Driving an hour to school there and back

HHN2472 · Nov 13, 2013

Don't know what to tell you I drove 45 minutes one way for 2 years and the clinicals were 75 miles away from my house and some were over 100. I just made it work. I had a then 3 year old at the time. It got easier the second year because we were in school less than clinical but it was still hard because you have to be at clinical at 6:15 and that means leaving the house sometimes a 4:15, but I did it! Nursing school really teaches you to be resilient.

Marsha238612 · Nov 13, 2013

Can you bridge right into the RN program after finishing LPN school?! If so, maybe that's a good option :)

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Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 13, 2013

Record your lectures and listen to them in the car. That's how I made a 45 minute drive each way work for me.

mrsboots87 · Nov 13, 2013

I am semi rural, and will have to drive 45 mins each way for my RN program. There are some closer, but with bad reputations. Id say if you end goal is to be an RN, drive the hour. Its only 2 years, and you will be glad later. If your school doesnt have a bridge program from lpn to rn, or if there is a waitlist or something for it, you will kick yourself for not just going for the RN first.

smf0903 · Nov 13, 2013

I agree with everyone else...it'll work and be worth it in the end. I drive 45 minutes each way to campus and clinicals are all between 30 and 90 minutes from my house. I do the same as someone else said, I record lectures and listen to them on my drive to and from. Another thing I do is record audio flash cards and do them in the car. I figure if I had a shorter drive I'd be at home studying, so it's no skin off my nose to drive farther and "study" in the car Good luck to you!!

krisiepoo · Nov 13, 2013

You want to be an RN so if you go the LPN route you'll drive a shorter distance now, but you'll be in school longer because you'll eventually do the LPN-RN I'd assume which means more driving, longer time to get to your goals...

I drive 45 mins to school, at the beginning we had class 3x week, plus clinicals were just as far. If it's something you want then do it.

However, it's your time, your goals and your life so figure out what's most important to you

caliotter3 · Nov 13, 2013

Drove an hour and a half for what I wanted. Consider that you may be thwarted in other plans (stuff happens) and convince yourself the commute time can be put to good use. Not as bad as you think when you keep the end result in the back of your mind.

Rednights · Nov 13, 2013

As others pointed out you'll be driving more in the long run with the LPN route. The 45 minute drive is a great time to review for tests. I spent the time going over info in my head during the ride. Hopefully your ride isn't stressful packed with traffic.

morte, LPN, LVN · Nov 13, 2013

it depends how much sleep you need. are you on the low end, or the high end? I do ok on 6, one of my nephews 9.

aleong29 · Nov 13, 2013

I'm in an accelerated BSN program and I am also driving an hour to and from class and clinicals as well. I have clinicals once a week and classes 3 times a week. I just have to wake up at 5am the earliest and I don't mind it at all, I use it as my time to unwind.

SarahStoddard14 · Nov 13, 2013

Thanks for everyone's input! I am going to go the RN route. My husband thinks it's crazy to drive that far for school so it had me thinking that maybe it was a bad idea. It makes me feel better knowing that I'm not alone in that. Hearing that other people had to drive that far makes it easier to just suck it up and do it. The lpn program doesn't have a bridge. I feel better knowing that I'm not the only one who is driving that far!! I feel so much more confident with my decision to just suck it up!!! And drive!!:) thanks everyone. And I will definitely use that time to study. (Oh, I have a 4 year old so that was another part in my decision I just hate having to drop her off at daycare so early. But it's only 2 years:)