Not sure which path to go

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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  1. Options

    • 0
      CNA
    • 2
      LPN>RN
    • 6
      BSN
    • 4
      ADN>BSN

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I would like to become an RN, and after doing a lot of research I'm still uncertain of which path to take. I have a bachelor's degree in Biology, so for a while I was weighing the BSN or ADN-to-BSN path. But then I stumbled upon some websites that said if you work a full time oddball schedule (like I do... 12 hour shifts 7pm to 7am, rotating) it's better to get your LPN first, then find an LPN to RN bridge program.

Is anyone familiar with all these options and/or had experiences weighing the pro's and con's of all 3 (BSN, ADN>BSN, LPN>RN)? Or just be a CNA first?

Thank you in advance for any input!!!

Also, with my hours that I currently work listed above, would it even be feasible to find classes and eventually clinicals to jive with that schedule?

:unsure:

I would def need to take A&P 1&2, but my other pre-req's should be covered from my previous major

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I think your best bet with a previous bachelors would be a second-degree or accelerated BSN program. Maximum results, minimum time/money investment.

I think it is highly unlikely that you will find a nursing program that will accommodate a rotating schedule of 12 hour shifts. All the LVN, ADN and BSN programs in my area (Houston TX) require a 5 day/week commitment varying from 5 up to 12 hours per day. I think it would even be difficult to find a CNA program to accommodate that unless you could request all Saturdays off and get into a Saturday program intended for the M-F 8-5 workers.

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I know in my area a couple of schools offer an accelerated BSN degree that a lot of credits might be met already due to your other degree. You would likely just need to take the pre-reqs and core sciences and nursing classes. All the schools around here also offer online, night & weekend classes for adult students.

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It is obvious for us all to answer that you should pursue an Accelerated BSN since you already have a prior bachelor's degree, but in my 6+ months of researching them and having recently applied to several I can tell you that you will NOT be able to pursue that path and continue working your job. Every ABSN program I obtained information from strongly suggested not working while in the program, some even require that you do not. I have spoken to current students in an ABSN program and am told to expect putting in 16-18 hours per day in classes, clinicals and study time. That barely leaves enough time to sleep, let alone - take a break, enjoy a meal, walk my dogs, see my family or friends. I can't imagine trying to or having to work as well.

I don't know as much about your other options as this is the route i researched the most and decided to pursue, but I think you can find an ADN program that will work for with your schedule. Then obtaining your BSN from there can even be done on line. Do you have any flexibility with your job and schedule?

Good luck to you

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So does this mean as long as I work this schedule I can pretty much kiss any notion of nursing school bye bye? :sour:

Thank you all for our input and honesty :)

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Clinicals would be especailly tricky. Usually you are there for a day shift and have to be at the site by 6-6:30 am.The days you attend clinical will not be flexible.

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Thank you! Yes, an accelerated BSN would be out of the question for sure. At least right now. But what I was wonerding if even taking the pre-req's would be a problem with my schedule. My schedule is not flexible (work in biotech) but I would have flexibility to do some coursework/homework during work hours.

Guess I could always quit my job, move back in with my parents and go back to school full time! haha. Tough choice though, i'm 29 years old and make twice as much as a new grad RN but have been wanting to go into nursing for a while now, and feel I would make a really great nurse. If I had a sh*tty job this decision would be so much easier!

I have no kids and no husband, so it's not like I would be inconveniencing anyone by switching my life around... anyone been in this position????

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

I'm going to repeat what a couple other people have said...the LVN programs I've seen would actually be worse for 12 hour shifts. LVNs have to fit way more clinical time into one year than we do, on top of the lecture and lab components, so they're in school 8-5 five days a week.

In the RN program I have way more flexibility because I have a lot more knowledge based stuff I'm responsible for reading/studying outside of class. I'm only at school 2.5 days per week.

So definitely look around at your specific programs to see what kind of schedule they have. You may be surprised!

