Any stay at home moms or dads returning for nursing degree??

bsngrad2be · Nov 12, 2005

Right back atcha!

Like I said, one of the programs I am considering is an Accelerated program. I am considering this program for a number of reasons but mostly because the average age of students that enroll in this class is about 35. I really liked that knowing I'd be with students my age in the same boat I am in. Also, there is hospital childcare available to students as well as employees of the hospital right across the street from the School of Nursing. That was a huge carrot. I really struggled with putting my little one in daycare, after all, that's why I stopped working so I wouldn't have to do that, and suddenly I was faced with that dilema again. It really makes me feel better to know she will be so close.

I'm not kidding myself into thinking that doing the Accelerated progam will be a cakewalk. I'm not that naive! Just another perk of being an older student! I just think after weighing all the options between a traditional program and this one, as an older student, it is really going to fit into my family and the crazy schedule we keep.

Just a thought. Have a great weekend! :rolleyes:

Juststartingout · Nov 12, 2005

Right back atcha!
Like I said, one of the programs I am considering is an Accelerated program. I am considering this program for a number of reasons but mostly because the average age of students that enroll in this class is about 35. I really liked that knowing I'd be with students my age in the same boat I am in. Also, there is hospital childcare available to students as well as employees of the hospital right across the street from the School of Nursing. That was a huge carrot. I really struggled with putting my little one in daycare, after all, that's why I stopped working so I wouldn't have to do that, and suddenly I was faced with that dilema again. It really makes me feel better to know she will be so close.
I'm not kidding myself into thinking that doing the Accelerated progam will be a cakewalk. I'm not that naive! Just another perk of being an older student! I just think after weighing all the options between a traditional program and this one, as an older student, it is really going to fit into my family and the crazy schedule we keep.
Just a thought. Have a great weekend!

I, too, am facing the same dilemma....

The college I plan to attend has a Campus Daycare, and they say that Students get first grabs at it. It's also a Head Start/ Eceap center as well, so they also have Free and sliding fee scale rates too. I'm not sure my household income with qualify though. Since my son is 4 1/2, I really hoping that he's beable to get in as it would be PERFECT. Otherwise, I may be looking at Kindercare. I would consider evening classes, but my older daughter (17) occasionally works evenings and my other half doesn't always get home in time, as he works until 4 p.m. Otherwise it could be great to go for the evenings classes.

Also, I would think an Accelerated program would be great! As long as your getting the Degree you want, and also make sure that you can use those credits for any future schooling should that be something you want to do in the future.

Sounds great!

:)

SchoolRN,BSN · Nov 14, 2005

I would LOVE to do an accelerated program. Unfortunately, the closest one is about an hour and a half away & starts full time in the summer. It then goes consecutively for 18 months.

I have four kidlets, 3, 8, 11, & 14. None of them would I leave everyday for

8+ hours every day for 18 months. Not even at a family member's house. I just can't do it. Not to mention study time on top of that. Yikes!

Sooo, that leaves me with the local community college. It's a good program & close to home. Not much in the way of a daycare though, so I have to have a sitter for my 3 y.o. while I am at class. (I don't like that part of it either. Fortunately, all our family is close & they are very good with her.) Since I have another degree, I will only have to take the clinical portion once these last couple pre-reqs are completed. Hopefully, I will be able to start this fall.

Accelerated programs are really great if you can do it. I wish I could! :rolleyes:

Good luck,

Heather

smilysmile · Nov 14, 2005

newbe here!!

I was a SAHM untill 3 month ago. Fallsemester was my first semester ever on an american school oder college. It was pretty exciting exspecially when somebody A's thrue all PreRequesits; even thouhg, english is my second language.

My Kiddos are 3 and 2 years old, and I had enough of beeing terrorist by them :chuckle so I went to school. The teachers like me because I'm one of a few who really care and happy to be in school.

It is really hard for me to relate to any of my classmates. Most of them are in my age but don't have any kids, or the other half is much older and have adult kids in my age :crying2: ... everybody thinks I'm crazy to go to college (11CH) and stay at home with two little ones by my selfe (husband comes home only on the weekends ) during the day.

Well, will see how it goes when ever I'm done with my prerequesits and turned in my aplication... i just can't wait.

By the way, I know the feeling to be certain about what you say or don't say it at all... I got laught at to many times for saying something wrong that I put up with it and rather show it on paper what i'm capable of.

Go for it girl... you are on the right track. :coollook:

SchoolRN,BSN · Nov 14, 2005

Smilysmile,

Thanks, it sounds like you are on the right track as well. :)

I can't imagine the amount of dedication it must take to study American textbooks if English isn't your first language. I am studying for a physiology exam as I write this. It's hard enough to understand & I ONLY speak english :rotfl:

Best of luck to you,

Heather

smilysmile · Nov 14, 2005

Thanks Heather, I try hard, but will see what the end brings.

My springsemester gonna be 'preperation vor biology' and 'freshman composition' oh god, I'm so scared of the englishpart.

