RN-BSN... Advice Appreciated! Start now or Hold Off?

tcvnurse, BSN, RN · May 29, 2012

Hi. I work on a similar sounding PCU and yes! the learning curve is huge. I would maybe wait a year to get your basics under your belt without having to stress about school and studying and stuff. I am pretty sure your plate will be full regardless! :)

But, you know you better than me. If you feel like this is the right time for it, then go for it. Aiming high is way better than aiming low.

fathertod · May 30, 2012

Start now before you have impluses to have a family.

CarryThatWeight, BSN · May 30, 2012

My first thought is to go for it and get it done. You have a good job now, but it is getting harder and harder to get a hospital job without a BSN. Would you rather wait until you have kids AND work four 8's?

happyinillinois · May 30, 2012

Start now, the time will never be right. I started, fresh off orientation, while also earning ACLS, PALS, ENPC and critical care orientation. It is all about priorities, and right now yours is Nursing!

commonsense · May 30, 2012

I graduated last December from an associate degree program. I worked for a couple of months in a LTC on a short term rehab unit before landing a job on a Cardiac Progressive Care Unit. I will be off orientation for this position in the middle of July. I work 4 8hr shifts per week. I have a husband, but no kids.
I applied to a RN-BSN program that meets one time per week in a local city. We take two classes at a time for 7 weeks at a time. It is structured for the working professional, and many say you can work full time while doing this program full time as well. I like this program better than my States BSN @ home program, because it is mostly in person vs being 99% online.
IF I were still working at the rehab place, I would 100% be starting this program this fall. I am apprehensive now that I have gotten my acceptance letter, because I will only be 1.5 months off of orientation on a step down unit. I have many employer obligated training/certifications, and my floor has a super large learning curve to say the least.
So my question is... Have any of you been in this situation? Newly off of orientation and contemplating entering a RN-BSN program? I am just wondering how it went for you? Was it completely overwhelming? I am wondering if I should put it off a semester or two? Part of me really wants to just start the program, but a large part is thinking "are you crazy?" I will appreciate any insight that I receive! Thanks in advance.

The trick here is about knowing yourself and what you can handle. I'm facing a similar situation personally. I'll be starting an ICU residency a week before I start my RN-BSN program. The main reason I decided to go ahead and start school was that I was able to balance 3-6 hours of BSN prerequisites each semester while attending nursing school and working 20 hours a week. Nobody knows you better than yourself, weigh the options and make the decision you feel is best.