Teacher wanting to become a nurse!

somedaypeds · Jan 31, 2012

It is my understanding that the accelerated programs that are tailored for people with a bachelors degree or higher, are all online. Check out your local university, look for the nursing page and see if they have an accelerated program. If not, check out Ohio State University's nursing web page, because I know they have one.

Llonguga · Jan 31, 2012

Thank you for the quick reply! Does Ohio State have online courses though? I live in Georgia.

somedaypeds · Jan 31, 2012

Second Degree | Mount Carmel College of Nursing

This is an example of the type of accelerated program that is designed for those with a bachelors degree. however, this one is not online. I searched OSU's website but couldn't find an accelerated program anymore. They used to have one. Try searching the nursing websites for your local universities.

Llonguga · Jan 31, 2012

Thank you!

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Feb 1, 2012

It is my understanding that the accelerated programs that are tailored for people with a bachelors degree or higher, are all online. Check out your local university, look for the nursing page and see if they have an accelerated program. If not, check out Ohio State University's nursing web page, because I know they have one.

There are no accelerated non-nursing degree to masters degree in nursing is on line. Rationale: the student must obtain the basics of nursing and then pass the NCLEX. This is done in a very intense program on the campus. Then, the BSN will continue on with the masters degree program. The only difference between this degree and others, is the student does not have to reapply to the MSN program after they obtain their BSN and pass the NCLEX.

CloudySue · Feb 2, 2012

I was a teacher for about 7 years, all of them long-term and short-term subbing. When it became apparent that contracts were not available in my part of the country, I decided to cut my losses and start over. I explored all sorts of programs, and finally came to the conclusion that the best thing for me, with my two kids, husband and mortgage, was to transfer my prereq's from my college transcript (psych, soc, biology, math), spend a year while still working taking the rest of my prereq's (A&P), and complete a one-year LPN program at my local community college. Sure, I would have liked to skip straight into a ADN or BSN program. But the reality was, my family couldn't afford to lose my earning power for more than a year. It was tight sometimes, we even got a few months behind in our mortgage. At the end of the tunnel, I got a job straight out of nursing school that paid more than what I would have made for a first-year teacher. (However I worked 12 months, not 10).

Being an LPN for starters is the way a lot of mid-life career-changers do it. Taking small bites while keeping one's head above water makes the immense task more managable. There are so many ways an LPN can advance in good time. I'm in my third year of nursing now and changed jobs already, and doing very well financially. I make now about as much as a teacher with 10 years behind him/her. I have NO desire to be a student again at this point in my life, and that's ok. I don't have to. However, it was my original plan. I still think about Excelcior and I will probably do that when my girls are older.

So I guess what I'm saying is do not discount other paths into a nursing career. LPN school was NOT easy. I took master level education classes when I was a teacher and I have to say that my practical nursing program was intensely more challenging than anything I ever did in my advanced education classes. Good luck!