Evening/Weekend Program at Baptist in S.A.

[Dottie, RN]

Hi! I've just applied to the Baptist School of Health Professions in San Antonio, TX, and have scheduled to take the NET next month. (I'm very excited!! ) I applied for the evening/weekend program, since it looks like I won't be able to quit my full-time day job just yet. My plan is to keep this job for the 1st year of NS, and hopefully quit before the 2nd year and switch to the day program.

My question is this: Is there anyone out there who has done the evening/weekend program at BSHP while holding a full-time job? The schedule is 6:30-9:30 Mon.-Thurs. and 12-hr. Saturday clinicals (every Saturday). (My job is 8-5 M-F.) I'm aware that it's going to be a challenge, and have discussed it with my husband. I warned him that he is going to have to help out a lot more with the kids and house chores, and he's agreed to that.

I guess I'm just nervous about this, because I really don't want to work while in school, but there's no way we could make it without my income right now. If I wait even longer, I'll have to take some prereqs over again, because they can't be older than 4 years. That's why I'm trying to get in for the fall semester.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

[lklin09]

I attend a night and weekend accelerated program here in Virginia. My classes are 5 weeks long. In the beginning my classes were M-R 5:30 - 10:30 with the weekends off. Now my classes are twice a week same hours with 12 hour clinicals on Sat and Sun. I work FT M-F. I basically only have time to eat, breath and study. I rarely see my family (husband and 2 kids). I do not have time to help out with the house or with the kids. My husband does it all. We are lucky in that his mom is also helping by feeding them every night and helping with the kids. Because I have to work while attending school, I only receive between 4 and 5 hours of sleep since I have to stay up to study. I am in a ADN program that lasts 15 months. All i can tell you is make sure you have a support system in place. You will need it. You will spend more time with your classmates than anyone else. It can be done. You will be exhausted and question your sanity at times. I will be reducing my hours at work to 30 when my next class starts. Just so I can have more time to devout to studying. I am almost done, 4 classes to go!

It is worth the scarifice and my children are old enough to understand why they don't see mommy as often.

Good luck!