ADN-BSN, working full time, have a 5 year old, is it realistic

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I work at a home health company and I am a new grad (graduated in May, passed NCLEX in June, got my first job June 21st) and I am working full time 8-4 M-F, I have a 5 year old, a husband, a life, the whole nine yards.... I have all my pre-reqs and can get my BSN in two semesters from a university here but I will have to take a full load. 4 classes in fall, 5 in spring and one summer elective and graduate August 2014. I have been told by coworkers that I will not need a BSN for home health, but I do want to get it, I am just wondering if I should do it in 2 years rather than the one? It will cost me $4000 out of pocket for all the classes and books after my scholarship so I am trying to weigh my options. I would like to eventually get my MSN, but I am at a new job, trying to learn the ropes and I am afraid that adding a full load will kill me, but then I don't want to drag it out either. Its all online... has anyone done the RN-BSN in a similar situation and time period? Was it worth it?

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

It's not a race, it's a journey. Take your time and enjoy your life.

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Thank you, and I agree... I just waited so long, I am now 32 and feel so darn OLD lol. I know it is not a race, but I feel as if I am playing catch up on the ten years I let slide by without going to school. I started doing ADN pre-reqs 4 years ago, so all I have known is school, so I must be lost without it :) or a glutton for punishment.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

If you are out of time then I am sliding off the conveyor belt! Lol! I graduated with my ADN at 41 years if age. I turn 43 next month and start on 09/01 in pursuit of my RN to MSN with estimated graduation of Feb 2016.

Everyone who goes back to school has obligations. If your job isn't giving you a deadline go at a pace that suits your life. The time will go by whether you are in school or not. May as well chip away at the degree. It isn't less valid if you do it at a sane pace in relation to your life.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Thank you, and I agree... I just waited so long, I am now 32 and feel so darn OLD lol. I know it is not a race, but I feel as if I am playing catch up on the ten years I let slide by without going to school. I started doing ADN pre-reqs 4 years ago, so all I have known is school, so I must be lost without it :) or a glutton for punishment.

Your fall semester sounds like mine! I've hit THREE brick walls since receiving my ASN in 2010. I'm trying to complete this degree before anything else in my life goes haywire! Being nearly 50 and the only health professional in the family, I've pretty much had to wash my hands of everybody else's problems and go into seclusion until I get this done!

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Im 44 and I plan on finishing my prereqs to apply for a program by summer. My girls are teenagers, and if I could do it all again I would have bitten the bullet and dove in with both feet! In other words...DO IT NOW! As your child gets older you will need to be around more. Its one year!

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If you are out of time then I am sliding off the conveyor belt! Lol! I graduated with my ADN at 41 years if age. I turn 43 next month and start on 09/01 in pursuit of my RN to MSN with estimated graduation of Feb 2016.

Everyone who goes back to school has obligations. If your job isn't giving you a deadline go at a pace that suits your life. The time will go by whether you are in school or not. May as well chip away at the degree. It isn't less valid if you do it at a sane pace in relation to your life.

I've fallen off the belt and am lying underneath.....Got my ASN in 2011 and my BSN in 2012....I'm 49 currently....LOL

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I will be 44 next month and also have teenagers at home:banghead:. One is in her senior year abd the other is a freshman. Hoping to start my RN -BSN in January and graduate in december of next year. I also work fulltime (6-12hrs +1- 8hrs) in two weeks. I work for the VA so sometimes my 12 becomes a 16 hrs and the 8 can become 12hrs. Forgot to mmention singlemom. DO it in the time that allows you to be comfortable . Being stressed out for a year while learning a new profession ......... I advise strongly against that . I did that when i went from LPN-RN , cried every night ... slept very little and tried to quit 2 weeks before graduation.

But that's just me.

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Specializes in geriatrics/long-term care.

I'm (kind of) in your boat, TXRN44. I graduated in March from my ADN program, have 2 little ones at home (4-1/2yrs and 1yr), a hubby, and a work fulltime graveyard as a RN at a local long-term care facility. I want to work in a hospital, but they won't even really look at your application until you are able to check at least one of these boxes saying you: have a BSN, 1+yr experience as a RN, and/or have ACLS... and at the point of my graduation in March I had none of those... "just an associates degree in nursing". :bored: I'm considering WGU right now, due to the fact you can go as fast as you want, and it's a flat fee for every 6mo as opposed to per credit. Then possibly on to my masters... maybe...

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In Illinois there are so many hospitals who won't even look at you wo 4 yr, or they will hire adn, but usually get beat out of job by someone with 4yr. Things to consider, maybe your child needs you or is ur child independent with school, when u decide will u have adequate help now or later. I became a paramedic with a 1 yr old @24, retired early from work @32 when I had a 2 yr old. My older child had ADHD and he really needed me. Went back to sch and became a adn at 47. So its your life, decide when u have help, when your needed most, is everyone healthy now, when ur willing to give up those years. I would have loved to have done it earlier, but was unable to. My family needed me more at that time.

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