[MidwifeWannaB]

I am also in an ADN program, first semester. I'm 21, and I'll go straight to work after graduation. My boyfriend and I plan to get married then, and we'll need the two incomes. Then, I'm gonna take time off when we decide to have kids and, if I decide to, then I'll go back to school part time. I haven't decided yet. It'll also probably depend on how much money my guy is bringing in as to whether I go back.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck and God bless!


aimee

[DebsZoo]

[rosemadder]

Originally posted by PhePhe
If you are over 40, I wouldn't bother getting a BSN unless you want to do other than staff nursing.

I am over 40 and it is for that reason that I am going to get my BSN and MSN. I may only have 15(-/+) years left that I can work on the floor and need to plan ahead for the last 10-15 years I plan on working. I don't want my employment to depend on my physical stamina when I get a few years on me. I may choose to teach or pursue other options at that time. (Of course, that route is just the one I have chosen)

Follow your dreams.....at any age!

[pokey sn]

Hello all! I think that it's always best to get more education. You definitely never regret it. I hold a BS in Human Development and I am currently in my second semester in a ADN program. I plan to work while also pursuing my BSN degree and within a year of finishing that I will be pursuing my CRNA. I am 25, married with no children. I have been an aide for 8 long years, and let me tell you---having education gives you an edge in the workplace! Good luck with what you decide.

[ShandyLynnRN]

I went through nursing school when I was married, and started the actual program with a five month old.... there was no way I was going to continue with school then! I graduated when my son was 2, and have had no serious problems in finding a job... staff nursing that is. I had always planned on going back to get my BSN, and probably MSN for NP or CNMW, but wanted to get financially stable first. Then three years later I got divorced. So now I am a single mom with a 7 year old son, and I know there is no way I could do it now! Honestly, I'd have to take out some major loans, because I CAN'T work while I am in school.... I tried, and especially with a kiddo, it was too much on an already overloaded plate! (KUDO's to those who are able to juggle it all! )

Anyway, I have thought that IF I am ever able to get a little more financially secure, including having my current Student loans paid off and owning my home, and once my son is either a teenager or out of the house (wahh!!! I don't even wanna THINK about that!!!) THat I probably WILL go for higher ed, because I don't want to be a floor nurse forever. Either that, or go into travel nursing and get some whoppin money saved and retire early

ANyway, no, I am not a student, but I thought I'd let you know that plans can change, so if you are really wanting to pursue additional schooling, I would recommend doing it now, and try to get by on what your hubby is making now, or else try a part time or PRN position so you can pick your hours.

Good luck! (for ALL the students even) because I remember how hard school was, and honestly I don't know how I did it, and I can't imagine doing it now!

I do know several coworkers with ADN that are doing telecourses, or sattelite courses (I think it takes one complete year straight through) once or twice a week, and working. Luckily they have very supportive hubbys, and evidently more stamina than I do!

[nptobee]

I'm an ADN student but I'm thinking of working for a bit and then doing an RN to MSN program. Anybody else thinking of that? Has anybody here done that? I have a BS in Public and Community Health, and recently found out that Georgetown University has a direct entry to the MSN program if you have a BS in another field with the required amount of sciences. I had never heard of that before.

[JudithL_in_NH]

Like many here, I'm in my 40s. I already have a BA, and am hoping to be accepted in an ADN program (should hear any day). I have already been accepted in a BSN program, but it is my second choice—partially because I feel the ADN is a better program and better fit for me, and partially because the BSN program is triple the price of the ADN program. ADN vs BSN does not alter one's marketability as a floor nurse in my area, and the pay is the same.

When I finish the ADN, I will have two children in college, so I plan to work as a floor nurse for several years until all their school expenses are paid off. My youngest will be in middle school by that time. I am hoping (desperately!) to hatch some deal with the state or a hospital to pay off the student loans I will accrue. At some point while I'm working (probably not the first year or two) I want to start taking courses toward an advanced nursing degree part time, with my employer reimbursing the tuition, of course! I am investigating an RN-MSN option that's within an hour's commute of my home . . . it'll all depend on how many hours I'm working and how the one still at home is doing as to how aggressively/quickly I can pursue that.

I'm not so much worried about physical robustness vs the demands of floor nursing as I age; I think a physically challenging job helps one to stay healthy (though I do protect my back now more than I did when I was younger ). My dad worked at heavy labor in a foundry (makes nursing's physicality a walk in the park) until the age of 63, and when did his health start to slide downhill? When he retired!

I teach in my current life, and think that perhaps I'd enjoy teaching nursing eventually, after many years on the floor, and perhaps while still doing a shift or two prn/week. I visited a local tech high school with my teenage daughter; it has a CNA/Health Careers concentration embedded in the high school curriculum, and I thought that was just the neatest school! I could see myself teaching those kids one day!

[maire]

I am in an ADN program, and my plan as of now is to graduate and go right to work. I have every intention of getting my BSN, but not right away.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

[TeleNurse_02]

I am also in an ADN program. I plan on taking a year or two off from school and then going back for my BSN, but only because I would like to be a clinical instructor.

[javamom]

I'm also in the ADN program and will get my license, get some experience and let my employer pay for me to get my BSN. I'm not footing the bill on another degree if I don't have to!
Like NewCCURN said, you can get pretty much any RN position with an Associates degree. I think the experience of working and tuition reimbursement are priceless to me!