I am a pre nursing student finishing my pre reqs in Austin. I applied to Austin Community College's ADN program for the Fall. I have a Bachelor's in Molecular Microbiology and 8 years research experience as a genetic engineer. Unfortunately with a B.S. the pay is dismal, and barely enough to get by just for me, but actually i would go in the hole to work in this field trying to pay for daycare.

I was looking into the web based second bachelor's program at Texas Tech. I am in the Austin area and they admit for the Spring in this location. Can anyone tell me how doable this program is? There is an insane number of units to take per semester.

Also what hours are the clinicals? I am a single mom of six kids and need to quickly generate a good income. Nursing seemed like a good place to go with my science background, and alot of career possibilities, and hopefully the flexibility to work around raising my kids. The youngest starts kindergarten this fall, so I can get started this year.

I was also looking into an online Nurse Practitioner program as a possibility. Can anyone tell me about UT Tyler's program, or UTMB?

Do you think I should stick with ACC and get the ADN and then do the online RN to BSN? Or should I just go for it and try this web based second degree program and forget about the ADN program?

I noticed most of the bachelor's programs want Sociology and Nutrition, and the ADN program doesn't require this, so I will take these in the summer. Also Texas Tech wants a CNA, a medical terminology class, and pathophysiology. I was going to try this all in the Fall.

Also I was thinking about doing the ADN at ACC as a web based program. Has anyone done that? I heard the failure rate is 50%. Does anyone have any recommendations for high paying and flexible positions in nursing that would work for a single mom?

What are my chances of getting into TT or UTT or UTMB if I have a 3.75 GPA?

Thanks for any help you can offer

Barbara

Hi Taffy,

Please check your PM.

Lonestar1908

Could you PM me information as well?

I was thinking of applying for Spring 2009.

Thanks

You should go for the 2nd degree BSN. If you can't get in with a background like yours, then no one can! The following schools offer 2nd degree BSN. Texas Tech (Jan. cohort is in Austin), UTMB in Galveston (easiet 2nd degree to get into, they accecpt around 100 applicants), UT- Houston ( very difficult to get into), Texas A & M Corpus Christi, UT- Arlington, UT- San Antonio. Look up their websites and find out prerecs. Also, if you want to become a Nurse Practioner, you typically have to had one year nursing under your belt. Then you have to complete two program (after obtaining BSN) to become an NP.

Hi. I went to the local community college under a regular old 2 year program.

One of my co workers however, went the accelerated route through Tex Tech. She stated that she had to agree to NOT WORK while in the program. She also said that it would have been impossible for her to work and pass because of the extremly heavy work load.

I have hear the same several times from reps from the school.

I just spoke with an Advisor at tech and she said the program requires 100 hours a week - 20 of those being clinicals. Can someone that is in the program or completed the program give me an example of how that is set up? Do you have set days for clinicals or does that change week to week? Are they usually at night or day? I have 3 kids, ages 10, 12 and 5 so I am needing to figure out about how much I will be spending in child care costs in addition to the program. I am thinking about applying for Spring 2010 start.

This program started at my local extension campus the year I graduated. All I have heard is this:

1 It is imposable to work- I fact you are required to NOT work at all.

2. If you have much in the way of family obligations you could easily find yourself in trouble.

3. Back then the clinicals were 10-12 hours and both night and day.

4. Not good for single parents-even if you don't have the kids.

5. I had a very tough time doing an associates degree RN in 4 semesters-I get nightmares thinking of trying to do it all in 12 months.

It is a very tough way to go-but people do finish it!

Hello all,

I recently graduated from the Texas Tech 2nd degree program. I was at the Abilene location and it is a very demanding program, but to prepare you to finish in 12 months it has to be. The reason they don't want students working during the program is because the program becomes your job. To me, the beauty of the program is not having to get up and go sit in class all day, then still have to come home to study some more. Expect to spend 24 hours a week in clinicals (2- 12 hour shifts), leaving you plenty of time to study. I would spend no more than 5 days a week on school (2 days in clinicals, 3 days studying and completing assignments). Other than that, I had two days to relax, spend with family, etc. And despite the classes being online, I regularly got together with my classmates to study, review for tests, etc.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask here or private message me.

Best of Luck!

Thanks, TXScrubs, for your reply. I've been planning to apply to the 2nd Degree BSN in Abilene (finishing up some pre-reqs now) but was really getting cold feet wondering if I'd survive the schedule. Your response has helped to put my mind at ease.

Question: Did you get a job quickly after completing the program?

Thanks!

Cowboy,

You can expect to start applying for jobs about 3 months prior to graduating, so in May for Abilene. I'm in the DFW area now and had a job lined up about 2 1/2 months before I graduated. Our entire class got jobs right out of school and the ones who stayed in Abilene got jobs at our clinical site.

mell260,

I got your message, but since I haven't made 10 postings yet, it wont let me reply to you by private message. Sorry.

Thank you so much for your post txscrubs1 - I think they want to prepare applicants for a tough year but from you said its sounds doable. I interviewed last Thursday, found out I had signed up for the very first interview spot and now I just hope I made a lasting impression! I was pretty nervous, although the ladies were very friendly, I have just worked so hard to get to this point that I hope I didnt blow it. I have a 4.0 and 3 kids, I have been completly consumed with my studies, so it would be just terrible to know all of this hard work was ruined by my not interviewing well. Now I have to wait until the end of Nov to hear - I think that will be the hard part!

Im sure you did great in your interview. It's definitely doable! Good luck to you.