Any career changers?

Ponchie109 · Feb 23, 2008

Hey,

I'm in the same boat as you... got a B.S. in Applied Math and Stats. So far I've applied to Saint Vincents Catholic Medical Center School of Nursing... and my fall back is Nassau Veeb. I would prefer to get my AAS nd start RN right away but in looking through these forums i realized that most programs require so many pre-reqs that I'd prob have to do 2 semesters before actually starting a nursing program. But Saint Vincents has you do it while doing your other nursing reqs which saves time for me.

Let me know how your search goes! :up:

akanini, MSN, RN · Feb 23, 2008

I have a BA but I don't have the science pre-reqs most of the schools want. So I'm at VEEB going for my LPN. I left my job to do this program. Many doors open up when you are a LPN. Keep that in mind. I will then try my best to do Excelsior's AAS program and then progress into their Master's program. I honestly don't want to go back into the classroom again in NYC if I don't have to. DH and I want to move out of NY so bad!!

Best of luck to you all with your choices!

jovial1913 · Feb 28, 2008

I'm in the same boat as well. I have a MPA and now I'm deciding on nursing school. I have to take the pre-req's but yesterday I applied to BMCC, QCC, Hunter, and Medgar Evers.....let's see what happens.

I plan on quitting my job. But that's up in the air because I'll miss my paycheck:crying2:

I've even requested info from schools in other states. I'm anxious to get into some kind of program before the summer.

Keep me posted on anything you find out.

karen230 · Feb 29, 2008

How are you planning the change? Are you going for the LPN and then progressing to the RN? Are you going straight to the RN? Are you planning to work and do it simultaneously? I am just beginning my research. It is a little odd that all these schools have different pre clinical requirements. I have a Masters in Management so I really don't want to fork out too much more money so I am looking at anything at the AAS level. I have my eyes set on QCC as it is closest, and won't break my checkbook. I was just wondering how you plan to go about your career change? Or if you have already made the switch what would you recommend?

I think it really depends on the requirement for your particular program. I see many of the people on these boards who have to take A&P I & II and Micro before they can even be accepted to NS. At my school, A&P and Micro are/can be taken once you are accepted in to the program. I personally have decided that I will put off NS until the fall 09 and take A&P I&II next year so it is done before I take any nursing classes. I am also hoping to quit working once I begin acutal nursing classes, from what I have heard/seen on these boards, it is very intense and requires alot of studying. My school does not recommend working more than 20 hrs/week while in school but I would rather not have to worry about working at all during the program. I have little kids (1 starting kindergarten in Sept the other will go to daycare) so I figured the more study time I can get during the day when my kids aren't home, the better off I will be.

jovial1913 · Mar 5, 2008

I tried to sign up for a AP I class and low and behold none were available. But I was able to sign-up for an online AP I class through cayuga community college. I start in May.

loveabbyfromER · Mar 6, 2008

Looks like from what I can tell most of you at down in the NYC area, here's some Upstate perspective. I'm a retired Army Officer so even if I don't work at all during school I have an income which is nice, also not married no kids so no issues there. I have undergrad B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Management Science that was very math heavy. I have been surprised to see that at least so far, relatively small pay difference between RN with BSN and RN with AAS, but of course gotta have the BSN to go for NP, CRNA and other stuff that could mean much higher pay, as far as where to go it's looking like for me the Univ. of Roch. is my number 1 choice for a few reasons, close to me so easy commute, great highly regarded school with it's own major Medical Center, if hired by them after BSN, Masters is free, they have a one calendar year program that runs May to May. Here's some cost perspective for you, I'm taking 2 of the pre-reqs now online and they cost 880 bucks each, plus another 200 for the books, am taking Nutrition and Growth and Development. Then I have to take Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology I & II, and then Statistics. I could probably argue out of A and P I and II as had it as undergrad, but then again that was 20 years ago, so I'm planing on taking it. I'm going to argue out of the Statistics pre req as my Masters is from the US Naval Postgraduate School and it was a very heavy Math program where I took Grad level Stats in addition to Advanced Calc and that kind of ****. I could do the AAS route up here for about 10 grand at a CC but then it's another year of not working versus doing it in one calendar year at the U of R at a cost of about 45K, yeah, that's right 45K, but done in a year and they do give merit scholarships/assistance. Other schools up here with a one year accelerated program include Univ. of Buff. which is a state school so it would be much less money, and SUNY Binghampton, but still think U of R is my best choice with a possible follow on to SUNY Buff for the CRNA program after a year or 2 of crit care experience. This is going to be an interesting career transition going from one of the few remaining professions still almost completely male (US Army) to one that is hugely Estrogen loaded, but hey, I've got 3 sisters so I think I can handle it. Let me know if you people need any info and I'll do the same, I have found this to be a great website to parley information and lots of good people here.

dking821 · Mar 6, 2008

I am a career changer. Currently attending QCC. I am second semester evening student. I also work fulltime. I am going the RN AAS route. Quitting my job and going to school fulltime was not an option which is why I only applied to schools that had a evening nursing program. Working 40+ hrs and night school is kind of tough but it is manageable if u manage your time well and have a good support system.