Drive or Fly

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I am in a place of indecision. My RN program is 350 miles away from home... So, I will drive up sunday nights and drive home friday nights...or Fly. I was set on flying but these last two weeks I have had to fly to orientation (two seprate fridays in a row), and have had nothing but delayed flights. I also only save about an hour overall (if all runs ontime) than if I drive. But, driving will put around 1,000 miles a week on my car... so, buy a new car and rake up miles or do a monthly car rental?

you're probably thinking... why not move or go to another school? Well, I have 4 children and my husband has a great job where we live (and own our home). Additionally, housing costs where my school is are about 350% what they are where I live (as are daycare costs). Another school would add more wait lists, and at 35 - I would rather get started sooner than later.

Is there anyone else dealing with this - or anyone that has had to commute like this for a job? I have looked at rideshare options, but I dont know about being in a car that long with a stranger... plus, i plan on recording lectures and streaming them through my car audio (and who wants to hear that besides an RN student)??

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :)

thanks in advance :redpinkhe

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Is a bus or train available?

I have an old friend who lived in Buffalo, but commuted to Chicago every week for a new job for similar reasons. He took a night train and slept during the ride. Lot less hassle than driving or even flying. Check it out if available in your area.

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i have; train would take 18hrs... bus 12hrs, unfortunatly i am not willing to give up even the extra 6hrs (each way) with my kids since i will hardly see them as it is...

i greatly appreciate the suggestion though :)

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Is there a smaller local airport you can fly in/out of? They typically don't experience as much delays as major hubs simply because the traffic is lighter. Personally I would just get a used car that can take the mileage: namely, a Toyota, Honda, or VW. They can easily get up to 400,000 miles. Plus they typically get great gas mileage. I would just get a simple sedan like a Corolla, Civic or Jetta.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Any way you do it, it is going to cost you some $$$$. Flying gets expensive fast especially every week, even if a local little air service is available.

I personally would drive that way I would have transportation taken care of when I got to where I was going to school. Having to rent a car just seems like a huge hassle.

On top of all that, where do you stay when you are going to school?

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cmw6v8 - I can fly out of a few locations (LAX, ONT, Burbank, Orange)... but have been told by southwest employees that they are just simply not doing very well at on time flights at this time. I have an 07 Aveo, great on gas but has 110,000 already. I should probably just put the miles on that and not get a diff car until I have to - I just worry it will break down on me (not that it has any issues), and I wouldnt have the time to go shopping for a car with the hectic schedule I am anticipating. But, I am thinking you are right about the driving - that way if clinicals run late, I dont miss a flight or anything. Thanks

That Guy - yeah, flying would be about 220 per week - I was gonna just drive up once and leave my car there when i fly home, then I have to pay airport parking - so, that is a no go. As far as staying - it is my home town (just relocated 2yrs ago), so all my friends and family (parentals and sibs) are there and have offered me places... I think i am gonna rotate on a weekly basis, so as not to be a burden on anyone (but worry that this wont lend itself to stability for me, duh).

thanks for your suggestions and help :)

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Is going home every other week in your car an option?

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MidnightAzelia...

do you mean alternate flying and driving? Or simply staying at school for two weeks? The first may be possible... the later, not so much (my kids are young, i would miss them & they me).

alternating flights and driving may work though...

more to think about, thanks :)

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Specializes in Cardiac.

It sounds like you are in a stable financial situation.

Knowing what I know about nursing school I would not be okay with driving 350 miles a week. If you fly at the very least you can sleep or study, but driving that distance requires you to maintain concentration on the road in order to remain safe. Personally I would not be that alert after my study regimen.

Although time with your family is important, I think your kids will respect the fact that you are in school. They might not completely understand now, but as they get older they'll remember dear old mom practiced what she preached about the values of education. Nursing school is going to be stressful on your family no matter what, but I don't think the difference between you being there every single week and not is as large as one might think.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I had a similar commute from January 2009 until March 2010.

I live in the D/FW area of Texas, but the school that I was attending is located in north Oklahoma City. My commute was 225 miles one-way (450 miles round trip).

I worked full-time as an LPN/LVN during that time. I worked 16 hour shifts every Saturday and Sunday at a nursing home in Texas and attended school every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in Oklahoma. I would drive into Oklahoma on Tuesday mornings and basically spend the next three days at the apartment that my friend and I rented. Then I would drive back to Texas on Thursday nights.

People might be wondering why I simply didn't pack up and move closer to the school. I had a house in Texas and didn't want to spend the time, energy, or inconvenience of selling. In addition, I was earning $26 hourly as an LVN in Texas while attending school. If I had lived and worked in Oklahoma, my pay rate would have dropped into the $13 to $16 per hour range. I wasn't ready for these changes, so I endured the commute for a year.

Keep in mind that I am single with no children, and that gas prices were more reasonable in 2009 and early 2010, which was when my commuting took place.

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we are planning on my husband working the weekends that I am home, so the kids have less daycare time, and I have to come home to cook on the weekends for the whole week I am gone (includes shopping), as well as other household chores that hubbies don't usually do :)

we have talked about if there is a big test or a special circumstance, I may not come back for the weekend, but this wouldn't work as a regular thing.

I agree that the drive (350+ miles each way) will zap my concentraation or studying, but I am hopeing that it will not be too much of a drain.

we may just do a trial run for the first semester, and then reevaluate at winter break.

Thanks again for the helpful suggestions

~heather

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