I started school in 2010 at the age of 40 with the intent of applying for and attending Nursing school for the ASN. I am a male student. Now, after 3 years of working 2 jobs and working my tail off completing the pre-reqs, I have applied for and been accepted to my schools nursing program starting in the fall of this year.
Along the way, I've inadvertently completed all but 4 classes needed to complete an AA degree at my school. The unfortunate side-effect of having done this, is that I have used up more financial aid credit than I should have (must complete an associates degree withing 90 credits attempted). I have attempted 71 credits.
The remaining 2 years of the actual nursing program consist of 27 more credit hours. I am not able to privately fund my schooling due to other financial concerns. I can request a review and with luck, the school's committee will grant me an extension that will cover the remaining schooling I need to accomplish (which should include the remaining credit hours needed to complete my AA as well since the reason I am "low" on credit hour funding is due to the pursuit of a dual degree) my undergrad educational goals.
I have some grave financial concerns going into nursing school as I am now single and will have to leave my primary job to accommodate the nursing schedule. However, I should have my mortgage paid off next spring, which will lessen the financial burden.
It has occurred to me that one solution would be to simply complete my AA and then apply to the university for access to the BSN program. I have enough available federally-funded hours to complete my AA and then I could focus on the BSN, which I intended to pursue AFTER I started working as an RN. In this scenario, I would have to wait an additional year to start working, but be able to work at my current (albeit low-paying) job for another year. This will allow me the time to pay off my house and give me time to work towards figuring out how to fund my 2 years at the university.
I'm 43 now. I want to GO...and this solution delays me from starting in my chosen career as an RN for ANOTHER year...a place I'd hoped to be by now when I started this process. But, it solves a LOT of issues that I can't even begin to discuss here too...
I am confident that I can work it out which ever way I go (ASN first [lot of stress getting this in place] or AA then BSN)...but what are some of your opinions on what I should do?
Having an associate degree always sounds better on a resume than "some college." Even if you are just applying for CNA or unit secretary jobs. Hospitals in western PA and in the Charlotte, NC are were still hiring associate degrees. They might be required to get the BS completed with a certain timeframe, though.
Oh, I know having an associates helps. My associates in pre nursing helped me get accepted into a BSN program. I said personally because I know elsewhere in the country, hospitals still hire ADN nurses. But I live in an urban, Mid Atlantic region (one of the most educated in the country) with some amazing hospitals that do not hire anything below a BSN... and "just" having a BSN is no guarantee.
Depends on what you want. Where I live, all of the major hospitals hire ADNs (Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, the level one trauma city hospital, charity hospital, etc.). A lot of folks here grab their ADN in less than two years, get to work and then bridge to BSN. A lot of the employers here offer tuition assistance, so it makes good financial sense.
zoe92
1,163 Posts
Oh, I know having an associates helps. My associates in pre nursing helped me get accepted into a BSN program. I said personally because I know elsewhere in the country, hospitals still hire ADN nurses. But I live in an urban, Mid Atlantic region (one of the most educated in the country) with some amazing hospitals that do not hire anything below a BSN... and "just" having a BSN is no guarantee.