Opinions on this plan please?

Nursing Students General Students

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Hello! I will be starting an adn program next fall and plan to do an rn to bsn program immediately after. I would like to have a child, so I think I may wait until the rn to bsn program (1 year long) since it's online and I'd be able to stay home with the baby for a while. I'm just wondering if it would look bad for me to get my rn license, take the nclex (and hopefully pass!), then not work for a year? Would it be seen as a huge gap, or since I'm a student, be seen as me just going to school and not working? Has anyone done this??

Also, I wouldn't want to lose my skills, so would be willing to work a day or two per week... But I'm guessing that isn't feasible for a new grad who hasn't had a chance to build a foundation/mastery of the skills I would need?

I would love to hear your opinions!!

Thanks for reading :)

Any opinions? :nailbiting: :)

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Yes, it will be seen as a huge gap. I think you would be at a serious disadvantage taking that year "off". Being an RN to BSN student would not mitigate this in my experience / opinion.

You are also correct that without a solid foundation as an entry level nurse finding very part time work would be difficult.

Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Markets vary nationwide, but in most places, new grads are working very hard to find positions. It would be challenging to find a position with the kind of flexibility you seek, and a gap like that would not serve you well in such a competitive market. You may find it takes awhile to find ANY kind of position, regardless of whether it meets your ideal criteria. I wouldn't recommend having a baby during any program. My husband and I didn't want our kids spaced as far apart as they will be (should we still decide to go for baby #2), but we don't feel like we could responsibly do it while I'm in school or before I have a stable job.

What about waiting to do the bridge program for a year or two, and having the baby in between? You could work as an ADN nurse.

Thanks for your opinions! Ok, good to know that gap year won't look good. I think I'll stick with the plan of going directly to the rn to bsn while working (as long as I can find work!) and wait on the baby. I dont want to screw myself with my career with things being as difficult as they are to begin with. Thanks again! :up:

You do know that graduating from a school does not give you the license-- passing the NCLEX is what gives you the license? No pass NCLEX = no license? And that having a baby will make it infinitely harder to study? I used to say when I had a newborn and for the first year or so that all my brains were running out through my nipples, but then I had friends who were bottle feeding and it was the same with them. ;)

I understand about the nclex. Most take it about a month after graduation, right? I did some research and believe that I can apply and be accepted to the rn to bsn program pending nursing school graduation/passing the nclex. I was hoping to get pregnant before graduation and perhaps stay at home while doing the year long program online. When I thought more about it, I thought taking that year off between graduating and presumably passing the nclex might not look good, or might look ok since I was still in school (albeit online). The former was confirmed with the first comment and I did figure that might be the case. And thinking about it, doing the online rn to bsn online with an infant sounds fine in theory, but with sleep deprivation and all that goes with having a baby and managing a home, maybe it would be far harder than it seems!

I think I'm going to wait until after I'm completely finished with school. That makes the most sense I think. Thanks again for everyone's opinions! :up:

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