Commuting to Nursing School?

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2014

Good day, ihurdle1920:

Currently 1 hour round trip; come January with clinicals, not sure in terms of clinical sites. I usually listen to lectures on the way to school, and then relaxing music the way home. Come January, maybe I'll find some nursing DVD's as we are not allowed to record anything, and play those on the way.

Thank you.

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Aug 8, 2014

Personally, I have been how much can go wrong with long commutes (travel for a living currently) that when I start nursing school I want to be as close as possible.

My reasoning is that in my experience the longer the commute = more variables. There could be an accident that makes your 2hr commute a 2.5-3hr one... Now you're late (and stressed out). You get a flat tire and didn't figure that into your commute for the day... Now you're late (and stressed out). Some guy going 80mph rear ends you on the highway... Now you're late, stressed and possibly without a car to drive to school and it's too far for someone to just give you a ride (happened to me 2 weeks ago and he just drove off, too adding insult to injury).

Just the other day a 2hr commute to a site turned into a 4hr commute because of construction and rubberneckers from an accident in said construction area.

Sometimes there is so much traffic for no apparent reason that can add a significant delay to your commute (and aggravation). I would personally just rather have the piece of mind of being closer should any of these problems arise.

ihurdle1920 · Aug 8, 2014

As of right now, the area is rural. I looked and looked for an apartment. Until and opening comes up and a roommate I doubt I'll be down there. I'm confident though. Thanks for the advice everyone I'll be sure to post how it goes.

Flutterby23 · Aug 8, 2014

I will also be commuting to school. Not quit 2 hours but about an hour and a half one way. I plan on purchasing a recorder and hopefully minimize study time by studying in the car. I decided to just make the distance because my school is in a rural location. Not a lot of opportunity for housing in this area and to be honest I love the convenience of where I live now. I'd rather commute than be 2 hours from my family. Please let me know how your commute treats you and good luck in school. :)

i♥words · Aug 8, 2014

I usually clock in at 2 to 3 hours round trip depending on clinical site. Honestly, it is a pain. I do enjoy the time alone to decompress, but I hate that it cuts a huge chunk out of my study time. Plus it makes the 12 hour shifts that much more tiring. I also don't like hanging out at the school between classes/labs. One semester I had a 4 hour break between classes, so I found a corner I could study/nap in; I would have much preferred to hang at home. Doing all this 5 or 6 times a week, by the middle of the semester I'm 100% fed up with it. It is what it is and I can't change it right now, so, though I sound completely whiny about it, it is possible.

Wrench Party · Aug 9, 2014

If at all possible, and it's an area with graduate or professional students, try to rent a room from a private landlord. It will be so much easier to rent a room close than to drive. I've never lived more than 40 minutes from a clinical site, and I thought that was utter hell with traffic.

ihurdle1920 · Aug 9, 2014

It's a very rural area. All the apartments are filled. I checked in May... Not many renters either.

FutureNurseK · Aug 9, 2014

Omg this will be my exact situation come next yr..having to possibly commute 1 and 1/2 hrs for a bsn program one way..,nice to know others too have had to commute and was able to get through it

Vana21, ADN, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2014

My drive is 40 minutes one way coming from the country to a slightly more populated area. It's a pretty easy drive and I feel like it helps me unwind a little bit before I get home.

Most of the time if i leave school angry for whatever reason, I'm in a better mood by the time I have to be around my family.

northmississippi · Aug 11, 2014

ONe thing a commuter that drives 30 min or more needs to do is record the lectures or their notes onto a voice recorder and listen to them on way to school,, that give you about a free hour of study time,, and you can also listen to them while fishing or laying down a night and save your eyes from reading so much.

I think someone with a two hour drive should consider moving to that town and get a job and apartment, thats alot of gas and time...

novajones · Aug 11, 2014

My commute is a about 2.5 hours one way, so about 5 hours round trip. I'm taking the bus though so it makes a huge difference. If I were to drive, it'd only take me an hour there and back.

ExpBrittany · Aug 12, 2014

Ridiculous. Why on earth would anyone want to drive 2 hrs one way to school, when you have the option to go to one closer? You say the closer school cost more. Okay, how much more are we talking? As others have commented, you will have to fill up your gas tank almost everyday. Don't know if you drive a car or truck, but gas is not cheap. Hope you have a new car to avoid being stuck on the side of the road.

I am more worried for your safety. Anything can happen while driving. Accidents, hit & runs, construction, etc. Don't get me started on the bad weather. When I researched the schools I wanted to apply to, the distance was important. You can play those recorded lectures all you want, but when you have been up since the crack of dawn, been in lecture/lab/clinical all day, all you want is your bed.

Speaking about doing it, and actually doing it is too different things. That commute time will becoming tiring real quick. Check your school & see if any students post listings for roommates in the halls. Drive in the neighborhood by your school to see if there are any for rent signs in windows. Anything to minimize the days you have to drive there.

Good luck!