Crazily Masochistic or Somewhat Sane?

[KatePasa]

I have finished all coursework for my ADN, excluding the NUR classes. I start these in the fall, and the program runs over five semesters. Here's what my course load will look like over the next 2 years

FALL 2011: NUR 111 (Intro to Health Concepts) 8 credit hrs

SPRING 2012: NUR 112 (Health-Illness Concepts) and NUR 113 (Family Health Concepts) 10 credit hrs

SUMMER 2012: NUR 114 (Holistic Health Concepts) 5 credit hrs

FALL 2012: NUR 211 (Health Care Concepts) and NUR 212 (Health Systems Concepts) 10 credit hrs

SPRING 2013: NUR 213 (Complex Health Concepts) 5 credit hrs

I would like to continue on to do the RN to BSN program at a university here, but I lack about 9 classes to meet the liberal studies requirement. Would it be a terrible idea to add an internet based elective to each semester? That way I would only lack 4 classes. Looking at my course load, are there semesters where I could get away with it and others that I could not?

Thanks!

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

I was thinking the same thing (although I only have 2 classes, Statistics and Nutrition) and I was thinking of adding one of those to next semester - I have to take Anatomy this semester along with NUR 111/112 so I may take Nutrition in the spring (online) and then Statistics in the summer (when I don't have anything else)

[Mike R, ADN, BSN, RN]

Somewhat sane. Though once you get your ADN, I seriously doubt anyone will care about your Liberal Arts Degree. I know, I have a Liberal Arts degree

Finish your ADN, get good grades in those core classes so you have a better chance of being accepted into a higher degree program when that time comes.

Unless you REALLY REALLY want that Liberal Arts Degree to hang on your wall next to your ADN and BSN in the future, I'd just skip it!

*edit: or am I reading this wrong and you're trying to finish some additional classes that you need to transfer to a University?

[KatePasa]

The liberal studies bulldookie is the University's required coursework for student to enroll in the 3 semester online RN to BSN program.

[Mike R, ADN, BSN, RN]

Gotcha. I suppose your answer lies depending on how fast you want to get back into school for that BSN. Take one course every semester, with a remainder of 5 classes or.... focus on that ADN and finish all 9 when you're out of school and hopefully working.

If you honestly think you can handle the load of your ADN course work and an additional online class, then I say go for it.

[KatePasa]

Mike,

That's the thing...I don't know if I can, as I don't know what the ADN program will be like. I've gotten the A&Ps, Microbiology, Psych, etc. out of the way. So it will mainly be humanities electives. I found an online Spanish course, in state. I'm thinking about doing Spanish 1 & 2. With their labs, each would be 4 credit hours. I am a fluent Spanish speaker, so I think that will be a cakewalk.

I'm pretty well set up in the family and work arena, as well. I have one daughter, but an awesome husband and mother who help a LOT. I work part time from home. Part of me feels that if I made it through the last semester, which included a microbiology taught by a sadist. I've maintained a 4.0 for the past two years, so I'm confident in my brain power and time management.

The uncontrolled variable that I can't predict is how these NUR classes will be.

EDIT: My grand master plan is to finish this program, and have my second child while I am doing the RN to BSN. I'm trying to make it to MSN, and I feel like if I don't turbodrive my way (IF POSSIBLE) through these programs, I'm going to be an old lady before I finish!

[Mike R, ADN, BSN, RN]

Try going the first semester of NUR classes alone, then afterwards if you feel you can handle the additional Social classes, then take them the following semesters. You'll be one more class behind but oh well. Better safe than sorry I suppose.

[CharlieT]

Considering that you are strong in spanish, I think you should go ahead and add that in to the first semester. Just be carefull not to overload yourself. Its a very slippery slope that can really hurt if you fail a nursing class.