becoming an rn

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2014

Welcome to allnurses.com!

Becoming an rn is going to be harder than I thought. It seems like its all about money money money.

Schools and other educational institutions are places of business, too. These entities require an enormous amount of money to maintain operations.

100 for the application fee then a physical from doctor which can b 250 or more then 85 for a pre entrance exam. Then the program comes to 23,000.

It sounds as if your first choice is a pricey for-profit trade school. If this is the case, yes these types of schools are known for tacking on fees wherever they possibly can. I only paid $58 for a physical, $30 for a pre-entrance exam and perhaps a $50 application fee.

30 min south from me is another bridge program that only comes to close to 9,000 but ill have to drive 30 min every day to get there.

I had to cross state lines and drive 225 miles one way (450 miles round trip) get to the LPN-to-RN bridge program that I attended, so a 30-minute commute does not sound that bad to me. If there's a will, there's a way.

In both programs I have to have algebra and chemistry before I can even appply which can cost thousands. This is really crappy.

In the community college district where I reside, these courses would cost $50 per credit and transfer to any school in the US.

to top it off how do we work full time so we can have a roof over our heads and food to eat plus the gas to drive 30 min away every day and go to school full time.

I graduated from an LPN-to-RN bridge program in 2010. Half of my class (me included) lived out of state, drove 200+ miles to the school a couple of times weekly, still maintained full time employment, and had kids. I worked 32 hours per week throughout the bridge program because I opted to do 16-hour weekend double shifts, which freed me up during the week.

Returning to school is hard as an adult with bills and responsibilities, but when there's a will there's a way. You'll be more likely to accomplish this goal if you stopped viewing your situation as a series of obstacles and started viewing these various issues as aspects you can overcome. Drop the negative mindset. The glass is halfway full, not half empty. Good luck to you!

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2014

Sounds like, "Excuses." I agree with TheCommuter-- if you want it, you'll do it.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2014

One instructor in my RN-BSN program became an NP "before there was an NP program on every corner." She commuted 1 1/2 hours across state lines five days a week, with 8 hours in class and clinical.

Becoming an RN isn't about money, but schools need to survive, and for-profit schools are def. more about the money. Maybe do the math and see how commuting for a cheaper program compares with your local for-profit. (I'm assuming it's for-profit anyway...those fees do seem excessive!)

elkpark · Mar 14, 2014

If it's something you really want, you'll find a way. I would definitely skip the more expensive program and commute the farther distance to the reasonably-priced program.

Best wishes for your journey!

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Mar 17, 2014

I travel 3 1/2 hours one way to work a 12+hour night shift. As a nurse, thirty minutes doesn't last NEARLY as long as it used to...not in med/surg anyway. Being raised in a rural environment, I've never had the luxury of traveling ONLY thirty minutes to get to any place. But I do remember the days of needing to know where every penny was going and when I could hope to get that penny back! Thank God my children are grown and my husband is an ex! Now, it's just me and I leave the house only 2 days per week and that's done on my terms. But I spent YEARS sacrificing for the freedom that I have now.