Psychology Pysiology and Anatomy gonna be fun, so fun that I probably just take one of these subjects each semester to make sure i pass them :imbar . and than I have to wait to be accept in the RN or LPN program :angryfire

good look for your test, it gonna be allright :coollook: :rolleyes:

brian32927 · Dec 14, 2005

Actually I am a stay at home step dad :icon_wink . I was released from my job as a technical manager 2 months ago and descided to go back into health care and become an RN. I was a medical technician in the Air Force in the mid 90's and wish I had never left the field.

However, I found out with a quickness that getting into a program here in Florida is not the easiest thing to do, as I have been turned down twice already. I am 33 and not getting any younger and have a lot of the pre-reqs already completed, so it looks like we will be moving out of state to attend a private accredited university. My plan was to start full time in January as my fiancee had planned to support us, but at this point our plan is to move closer to her family and while I will start school immediately, she will work for 1 more year and then start school full time the following year. We know there will be heavy cost associated with this move, but once we achieve our goals the payoff will be worth it. The key is never let the road blocks to finding a program stop you, keep pressing on, and that's exactly what we are doing!

Fun2, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2005

Hi Brian, and welcome to Allnurses.com.

Good luck in your journey, both with school and the move. lol

Thanks for your Air Force days. :)

Actually I am a stay at home step dad :icon_wink . I was released from my job as a technical manager 2 months ago and descided to go back into health care and become an RN. I was a medical technician in the Air Force in the mid 90's and wish I had never left the field.
However, I found out with a quickness that getting into a program here in Florida is not the easiest thing to do, as I have been turned down twice already. I am 33 and not getting any younger and have a lot of the pre-reqs already completed, so it looks like we will be moving out of state to attend a private accredited university. My plan was to start full time in January as my fiancee had planned to support us, but at this point our plan is to move closer to her family and while I will start school immediately, she will work for 1 more year and then start school full time the following year. We know there will be heavy cost associated with this move, but once we achieve our goals the payoff will be worth it. The key is never let the road blocks to finding a program stop you, keep pressing on, and that's exactly what we are doing!

SchoolRN,BSN · Dec 14, 2005

Hi Brian,

Glad to see that you are able to find a way to make the educational process work for you! It's great that you are able to pick up & move to a new school. Good for you!

Although your debt will be significant, education is never, ever a bad idea. The sacrifices you make, both financial & emotional, will be rewarded many times over as you graduate & move into a career that you love.

Best of luck to you & your family,

Heather

bsngrad2be · Dec 14, 2005

Hi Brian! Good for you! I wish that I would have pursued my BSN when I was in college but I was afraid. I think you had to have a 3.9 to get into the Nursing school (there apparently wasn't that big of a shortage then) and that was to intimidating for me. I regret letting that hold me back. But, no sense dwelling on regrets. Just keep on moving forward like you are and and it will all work out well. Sounds like you have a very supportive fiance which is more than half the battle. I truly believe things happen for a reason and for some reason we were all meant to wait to be great nurses. Good luck on your move and good luck in school. That goes for all of us!

JVRB4 · Dec 21, 2005

I too have been a stay at home mom. I originally started in 2yr Rn program right after High School. I made it through all of the pre-rec classes and the first nursing course without much trouble. My grades were not great (B's and C's) but they were ok until the second nursing course (med-surg). I had an awful instructor and I was (and still am) very easily intimidated. That along with 2pts dying in the first wk of classes, a very controlling (almost) step-father who demanded B's or better and meeting my husband made it very hard. I ended up with a D in that course and quit. I just felt so stupid, I still remember sitting in the lectures and not having a clue what to take notes on and sometimes not even understanding what they were talking about. I changed my major to liberal arts just so I could stay in school with pell grant in Aug. 1992 and married on Dec. 12 1992. My husband had custody of what he thought at the time was his son (we found out Nov 2004 he wasnt his but thats another story), so in 1993 I quit altogether and became a stay at home mom. I had my first child a son in 1995 and my second and last a daughter in 1999. I did work for about 6mths for a home care nursing company and about 2yrs in retail and 2 more yrs in a school cafateria along with child care in my home throughout the yrs. I have thought about going back many times but always chickened out. I have been helping care for my aunt who has lung cancer for the past 2yrs. After this experience and a renewed faith in God I have finally decided to go back to nursing school. I will start in Jan with Human Bio to refresh my anatomy, a computer class, Developmental Psy (mine was too old) and CPR. Assuming I pass the entrance exam ( for the 2nd time) I should beging nursing courses again in Aug. I am scared to death that I will try this again and discover that the only problem the first time was I simply am not smart enough. It doesnt help that its been about 12yrs since my last class. I feel that this is my calling it is Gods plan for my life yet I still have feelings of inadequecy. If anyone else has quit nursing school once and went back please let me know and also let me know how it worked out for you. Whenever I begin to have major doubts and think of just not doing it I try to recite the passage "I can do all things by the power of Christ. He gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13). I know if this is his will then he will provide me the means to succeed!