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LPN school for me was Monday-Friday

8am- 3pm

RN -school is wednesday 8-2

Thursday and Friday 8-4:40

Look around at all options

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Are there any part time RN programs in your area? I went to a university which had a 2-year BSN program straight through-no summers off. 2 nights a week, clinicals every other weekend...they tweaked the schedule, but mostly they stuck to it. The program allowed me to keep my 10 hr shifts, and I didn't work weekends; I spent my weekends off keeping up with my studying. Research and find out if there are programs for working individuals as well.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, Med-Surg/Tele, LTC.
Thank you! Yes, an accelerated BSN would be out of the question for sure. At least right now. But what I was wonerding if even taking the pre-req's would be a problem with my schedule. My schedule is not flexible (work in biotech) but I would have flexibility to do some coursework/homework during work hours.

Guess I could always quit my job, move back in with my parents and go back to school full time! haha. Tough choice though, i'm 29 years old and make twice as much as a new grad RN but have been wanting to go into nursing for a while now, and feel I would make a really great nurse. If I had a sh*tty job this decision would be so much easier!

I have no kids and no husband, so it's not like I would be inconveniencing anyone by switching my life around... anyone been in this position????

I was in a similar position as you 3 years ago, so I'll share my experience. I graduated with a B.A. in History in 2008 and could not find a job when the economy tanked, so my family suggested I go into nursing. I had zero pre-requisites completed, so I figured that these were my options if everything worked out as expected:

1) take my pre-reqs for a year, do an ADN program program for 2 years, do an RN-BSN program for a year (4 years to BSN, 1 year of RN work experience under my belt by the time I got my BSN)

2) take an LVN program for a year, work as an LVN while I take my pre-reqs for a year, do an ADN bridge program for a year, do an RN-BSN program for a year (4 years to BSN, 2 years LVN experience, 1 year RN experience by the time I got my BSN)

3) take pre-reqs for a year, do an accelerated BSN program for 2 years (3 yrs to BSN, but still only 1 year RN experience after 4 years)

All 3 options would take the same amount of time for me to have a BSN with one year of RN experience under my belt. I chose going option 2 because it allowed me to be able to work in the field faster (as an LVN) and I could work and pay my way through each step, unlike the aBSN route, which would have required me to take out student loans and keep me not working for longer.

I started my LVN program in June 2009, it was 5 days a week of 8 hour days (2 days lecture, 3 days clinical). I did not work, but my parents paid out of pocket monthly and the entire program cost less than $5000 because I went to an adult school. However, many of my classmates worked part-time during the weekend, and about 3 of them worked full-time as CNAs with 11-7 shifts. They had families, so not working full-time was not an option.

I finished my LVN program in June 2010 and started my pre-reqs that Fall. I only needed Anatomy, Physio, and Micro plus Psych and Dev. Psych because all the other GEs I had already completed for my B.A. I worked full-time hours as an LVN while I took my pre-reqs and it wasn't difficult to do at all. I only took 1-2 classes per semester because it was difficult to get classes and I was waitlisted for all 3 of Anatomy, Physio and Micro, so it took me 3 semesters to finish my pre-reqs.

I started my LVN-ADN program at a CC this past June 2012. From June to November I started working part-time instead of full-time and went from working 4-5 days a week to 3 days a week (8 hour shifts mixed between 7am-3pm and 3pm-11am). In December I started a new job full-time (3 days a week with 12 hour shifts during 7pm-7am). I go to lecture 2 times a week and clinical 2 times a week. It's very difficult to manage, but I'm surviving. I literally have to schedule in sleep on my calendar because of the havoc done on my circadian rhythm of having to work 7pm-7am 3 nights a weeks, but having to be at clinical 2 times a week from 7am-5pm. The 2 days I have clinical are the days that I keep myself unavailable for work so that I don't go 24 hours without sleep, but because lectures are twice a week starting at 8am, and only for 2 hours, I am able to work 7pm-7am, go to lecture, and then sleep afterwards. I make it through by telling myself it's only difficult now, but it's only a sprint until I graduate in May and am finally an RN. I'm also currently in the process of applying for ADN-BSN programs for next Fall. I'm applying at online programs only so that I can work full-time without having to worry about scheduling concerns the way I do now. If all goes according to plan in this last stretch, I should have my BSN by Spring/Summer 2014. And all without loans because I've been paying out of pocket.

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