Prerequisite Courses While Working

poppycat, ADN, BSN · Oct 12, 2014

I think that would be really difficult. The science classes are hard & require lots of studying. It will affect your social life.

kiszi, RN · Oct 12, 2014

That, my friend, depends entirely on you. I feel it should be very doable, but this is coming from someone who works two jobs, has a spouse and kids, and starts prereqs for a BSN in spring.

If you really want it, go for it! Not only can you find a way to make it work, it hopefully won't even be as bad as you thought.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 12, 2014

you can do it. I went to school, worked and have a family with 2 boys. I am now working full time, school full time and still have the fam. It will have taken a calender year to do RN-BSN. Did a masters in a different field in 18 months. All about time management!!

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Oct 14, 2014

I worked fulltime before and during nursing school. I had a BA, but I needed to take 5 or 6 prereqs. I took two classes per term for a year. Some were night classes, some were online classes.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2014

These questions come up all the time and the answer is always...your ability. To one person this would be a very hard thing to do and another it would be a breeze. I hear it all the time; you have kids and a job, how are you able to take classes? Simple answer is that I love it! I soak up information like a sponge, create super mnemonics, and as previously mentioned, time management is huge.

Always take time out for yourself as a healthy mind and body benefits you and all those around you. Meditation is a source of activity that I enjoy and helped me tremendously during school. I also taped the important lectures and listened to them in my car going to and from school. Having a study partner or group is a must as many assignments that I had in school required a partner.

We all have different levels of IQ and ability to cope. If yours is good, you're a fast study, and you enjoy it, than go for it. Only you know what your abilities are. :bookworm:

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Oct 14, 2014

In addition to the already good info given on this thread, I'd like to put out there that a supportive SO (spouse, partner, whatever) is extremely important in your ability to handle it all well. Not to say you can't do it WITHOUT your boyfriend's support, but I have to say that those who have the highest levels of stress do tend to be the ones with 'needy' counterparts.

Your boyfriend WILL need to understand (and not just a nod toward understanding, but actually GET IT) that if you say you can't go out tonight....you can't. And if you have to study instead of watch a movie....that's that. Etcetera, etcetera...etc.

If he's the type who whines and cajoles until you "give in" and watch that movie or go out....it's gonna be a rough road ahead!

firstinfamily, RN · Oct 15, 2014

Just a reminder also that most of the science classes include a lab that meets on a different time than the class, so you will also have study time for the labs. Are the English and social science classes from your previous degree transferrable to the nursing degree? Others have posted pretty accurately the demands of nursing, and your capabilites depend on how much you can focus on what is needed, you are not going to be able to care for a partner who needs a lot of attention and work and go to school. He/she is going to have to understand that school is going to be a priority. It will interfere with your social life.