Did you have to go the scenic route to complete nursing school?

Nurses General Nursing

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Although I'm almost done it seems like I've been in school forever. I took 1 class in the evenings and another either online or on Saturday to complete my gen ed courses. That took almost 2 years to do for an ADN program. Now I'm in and will graduate in December but I am so burnt out December 2004 seems like years away. Did anyone else have to go the long route also due to family, mortgage and other obligations?

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Six years and 127 college credits to get my ADN.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

Lets see!!!! Started ADN program in 1976 went 1 1/2 years, quit. Went for and got LPN in 1984. Started ADN again taking requisites in 1986 stopped for pregnancy in 1988. Started again in 1993 and FINALLY graduated as an ADN/RN in 1998.

22 years , Not bad!!!!!:chuckle :chuckle

Worth the very long trip to get here!!!

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I graduated from highschool in 1990, with a 6 month old baby.

I took some of the basics at a local college, and met my husband about a year later, and we got married and moved to Jacksonville, FL, from Oklahoma.

I kept taking classes here and there, in between having two more children.... then we moved to Kansas and I had to wait to become a kansas citizen, so that I didn't have to pay out of state tuition.... took more classes....

Finally, went to nursing school, and graduated in 2002.... only took me 12 years! :)

My goal was to graduate before I was 30, and I made it by a few months! whew! :)

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Yep, started in 1999 with pre-req's, started ADN program in 2000 but didn't like the school. Switched to a different school in 2001, started over, graduated in may 2003.

Took the boards in July, 2003 2 weeks after my father died, started first job 1 July 2003; resigned last week and now I'm going back for my BSN/MSN!

The problem is, I don't know where I'll work or even if I'll work! :chuckle

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

A couple of years doing general ed at Georiga State in Atlanta.

Another couple of years in NC when I decided to major in nursing.

Then a another few years in the ADN program.

Probably 8 years total to recieve an Associates Degree. Sometimes one class at a time.

Good luck. Hang in there!

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
Originally posted by Hellllllo Nurse

Six years and 127 college credits to get my ADN.

Yikes! My bachelor's was around 145 credits.

You're a very well educated ADN.

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My Career Path since I graduated high school has been (23 years of experience in multiple settings):

Navy Hospital Corpsman

Emergency Medical Technician (National Registry Certified)

Surgical Technician (AST Certified)

Surgical Technician - Instructor

Registered Nurse (BSN)

Oncology Clinical Specialist (ONCC Certified)

Master's Prepared Nurse Educator (Advanced Degreed with ANCC certification)

Advanced Trauma Life Support Coordinator (American College of Surgeons Certified)

Hospital Based Computer Based Training Administrator

Hospital Computer Applications Information Systems Administrator (MCSE Certified)

Radiology PACS Administrator (IBM & Agfa Certified)

Hospital Information System's Network Engineer (CCNA Certified)

*Currently working on my PhD in Computer Science with a focus in Biometrics.

How is that for a "scenic route" for ya!

;)

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Yeah - I too have a long route - graduated from HS in 1977 went to nursing school for a year, QUIT - joined the Navy, met hubby, got married, had two sons, returned to states in 1990, got LPN in 1992, RN in 1994 and will finish BSN in 2004 and MSN in 2005! Yikes - how many years is that?? Lets see 1977 to 1994 = 17 years! However, it can be done!

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I know lots of mamas who interrupted their schooling to have babies...then went back and finished later when the kiddos were old enough to do without mama for a time.

I wanted to get married in nursing school and it was against the rules. Being the stubborn girl I am, I quit RN school, got married, took LPN boards and worked awhile, then went back to RN school later. Worked great for me. And my marriage worked too. ;)

Where there's a will there's a way. :cool:

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Specializes in Emergency/Critical Care Transport.

Let's see:

Started as a volly firefighter/EMT,

Then USAF Crash Rescue Spec,

became a Cardiac Tech,

then a Paramedic

picekd up a BS in Healthcare Mgmt along the way

then took a nursing course here and there

20 yrs later I went full time to ADN program got my

RN

just got my PHRN

aiming for my CEN

looking towards my NP

it just never stops. (sigh)

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Originally posted by Stitchie

The problem is, I don't know where I'll work or even if I'll work! :chuckle

You sound like me. My husband saids I am just a career student, I don't want to work. It's more like four kids to raise along with going to school, and sometimes a part-time job with little participation from him.

Well let's see, in the summer of 1999 I began taking 1-2 pre-requisites per semester. I started an LPN program Jan. 2000, and graduated end of 2001. More classes, started BSN Jan 2003, quit due to high debt for program, and now returning to ADN.

Still not there yet, but puffing along at a tortoise's pace. The race is not given to the swift nor is it to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end.

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