[Rtkam]

I'm looking into Nursing as a second career, and am starting my pre-reqs at a Community College... they have a Nursing Lottery to enter the ASN program, so my questions are these:

1. Once I'm done with my pre-reqs in a year and apply to the ASN at the Comm. College, if I don't get in, what would you recommend I do?
I'm 31 with 2 children under 6.

2. Does anyone recommend going for a LPN diploma, work and do the LPN-RN bridge instead of sitting around waiting for entry into ASN?

3. Should I just bite the bullet and transfer my pre-reqs and get into University Nursing school and get a BSN... the only issue I have with this route is the time it takes to get a BSN. I have a Master's in Communication, and don't want to spend 3-4 years in school!!
We don't have an accelerated BSN program locally in Portland, OR, i think.

PLEASE HELP!

[catlover13]

Hi,

I can understand your concerns. Although I can't say what is best for you, I can tell you what has been working for me.

I'm 2nd career, older, currently 43.

To help ensure that nursing was the correct path for me I enrolled in a local CNA class. I wanted to make sure that I was suited for the basic care that is so vital to the whole person care. If nursing was not for me, I wanted to find out sooner, rather that later. Why invest years and $$$, big effort, and find out that you DON'T want to be a nurse?

That done, I was able to work as an aide while I attended school. I gathered wonderful experience, and again, this has helped me see areas of strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. I also had the honor of working with some awesome nurses that were willing to guide me - you can't beat learning from other's experience.

While I was working as an aide, I was also able to carry health insurance for my family. The insurance cost when I was working Home health ate up a ton of my paycheck, but when I was working in the hospital, the full coverage for my family was very reasonable. This was necessary for my family, as it was my role to carry the health insurance...

I opted for the LPN route, with the intent to continue on in the LPN to RN bridge. Again, I can't say that this is right for you, but it is right for me.

I spoke with many health care providers about the job market, job opportunities, schooling, etc. I liked the idea of biting off the nursing goal of RN bit by bit.

As you progress, there is an overwhelming amount of information that you will be faced with, and procedures that you will need to master.

I'm currently a new LPN grad, have passed my boards, so actually a new LPN. I can work as a nurse, hone skills, begin to learn the thousands of things that were not taught in a school setting, but are learned in a real life setting.

Any work that I continue to pursue will help build my resume, and the pay is not shabby....

And when I continue in school, I've got a great start on a basic skills and knowledge base that I can continue to build on.

Hope this helps!!! Good luck!!!

[arciedee]

I just checked the AACN website and I see that the University of Portland has a direct-entry MSN program in clinical nurse leadership (which is a generalist role). I don't know how theirs is set up, but I'm in a CNL program and we go full time for four semesters (through the summer, so basically a year and a half), are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN, and the rest of our program is part-time so that we can work while we finish it up. Oregon Health & Science University has an accelerated BSN program.

Obviously I don't know anything about these programs or even how close they are to you, but I wanted to throw them out to you as something to look into. Otherwise... I guess you just have to look at all your options, what you can afford financially and time-wise. Best of luck!

[Wsmith16]

I would go the BSN route. The BSN shouldnt take you 3-4 yrs if you already have another degree. I would go that route only because it seems you have yet to complete your pre-reqs. You can complete the pre-reqs and then go staright to clinicals. If finance is a factor go the ADN route. Good Luck!

[Anjann]

I was in the same boat and set myself up to succeed either way the chips fell. We didn't have a lottery, but I did get into the RN program, so I just bit the bullet for two years to get done and start earning money again in a career I love~!

However, I had many friends who were in my program with me who had been wait-listed and had started off as CNA's and LPN's and were still working through school and not only were they earning money, but they were sometimes quicker to pick up on skills, or already knew them, they were very well connected with regards to where they wanted to work, and most of them were getting either some or all of their tuition covered by their employer.

So either way I think you have a good plan!

[LaborNurse1]

You could go the LPN route to make some money while going to school or waiting to get in, but don't stop there!

If I were you, apply to all of the local nursing schools, 2 and 4 year programs. If you already have a 4 year degree, it would probably be better to go to a 4 year school as many of the courses you have already taken will transfer for credit towards the BSN or BS degree. Also, if you go the 2 year route, there are many RN to BSN programs out there that are designed for adults with other responsibilities.

Good luck!
http://labornurse.blogspot.com

[Freedom42]

I agree with the earlier poster who suggested you go the BSN route. I have a prior bachelor's degree in journalism. It will actually take less time for me to earn a BSN than it will to earn an associate's degree. The school I attend accepted all of my old course credits, including requisites in biology, chemistry, math, psychology and sociology.

[blondegenius]

Originally Posted by Wsmith16

I would go the BSN route. The BSN shouldnt take you 3-4 yrs if you already have another degree. I would go that route only because it seems you have yet to complete your pre-reqs. You can complete the pre-reqs and then go staright to clinicals. If finance is a factor go the ADN route. Good Luck!

If you already have a bachelors, it's not too much of a stretch to get the additional prerequisites for the accelerated BSN. And there are a lot of universities going for the bachelors to masters bridge with an additional ten credit hours worked into your current coursework.

You may want to check with others about how acceptable that kind of masters if you're going to go for a higher degree.