How far did you or are commuting to and from work/school?

[luckystudentnurseRN]

Hello nurses! I was accepted to an ADN school about 90 miles from my home for the fall 2010! Unfortatley, that was the only school I was accepted to right away out of the 4 I applied to. Two others, I am on a THREE YEAR WAITING LIST. The other school, I didnt win the lottery:mad:. Also, I am unable to move to San Diego (I live in Los Angeles) because my husband is here and he just started the police academy. So relocating is out of the question. I was wondering, am I crazy for wanting to commute there almost on a daily basis or should I just wait the three years to start? I dont want to miss this opportunity. This is all I think about. I want to know this is the right decision.

[cb_rn]

I can relate. I drove 2 hours to work for over a year (when gas was at its highest) because I was loathe to give it up when we had to relocate. I even stayed prn and when we moved out of state -- I made a 6 hour drive every 8 weeks to work a weekend shift because I loved it so much. I had to give that up when I got pregnant but I still literally pine for that job. We don't live anywhere near a hospital that has a VAD program anymore. ;( ANYWAY if you don't want to wait and are willing to make the sacrifice, go for it. Be prepared to make big sacrifices for your time. Its going to be rough to get up for early morning clinicals and 3+ hours in the car is going to impact your study, sleep, and free time. Hubby is going to have to learn to use the oven and you are probably going to be tired way over and above what is already exhaustion from being in a nursing program. If you have kids, its going to be even harder. If you can hang in there and just push through the program, though, it will have made you stronger and you will appreciate your license so much more because you had to sacrifice because of it. BTW I'm going to be in San Diego come August. Let me know if I can help you in any way and maybe you can give me the scoop on some of the facilities you go in

[kcochrane]

I drove 1 hour back and forth for a year to LPN school. To me it was worth it. I would do it, but I don't mind driving. I still drive 30 minutes to work. I used the drive time to listen to my taped notes or just to chill out.

Look at this way, its not forever and by the you waited for the 3 years, you would be done driving and be working as a nurse. :)

[starmickey03, MSN, RN]

Its very much doable, people do this all the time.

I used to work at Delphi and I was surprised by the amount of people who commuted every day. Some people drove as far as 2 hours, and this was M-F. I think you can do it. And in my opinion, waiting on a 3 year waitlist is beyond stupid if you have an acceptance from another school.

[AlynnSN]

I definitely think you should do the commute! I am in an ADN program right now and I have a g/f that drives 90 minutes to school everyday. She records the lectures and listens to them on her drive to and from. Of course, she doesn't have any children so that is also a big factor. I think that waiting 3 years is a rediculous amount of time to waste not pursuing what you want. You only have one life!

[ky_grl82]

I would do the commute. I do about 1/2 of your commute to school but am moving closer at the end of the summer. Look up your state's carpool listings and also ask around with the other students to see if you could carpool. Even meeting up someone who lives 45 miles from the school would be better than driving the whole way. Several people in my CNA class carpooled.

[CathyLew]

I drove 40 miles in Northern NY. Good day, it wasn't a bad drive.... in the snow, it could take hours!

Is this a school you could get a year in, and transfer to the closer one? I know a lot of first year nursing classes are a lot bigger than the other years--due to transfers, drop outs, or people who just change their minds.

Would doing it for a year be a better option?

[EmilyCCRN]

I drove about 45 minutes each way when I was in nursing school, and I would have driven 2 hours each way if that's what it took. :)

My work commute is now 10 blocks (yippee!) and my school (MSN program) commute is zero blocks...I'm in an online program.

Good luck to you!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

3 miles - 5 minutes (10 if traffic is slow)

I live in Texas and many nurses think nothing of driving 100 miles to work or school or the rodeo or--------------- We describe distance in terms of minutes. How far away do you live? 10 minutes.

[noahsmama]

Can you and your hubby split the difference and move someplace halfway in between? Downside is that you both have to commute, but 45 miles is much more do-able than 90.

Having said that, I'd do the 90 miles if I had to rather than waiting 3 years! Good luck!

[husker_rn, RN]

I drove 85 miles, one way, 5 days a week for 4 years including summers to earn my degree. Now I wonder how I did it but at the time I just did what I had to do to get where I wanted to go. Now I grumble if I have to drive over 10-15 miles to work. Go figure.

[TDCHIM]

Wow, bummer - but it is doable. My husband and I have both done one to one and a half hour commutes (one way, not round trip), and while they stink, you can find ways to use them to your benefit. Sometimes you can find textbooks or exercises in podcasts or on CD and can use the time to help you study your material. Also, have you investigated whether there are any classes you can do online? While you'd have to drive for clinicals and/or labs, you might be able to eliminate some of your commutes that way. The possibility of relocating to a halfway point is a decent thought too, if you can manage it.

All in all, I'd strongly argue in favor of taking the opportunity. You never know what may happen, so take the chance you have now! Good luck to you.