young child requires discipline, organization, and the willingness to manage your time effectively. Bettina emphasizes that the support of her family and the interaction with her peer group were essential: “We motivated each other in our study group during self-study periods and enjoyed the personal interaction during in-person sessions.”
The in-person meetings, for example in Wiener Neustadt, were not only a learning opportunity for Bettina, but also an important social anchor: “Lunch together at the ‘Einhorn’ restaurant or evenings at the ‘Witetschka’ brought us even closer together as a study group.”
Nursing & Aging Services Management: Theory Meets Practice
Having worked on an internal medicine ward before her maternity leave, she found that her studies brought many benefits to her day-to-day work. “Topics related to aging—such as prevention, health promotion, long-term care, and multidisciplinary geriatric care—are part of my daily work,” Bettina explains.
They were particularly impressed by the practice-oriented courses: “Leadership,” “Public Health,” and “Coaching and Counseling” left a lasting impression through workshops and real-world assignments.
Technological developments such as eHealth and gerontechnology are also becoming increasingly important in the field of nursing. “After some initial skepticism, technological solutions are now often seen as a way to make work easier,” explains Bettina. Her degree program enabled her to gain a deeper understanding of these topics and learn how to work with new technologies.
Her bachelor’s thesis, which addressed the topic “Silver Workers—Requirements for Companies,” also offered a new perspective on the challenges posed by the shortage of skilled workers: “Companies could better harness the potential of older workers and provide them with targeted support to alleviate the shortage of skilled workers.”
Distance Learning—The Opportunity to Actively Shape Your Own Future
Looking back, Bettina is convinced that her studies have enriched her both personally and professionally. “I’m much more self-organized and hardly ever procrastinate anymore,” she says. “I’ve also discovered the importance and joy of lifelong learning for myself.”
For anyone considering pursuing a degree at a similar stage in life, she has a clear message: “Whether you’re working full-time, on parental leave, or have young children at home—FernFH’s flexibility offers you the opportunity to grow and open up new career prospects.”
